What will your new luminaire be made of? The fashion models on the market are porcelain or vitreous earthenware. Other options include composites and metals like stainless steel and copper. For a swanky guest bathroom or dreamy makeover, you can purchase sinks that look like pieces of glass art or stone sculptures.
Look down,
Stone – Natural stone like marble has been used for years for vanity tops. Lately, enterprising companies have also started manufacturing sinks from these materials. Granite is often sculpted into a sink to create a custom look for a luxury bathroom. Since they are often made to order, they can be quite expensive, but their rough natural surface will hold up well for years and years.
Vitreous Porcelain – A vitreous porcelain sink is made of ceramic / porcelain that has been “vitrified” to create a glass-like surface that absorbs less water than most other ceramics. These are inexpensive, easy to maintain, and come in the widest variety of shapes, sizes, and colors.
Metal – When most homeowners think of metal sinks, they think of stainless steel. Although commonly used for kitchen sinks, stainless steel is not popular for bathrooms as it creates an “institutional” feel. Other metals, like hammered copper, are becoming more and more available – they look good and hold up well. Their downside is that they require frequent polishing to keep up appearances.
Composites: Composite sinks offer a great advantage compared to other materials … as long as they are installed in a countertop of similar material. The favorable difference is that composite materials can be glued to the underside of the countertop with special adhesives that create a virtually seamless seam. Therefore, there is no place for the water to seep. Plus, you also get the visual appeal of flowing lines and the cleanability of a rimless sink. To get all these advantages without the need for gluing, composite sinks and vanity tops made from a single piece of material are now available.
Glass – Although glass sinks are primarily the domain of high-end bathroom designers, the average homeowner can purchase one through a reseller or bathroom designer. They are beautiful to look at, but if they don’t dry after each use, water stains can diminish their charm.
Cast Iron – Cast iron sinks are no longer used much in new construction and remodeling; they have been replaced by more attractive composite and solid surface sinks. That’s a shame, because cast iron is silent, massive, and immobile. The combination of the tough coating along with the heavy cast iron makes for a formidable unit. The downside is that the porcelain surface, while hard, can chip easily.
