Franke uses nothing but the best when it comes to top quality stainless steel. Their sinks vary anywhere from 16 gauge, which is commercial gauge, to 20 gauge sinks. Franke has a line of Professional Series sinks at 16 gauge giving you the highest quality stainless steel used in commercial kitchens.

Stainless steel sinks should be punched prior to purchase. Order the sink requesting the extra hole. Drilling holes may dent a stainless steel sink and cause a brown discoloration around the hole due to heat caused by friction. Granite sinks have predrilled "knock-out" holes in the deck. Instructions for the knocking out the holes are as follows:

• Carefully set sink into the cutout countertop. This will provide proper support.
• Place a small flat punch on the center of the selected knockout sticker located on top of the deck. DO NOT PUNCH FROM THE BOTTOM.
• Strike firmly with hammer.
• Remove to install clips, faucet or other accessories.
• Follow instructions provided with sink for installation.

• Do Routine Cleaning
• Use soap, warm water and sponge. Rinse thoroughly and wipe dry.
• To Remove Stubborn Stains BonAmi, BarKeeper's Friend or similar products are helpful in removing tough stains. Always rub in the direction of the grain, rinse thoroughly, and wipe dry.
• To Maintain Luster
  Use a small amount of mineral oil on a soft cloth. Apply evenly to the entire surface of sink and buff to a shiny finish.

Do not ever use steel wool, scouring pads, steel brushes, etc. Their particles may become embedded in the sink surface and cause a rusty discoloration.

No. They trap water causing iron deposits and surface discoloration.

The gauge is the thickness of the stainless steel. An easy rule of thumb is, the lower the number of the gauge, the thicker and better the stainless steel. Therefore, 18 gauge is better than 20 gauge.

As with most things, your stainless steel sink WILL scratch with use. However, over time as the sink ages, scratches will become less apparent and in fact blend into the surface.

Stainless steel stands up to high hot or cold temperatures, along with sudden temperature changes. That means you can drain hot boiling pasta in your sink, followed with a rinse of ice cold water, without causing any damage to your sink's surface.

If water is left standing anywhere on your stainless steel sink, it will evaporate and leave a film (spots) on the surface of the steel. This film can be removed with regular dish soap and water and a soft cloth. For removing heavier residue, you may use a mild solution of vinegar and water. Be sure to rinse thoroughly and towel dry.

Sink tip: Regularly rinse and towel dry your sink after use to keep its surface exposed to oxygen. (Oxygen reacts with chromium in the steel to form a strong, highly protective chrome oxide film on the surface of your sink. It is this film that makes stainless resistant to corrosion and gives it a remarkably long life.)

Stainless steel is a wonderful material that does not rust. However, if given the opportunity, iron particles that do rust will bond to its surface - from metal cooking implements for instance. To remove this surface corrosion, place a small amount of Autosol® on a damp or dry cloth. Rub in the direction of the grain on the bottom or sides of the bowl. You may also use Scotch-Brite® on the bottom or sides of the bowl but NOT on the mirrored surface. If the mirrored finish has dulled, use a metal polish such as Peek® to restore its lustre. Please do not use a silver dip cleaner. Thoroughly rinse and towel dry.

Sink tip: Regularly rinse and towel dry your sink after use to keep its surface exposed to oxygen. (It is the oxygen that reacts with chromium in the steel to form a strong, highly protective chrome oxide film on the surface. It is this film that makes stainless resistant to corrosion and gives it a remarkably long life.)

Franke believes in having a sink for every style home. For this reason they incorporate color and texture into their line of sinks. Aside from stainless steel, Franke produces sinks made of Granite, Titanium, Fireclay and Polished Brass.

No, Franke sinks are available in the finest stainless steel, fireclay, and granite. These materials are all non-porous.

A topmount sink has a lip that folds over the countertop and is therefore resting on top of the countertop cutout. Fasteners securely mount an undermount sink underneath the countertop so that a polished edge of granite, marble, etc. is exposed above the sink. An undermount sink cutout requires more polishing and installation labor than a topmount sink cutout and is therefore a more expensive option.

Bowl configuration really is a personal preference. If you tend to use a lot of large platters, roasters or pots, a combination bowl sink might be a good choice. An equal sized double bowl is a good wash and rinse model.

PCX – Prestige Classic Sink has a depth of just less than 8" in the large bowl. PRX – Prestige Extra Deep Sink has a depth of just less than 10" in the large bowl.

