Is it worth installing a sink?

[ydna]

I'm working on a new workbench along the back of the garage. There is an opportunity to install a small bar sink (would be cold water only), in the middle of the bench. Bench will be about 12'-6 long x 21" deep.

Is it worth it? I work on cars, for fun as a hobby, not for money. The only use for a sink would be to clean up and to wash the occasional item or part.

Whats the thoughts of the brain trust?

 

[fiveohpatrol]

If the water line and drain is not too difficult for you, then yes. I installed one in my new build, and it is great to have.

 

[dankicksass]

Do it.

 

[BMW Rider]

I would never have a garage without a sink again. Do it.

 

[bullfrog123]

DO IT!!
Cool down hot parts, wash hands, wash paint brushes, cool drink of water, hook a small hose to it and wash down the floor, etc etc etc.......

 

[rshadd]

There's time I wish I had a sink in the garage for when my hands are really dirty. I have a 5 gallon bucket under the spigot that I use now. I just dump it outside when I done. It works, but a permanent wash tub would be handy. If you got the feed for water and running the drain isn't bad, I say do it. Who what's to leave the garage if you don't have to?

 

[Jack Olsen]

You'll use it more than you think. But the supply and the drain can be a lot of work (if up to code) or fairly easy (if it's just a hose coming in and a pipe draining to the outside dirt).

I switched from a big laundry sink to a bar sink and have been surprised that it hasn't annoyed me more. For me, the big sink became a place where stuff ended up just sitting.

 

[e-tek]

Although I can see a few instances where it might be handy - I don't have one and don't really miss it. I think the only thing I'd really use it for would be cleaning paint brushes, which I don't do much of...
Depends on what kind of work you do in the shop I guess.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I find it very valuable to have the sink out here and not have to run into the house to was my hands. The savings on Brakleen have probably paid for the sink.

If you're questioning it, just pose the question to your wife. Tell her you'll be keeping more of the mess in the garage rather than in the house, she'll tell you to put the sink in.

 

[Outlawmws]

I wish I had a sink in the garage, as i do WAY too much "shop work" in our kitchen sink... I do plan on adding one after I complete the shed project and get re-organized.

Having said that, think about placement carefully, as you do not want it to mess up the work space either. I'd offset it to near one end or the other without knowing what the details of what your setup looks like (It's not that hard to run the supply and drains, over a few fee, heck, I did a 15 foot side run to get the washer, dryer next to the house access door...)

One question: Why can't you run a hot water line to it? Cold water can be painful...

 

[Charles (in GA)]

You'll use it more than you think. But the supply and the drain can be a lot of work (if up to code) or fairly easy (if it's just a hose coming in and a pipe draining to the outside dirt).

I switched from a big laundry sink to a bar sink and have been surprised that it hasn't annoyed me more. For me, the big sink became a place where stuff ended up just sitting.

I have double laundry sink in the shop. I use the RH half, and the LH half, up against the fridge is where I keep the bottle of Tide for washing shop rags, grit and non grit handcleaner, and antibacterial liquid soap. Its full but what better place to store stuff that would leak.

Get a 2 gal water heater and plumb in under the sink if you don't have access to the hot water lines.

Here is a previous shop sink thread.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=73459

Charles

 

[PAToyota]

Only disadvantage would be whether you are in a place that freezes in the winter and if it is an unheated shop - then either having to heat a space for the sink or draining the system each fall could be a problem.

Get a 2 gal water heater and plumb in under the sink if you don't have access to the hot water lines.

This.

 

[sberry]

Its such a deal I have 2, I like laundry tubs modified to use a single handle kitchen faucet, can turn on with back of hand. Now days small water heaters are so much cheaper than they used to be, even heat rattle cans in it for paint, etc.

On the far side of shop I have sink for mechanics and urinal, saves so much traffic from bathrooms. It has simple drain, connected to a couple sections of perforated drain pipe. The office side sink connects to septic system, its right in traffic raceway, super convenient.

 

[trbomax]

Ive never had a shop w/o at least 1 sink. The one we are building now is set up for 3 sinks. one in the bathroom (already installed) and 1 each in hers and my "clean shops". Hers is a large deep ss kitchen sink, the one in my side will be larger and deeper. I really dont want another laundry tub like Ive had before,but who knows. I washed a lot of parts in mine,actually kept a bottle of sd-20 or purple power in the sink. I used it more than the parts washer.Hot water is really nice,if there is any way to even do an instant hot,you wont regret it. Just plumb everything with drain legs where they stub out and you can drain the whole place in minutes.I have 9 water source points in mine , 5 cold,4 hot, and I can drain the whole place in about 3 min if I have to.

 

[1320stang]

I was going to put a ss kitchen sink in at one time. I was going to undermount the sink and save the cutout to slip it back into place for more bench space. I was also going to mount the faucet centered over one of the sides of the sink, possibly even a wall mount, and only serve water to the one side, the other side I was going to place a 5 gal bucket under, a pump and use aqueous parts cleaner in for a parts washer side.

Before all this, my kids bought me a parts washer and after that, I just put in a laundry tub.

 

[ydna]

so it's an overwhelming yes then.

I could plumb in hot water. It would be nice.

 

[blacksporty]

I would love, love, love to have a sink in the garage, would cost me thousands to plumb. I am always running in the house to use the kitchen sink, getting sneers from my wife. We are putting in a new nice copper sink in the kitchen right now....the sneers are going to escalate.

