The most popular choice for an undermount sink is stainless steel. The appeal is easy to understand. Stainless steel sinks are affordable, durable and versatile. They fit with just about any countertop design. An assortment of styles are readily available at big box home improvement department stores. But, you need to make sure you understand the disadvantages of stainless steel sinks before purchasing one.
Markings
Despite their name, stainless steel sinks are susceptible to stains, imperfections and smudges. The most common issue with these sinks are water stains. You’ll need to make sure your sink is fully dried after every use. One water stain can be ignored. But, over time they add up and become more noticeable.
Scratches and Dents
With continuous use, stainless steel sinks will show wear and tear. While these sinks are generally unable to crack or chip, they will display scratches and dents from everyday use. Even if they don’t sustain large damage, you will notice their imperfections.
Maintenance
Preventing imperfections on stainless steel sinks can be a lot of work. In addition to taking extra precautions to dry the sink after each use, food and grease will stick out on the shiny steel more than other surfaces. Additionally, you can not expose your sink to cleaning solutions for an extended period of time. This will make them vulnerable to rust. Be ready to do some cleaning, if you buy a stainless steel sink.
Noise
Stainless steel sinks are unquestionably noisy. Thicker undercoatings can be purchased to reduce the noise level. If you’ll be washing dishes in your sink within earshot of your living room or dining room this could create an issue. Think of your home’s layout before buying stainless.
All of that being said, stainless steel can work great in your kitchen. We’ve installed some beautiful kitchens with stainless steel sinks. But, keeping them looking sharp will take work and careful attention to detail. For a sink requiring less tedious work consider a lightweight composite sink.
Better Kitchen Sink Options
Composite Sinks
Composite sinks are also a cost-effective kitchen sink solution while providing the appearance of a high-end materials. Composite sinks are made with a combination of crushed stone and typically granite or quartz. The mixture reduces the cost while maintaining the appearance of their original materials. You can also select a number of different colors and styles to fit your countertop and kitchen. Composite sinks don’t show wear and tear like stainless steel and require less work for upkeep. All of these benefits make composite sinks a more attractive option for your kitchen sink. You can find composite sinks at any big box home improvement store.
Concrete Sinks
Another great option is concrete sinks. Concrete integral sinks are more expensive than composite or stainless steel, but they provide a number of great benefits. Our integral sinks cast as one piece. Meaning there’s no seams or edges where soot and grime accumulate. Integral sinks are quieter and won’t show wear and tear from everyday use. They also give any kitchen a unique look and feel. Plus, we can customize to your design vision. Want to learn more? Just send us an email.
We understand if you want to buy a stainless steel sink. But, make sure you know what you’re getting.