Kitchen sink materials

Kitchen sinks now come in a wide range of materials that suit the tightest budget or most ambitious renovator's vision. So what's available? Kitchen Finder reveals all.

Stainless Steel

The most popular choice of all the kitchen sinks, stainless steel is easy to clean, hygienic and hard-wearing. Unfortunately it can also be noisy and scratch or dent easily. Aware of these pitfalls, however, manufacturers are now making stainless steel sinks in a range of gauges, the lowest being the thickest and least likely to dent. A lower gauge also means less noise while running water. You might want to also check that the base of the sink is undercoated, which will also help to reduce noise.

Acrylic

Acrylic sinks are a good option, and although not as heat resistant as stainless steel, many now come with built in properties to fight germs. They are easy to clean and don't scratch too easily.

Porcelain

Usually made form cast iron or other heavy materials, porcelain sinks are usually beautiful and heard wearing. However, they do have a tendency to ship if heavy objects are dropped on them. If you already have a nice old porcelain sink that's a bit rough around the edges, it might be possible to resurface it, like many people do with old bathtubs. Porcelain does stain and become old looking after some years, so resurfacing may have to be done at some stage anyway.

Stone and composite materials

Sinks made out of stone such as granite can be extremely hard wearing and worth every penny. They are heat and scratch resistant, easy to clean and not as expensive as one might think. Some granite sinks go for as little as $400. Composite materials, such as Asterite and Corian, have been developed by chemical manufactures and come in a variety of colours. They are hard wearing and come in a range of shapes and sink formations.

Ceramic

Making a comeback is kiln-fired porcelain. These are common in kitchens that want to achieve a more rustic look, and increasingly they are also being shaped into more contemporary designs. Ceramic sinks usually come in ivory or white, are very hard wearing, and are scratch, satin and heat resistant. They might chip or crack, however, and are almost guaranteed to break your crockery if you drop them on it.