Kitchen sinks remain essential household items throughout the world, so they need to be durable and long-lasting. Available in a variety of shapes and styles, with numerous bowl configurations and depths, there are certainly many sinks to choose from. However, when deciding upon a sink for a project, it’s important to consider the material from which it is made.
Time and again, stainless steel has been the material of choice among consumers – after all, over half the world’s kitchen sinks are made from it! Yes, there are excellent alternatives available, such as ceramic and composite models, but stainless steel remains at the forefront in terms of popularity.
Now, not all sinks made from stainless steel are the same – there are many succinct differences. For example, the actual gauge (i.e. thickness) of material used can vary. This is significant, as the thicker the material, the greater its durability and sound-deadening qualities. Here at Leisure Sinks, we only use food grade 304 18/10 stainless steel, with gauges between 0.6 and 0.9 to create our products.
“18/10” refers to the chromium (18%) nickel (10%) content in the material, which provides the high level of stain, corrosion and rust resistance it has become renowned for. It also ensures a natural, abiding high-sheen finish, perfect for modern design schemes. Plus, there is the longevity factor, with stainless steel products designed to last for years, if not decades; no wonder they are so popular with builders, developers and specifiers!
A vast number of stainless steel sink designs are available, from single bowl models with grooved drainers, to double bowls complete with bilateral or asymmetrical drainers. Sinks are also being finished in an array of effects, such as satin, polished, brushed and linen, for an even greater variety of choice. Take our popular Linear range for example: this sink is available in 15 different options alone!
Plus, from an environmental standpoint, stainless steel is also recyclable. So, when a sink is removed for aesthetic reasons, the material has typically only suffered minimal degradation and still contains a high volume of valuable alloying elements, such as chromium, nickel and molybdenum. These can be passed back into the melting furnace, allowing new products to be created.
Given stainless steel’s simplicity of manufacture, combined with its many other benefits, it’s no surprise it has endured for so long and remained the foundation of our sinks for the last 90 years.
