For luxury kitchens, granite countertops have long been a hallmark of taste and style. Now, sinks that incorporate stone offer an alternative to the traditional stainless steel undermount sink that blends the granite into kitchen fixtures. Explore the look and feel of both the traditional stainless steel and the new composite granite to determine which material will be the right choice for your new sink.
Stainless Steel Sinks: Pros and Cons
Stainless steel is the most popular choice for kitchen sinks. You’ll find all different sizes and shapes of stainless steel sinks available at your local granite installer. Because these sinks are clean and modern, they work well in modern kitchens that have granite countertops and stainless steel appliances.
In addition to being widely available, stainless steel sinks offer many different advantages. The pros of choosing a stainless steel sink include:
- Wide selection of undermount sinks in stainless steel: The undermount sink style works well with granite countertops because it doesn’t break the clean line of the granite. Homeowners can easily brush loose crumbs into the sink, which can help to keep the kitchen cleaner on a day-to-day basis. Compared to other sink materials, which can be challenging to find in the undermount style, stainless steel sinks are readily available as undermount sinks for granite countertops.
- Relatively inexpensive: Compared to other types of sinks, stainless steel is very budget-friendly. Whether you are on a tight budget or simply looking to save where you can, stainless steel is a great choice.
- Naturally hygienic: As a material, stainless steel is naturally hygienic. The material itself is nonporous, which means that bacteria cannot penetrate the metal. It’s also easy to clean using common household cleaning agents. You won’t need to take special maintenance precautions with stainless steel, unlike with specialty materials such as copper.
While there are many advantages to selecting stainless steel undermount sinks, homeowners should also be aware of the downsides of choosing stainless steel for kitchen sinks. The cons of choosing stainless steel include:
- All look the same: If you’re looking for statement undermount sinks for granite countertops, stainless steel isn’t your best bet. All stainless steel sinks look fairly similar. The material doesn’t come in other colors.
- Scratches relatively easily: Over time, a stainless steel sink can become scratched or dinged. If you’re the type of person who likes perfection, you may want to choose a material that’s naturally scratch resistant, such as composite granite.
Composite Granite Sinks: Pros and Cons
A relatively new choice, composite granite undermount sinks can complement your granite countertops in a way that no other sink material can. There are several manufacturers that specialize in composite granite sinks. Blanco makes one popular model, which is called Silgranit. The advantages of selecting a Silgranit sink include:
- Wide selection of colors: At present, Silgranit sinks come in eight on-trend colors. If you want your sink to blend with your granite countertops or to serve as a statement piece in the kitchen, color is the perfect way to do that.
- Naturally tough: Some homeowners might think that a stoneware sink would chip, crack, or otherwise become damaged over time. The Silgranit sink combines crushed stone powder with epoxy resin. It is naturally scratch-resistant, heatproof, nonporous, and stain proof. The material will not fade from sun exposure and will not discolor from exposure to acids or alkalines. Naturally tough, the composite granite sink is a good choice for homeowners who cook a lot and need a sink that can withstand heavy use.
Silgranit Sink
While composite granite sinks may be a very good idea for many kitchens, they are not without their downsides. The cons of selecting a composite granite sink include:
- Less diversity: Stainless steel sinks are ubiquitous and come in many different styles and shapes. Composite granite sinks are newer. While they do come in more than 20 shapes, they aren’t yet as diverse as other types of sinks. If you have special needs for your undermount sink, then you may struggle to find a composite granite sink that meets your exact specifications.
- Costly: Because composite granite sinks use premium materials, they are more costly than stainless steel sinks. If you are on a tight budget, you may not be able to afford a Silgranit sink.
Arch City Granite has installed a wide variety of sinks during our more than 4,500 kitchen and bath countertop installations in the greater St. Louis area. Our granite installers have plenty of experience with both stainless steel and composite granite undermount sinks. Some undermount sink installations need extra prep work and support to be stable. With nine years in operation, our staff has the knowledge and skills needed to properly prepare and install your sink and your granite counters.