What Are Kitchen Sinks Made Of ? [13 Types+Pros & Cons]

Do you want to replace or get a new kitchen sink? But how can you know which material would work in your kitchen? We got you covered. 

With the pandemic hitting, there is a rise in health awareness which makes people cook healthy meals at home. Consequently, it boosted the demand for kitchen sinks having high-quality material in our homes.  

One of the high-quality and popular sink materials is stainless steel. It might be surprising, but almost 70% of the sinks are stainless steel. But, you might be wondering, are there only metallic kitchen sinks? If not, then what materials strictly come under the rest of 30%? 

So, that is what I’m going to share with you today -13 different types of materials available in kitchen sinks. This article will discuss all the sink materials and their pros and cons. So, keep reading to find out what kitchen sinks are made of and what fits your kitchen. 

13 Types of Kitchen Sink Materials Explained

Did you know? Research conducted on the global kitchen sink market predicted that the market is expected to expand by $615.84 million between 2021-2025 with a CAGR of 4%.  

With the sink market overflowing with numerous materials. The material dictates its quality and performance. Some sink materials are extremely tough and resilient to stains, dents, and scratches, whereas others are more fragile and ideal for mild to medium usage. 

The selection might be overwhelming for most people. But, the material selection depends upon certain factors such as:

• Usage
• Durability
• Ease of cleaning
• Resistance to stains and scratches
• Price

As a result, here is a list of 13 kitchen sink materials and their positive and negative points to make your selection process easy. 

Stainless Steel

As mentioned, stainless steel has become one of the most popular materials used for building a kitchen sink. Why? Because the best characteristic of stainless steel sinks is that it practically goes with every countertop material. In addition, it acquires popularity due to its extraordinary features, affordability, and streamlined trendy design.

Besides these features, some people might think stainless sinks are plain and monotonous, while other people look at the functionality it has to provide. A functional stainless steel sink is -one having a smaller gauge number, meaning the steel is thicker and high-quality. For instance, opt for a 16-18 gauge steel if you want a robust and sturdy sink.

Furthermore, for kitchens particularly, you can consider getting a 300 series stainless steel because it is not magnetic. A 300 series steel comprises chromium and nickel, which helps prevent corrosion and sustain high temperatures. Beyond all these qualities, it does have some pros and cons.

Composite

Another material having an ideal blend of long-lasting durability and contemporary appearance is composite sinks. As the name implies, these sinks are commonly composed of materials, such as quartz, granite, resin, or heavy plastic dust. 

This composition of two materials allows the composite sinks to be resilient to the heat, and hence, there will be no traces of hot pots, pans, and other items on the sink surface. Why do homeowners prefer composite sinks? Because they look incredible without costing you a fortune. 

The incredible look comes from a high-quality composite sink. A good quality composite has 80% quartz, granite, or other materials capable of making the sink resistant to heat, stain, and scratch. Typically, the smaller 20% materials contain acrylic-like particles as the bonding agent between the more solid materials. Mainly, composite sinks are found made of quartz and granite. 

Quartz Composite

One of the main components for composite is quartz. Composite sinks made of quartz have 70% quartz sand (crushed) and acrylic resin. This combination leads to the solidity and non-porosity of the sink. Moreover, it is relatively light than cast iron and even more durable than stainless steel. 

Granite Composite Sinks

Similar to quartz, composite granite sinks have 70% crushed granite and resin. However, granite with resin is dense and has more durability than quartz because granite is composed of different materials like feldspar, mica, and quartz. 

Even though both the sink materials are durable and seems to be a practical choice. Be it quartz or granite composite sinks, both have advantages and disadvantages. 

POSITIVES	NEGATIVES
Hard-wearing and durable	Sinks are heavy and bulky
Heat and stain-resistant	Susceptible to scratches, hard water stains
Easy to clean	Costly than stainless steel or porcelain
Variety of options to choose from	Needs maintenance

Fireclay

Fireclay, a unique material, is created when clay gets fired with a glaze at extremely high temperatures (1600 degrees) in a kiln. The firing process produces a material resembling ceramic but provides more practical and functional qualities. It gives the fireclay sinks endurance, durability, and solidity.  

Apart from that, fireclay sinks generally come in white or off-white colors. Although, there are dramatic black or blue available. Today, fireclay farmhouse or apron kitchen sinks are high in demand because of their glaze, malleability, and ease of cleaning.  

