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THE IMPORTANCE OF A BOTTOM GRID-DirectSinks

THE IMPORTANCE OF A BOTTOM GRID

Some call it a “grill” and some call it a “grid.” What they are referring to, is the custom made, custom fit piece that sits at the bottom of your sink. The best advice I could give you, is to make sure the sink model you are buying also offers this custom fit accessory. Some manufacturers “package” the sink along with the grid. Some, you have to purchase it separately. Either way, get one! Here’s why:

1. It protects the bottom of your sink. No matter what material your sink will be made of, it will not be indestructible. Yes, even stainless steel sinks can be scratched or marked up by utensils, pots and pans and whatever else that may go in your sink. The grid will keep these items off of the bottom of the sink, maintaining the “new” look longer than with out. Plus, you can always replace the grid in the future, if need be.
2. Draining is a cinch. For those men in your life who like to leave the dirty dishes sitting in the sink, you do not have to worry when it comes to draining. When it comes time to drain your pasta, or oil, the liquid will by pass the items sitting on the grid, and run along the bottom of the sink to the drain.
3. Adds a custom look. You want to look for a grid that is formed fitted to the sink model you chose. It will fit perfectly with in the sink, and not be able to shift or move. Therefore the drain will always be accessible through the custom hole with in the grid.
4. They are easy to clean. If your grid is small enough, you can just pop off the rubber feet and side protectors, and put it in the dishwasher for an easy clean. If you are blessed enough to have a larger sink/grid, you can just use soap and water or a non abrasive cleaner to wipe down the grid. Or, just soak it with in your sink!
5. Aids in cleaning fruits and vegetables. The bottom of the sink is not where you want your food to rest. The grid keeps your food off of the bottom while you’re rinsing.

So now that you are fully on board with buying a grid, there are a couple of things you should be aware about when choosing your sink/grid.

1. The design of the gridding. Some grids only have some horizontal lines, like pictured here. I find that as this design is effective on some levels. But the pattern leaves big spaces, where your silverware can slip between the grid and onto the bottom of the sink. I’d prefer a design that is more checkered, where commonly used items won’t fit between the spaces.
2. No Coating. Some manufacturers like to put a clear coating of some sort on the metal of the grid. I do not like this for a couple of reasons. One, it makes the grid look dirty faster. Two, hot water and hot pots can sometimes melt this coating, ruining your grid. Look for a grid that is stainless steel through and through.
3. Color of Feet & Side Bumpers. Black! You want these to be black. I’ve lived with the clear AND white feet. They get miss colored, and stained. The black feet do not do this. Here’s another tip, if you are going to wash your grid in the dishwasher, take these plastic pieces off! They may melt, or get lost during the wash!

There you have it! More information then you may have wanted about a sink bottom grid. But trust me, once you have one, it’s something you won’t want to live with out. And yes, it is okay for a sink grid to have weight in your sink model decision. Think about how often you are going to remodel in your life time. You always want to do it right the first time.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Kraus


Kraus has been, and continues to be, one of our most recommended brands for several reasons. The Kraus product quality is consistently high. On par and often exceeding the finish, features, and styles of brands priced a lot higher. Speaking of which, the brand is priced extremely well. Kraus’ popularity has grown exponentially and demand for their sinks and faucets is not slowing down. This leads us here: Questions and Answers about Kraus that, we at DirectSinks, are asked quite often. If you have other questions not mentioned below, please call, email, or stop in!

Kraus was founded in 2007. They are headquartered in Port Washington, NY.

Really good actually! The majority of Kraus Kitchen Sinks are made of 16-gauge stainless steel, which is more than adequate regarding thickness of the metal. The sinks have a generous amount of undercoating and padding which results in a very quiet sink. The faucets are very well made and easy to install. We recommend their products to our own friends and family, and we also have their sinks, faucets, and accessories in our own homes.

Kraus' Full Warranty can be seen here

We Summarized the Kitchen Sink and Faucet Info Below

Faucet Warranty - Lifetime Limited Warranty

Kraus USA Plumbing, LLC (“Kraus”) extends this warranty to the original purchaser for personal household use of the Faucet when purchased from an authorized Kraus dealer and in the location of original installation. This warranty is non-transferable.

Kraus warrants the structure and finish of the Faucet to be free from defects in material and workmanship under normal usage for as long as the original purchaser resides in the residence in which the Faucet was first installed.