 

[blacksporty]

so it's an overwhelming yes then.

I could plumb in hot water. It would be nice.

You could put a small electric tankless, on demand water heater under the sink, many offices use them in the bathroom they are very small and would work fine.

 

[bimmerZ5]

i can tell you i've had countless moments wishing i had a sink in the garage to wash hands, parts, etc. my water main comes in through the garage, hits the regulator, and the makes a U pipe and back down and into the wall. i'm considering fitting a T-connector there and installing a standalone sink there. but i'm not sure where to drain... i could just drain it outside, or run a temporary hose to the driveway outside since it's also very close to the garage door.... I use my garage mostly for fixing cars and house related projects.

if you ask me, DO IT!!!

 

[rwhite692]

Sink = Yes. I made this setup using a chunk of bowling lane material and some 2" square tube. The sink is the $30 unit from home depot (w/o using the legs).

 

[bimmerZ5]

Sink = Yes. I made this setup using a chunk of bowling lane material and some 2" square tube. The sink is the $30 unit from home depot (w/o using the legs).

OMG, that's awesome! i'm envious...

 

[JimVonBaden]

I would love, love, love to have a sink in the garage, would cost me thousands to plumb. .

Same here, so I bought one like this:

I use a hose to supply water, and a 5 gallon bucket to catch it. I have a kitchen style faucet with a retractable sprayer. I generally use it outside, and let the bucket overflow. The large sediment will sink to the bottom, and relatively clean water will come out the top (no oil based materials in it usually unless I plan on dumping the bucket into the storm drain).

Jim

 

[c7fx]

We did a mop sink in our garage and it really opens up the possibilities of what I can do without making a huge mess. It does have its drawbacks but Its another option.

 

[SweetD]

It's probably the best thing I thought to do when we built the garage. Comes in super-handy for all kinds of washing stuff. I have the typical single deep laundry tub from HD or Lowe's.

 

[slghmmr88]

I am working on getting a 3 compartment sink to put away till I can get my floor poured. Larger than this one I got for a friend, and with a t&s faucet swing arm and spray attachment.

 

[54FordPanel]

Say yes to the sink. It's wonderful to have one, couldn't do without it.

Mine doubles as a urinal too.

 

[BWS]

Yeah,you'll use it alot....echoing above,I'll never have a garage/shop without at least one.

And get the hot water hooked up.I use it maybe 10% of the time...but when its needed its important.

 

[BWS]

Dble post

 

[HAP]

Say yes to the sink. It's wonderful to have one, couldn't do without it.

Mine doubles as a urinal too.

I use mine as a urinal as well; I encourage use by ladies too . I also positioned it below my office window ac that is inside of the shop so that the condensation, air compressor and hot water tank drain into the sink. One less hole in the wall... a must have option.

HAP

 

[49tandc]

Put in a relief tube beside the sink!

49T&C

 

[inphx]

Question: if your garage sink needs to link to a septic tank instead of city sewar....

Im currently on 'city' and time to time wash off hands or occaisional smaller parts for the creless convenience. I should be concerened... bu moving to a location with Septic it seems i am more concerned now.

 

[Chevy72pu]

Yes, yes, and yes again. You will never regret a sink in the shop. Wash your hands, hot water to wash your vehicle (especially in cool weather) a place to clean parts, clean fish, clean up after cooking/eating fish. Easy to install. I left a hole in the concrete floor 12" square and 12" from the edge of the concrete. After the inspector left, I tunneled under the floor from the outside and ran a pvc water line in and a pvc drain line out. Once inside the water line was split to hot and cold. I bought an instant water heater from Home Depot. For the first few years used a plastic laundry sink. Last year we remodeled our kitchen and I salvaged the double basin stainless sink and the counter top it was mounted in. Built a 2 x 4 frame for it. Drain line runs outside and downhill into the pine trees by the driveway.

 

[LSU]

Only disadvantage would be whether you are in a place that freezes in the winter and if it is an unheated shop - then either having to heat a space for the sink or draining the system each fall could be a problem.



This.

I have a detached garage that has hot and cold running water. When it gets to freezing level I either drip the facquet (figure water is pretty cheap) or I put my 110v old trouble light with a 100 watt light bulb in it down by the supply lines to keep the area warm enough so pipes don't freeze.

I've got a small utility sink and love having it. Put it in as an after thought and use it almost all the time. I've got a papertowel rack and a soap rack about it. Got some Lava brand liquid soap on shelf, a very good nail brush up there also.

Never thought I'd use it as much as I do.

 

[AndysMBgarage]

Say yes to the sink. It's wonderful to have one, couldn't do without it.

Mine doubles as a urinal too.

I wish I had a small sink [it may still happen] but I have a lemon tree out the back for a *************.

 

[oldmerc]

would not be without hot and cold water and dishwashers make parts washers .

 

[mrobins297aaa]

If you have cold water you can have hot water also.
this is what I have a instant water heater and i run it off of a barbque tank.....works good.

 

[Nick DL]

I would love to have one but I can only imagine how expensive to put in.

 

[Outlawmws]

I would love to have one but I can only imagine how expensive to put in.

Only if you are a long way from any plumbing. Most of the parts for a garage sink can easily be remodel cast offs and those are generally free. A little for materials to connect, and something to hold he sink up (Which could also be a remod cast off) and you have it.