Which kitchen sink is better? |
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Stainless steel self-rimming sink |
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Manufactured in different dimensions. Normally rectangular single or double bowl sink.
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4 |
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4 |
Available in different sizes. Ceramic kitchen sinks normally manufactured in white color. |
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Top mount stainless steel kitchen sink is a good option for any kitchen design.
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5 |
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4 |
Ceramic undermount sink is a great choice for stone or concrete countertops.
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Depends on steel gauge. It is hard to damage 18-gauge steel under normal sink usage, but heavy physical impact might leave dents on 22-gauge steel kitchen sink.
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3 |
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5 |
Excellent resistance to dents. |
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Stainless steel sink has excellent heat resistance properties.
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5 |
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5 |
Won’t be damaged by hot pots.
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Good resistance to stain. |
4 |
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5 |
Ceramic kitchen sink with quality glaze has excellent stain resistant properties.
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Stainless steel can be scratched, but it is fairly durable and hard material. |
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5 |
Ceramic kitchen sink has excellent durability qualities and hard enough to withstand even heavy abuse. |
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Drop-in stainless steel kitchen sink can easily last over 20 years.
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3 |
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4 |
Under normal usage life expectancy of ceramic sink is 25+ years. |
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Require very little care. |
1 |
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1 |
Low maintenance material. |
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Vary from one year to lifetime limited manufactured warranty. |
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Typically one year, but some producers offer lifetime limited warranty on their products. |
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Depends on steel gauge and sink dimensions. One basin, 21” x 23” x 8” 18-gauge stainless steel sink weight about 16 lbs (7.3 kg).
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Vary, but ceramic kitchen sinks are significantly heavier compare to stainless steel.
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Depends on brand, quality and sink size. Normally cheaper in comparison with ceramic sinks. |
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Prices for undermount ceramic sinks vary greatly.
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Installation cost (labor)
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Charges to install top-mount stainless steel kitchen sink normally lower in comparison with ceramic undermount sink installation.
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2 |
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3 |
Typically more expensive to install.
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Self-rimming kitchen sink installation is relatively easy task. |
1 |
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3 |
Installation of undermount ceramic kitchen sink is not a hard project.
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About 30 minutes for an experienced installer not accounting kitchen faucet installation
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1 |
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2 |
Typically less than one hour. |
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Depends on damage. Minor scratches can be eliminated by polishing stainless steel surface. Deep dents might be hard to hide. |
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Ceramic kitchen sink often hard to repair. |
Stainless steel self-rimming and ceramic undermount kitchen sinks have their own advantages and drawbacks. It is hard to say which one is better. Stainless steel top-mount sinks normally cheaper and easier to install while ceramic sinks are very durable and require less care. Which one to purchase often depends on homeowner’s preferences and budget.
1 Rating was estimated on the scale from 1 to 5, accounting 1 as lowest and 5 as the highest quality of a product. Always consider the fact: not all products made equally the same and performance of particular kitchen sink significantly depends on individual product quality, adequate installation, and proper maintenance.