Stainless steel is easily workable and has a long service life that will retain its clean finish look, with little to no maintenance costs. Additionally, due to the special high chromium and nickel-alloyed grades, it can resist scaling and retain strength at extreme temperatures better than porcelain.
Porcelain steel provides a glossy finish that is easy to clean while still offering excellent protection from high temperatures; however, it is not as resistant as stainless steel when exposed to extreme temperatures over long periods of time.
'I've found that stainless steel kitchen sinks are the easiest to maintain,' says professional cleaner Sara San Angelo, The Cleaning Lady. 'They are durable and easy to clean. Usually, you only need soap and water to clean them. '
Porcelain sinks are both beautiful and easy to clean. On the down side, it's a brittle material and easily cracked. One drop of a heavy object can leave you staring at a major chip in your porcelain.
Not only are our stainless steel sinks durable, they are also known for their inability to rust and backed by our Limited Rust-Free Warranty. Of course, after usual everyday use, it is possible for them to develop small, temporary scratches. Fortunately, these scratches are easy to avoid and easy to remove.
While stainless steel sinks are durable, they do tend to scratch if abrasive cleansers are used. You might notice tiny scratches on an older stainless steel sink if you look closely. Most stainless steel varieties have a grain or pattern to them.
If you opt for a classic white porcelain farmhouse sink, it's very likely to get stained, and it will require regular cleaning to keep it sparkling. Scrubbing the sink with baking soda will help remove sauce stains, yet this mild abrasive won't scratch the surface.
Pouring boiling water is quite risky as it might lead to a steam burn or scalding. Another thing to keep in mind is what type of material you are pouring in into. If you have a porcelain sink, it is likely to crack due to the heat. All in all, pouring boiling water down your drain will only cause issues down the road.
Thermal Stress
Considering porcelain is usually layered on metal (which conducts heat), the sink loses heat rapidly and can become very cold—even when the room isn't cold. Therefore, hot water getting into contact with cold porcelain creates temperature stress that can cause cracks on the sink's surface.
Porcelain, ceramic and fireclay kitchen sinks have extremely low water absorption characteristics (making them easy to keep clean on a regular basis).
Carbon steel, on the other hand, has a matte finish and has a higher tensile strength and is harder than stainless steel. This material is used for knives and other bladed instruments that must maintain their cutting edge longer.
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.
Stainless steel's strength, resistance to corrosion and low maintenance make it the ideal material for a wide range of applications. It also has a long life cycle and is 100% recyclable.
Stainless steel cookware is generally more robust than ceramic cookware. Its construction of several metals, chromium in particular, gives it strong scratch and corrosion resistant properties. This also means it's resistant to dents, allowing it to last years with proper care.
304 stainless steel is the most common form of stainless steel used around the world due to excellent corrosion resistance and value. 304 can withstand corrosion from most oxidizing acids.
Some sinks are solid porcelain, but most have steel or cast iron core covered with a baked-on porcelain finish. Heavy or sharp objects dropped into a porcelain sink can chip or scratch its surface.
Porcelain sinks have an average lifespan of 20–25 years. While all materials take on wear and tear over time, porcelain sinks can be refinished to keep them looking brand new and gorgeous for decades.
Porcelain kitchen sinks are heat and cold resistant
The good news is if you place a hot pan directly in a porcelain sink, you won't have to worry about any thermal damage.
We're not saying stainless steel sinks are going out of style; they're similar to white kitchens - a.k.a. "always in style." But, based on some of our customers' recent choices, those that choose to pass on stainless sink options seem to prefer innovative alternatives that add a little more color to their kitchen ...
Durability - It's nearly impossible to scratch or chip fireclay, and they're much less likely to crack or scratch compared to cast iron. Because of the finish, fireclay sinks are unlikely to discolor, rust, or fade over time.
Cons to consider:
Although porcelain tile is extremely durable, it does occasionally chip, particularly around the edges. This may not be noticeable with through-body composition, but it is a concern. Porcelain tile is typically more expensive than ceramic and other popular flooring materials.
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.
It's highly durable, heat-resistant, and unlikely to stain. Stainless steel sinks are made in a wide range of styles and configurations, so you can find the perfect fit for your kitchen. They're also one of the most affordable kitchen sink materials on the market.