Choosing the right kitchen sink for your new home can be a very important decision. Think about it – you will literally use it every day. From washing the dishes and hands, scrubbing your veggies clean, draining boiling hot pasta water – your kitchen sink will have a significant impact on your day to day life.
Food prep, washing and even cutting are important tasks that can be very efficient, and even enjoyable, with the right kitchen sink.
There are 2 materials that are more mainstream and available at designQ – Stainless Steel and Silgranit. But how do you know which material is right for you and your family? Read below as we explore the most important factors you should look at when deciding between the two.
Material & Durability
The kitchen sink is an item that gets used ALL the time in a home. So it makes sense that you would want it to be durable and long lasting.
Stainless Steel
Made from a premium quality stainless steel that features 18 gauge steel and an 18/10 chrome-nickel combination.
Stainless Steel sinks are resistant to heat, rust and calcium deposits.
What does a “chrome-nickel” content mean? It refers to the percentage of chrome & nickel in the sink’s stainless steel. Chrome gives Stainless Steel it’s luster & durability, while nickel provides hardness & strength. All Blanco sinks contain 18% chrome and 10% nickel, offering superior durability and corrosive resistance.
Silgranit
Silgranit is a patented granite composite material made up to 80% natural granite. This finely ground granite is blended with a high-quality source of acrylic, and then blended with specially selected pigments. The pigments colour the material all the way through so your sink color will not fade.
Silgranit is extremely strong, making it impact & scratch resistant. If you scratch a fork or knife on the surface of a Silgranit sink, the sink will actually grind down the metal of the utensil. See below for how to easily remove any scratches!
Maintenance & Cleaning
Adding yet another item to the cleaning checklist probably isn’t your idea of fun.
‘ain’t nobody got time for that. Am I right? So how easy is it to clean and maintain these kitchen sink materials?
Stainless Steel
The surface is non-porous, which prevents dirt, bacteria and microorganisms from accumulation. It also has a natural resistance to common household acids, marks and stains.
While stainless steel sinks do NOT rust, they could appear to. Rust stains are not a sign of sink deterioration, they are just simple deposits on the surface of the sink.
Scrub the stains out with a mild cleanser or metal cleaner. Be sure to clean in the same direction as the grain lines in the finish!
Silgranit
With a non-porous, smooth stone surface, the silgranit sink will repel water and liquids making it stain resistant and easy to clean.
Blanco’s patented Hygienic+Plus surface protection formula reduces bacteria growth by an average of 98%, making it safe for contact with food.
Low maintenance, easy to clean with water, a sponge, baking soda and a bit of elbow grease!
Additional Benefits
Each material has it’s own unique set of benefits too. Not all sinks are created equal!
Stainless Steel
An additional benefit to stainless steel is that each sink has a sound deadening pad applied. The material is also heat resistant.
All Blanco stainless steel sinks are manufactured in Germany to exacting standards of precision.
Silgranit
An additional benefit to Silgranit sinks is that they are heat resistant! They will not burn up to 280 C / 536 F, exceeding common boiling or baking temperatures.
All Blanco Silgranit sinks are proudly made in Canada.
Styles & Colors
While this section is not really related to the best kitchen sink material, it’s still important to know what the options are when it comes to looks, right? I mean yes it needs to be durable but it also needs to be PRETTY and FUNCTIONAL. So let’s look at the options.
While stainless steel sinks are available in only 1 color – steel, there are multiple style options to choose from.
- Top mounted
- Under mounted
- Single bowl, double bowl or even a bowl & a half
- Apron front (Farmhouse style)
Adding colour to your sink space can have a surprising impact on your kitchen. Silgranit sinks come in 9 timeless colors.
They also come in a variety of styles:
- Top mounted
- Under mounted
- Single bowl, double bowl or even a bowl & a half
- Apron front (Farmhouse style)
Bonus Material - Ceramic Fireclay
I wanted to tell you about another awesome material you can get for your kitchen sink.
Ceramic Fireclay.
This type of material is only available in 1 style – an apron front, farmhouse sink. But it’s so worth mentioning because it is STUNNING. It adds an old world charm, but in a modern way.
Hand finishing techniques and high firing temperatures used during the production result in a smooth, glossy surface. This makes it beautiful and easy to clean.
For everyday dirt and grime you can use mild dish soap with warm water & a soft cloth. For harder to clean stains it’s recommended to use a 50/50 water & bleach solution or non-abrasive cleaner.
Now What?
Now that you have learned about the differences between Stainless Steel and Silgranit, click here to check out the available options at designQ.
Have questions? Excellent! Send us an email or comment below and we would be happy to answer them for you.
