Frequently Asked Questions about Rachiele Custom Sinks

---

  Ours are! If you read the use and care instructions of virtually all imported copper sinks, they will tell you to dry your sink after EVERY use. Who has time for that? There is no need to ever dry our copper sinks. Our sinks are built to drain properly, so standing water is not an issue. Contrary to what you may have heard, our copper sinks do not turn green unless you leave something acidic in the sink. If green shows up, it is easily wiped off with a wet sponge. 

  In short, the answer is yes! It is the most hygienic surface you could possibly have for food preparation. Keep in mind, many homes have copper pipes for drinking water.

  Denting is unlikely in our copper sinks, very likely in others. We use a heavy 14 gauge cold rolled copper for our sinks. Cold rolled copper is significantly harder than annealed copper (which can dent and bend easily). Our cold rolled virgin copper is up to 8 times stronger than annealed copper.

 Our copper, brass, and bronze sinks feature a naturally weathered, burnished patina that develops without artificial heat, chemicals, or colored waxes. Unlike mass-produced finishes, our method takes time and allows the copper to regain its original color over time, making scratches and marks disappear naturally. Simply use your sink as normal, rinse after use, and enjoy its low-maintenance, self-healing beauty. 

You may have wondered about the difference between 316 and 316L. The L is important! It stands for low carbon. The lower carbon content makes our stainless steel much more resistant to corrosion than 316 stainless steel. 304 stainless steel (commonly used by most sink manufacturers) can be susceptible to corrosion when exposed to chloride solutions or installed in a saline environment (near salt water). Almost all kitchen sinks on the market are made of type 304 stainless steel. Read more about the differences between type 304 and 316L stainless steel. 

An offset drain in your kitchen sink is a true game-changer. It's designed to cater to both right-handed and left-handed users, enhancing efficiency and convenience. By positioning the drain in a rear corner, you not only get to utilize more cabinet space, possibly for a dual trash rollout, but also accommodate large items like platters or cookie sheets with ease. They fit perfectly without interfering with the drain. Ergonomically, the drain's placement aligns with where you'd instinctively brush off food scraps. Plus, this design still allows for washing and drying in the same sink, much like you would in a double-bowl setup. 

As it turns out, there are quite a few different trades that can accomplish this task. A tile setter will likely have the tools and skillset to do this work. Obviously, a granite fabricator would have the ability, but would generally decline to do this type of work as it is not in their general scope of work. A handyman who has skill with an angle grinder will also be able to accomplish this with ease. I have suggested to past customers that they post a request on Homeadvisor.com for someone in the area to do the work. Most have been quite successful. Here is a helpful link.

 I happen to be an expert on the topic of sound. As a former professional musician and someone who invented a sound deadening product for cymbals, I am acutely aware of what will and what will not work as sound deadening on metal sinks. We place sound deadening on our stainless steel and brass sinks. To view and hear a video showing how effective our sound deadening is, click here.

We have found there is no need to sound deaden our copper and bronze sinks, as they do not reverberate like stainless and brass do when they are fully installed.Years ago, I thought it would be cool to make a copper cymbal for my drum set. Much to my surprise, it sounded like it was hitting a rock with my drumstick!

First of all, we are the only full custom sink manufacturer where every sink is designed with the end user to be efficient, functional, and fun to use. Secondly, we use the finest domestic metals available. Thirdly, our extensive background in kitchen design allows us to assist you with attaining an efficient kitchen design along with the sink. Lastly, but most importantly, we have an amazing team of artisans. They love what they do, and they are passionate about perfection. They sign every sink they craft. Our internal team is also passionate about making sure our customers are thrilled with our customer service, their delivery experience, and much more.   

Unlike many factories that distribute their products through commissioned representatives and high-overhead dealers, we directly handle everything in-house, from design to crafting. Our sinks are original creations, personally designed and handcrafted right here in Florida. When you choose us, you'll never find yourself dealing with commissioned salespeople or automated answering systems. You'll work directly with our owner, Dino Rachiele, to ensure your custom sink is personally tailored to your needs. For more details, click here.

