| Choosing a new sink is a difficult task to say the | | | | made from an even larger variety of materials. |
| least. Should you order one basin or two? How | | | | They do scratch and are much less "hot pot" |
| about three? Deep basin or shallow basin? Is a | | | | friendly when compared to Stainless. All things |
| built in drainboard really necessary? How about a | | | | considered, Composite sinks are less durable than |
| ledge? Those are just a few questions you should | | | | Stainless but can offer a more customized look to |
| ask yourself before you order your new sink. | | | | your kitchen. |
| Another question that must be answered is the | | | | Soapstone - these apron sinks diminish storage |
| type of material your sink will be made of: | | | | space under the sink but are easy to clean and |
| Stainless Steel, Fireclay, Composite, Soapstone, or | | | | can handle hot pots almost as well as Stainless. |
| Slate? The choices are many when it comes to | | | | The Vermont Soapstone company has been |
| sink material. We are going to discuss five of | | | | producing these sinks since 1850. These types of |
| them. | | | | sinks are not widely known or widely distributed. |
| Stainless Steel - the old standby for the kitchen | | | | They are available in a soft, whitish gray with a |
| sink, and for good reason. Hands down, Stainless | | | | lighter quartz marbling. Stain resistance increases |
| is the most durable form of kitchen sink available. | | | | with the sink's age, and these sinks blend equally |
| The steel never fades and the high-tech look of | | | | with both modern and traditional designs. |
| Stainless always appears current with modern | | | | Slate - these types of sinks lean towards difficult |
| design. Stainless is easy to install (and likewise | | | | for general cleaning and can be particularly hard on |
| easy to remove) and easy to keep clean. Also, | | | | dropped dishes. These are custom-order only and |
| extremely hot pans can be placed directly onto its | | | | are available in reddish, blackish, and purplish tones. |
| surface without cause for worry. You can never | | | | Care should be taken when sealing otherwise |
| go wrong with a Stainless Steel sink unless you | | | | staining can occur. Despite the few shortcomings |
| insist on a warmer look and feel for your kitchen | | | | of this type of sink, no other sink material offers |
| - the cold steel often presents a cold atmosphere | | | | the texture and organic beauty that can only be |
| along with its practical attributes. | | | | found in a true Slate sink. |
| Fireclay - these sinks are made from a natural | | | | When choosing your sink material, you should ask |
| material and are fired in extremely hot | | | | yourself the following: how much time do you |
| temperatures using an unusual technique. The | | | | spend using the sink everyday? Do you prefer an |
| firing temperatures are so hot that the glaze | | | | easy-to-clean sink or a beautiful sink that requires |
| fuses with the clay, resulting in an exceptionally | | | | more daily maintenance? Will your new sink |
| strong, hard surface that is resilient to chips, | | | | experience mild or heavy usage? Will dropped |
| stains, scratches, and dings. If you are worried | | | | dishes be common place or rare? Are you |
| about chipping your Fireclay sink from the | | | | worried about chipping and staining? Is your new |
| occasional dropped pan, you can purchase a wire | | | | sink going to last a lifetime or is there a possibility |
| grid to guard against such an occurrence. Fireclay | | | | you could be replacing it in five to ten years? Are |
| sinks are the new trend in today's kitchen design. | | | | you on a budget or is the sky the limit when it |
| They are available in a variety of colors and | | | | comes to pricing? By answering the above |
| designs. | | | | questions and taking into consideration the |
| Composite - the thicker the design, the more | | | | benefits and liabilities of each sink material, you |
| durable your Composite sink will be. These types | | | | should be able to make a more informed decision |
| of sinks come in a wide variety of colors and are | | | | when choosing your new kitchen sink. |