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Drainboard Sinks: What to Know Before You Buy

Drainboard sink

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When kitchen space is tight, it's important to conserve every inch. That's where a drainboard sink comes into the picture. 

With its built-in tilted draining area, the drainboard sink lets you use the sink basin for its intended purpose—washing—while keeping countertops clean and dry. Consider installing a drainboard sink when remodeling a condo, apartment, or whenever you need to economize space.

Drainboard Sink

A drainboard sink is a sink with an integrated apron on one or two sides. 

Drainboard Sink Features

Drainboard sinks have attached aprons, or overlays, on either one or both sides of the sink. This apron acts as a drainboard as it is grooved toward the sink and slightly angled down so that water drains directly into the sink.

Drop-In Sink

Most drainboard sinks are drop-in or self-rimming. Drop-in sinks are installed from above the countertop and are held in place with a rim that runs around the perimeter. In order to create the drainboard or apron section, it must extend above the counter level and rest on top of the counter.

Tip

Though most drainboard sinks are self-rimming, a few undermount sinks with attached drainboards can be found.

Keep Second Basin Free

Drainboard sinks free up the second side of twin-basin sinks. Instead of using up one basin of a large or double-basin sink for a plate dryer, you can locate the dryer on top of the drainboard. 

Contain Water

Drainboard sinks keep your countertop clean and dry because they contain the water and channel it straight into the sink and down the drain.

Save Energy

Electric dishwashers use a lot of electricity, it makes sense to avoid using them whenever you can. Having a dedicated dish-drying area means that you don't have to pull out the dish drainer every time you want to wash dishes by hand.

Collect Food Scraps

The drainboards can even be used for collecting food scraps. As long as the adjoining basin has a garbage disposal you can push the scraps straight into the basin.

Tip

Most drainboard sinks are made of stainless steel because this material is strong when thin. Translated, this means that the apron section can lay flatter on the countertop when made of stainless steel than when made of other materials.

Drainboard Sink Downsides

Though drainboard sinks free up a sink basin, the trade-off is that they use up countertop space. Unlike other items that take up counter space, like microwaves or blenders, drainboard sinks cannot be moved. 

Because drainboard sinks are a specialty item, they tend to cost more than conventional sinks. Plus, they are more difficult to find in stock and on the shelves of major home centers.

Since they are so unique, drainboard sinks do not always return the best resale value. Home buyers may not be interested in a drainboard sink.

Grooves on the drainboard surface are necessary because they channel water into the sink. But they do collect dirt and food grime, and can be more difficult to clean than a flat countertop.

Drainboard sinks tend to be either small, shallow drainboard sinks for apartments, condos, and RVs or large, expensive premium sinks for high-end homes or restaurant kitchens. Not many mid-range drainboard sinks are available.

Pros
  • Allow full use of double-basin sinks

  • Dedicated dish-drying area

  • Eco-friendly dish drying

  • Keep countertops clean and dry

  • Can be used for food waste

  • Orderly place to set wet dishes

Cons
  • Uses countertop space

  • Mostly drop-in or self-rimming

  • More expensive

  • Grooves harder to clean

  • Limited choice of materials

  • Smaller sizes mostly

Drainboard Sink Manufacturers and Brands

Not all sink companies manufacture drainboard sinks. Absent from the collections of some major sink companies such as American Standard and Moen, drainboard sinks can be found with these manufacturers.

CorStone

While it can be difficult to find reasonably priced drainboard sinks, there are a few. Greenville, Alabama's CorStone offers drainboard sinks that are moderately priced and well within the reach of most homeowners.

Constructed of acrylic, these self-rimming sinks range from their big 48-inch Wakefield model, down to their 33-inch wide Shoreham model with a built-in recessed shelf. If you want the look of ceramic with the ease of acrylic, CorStone drainboard sinks are a good choice.

Elkay

Elkay's Blanco Axis series sink, with its attached cutting board, solves the problem of lost prep space. 

Another collection of note is Elkay's consumer-level sink with attached drainboard, in the silky stainless steel finish that Elkay calls Lustertone. Lustertone sinks are found at Home Depot and other major retailers. 

Smooth and modern, Elkay Gourmet series drainboard sinks for premium residential or commercial properties include drainboards on both sides.

Oliveri

Some manufacturers merely dabble in drainboard sinks. Australia-based Oliveri practically specializes in these products. An overwhelming majority of Oliveri's sink collections include drainboard sinks.

Reginox

Most drainboard sinks are constructed of stainless steel because stainless steel hugs close to the countertop. But if you do not mind a higher drainboard, there are a number of ceramic products. The Dutch company Reginox has quite a few sinks of this type, one being the Reginox RL304-CW (also available in black). In addition, Reginox carries a stainless steel series called Lyon.