One more reason why fireclay sinks are in demand is that each sink is handcrafted. Each sink is different and unique -enhancing the beauty of your home. Hence, they require high-precision installation that comes as an added expense. Listed below are some positive and negative points of fireclay sinks.

POSITIVES	NEGATIVES
Highly durable and hard-wearing	Difficult installation
Resilient to stains and scratch	Heavy
Non-porous and solid	Available in limited colors and sizes
Easy to clean	High-priced

Cast Iron

Another material that is created in extremely high temperatures, apart from fireclay, is cast iron. Sinks made from cast iron get their durability and are resilient to heat due to the high temperature used in the manufacturing process. 

Furthermore, the sink gets a smooth and glossy finish because cast iron kitchen sinks have a coating of enameled porcelain. In addition to its gleaming appearance, porcelain coatings on iron protect it against water stains, scrapings, and scum buildup. The pros and cons of cast iron kitchen sinks are:

POSITIVES	NEGATIVES
Available in many colors	The porcelain coating may chip or wear-off
Does not dent like stainless steel	Susceptible to rust
Easy installation	Heavy and massive
Easy to clean and care	Expensive

Porcelain 

One more clay-based sink material is porcelain. Traditionally, we see more porcelain sinks in the bathroom than in the kitchen vicinity. While cast iron sink has an enamel porcelain coating, sinks are also made of 100% solid porcelain or enamel porcelain. 

INTERESTING FACT -For homeowners, porcelain offers an excellent middle ground. The reason is that cast-iron sinks are heavy, and stainless steel sinks are lightweight and noisy, so porcelain stands out more.

Due to the sink appearance, people confuse porcelain and ceramic to be the same. However, the difference lies within the manufacturing process of the sinks. Porcelain is manufactured by combining finer clay with higher pressures and baking at higher temperatures in a kiln.

Hence, porcelain gets its quality features like durability and non-porosity from this manufacturing process. While there are benefits to porcelain, it also has a few drawbacks.

POSITIVES	NEGATIVES
A wide range of colors is available	Susceptible to scratching
Easy to clean and maintain	Prone to chipping and cracking
Highly durable and long-lasting	Not stain-resistant
Relatively inexpensive	It might need reglazing from time to time

Ceramic 

Unlike porcelain, ceramic kitchen sinks are porous and water absorbent. The porosity comes from a blend of clays and fillers that creates a ceramic sink. Thus, no two ceramic kitchen sinks will be the same because of the manufacturing process and natural materials. 

Ceramic kitchen sinks perfectly complement modern, contemporary, and rustic, traditional kitchen layouts. Given below are pros and cons you can expect while buying a ceramic sink.

POSITIVES	NEGATIVES
Easy to clean and care	Prone to scratching
Durable	Highly susceptible to chipping and cracking
Tough and non-porous	Harsh chemicals and acids might wear off the glaze
Affordable	Not eco-friendly

Copper

Kitchen sinks are not only made from clay, metals also contribute to the materials used for kitchen sinks. Fan of handcrafted and intricate patterns? A copper sink is your ideal choice. Not just beautiful, copper sinks are long-lasting, one-of-a-kind, and look absolutely stunning in the kitchens.

Many people believe that copper sinks are delicate and not made for heavy use per se. However, a high-quality copper sink is fashioned of 99% copper with 1% zinc for strength and durability. 

In addition, copper kitchen sinks offer you the option of choosing -a smooth or hammered sink and a wide range of patinas. We already know about the health benefits copper has to offer. Copper also has the potential of naturally destroying 99.9% of germs.

POSITIVES	NEGATIVES
Antimicrobial and hygienic	Demand high maintenance
Environment-friendly and recyclable	Susceptible to denting and scratching
Resilient to corrosion and rust	Highly sensitive to harsh chemicals & acid
Develops different colors of patina over time	Fairly overpriced

Brass

Another metal sink showing practical features is brass. Brass sinks add charm to your kitchen with their aesthetic appeal and antimicrobial properties.

Want to install an eye-catching piece in your kitchen? A brass kitchen sink is probably your best choice because it is functional yet amazing-looking.

While brass is functional, it is more likely to dent, tarnish, scratch, and develop verdigris (green residues). Therefore, they need extra care and maintenance. But, brass sinks can be cleaned using simple natural methods. You can expect the following positive and negative points while getting a brass kitchen sink.