Kraus warrants the Faucet's sprayhead assembly (including the engine, aerators, structure, restrictors, back flow preventers, sprayer hoses, braided supply line hoses which encompasses nylon, silicon and stainless steel) of the product to be free from defects in material and workmanship under normal usage for a period of one (1) year from the date of purchase.

Kraus warrants the Faucet's cartridge to be free from defects in material and workmanship under normal usage for a period of five (5) years from the date of purchase.

Any product reported to the authorized dealer or to Kraus as being defective within the warranty period will be repaired or replaced with a product of equal value at the option of Kraus.

Kitchen Sink Warranty - Lifetime Limited Warranty

Kraus USA Plumbing, LLC (“Kraus”) extends this warranty to the original purchaser for personal household use of the Kitchen Sink when purchased from a Kraus authorized dealer and in the location of original installation. This warranty is non-transferable.

Kraus warrants the structure and finish of the Kitchen Sink to be free from defects in material and workmanship under normal usage for as long as the original purchaser resides in the residence in which the sink was Kitchen Sink was first installed.

Any product reported to the authorized dealer or to Kraus as being defective within the warranty period will be repaired or replaced with a product of equal value at the option of Kraus.

Absolutely. If you call their offices, they actually pick up. If you write in, they respond.

Business Hours: Monday - Friday 9:00am to 8:00pm (EST)
Address: 12 Harbor Park Drive Port Washington, NY 11050
Call: (Kraus Customer Service): 1-800-775-0703
Text Kraus At: (631) 212-0703 (Message and data rates may apply.)
Email Kraus Directly:Info@KrausUSA.com

Not normally. First, if you dig into the internet deep enough, you will find a complaint about every sink brand and rust.
Kraus is often mentioned simply because of the popularity of the brand.
Most frequently, something that looks like rust shows up in the first few weeks after the sink is installed.
Why? During the countertop fabrication process a very fine dust is created (like sawdust from wood, but very fine). If this dust is on the sink after installation and gets wet, it may show oxidation on the surface of the sink.We see this as the most common cause. Typically after the sink is thoroughly cleaned after installation, no stains will show up. Another situation that can cause a stain or mark is if something is left in the sink and it's wet, especially flatware, pots and pans, and steel wool. The composition of your water can also contribute to this. Water with high iron content will leave stains frequently.

Really great information about this can be found here, at Bar Keepers Friend

Kraus typically has the items shipped in 2-3 days. Most items will ship with UPS from their New Jersey warehouse. Some small items, such as faucets or accessories may ship out of their N.Y. location.

No, unfortunately our clients can not pick up from Kraus

DirectSinks will often have various faucets and sinks at our location. Generally, these items are stocked for our local clients such Kitchen and Bath Designers, Builders, and Countertop fabricators. If you are on Long Island and want to pick up something from us, please call first. We do not keep stock of everything. Please call and ask before making the trip!

Normally, you won't find Kraus on display. However, exceptions are out there. We have several Kraus faucets and sinks on display in our Cabinet Showroom. Some of our local Kitchen and Bath clients also show some various Kraus items.

Observations and Opinions

Kraus Ruvati Advantage
Overall Quality Excellent Excellent Both Great
Warranty Limited Lifetime Limited Lifetime Both Great
Availability
  • Low out of stock issues.
  • Pre-Order from inbound shipments available
  • Out of stock items shipped earlier than expected
  • Low out of stock issues
  • Pre-Order from inbound shipments not available
  • Out of stock items shipped when expected
✓ Kraus
Customer Service Consistently Excellent with Great Communication Inconsistent & lack communication ✓ Kraus
Style & Design Vast Selection of Kitchen Sinks and Faucets
Decent, but more common bathroom sink designs
Vast Selection of Kitchen Sinks, No Faucets
Large Varity of Bathroom Sink Options with many unique options, including stainless steel. No Bathroom Faucets
✓ Kraus if you need a Kitchen Sink & Faucet
✓ Ruvati if you are looking for a Bathroom Sink
Value and Price 30" Small Radius Undermount Sink
KHU100-30, Standard Online Price $329.95
Often has Sales. In this exact example, the Kraus sink has been on sale for less than the Ruvati
30" Small Radius Undermount Sink
RVH7300, Standard Online Price $299.00
Infrequently has Sales
Can go either way.
Kraus often has sales that bring this example to their advantage
Check the current pricing with the links below:
Kraus KHU100-30
Ruvati RVH7300