Ceramic Sinks Vs. Composite Sinks
A guide to finding the best sink for your kitchen
Ceramic Sinks
Long before the industrial revolution brought steel into every home in Unigted Kingdom, ceramic sinks were common place in both the landowner’s estate and thatched cottages. Today, their vintage appeal is still incredibly popular with people willing to spend as much as £500 on ceramic sinks. They are commonly referred to as country or farmhouse sinks.
Pros
Design & Quality: The white of ceramic sinks makes a perfect contrast to most dark wooden or granite themed kitchens. Its smooth finish is not only very aesthetically pleasing but is also easy to keep clean [with as little as a damp cloth usually enough to clean almost any blemish]
Durability: The durability of ceramic sinks and their heavy frames, make them sturdy and reliable kitchen centerpieces in any UK home. Heavy duty glazing and layered clay composition makes this sink chip proof as well as resistant to many household chemicals.
Installation: Depending on the ceramic sink, some of these sinks can be relatively straightforward to fit and install. For example, a Belfast sink, one of the most popular kitchen sinks on the British market, has an installation that sits out nicely on the front of a kitchen worktop making it an easier job than many other sinks on this site.
Cons
Hard surface: Ceramic sinks do carry a reputation for not being dish friendly due to their hard interior. This is certainly true of deeper ceramics and we would recommend care when washing dishes not to hit the crockery off of the base/side.
Weight: On the one hand, the sturdy, bulky material of ceramic sink affords them extra strength and durability however, without the correct base unit - a heavy ceramic sink can prove an issue when fitting/moving forward if corners are cut. Simply put, a heavy sink needs a strong unit to support it; make sure an experienced fitter is used in installation and take note of a sinks weight on its item page before buying.
Cleaning: Akin to a white car, any white sink will need cleaning a lot more often than a stainless sink as blemishes are much easier to notice. Luckily, as mentioned above - cleaning and wiping is a straightforward process with the ceramics.
Our Range of Ceramic Sinks - Perfect For Any UK Home
Sanindusa White Ceramic Double Bowl Belfast Sink
Sanindusa Round Bowl Ceramic Sink
Sanindusa Lusitano Single Bowl White Ceramic Sink
White Ceramic Belfast Sink
Composite Sinks
If you want longevity and durability combined with a sleek modern style, look no further than a granite-made composite sink. Usually a composition of 80% granite, its quality is reflected in the price and is typically one of the most expensive material found in kitchen sinks.
Pros
Durability: The composition of 80% hard stone and 20% resin in composite sinks make them both extremely heat resistant (often as high as 500F) and non-porous. In stark contrast to a 100% stone item, the non-porous elements of a composite make it resistant to many liquids except for harsh cleaners (which we’ll get to, later).
Colour: Composite sinks are unique in that, they are predominantly made up of organic materials however, are extremely customizable in colour, enabling them to fit almost any kitchen motif; at Kitchen Fittings Direct, we offer 4 different colours of composite sinks - Cream, White, Grey and Black.
Impact Resistant: The hardened material composition of the composite sinks make them impact and shock resistant. In addition to protection, this is also an indicator of the durability of the sinks. Doesn't this make the composite sinks virtually indestructible?
Matching Taps: Each sink has a paired tap which will perfectly match it in style, colour and finish.
Cons
Cost: Composite sinks certainly aren’t cheap - an identical style can be purchased in stainless steel for a fraction of the price. If you’re shopping on a budget, the composite sink may not be for you.
Cleaning: Almost all items have a proverbial Achilles heel, and composite sinks are no different. Harsh cleaners such as bleach and other noxious chemicals will be extremely detrimental to the colour of a sink. A full guide to cleaning a composite sink, can be found here.