Yes! All of our sinks are generously sloped toward the drain, and we shape the bottom a bit like a funnel to enhance the draining. Every sink is tested for proper draining prior to shipping. This is one of many reasons that our copper sinks do not have to be dried after use as directed by many imports. 

All stainless steel sinks scratch. That being said, the typical stainless finish shows scratches more  than our hand finished stainless. The typical stainless is quite shiny and has a linear grain pattern. Our hand finished stainless is a random pattern and is not nearly as shiny. There is no need to protect the bottom of our sinks.  Our sinks eliminate the need for unsightly mats and bacteria-prone bottom grates. Most light scratches blend in with the pattern we provide. Deeper scratches can be dealt with by using the ScotchBrite pad that we send with the sinks.  See a video showing how easy it is to remove marks and scratches in our stainless steel sinks here. 

This is one of the most commonly asked questions when consumers are inquiring about our stainless steel sinks. The answer is generally yes, they are difficult to clean if the sink is not fashioned like ours.  We incorporate a micro-radius in the vertical corners that is as smooth as glass, making our corners exceptionally easy to clean.  I have asked hundreds of customers to report back if they feel the corners in our sinks are difficult to clean. 100% of those who have responded told us that the corners are very easy to clean. 

Beyond that, we offer a 1/8" radius corner as an option. You can see both of these options here.

 We can fit a 36" sink into a 36" cabinet thanks to our precise craftsmanship and unique design. Unlike non-custom sinks, which need to be glued and clipped by countertop fabricators, our custom sinks rest on the flanges on the left and right sides of the cabinet for support. This eliminates the need for drilling, making the installation easier for everyone. For more details and a video, click here. 

  To arrange an after-hours Zoom meeting or phone call, just email me and I will do my best to accommodate your needs. 

  We accept all major credit cards and can arrange for wire transfers. 

 Payment terms depend on your sink's needed completion date. For immediate scheduling, full payment is requested upon ordering. For needs beyond 4 months, we ask for a deposit, with the balance due 30 days before completion. For a complete review of our process, click here.

We sure do! Every sink we build is made right here, in our 5,000 square foot artisan shop. 

We sure can! We have shipped sinks throughout Europe, Hong Kong, Guam, Egypt and many other areas. Simply give us your precise and complete address, the type and size of sink you are interested in, and we can give you a shipping and crating estimate. 

 Our lead time is flexible to fit your project timeline. Clients usually need their sinks in 2 to 9 months. After an order, we schedule it to optimize delivery time to meet your needs. Due to delays in construction, our current clients often ask to move their completion dates forward, opening opportunities for earlier completion dates.  It is always best to order as soon as you can. We aim to meet your schedule, so let's discuss your specific needs to make sure your custom sink is ready when you want it. 

 Absolutely! At Rachiele Custom Sinks, we specialize in creating custom accessories based on your unique needs. Many of our accessories originate from past client requests. Our goal is to improve your kitchen experience, and we're eager to tailor accessories to your vision.   Your input is key, and we strive to exceed your expectations. 

 Selecting the right sink size is critical, and we're here to guide you through it with a personalized consultation. First, share your kitchen's floor plan to lay the groundwork. Next, we'll schedule a Zoom meeting for an in-depth conversation about your kitchen and needs. We’ll ask questions about your lifestyle, cooking habits, family size, and specific requirements. Leveraging my years of kitchen design experience, we'll offer tailored suggestions on sink sizes. By the end of our talk, you'll know exactly which sink size best suits your kitchen and lifestyle.  For in-depth information click here.

We do everything in our power to buy products made in the USA
Our wooden cutting boards are crafted in Ohio by the Amish.  All of our butcher grade cutting boards and boards that hold accessories are made in the USA. Waterstone Faucets are made in the USA. Almost all of the machinery in our shop is made in the USA. We go out of our way to buy American. Don't be fooled by companies indicating they are "made" in California and do not indicate they are also made in the USA.  California has enacted a law allowing companies to manufacture parts outside of the USA, assemble them in California, and then claim that their products are made in California.  

