Stainless Steel
With antimicrobial properties and a rust resistant surface, stainless steel is ultra hygienic, making it easier to prevent contamination as you prepare food or wash your dishes. And because it's heat and stain resistant, it's extremely easy to keep stainless steel sinks clean!
Stainless steel is by far the most popular option for a kitchen sink, offering a contemporary design that works well with a range of interiors. It is durable, low-maintenance, and resistant to rust and corrosion. The thickness of stainless steel is referred to as its gauge; the higher the gauge, the thinner the steel.
THICKER GAUGES
A better quality stainless steel kitchen sink is the 18-gauge, which is 0.0500 inches. Many home improvement choices recommend 16 to 18 gauges as a good choice for a stainless steel kitchen sink. The more costly, a 16-gauge stainless sinks is often touted as a luxury sink and are 0.0625 inches thick.
If you prioritize style, sound absorption, and a luxurious look, a quartz sink might be the best option for you. On the other hand, if you value durability, versatility, and a more affordable price point, a stainless steel sink could be the way to go.
The maximum gauge I would recommend for any stainless steel kitchen sink is 18 gauge. The best choice is of course 16 gauge, however either 16 or 18 gauge will provide the same top value in terms of cost, performance and overall satisfaction. Don't bother with higher gauges (20, 22, 24) which are significantly thinner.
Quartz Composite
Best for: High durability, heat-resistance, and sound dampening. If the vulnerabilities of solid surface acrylic resin or enameled kitchen sinks are concerning, then a quartz composite kitchen sink is a great option.
The most stain-resistant sink is a stainless steel sink. A stainless steel sink is the most durable and low-maintenance kitchen sink as they are resistant to heat, stains, and scratches.
Stainless steel sinks are very low maintenance; they are corrosion and rust resistant, and as long as they are cared for properly and wiped down after every use, they should not stain. Find out more about how to clean a stainless steel sink by reading our guide with handy tips and tricks from our experts.
The best color for a sink could be traditional white, multi-colored through to a statement black, including metallic finishes in silver, gold, and bronze. There is a huge selection of sink colors and shades to harmonize and blend with your existing bathroom, kitchen, and washroom color schemes.
The most popular bathroom sink shape is by far the Oval Sink. It's the ideal size as it's wider than round & square sinks but it allows more counterspace than rectangular sinks. Due to its popularity, it's also the most affordable type of shape.
The most common sizes for a kitchen sink are 30" or 33", however a standard size could measure anywhere between 24" and 36" in length.
Porcelain, ceramic and fireclay kitchen sinks have extremely low water absorption characteristics (making them easy to keep clean on a regular basis).
Fireclay
Manufactured from clay fired at an extremely high temperature, fireclay sinks are highly resistant to scratches, staining and chipping. Cleanup is easy — just dish soap on a sponge, or use a mild abrasive cleanser for tougher marks. These are the sinks I often recommend for those who want a white kitchen sink.
As consumers learned how to keep the surfaces of stainless steel appliances free of smudges and streaks by using the right cleaners and techniques, they discovered that stainless steel surfaces do get scratches over time from other metals hitting the surface, minerals in hard water, or over-abrasive cleaning.
Porcelain and cast iron sinks have been around for a very long time, yet they still remain a top choice for kitchen sinks. Porcelain sinks are non-porous and easy to clean. Cast iron sinks are durable and long-lasting. The most popular style of porcelain or cast iron sink is a farmhouse or apron configuration.
Natural stone. An increasingly popular alternative to a classic ceramic or stainless steel sink, a natural stone sink brings warmth and character to kitchen trends. Natural materials are a key tenet of 'soft' minimalism, the latest wave of the trend synonymous with calming, clutter-free spaces.
Deeper sinks typically are preferred by more avid cooks because they tend to use a lot of dishes, pots and pans when preparing meals and deeper sinks allows them to hide dirty dishes from the view of guests and others. Bakers also prefer deeper sinks because they can easily accommodate sheet pans and cutting boards.
I would HIGHLY recommend this sink! You will save a lot of money and it is superb quality. It is not cheaply made, very heavy and made from 16GA stainless. As good as ANY $1,000 sink.
It is best to opt for 1.2mm or 1.5mm stainless steel sinks. They are resistant to dents and dings; thus, even if you accidentally drop the pointy edge of a knife into the stainless steel sink, you don't have to worry about the piercing in the metal sheet.
On average, most kitchen sinks are 18 gauge sinks. This is because although it may be slightly thinner than a 16 gauge, it is still durable and more cost-effective.