Which Kitchen Sink Should I Choose?
Which kitchen sink should I choose?
There are so many different kitchen sinks to choose from and replacing them can be a fiddly job. This handy guide will help you work out your Iron from your Steel to get the best sink for your kitchen. They've been ranked from least to most expensive but of course, there are always exceptions, depending on the quality that you buy.
Stainless Steel
Stainless steel sinks are most common due to being the cheapest option and they come in all shapes and sizes. They are also corrosion and rust-resistant. Due to being made from thin material Stainless Steel kitchen sinks are the lightest option, making them easy to fit.
However, being made from the thinnest material, they are more prone to scratching and denting and don't retain the heat as well as the other kitchen sink materials. To minimise these issues, get the thickest stainless steel kitchen sink you can afford.
Granite Composite
These kitchen sinks are made of ground-up granite mixed with resin and colour to create a non-porous, heat resistant sink. This means that they are not only scratch, stain and shock-resistant but also antibacterial as well. Granite kitchen sinks come in a huge range of colours and have a beautiful matt finish.
Whilst they do have many positives, it is worth noting that granite kitchen sinks do look different. They, therefore, won't suit more traditional kitchen styles.
Ceramic
Fired at intense heat means ceramic kitchen sinks are durable, scratch-resistant and non-porous (antibacterial) with a glossy hard finish. Being the thickest kitchen sink material, ceramic sinks retain heat well and look beautiful in so many kitchens, especially more traditional ones. These sinks are easy to clean and will be completely fine if you throw bleach at them to blitz any stubborn dirt.
However, being a very hard material, they can break dropped items and also have the potential to chip. It's not the end of the world though as they can be spot repaired if accidents do happen. Your kitchen sink cabinet will need to have adequate support to hold the heavy sink, and this needs to be considered during the kitchen design process.
Cast-Iron
Enamelled iron sinks can withstand heat shock and will not chip, crack or burn. They also come in a range of colours including white, and can only be distinguished from ceramic by the sound when tapped. The best thing about iron sinks is that they can be spot repaired or entirely re-coated if any damage does happen to occur. This potentially makes them quite a cost-effective kitchen sink option.
It is also worth noting that they are slightly more expensive than ceramic sinks and don't come in Butler/Belfast styles. This then needs to be considered during the kitchen design process when deciding upon the style of sink you would like.
For more advice on designing your kitchen, why not read some more of our blogs?