Need plumbing advice? Our Bayside plumbers are here to help!
We get a lot of questions about technical things like water pressure, pipe materials and gas plumbing, just to name a few.
However, that isn’t all our team can help out with – we can also give you advice about what you should include in your plumbing upgrade or home renovation!
In particular, many people who are planning an alfresco dining area question whether they should add an outdoor sink to their set up.
If you ask us, that’s an excellent idea!
In fact, we think it might we worth considering an outside sink even if you don’t have an outdoor dining area.
Why’s that?
4 lesser-known benefits of an outdoor sink
1. Plain old convenience
Perhaps you’re the type of person who spends a lot of time out in the garden, and you frequently find yourself washing off tools and pots.
Alternatively, you might have a tradie living in your home who keeps coming home with dirty boots, or who’s often sent straight to the laundry room to wash things off after a long day at work.
Maybe your dog has a habit of getting muddy after walks, and you don’t want to leave dirt and mud tracks throughout your home’s carpets or floorboards.
Either way, our Bayside plumbers strongly suggest an outdoor sink.
An outdoor sink gives you a way to clean utensils, buckets, tools and more without sacrificing your floors, carpet or laundry sink.
You can wash off your hands and shoes in the sink before you go inside, keeping the inside of your home spotless.
And unlike the garden hose, you won’t splash water everywhere in the process!
2. An outdoor sink can make your living space feel bigger
We know this sounds a bit counterintuitive – however, we aren’t talking about physical space!
Many people who decide to install an outdoor sink find that all of a sudden, they find themselves using their outdoor areas more, wheeling out the barbecue and table more often.
When you build an outdoor area – complete with a sink and barbecue – you create a second living space.
When the warmer weather comes around, this gives you more space to work with when entertaining guests or hosting an event.
3. It makes alfresco and outdoor entertainment easier
If you already have an alfresco eating area and don’t already have an outdoor sink as part of it, our Bayside plumbers suggest you have a serious think about adding one.
Introducing a sink into your outdoor eating area can be good for a lot of things:
- Refilling the table water jug
- Reducing spillage between the outside table and the inside sink
- Cleaning up outside spills
- Cleaning the barbecue/grill
Now you can do all of this without having to run back and forth!
4. Did you know? Outdoor sinks can protect your health
You might think this is a bit of a stretch, but hear us out!
When you have to wash something dirty like a muddy pair of shoes, chances are you default to the kitchen or laundry sink.
The problem is that you may leave behind dirt, bacteria or worse. These hidden nasties cling to your sink, and can be hard to remove without a deep clean.
This is a major problem, as these sinks are also used for other things such as food and laundry!
Needless to say, this may pose a health risk.
Outdoor sinks provide a place to wash things off while leaving bacteria, germs and other health hazards outside and away from your house.
Which kind of outdoor sink is right for you? Our Bayside plumber clues you in!
The first thing you need to ask yourself when selecting an outdoor sink is what you’re going to use it for.
Our Bayside plumbers understand that not everyone’s the same and there are many different reasons for investing in an outdoor sink:
- Some use outdoor sinks to enhance their outdoor entertainment areas
- Others choose them strictly for practical reasons like cleaning or washing
The type of material, design and size you opt for will vary depending on what you plan on doing with it.
To help you come to a decision, we’ve put together a list of the different types of outdoor sink, and what each is best suited for.
Copper vs. stone. vs. steel
As Bayside plumbers, the first question we usually get when our customers want to install an outdoor sink is this: “what should it be made of?”
A lot of people tend to worry about their sinks holding up to the weather if they install one outside.
We understand why – outside, it’ll be exposed to the elements, so it’s natural to want a sink that can withstand all of that.
The thing is that sinks are already designed and made to hold water – that’s what they’re designed for, after all. They can stand up to a little bit of rain water.
In fact, there is little to no risk of water damage when you install a sink outside. As long as it’s rated for outdoor use, it doesn’t matter what it’s made of.
Freestanding sink
The next decision you’ll have to make is what type of sink you get installed.
Freestanding sinks are the most popular option for people who are planning to install a sink outdoors, likely because it’s the easiest to install.
The whole sink is a single unit, with no need for a cabinet or bench to go with it.
It’s thanks to this simplicity that it’s such a common choice for those who simply need a sink for cleaning dirt off their hands or mud off their gumboots.
Tasks like this don’t need anything too fancy – a simple stainless steel or ceramic one will get the job done, and with minimal expense too.
Drop-in sink
If appearances matter to you, drop-in sinks might be just what you’re looking for.
A drop-in sink is the perfect addition to any outdoor area.
Fitting flush with your outside bench or cabinet, these sinks are seamless and are perfect for adding an extra dash of class to your alfresco dining.
Even better – there are so many different styles to choose from.
You can select different widths, lengths and depths as well as colours and materials.
Here’s a tip from our Bayside plumbers: an outdoor drop in sink can be used for more than just doing the dishes – if you’re entertaining or having a dinner party, you can fill the sink with ice and use it as a makeshift esky!
Speak to our plumbers if you’d like to learn more about installing a sink outside at your place
Just like any other plumbing fixture, installing an outdoor sink requires the skill and experience of a licensed professional.
Your plumber has to:
- Connect the sink to the water supply
- Consider and strategise for drainage
- Ensure the sink is properly fitted
Just like any other plumbing installation, you’ll want a Bayside plumber who can provide you with masterful service.
And that’s exactly what the team at Watermaster Plumbing offer.
Whether you’re looking to install an outdoor sink into your home or your business, our team can do it.
Our proven track record includes a host of unconventional plumbing jobs – in addition to outdoor sinks, we can also:
- Install outdoor showers
- Provide dental plumbing
- Fix roof leaks
- Service and repair roof plumbing
Our team understand how important it is to make sure jobs are completed to schedule and on time – we will work with you to make sure that happens, whether the job is commercial, domestic plumbing or emergency in nature.
If you want to contact us to discuss any plumbing work that you want done, call and speak to our friendly team! 1300 156 650.