Ceramic vs Stainless Steel Sinks

In modern family life, the kitchen is increasingly becoming the heart of the home and with plenty of inspiration and ‘kitchen-goals’ to entice us in the world of social media, the design is becoming equally as important as functionality. So, whether your kitchen is a family hub full of noise and toys or a pure minimalist sanctuary there is one thing that every single kitchen has in common - the kitchen sink.

Posted on 16th July 2019, 4 minute read

Probably the most frequently used kitchen fitting, you want to be sure you choose the right kitchen sink and we hope we can help you decide with this helpful guide. The most common materials used for kitchen sinks are ceramic and stainless steel and these are what we are going to focus on here by taking a look at the pros and cons of each.

Design

When it comes to design, your personal taste will, of course, be the deciding factor. If you enjoy a very modern aesthetic you should definitely take a look at our range of integrated or inset stainless steel sinks.

The Blanco Claron 340-U Stainless Steel Kitchen Sink is a great example. This type of sink is sunk into the worktop so it will seamlessly blend in, leaving you with clean lines and making it easy to achieve a sleek overall design. Statement worktop materials such as granite or quartz are really well showcased by this kind of sink and the addition of a beautiful tap can result in a really impactful design statement.

A ceramic kitchen sink will give an altogether different look and will also look great in any home, though they are perhaps more synonymous with a traditional setting; imagine a farmhouse kitchen with heavy wooden worktops. If you choose a ceramic sink, it will give your kitchen a high-end feel and could be considered a design feature in itself.

Reginox supply ceramic kitchen sinks in a choice of classic white, as well as black, so you can also create that fashionable modern kitchen with all the benefits of a ceramic sink - more on that later.

Durability and functionality

The kitchen sink is expected to withstand years and years of heavy use, so it goes without saying that it needs to be constructed from a material that is going to stand the test of time.

Both stainless steel and ceramic have properties that make them very worthy candidates. Stainless steel is a metal alloy of steel and chromium, it is very strong like steel but as the name suggests is resistant to corrosion and staining, including rust.

The strength of stainless steel is one of its main plus points; the material can be made into a final product is lightweight and thin but still extremely strong - perfect for a kitchen sink.

Durability

Ceramic has altogether different properties that make it a great material when it comes to strength and longevity. Made from raw materials like clay, a ceramic sink is moulded and then fired and glazed. The outcome of this is an extremely hard product.

The nature of the material means that a ceramic sink does need to be fairly thick in order to avoid it being brittle, which makes it relatively heavy. In the long-term this is unlikely to be a problem - how often do you need to move a kitchen sink?! The outer glaze seals the ceramic resulting in a shiny, stain resistant finish.

There are a couple of slight downsides to each material that you may want to consider.

Stainless steel does have the potential for dents, but even with heavy use this is unlikely and would be unlikely to disrupt the functional integrity of the stainless steel.

The surface glaze of a ceramic sink has a beautiful glossy finish but, as with any ceramic item, can be susceptible to chips. Although it would take some very heavy force for this to occur.

Also worth bearing in mind, the hard surface of a ceramic sink may not be the most forgiving surface if you were to drop your fine crystal glasses during washing up! A simple solution to both of these issues would be a sink liner which will protect the surface of the sink from any bumps.

Cost

Whether you choose a stainless steel or ceramic sink will ultimately depend on your taste and the style of your kitchen, however, anyone designing a kitchen will know that having a budget is key to getting the best result without breaking the bank, and cost may be one of your considerations when picking out a kitchen sink.

Stainless steel sinks are most affordable, as they are easy to manufacture and use a relatively small amount of materials. Basic designs such as the Reginox Comfort Alpha 10 Stainless Steel Inset Kitchen Sink come in at around £50. A basic ceramic sink with draining board or simple Belfast sink start from around £170.

A mid-range stainless steel sink gives you more flexibility when it comes to design, with features such as a double bowl or reversible installation. If the kitchen sink is going to contribute to the overall design of the kitchen or be a design feature itself, take a look at our offering from BLANCO for some ultra-sleek minimal stainless steel designs, or Reginox have a great range of classic ceramic styles that would look beautiful in any home.