Important facts about stainless steel sinks
Stainless steel is the most popular sink material in home kitchens. It’s durable, lightweight, easy to clean and maintain, value for money and green. And it’s an extremely versatile material for sink design, so there’s an incredibly wide choice of styles and designs, something to suit any kitchen.
Most modern households rely on stainless steel more than its contemporary materials. You can find ceramic, porcelain, quartz, and marble sinks quite easily at affordable rates. However, every homemaker believes that stainless steel kitchens are perfect for the ideal home kitchen.
Stainless steel is an alloy that is resistant to rusting, staining, and corrosion under normal circumstances. Now, what are the normal household circumstances that every sink face? Apart from bearing the weight of dirty dishes, sinks need to withstand the daily use of dishwashing detergent, the occasional touch of bleach and sink cleaners. Stainless steel is the simplest metal alloy that contains both nickel and chromium. These are two elements that enhance the durability and strength of the sink.
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When an inferior quality sink is used for some time, the users can see discoloration, stains, and even spots appearing on the sink bowl surface, but by then it is too late. Changing the sink at this time would be a costly exercise, especially in the case of the countertop being granite or marble. Granite counter tops are not cheap. And people don’t replace them every two to three years. So it is not justifiable to gamble with a cheap inferior quality sink with your granite or marble counter top, or end up buying an over-priced sink for an exorbitant amount.
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The reason one sink is cheaper than other, is mainly due to companies offering sinks made out of inferior grade stainless steel, except for sink brands which are over-priced. When a customer buys an over-priced sink, they do not realize they are paying for the brand name and not for the sink.
It’s always better to purchase a stainless steel sink from a recognized company which guarantees the quality and the grade of the stainless steel, and offers a limited life time warranty.
What is stainless steel grade?
Stainless steel’s grade shows the percentage of chromium and nickel contained in the steel. 18/8 stainless, for example, contains 18% chromium and 8% nickel, an excellent ratio for stain resistance. The higher the grade numbers, the better the steel.
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Even though the standard grade for stainless steel sinks should be chrome 18% and nickel 10% (known as 18/10) there are sinks available with chrome as low as 12% and nickel as low as 4%, at very low prices or offered as free give a ways, when you get your granite counter top made. Inferior grade sinks and the standard grade sinks both look and weighs the same. It is just not possible for a regular customer to find out if the stainless steel sink is made out of inferior grade steel or not.
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Like every sink material, stainless steel has its advantages and disadvantages.
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Pros of stainless steel:
- Long life expectancy
- Affordable
- Easy to maintain
- Durable
- Heat- and stain-resistant
- Does not chip or crack
- Antibacterial properties; easy to disinfect
- Wide variety of options
- Green : recyclable; many are made of recycled materials
Cons of stainless steel:
- May scratch or dent
- Prone to water spots, stains and rust spots without proper care
- Limited color options
What is stainless steel gauge?
The industry standard for a household kitchen sink is 18g (gauge) (1.0 – 1.3mm)
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But some companies try to confuse customers by offering 16g & 15g. (Thicker steel) stainless steel sinks. Technically, there is no reason to have heavy gauge steel sinks for a regular household kitchen. Having a sink thicker than the standard thickness, has no added value to the customer. What is important is the grade of the steel. The thicker gauge only means that it has more metal and it weighs more, which is an extra weight to the drain system and the countertop.
Pressed vs. fabricated (Handmade) stainless steel sinks
Pressed stainless steel sinks mean, in which the steel is heated, pressed and shaped using a mold. Fabricated (Handmade) is when a sheet of steel is cut, and welded to form the walls of the sink.
Stainless steel sinks are versatile
They are available as under-mount, top mount, or Apron / farmhouse stainless steel sinks. Also, in every conceivable shape from round to rectangular, d-bowl to square, and novelty shapes for every kitchen. Some stainless steel sinks include features to ease your food prep and cleanup
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Finish of stainless steel sinks
The sink’s finish is largely a matter of preference. The most common choices are:
- Mirror finish: extra shiny without a visible grain, which looks lovely but is the most prone to noticeable scratches stains and water spots
- Brushed finish: Sinks with heavy brush lines Looks crude and unfinished. But hide scratches
- Unique STELLA finish (Pearl stain finish) – This finish is a semi brush finish. This finish would hide the light scratch marks which occur with the usage of the sink, also it would not show the crude and heavy brush marks. Instead it will show a modern and elegant finish to the sink. This the ideal finish a stainless steel sink should have.