The material and color have a decisive impact on the overall appearance of the entire kitchen. Visual aspects, as well as maintenance and longevity considerations play a role in the choice of sink material. Stainless steel, ceramic, and granite or granite composite are three materials that have established themselves in the modern sink market. In the following, we will explain the reasons.
Stainless steel sinks: the classic kitchen sink
It is probably the most well-known sink material and is considered a classic. Stainless steel sinks are still the best sellers because of their many advantages. The fact that stainless steel is a material that can match almost any kitchen style.
Stainless steel sinks have the following advantages.
- Hygienic
- Food grade
- Rust resistant
- Heat resistant
- Acid Resistant
In addition, a simple stainless steel sink is a relatively inexpensive option. However, you can invest a little more to get a high-quality kitchen sink made of stainless steel, especially those sinks that have a lot of space that you can use happily.
Sinks made of stainless steel are sensitive to scratches and lime stains. If you like stainless steel but want to avoid scratches as much as possible, you can buy stronger and thicker stainless steel sinks. They are less prone to scratches, but also more expensive.
Tip: There are fewer limescale stains on sinks with special stainless steel coatings.
If you live in an area where the water is particularly hard, you can choose a stainless steel sink with a waterproof coating.
TIP: The sink manufacturer Parlun , for example, offers such easy-to-clean sinks.
Ceramic kitchen sinks: advantages and disadvantages
For a long time, ceramic sinks were considered outdated and old-fashioned. But, like many items with the “vintage” label, ceramic sinks have seen a resurgence in popularity in the past few years. No longer only found in classic or country kitchens, ceramic sinks can also be perfectly combined with modern, timeless or Scandinavian styles.
Today, there are ceramic sinks of various shapes and designs, such as classic, traditional, angled sinks, modern, pure, angled models, and wavy kitchen sinks. This is why ceramic sinks are so versatile. The biggest advantage of ceramic sinks is their elegant appearance.
In addition, ceramic sinks have these advantages.
- Durable
- Virtually impervious to scratches and chips
- Non-fading
A disadvantage of ceramic as a material for the kitchen sink is its considerable weight.
Tip: A ceramic sink, especially the chic and popular XXL version or double sink, can weigh up to 50 kg.
Therefore, it is highly recommended that ceramic sinks be installed by professionals.
Kitchen sink made of special ceramic material
Sinks made of special ceramic materials guarantee more comfort and even easier maintenance or a particularly refined appearance. If the sink has a special ceramic coating, such as the special material from the manufacturer Parlun, the resistance of the sink surface is further enhanced.
Granite kitchen sinks: sturdy quartz composite sinks
Most modern composite sinks are made of quartz, so they are also known as quartz composite sinks.
Good to know: there are no built-in sinks made of pure granite.
Non-porous and extremely robust quartz sinks of various shapes, colors, and sizes are produced by a polymerization process with the help of a casting process.
Composite sinks offer many advantages in the sink area:
- resistant to impact
- insensitive to heat
- acid resistant
- scratch resistant
- durable
In addition, its surface is pleasantly soft and stony to the touch. One argument against using granite in the kitchen is that over time it sometimes suffers from the minerals dissolved in tap water. It has been reported that the rich color of quartz sinks can become dull over time.
Acrylic and glass in the sink area
In fact, there are no pure glass sinks. This type of sink is a mix of safety glass and stainless steel. The pool itself is made of stainless steel and the surrounding surface is made of glass. The extremely smooth surface structure of the glass is an advantage in terms of hygiene and also makes maintenance low costs. At the same time, the stainless steel part ensures that the sink is strong and sturdy.
Tip: Combine a glass countertop with an elegant stainless steel undermount sink for an elegant look.
