A new trend in bathroom fixtures has emerged in the past few years - glass bathroom sinks. These sinks are encountered again and again in trendy homes, in newly constructed buildings, and throughout the bath departments of local home improvement stores. These glass sinks bring an elevated sense of elegance to any ordinary bathroom. When shopping for a glass sink, some shoppers may be surprised at their price tags. These sinks usually start at $100 and can cost as much as $1,000. While the raw materials for these sinks, glass, is quite cheap, the manufacturing process is not so simple. A respectable amount of craftsmanship is required in order to produce these luxurious fixtures.
How They are Made
Usually, these glass sinks are created by a team of glass artisans. Glass is heated to a red-hot state in a furnace and manipulated on the end of a long, hollowed-out stainless-steel blowpipe. The worker responsible for gathering and crafting the molten glass on the blowpipe is known as the gaffer. The hot glass is shaped by pressing it against wood blocks and steel tables. Color is added to the hot glass by rolling it in a crushed-up metal oxide material and then reintroducing the glass and metal oxide combination to the furnace. When working with glass, keeping the material hot is crucial to preventing shattering. After the color has been applied to the glass and a generally round shape has been created, the glass is handed over to a finishing team for final shaping of the sink. In the final shaping, a small opening is created in the glass bubble where the lip of the bowl with be formed. Often, additional colored glass will be added to the lip of the sink bowl. By spinning the substance, the lip of the bowl opens up and forms the rough-shape of a sink. The material is then pressed onto a mold to finalize the shape of the sink. The sink is then slowly cooled over a period of 1-2 days. The end result of this process is a one-of-a-kind glass sink for a lucky bathroom.
Buying and Installing
Glass sinks can usually be purchased with an installation kit. The installation kit will include a pop-up drain, a mounting ring, a piece of plumbing known as a p-trap, and a decorative ring. These items can be assembled easily by the average homeowner. To complement a beautiful glass sink, sterling silver or gold-colored faucets can be installed as well. For a truly modern look, a lighted mounting ring can be placed beneath the sink to project light up into the bowl, creating a glowing wash basin.
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