Positives	Negatives
Classic, elegant appearance	Expensive (twice the cost of porcelain)
Durable only if properly maintained	Susceptible to scratches, dents, and stains
Non-corrosive surface	High-maintenance
Has antimicrobial and germicidal properties	Use of chemicals and acids may harm the surface

Glass 

After exploring the above materials, the glass may seem weird and non-functional material for a kitchen sink. However, tempered or turquoise glass can sustain heat and chemicals.  

While the most common glass sinks types are vessel and bathroom, they are also available as undermount kitchen and bar sinks. 

With that being said, in comparison to other kitchen sink materials, glass does not seem to be the most durable and practical material for a kitchen sink. For instance, once you drop heavy, sharp, and hot items, there is a chance that the glass might shatter. On the other side, glass bar sinks are known for their unique beauty. 

For better understanding, take a look at the positives and negatives of a glass sink.

POSITIVES	NEGATIVES
Classy, modern, trendy appearance	Quite expensive
Available in many colors and styles	Prone to scratching and limescale
Careful yet easy maintenance	Compared to other materials, low resistivity to heat
Stain-resistant	May shattered when the force applied

Wood 

Similar to glass, the thought of a customized sink made of wood may seem uncommon, but wooden farmhouse sinks, vessel sinks, and bathtubs have a long tradition in homes. Wooden sinks are exquisitely attractive, long-lasting, and sustainable.  

For that reason, the sinks and bathtubs were originally fashioned entirely of raw teak wood, with no additional treatment. 

Wooden farmhouse kitchen sinks are often constructed for large sinks without dishwashers. Apart from appealing to the eyes, they allow washing many dishes at once. Some of the pros and cons of wooden sinks are:

POSITIVES	NEGATIVES
Unique beauty and design	Prone to damage if not properly cared
It can be customized as per your taste	High maintenance
Durable, hard-wearing, stain-resistant	Fairly overpriced
Environmental friendly	Heavy and sharp items can harm the wood

Bamboo

While wooden sinks are uncommon, bamboo sinks are more common and affordable than wood. It looks fantastic and is more durable.

Bamboo sinks are an excellent choice for a busy kitchen, as it is naturally waterproof. In addition, bamboo kitchen sinks are sturdy and strong. They are more durable than Red Oak and Maple wood in terms of durability. It also offers higher compressibility than steel without losing elegance. 

POSITIVES	NEGATIVES
Eco-friendly	Needs regular maintenance
Easy cleaning and maintenance	Susceptible to leakage
Unique styles and finishes	Sensitive to chemicals and acids
Comparatively cheaper	Limited colors

Natural Stone 

Natural stone kitchen sinks are stunning and unique -particularly when they’re apron-fronted to show off the texture and features. 

Several factors, including cost, weight, and maintenance, make natural stone sinks rare. But, for not-so-busy kitchens or exclusively decorative sinks, they are a great choice.

Mainly, natural stone kitchen sinks are made of:

• Marble  
• Granite 
• Soapstone
• Travertine

Sinks made of natural stone do not just function in the same way as those made of porcelain or steel, but they bring a sense of natural beauty and a natural feel to your home space. Even then, they do have some pros and cons.

POSITIVES	NEGATIVES
Strong and durable	Heavy and bulky
Easy to care for and maintain	Although easy, it requires regular maintenance
Heat resistant	Tend to discolor and oxide
Versatile in nature	Expensive

Acrylic 

Acrylic is a type of plastic that is molded to make kitchen sinks. Acrylic kitchen sinks are a cost-effective substitute for metals, porcelain, and stone. They are starting to gain popularity for being lightweight and attractive. 

Furthermore, acrylic sinks are available in various colors, sizes, and shapes, matching your kitchen decor. Acrylic, used in paint, windows, and even corner guards on walls, can also be fashioned into various home furniture.

POSITIVES	NEGATIVES
Inexpensive	Not long-lasting like metals or porcelain
Resistant to stains	Highly sensitive to heat
Lightweight making installation easy	Cannot withstand petroleum-based materials
Easy to clean	Susceptible to scratching

Final Thoughts 

Comparing the positives and negatives of sink materials allows you to select the most dependable and durable sink material for your style. Some of the materials discussed are durable and resistant to various potential kitchen mishaps; others are elegant and customizable. 

Hence, choosing the finest material for your kitchen necessitates considering several aspects. You should seek an option that complements your kitchen’s décor, demands, and budget.