Food preparation, cooking, and cleanup all involve the kitchen sink undoubtedly making it the most used appliance in the kitchen.

Read more on how to Select the right sink.  

Yes. In fact, some stainless steel sinks look bright and shiny at first, but rust or corrode in time. All stainless steel sinks are not equal in quality and material content. Look for the best combination of chromium and nickel for superior corrosion resistance and durability.

Very. The thicker the steel, the less susceptible it is to denting, bowing and noise transmission from pots and pans hitting the metal surface.

The thickness, called "gauge", can be determined by its number. The lower the number, the thicker the steel. Most sinks come in 18 or 20 gauge steel. The 18 gauge is the thicker of the two and more than ample thickness for residential sinks.

Look for a rich, deep, satin-smooth finish rather than a surface gloss. The luster comes from machine and hand-finishing operations, which enable the sink to keep its beauty for years - without cracks, chips, rust or stains. Many feel that the look actually improves with age, taking on a soft patina glow.

The 3 basic measurements for comparing sink sizes are:

• depth – distance from the top of the rim to the bottom of the sink next to the drain
• taper – inward slope of each side of the sink from rim to bottom
• radius – measure of the bowl’s corners & bottoms where the sides and bottom mee

The deeper the bowl, the straighter the slope and the tighter (smaller) the radius, the more capacity there is in the sink.

The undercoating on your sink absorbs sound, protects against condensation and helps maintain sink water temperature.

Read more about Why Franke?

What happens with the tri flow series is, they can get clogged. The way to fix that is to remove the spout by way of a 2MM screw in the back of the body. Then you can lift the spout up and clean the debris off the brightly colored flow restrictor. Then reinstall. This happens very often when homes have poor water quality. The hot and cold water is not filtered so anything could get inside there. Its mostly from wells NY, CA, FL or WA.

Finishes are durable if cared for correctly – do not use abrasive and damaging cleansers. Warm water and a soft cloth should be all that is needed. Overall chrome is usually the most durable.

Sure, many faucet manufacturers offer taps designed for one or two holes. Most common sink configurations have either 3, 4 or 5 mounting holes on the sink top. Look under the sink to determine the number of holes in your sink because the holes may be covered by an existing tap. Also, note that once you have purchased a tap without a sprayer that you generally can't just add a sprayer. You need to decide before you purchase a kitchen tap whether you want a sprayer or not.

You could, but it is absolutely not recommended. Air gaps have an health safety function and should be kept on the deck of the sink counter.

Air gaps might be a required code for dishwashers and for water softeners in many areas throughout the United States.

Absolutely. Standard-size sink openings and tap dimensions are used throughout the U.S. plumbing industry. Generally, the standard distance between hot and cold inlets or the mounting hardware for both single and two-handled kitchen model faucets is 8" inches.

Franke accessories can help keep your kitchen and prep area clean and organized, adding to the enjoyment of the food preparation. Greater efficiency in your efforts is the result of the customization of the cutting boards and grids to each unique sinks design.

All of the holes for Franke faucets, soap dispensers and little butlers are 1 3/8" in diameter.

Yes.

We recommend that you clean your Franke accessories with Bon Ami or Bar Keepers Friend.

The grids are coated to protect the sink, especially for Shelf grids which don't have plastic feet.

Vinyl coating. The coating is not resistant to heat, it will melt if a hot pan, etc, is placed on it.

Please contact your Franke Consumer Products technical department to get replacement feet.

Call 1-800-626-5771.

Yes, the grids are Stainless Steel that is Electro Polished. This is an electronically-controlled chemical process that removes surface material leaving a clean, bright finish. The process also removes a great deal of iron contamination and helps create a surface more impervious to potential corrosion.

The C stands for Coated.

You may wish to add water to thicker concentrated liquid soaps, in a 1/3 water to 2/3 ratio to reduce the possibility of clogging. Regular cleaning of the soap dispenser is also recommended.

The answer is definitely YES. A properly sized septic tank can easily accommodate the use of a disposer. Septic systems designed to accommodate a dishwasher or clothes washer can also accommodate a disposer. On a daily basis, and on average, a household food waste disposer uses an amount of water equal to one flush of a toilet.

Just the opposite, in fact. Decades of independent international research has shown that using a disposer is the safest, easiest and most environmentally responsible way to dispose of biodegradable food waste. Disposers significantly help reduce landfills and, in fact, disposer food waste has been recycled to form fertilizer in some parts of the country.