 All of our metals—stainless steel, bronze, brass, and copper—are truly built to last for generations. There’s no reason they shouldn’t look great and function perfectly decade after decade. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for fireclay, synthetic granite, cast iron, and other non-metallic sinks; they simply don’t offer the same long-term durability.

Every family and every home should have a size appropriate kitchen sink. There is no specific size, just like there are no specific sized homes for every family. Choose the size that will accommodate the needs of the family with an eye on proportional size to the overall kitchen size and the home size. I am more than glad to assist you with answering this question via a Zoom call where we can take a look at your kitchen and home plans together. During the call, I will simply ask questions and offer options. You will be the one making decisions based on having the proper information in order to make an informed decision.

In my opinion, a workstation sink is one of the best investments you can make for your kitchen—especially if you’re someone who cooks regularly or just appreciates a well-organized workspace. Unlike a traditional sink, a workstation sink is built to bring efficiency to every part of meal prep and cleanup. With accessories like cutting boards, colanders, and drying racks that fit right over the sink, you’ll have everything within reach, making it easy to keep counters clear and the kitchen looking tidy.

Personally, I see it as more than just a sink; it’s a tool that changes the way you move through your kitchen. Instead of bouncing back and forth from counter to sink, you’ll have everything right where you need it. For me, that’s worth every penny—it makes life easier, and it adds a whole new level of function to the kitchen.

Not in our sinks! From what I can see, the grid is used to protect the bottom of th e sink from scratches. Our bronze, copper, and brass sinks have living patinas that will quickly hide scratches and scuff marks. Our Millennia stainless steel is designed to hide scratches and water marks. Our exclusive hand finished 316L surgical grade stainless steel is designed to hide most scratches and scuff marks; however, if you would like to make your hand finished stainless steel sink look brand new, it is quite simple and very quick to accomplish. Take a look at this video.

 When it comes to undermount versus drop-in sinks, each has its own set of advantages, but I personally lean toward undermount sinks for one key reason. An undermount sink is installed beneath the countertop, which gives it a seamless look. A significant disadvantage of this type of installation is the high potential of chipping your stone around the sink when handling heavy pots and pans. This potential costly issue is virtually eliminated with our drop in sinks. The traditional drop in sinks look cheap and would certainly lower the value of most homes these days. That being said, our drop in sinks look awesome and are gaining in popularity due to the countertop protection as well as the overall look.  The old complaint about wiping crumbs or spills from the counter into a drop-in sink is a non-issue with our workstation sinks. Everything happens right on the sink itself, so there’s no need to be wiping anything from the countertop into the sink. It’s all about making life easier and bringing style to the kitchen—our drop-in workstation sinks do exactly that. 

 There is no specific depth for everyone, just like there is no specific shoe size for everyone. Rather than answer the question here, take a look at a blog post I did quite some time ago that shows the research I have done to show the optimal sink depth depending on your height and what kind of sink you are considering. 

 This is an incredibly important topic, especially considering our unique 18" wide sinks. These sinks are designed to accommodate half sheet pans and steam oven trays right on the top tier of our workstation sinks. Look for faucets with a reach longer than 10", or faucets that are angled toward the user. This is the main reason why we have represented Waterstone Faucets as our only faucet line. They offer a huge group of extended reach faucets, boasting 11" to 11 1/8" reach. Faucets are generally installed 2" behind the bowl. In the case of Waterstone, that would leave the water dropping 9" into our 18" bowl. I have noticed that our modern 9750 faucet is also slightly angled toward the user, making it even more ergonomically comfortable! As a side note, we offer the best undersink filtration system on the market. It will filter the cold side of your main faucet and has enough flow to split off to a hot tank or refrigerator. Read about it here.