I'm no expert. But, I have bought my share of stainless sinks. I've had Franke, Kindred and now a Kohler Strive. I liked all of them. Most stainless is produced and manufactured in China. Krause is a Chinese brand. I think Elkay is still manufactured in the US. A lot of people are very satisfied with their Krause sink. I would rather pay a little more for a more consistent finish.

What to shop for? Get the thickest gauge, 16" to 18" is acceptable. More expensive sinks will have rounded, smoother joints and welds. Your plumber will appreciate selecting one that has smoother edges. Eventually, you will scratch it and they will all begin to look alike.

I have purchased stainless sinks on line a number of times and have been very happy. I really like my single bowl Kohler Strive with the grid. It was a mid-range priced purchase. I'm surprised how much I like the grid.

You are asking all the right questions. As the purchase of a good, lifetime sink, is a fairly expensive investment, it's good that you are thinking it through. Many people don't.

Buying a name brand stainless sink is not much of a risk. All of the main suppliers, Elkay, Blanco, etc. have a reputation to uphold and and are unlikely to offer a sink that has not been inspected several times.

Make sure the material is 302 or 304 (sometimes called 18/8) stainless, that the sink itself is smooth and without rough spots or discoloration. Inspect the corners carefully. They should be smoothly curved without any deformation or wrinkles. All of these are rare, but do happen. Rough and very sharp edges where the drain and faucet are fitted are common, and have no effect on the safety of the installed sink. Likewise, rough edges along the perimeter of an undermount sink -- this will be hidden beneath the countertop -- are no problem. Rough edges on a drop in sink where the edges will be seen are unlikely, but if present are a reason to reject the sink.

We recommend inspecting the sink before purchase. This does not eliminate on-line purchases provided you are ready to go to the trouble to send it back if it fails inspection.

Almost as important as the manufacturer is the store you buy it from. We buy only from plumbing stores, usually Ferguson, Briggs or HaJoCa. You undoubtedly have one in your area -- there are nearly everywhere, although you may have to go to the HaJoCa web site to find the name of this tore in your area. HaJoCa seldom retails under the HaJoCa name.

From a supplier, you have an opportunity to inspect the sink before you leave the store But, if you like the lower prices (generally, not always) of buying or line, try build.com. This is a Ferguson subsidiary and like Ferguson, employs agents that know the products, and provide easy, no questions asked, returns. Stay away from a designer showrooms. They're pretty, but this is often the most expensive way to buy a sink.

Buy the sink before you buy the faucet. It's much easier to match a faucet to a sink than vice-versa.

Having said all that, I would not have a stainless sink. They are fine in commercial and restaurant installations where they originated. There is a paid dishwasher who scrubs them daily. But, they scratch easily and you have to combat water spots continuously. I don't like the lifetime of daily maintenance required to keep a stainless sink looking good.

My kitchen and prep sinks for over 40 years have been Kohler enameled cast iron. Guaranteed made in the U.S.A., and nearly indestructible. If you do manage to chip a Kohler enameled sink, Kohler will replace it, no charge. Can't beat that deal. Even my lovely spouse, with her d**m cast iron skillets, has been unable to chip the sink -- not for lack of trying, mind you.

We have some articles on our web site that may help your decision:

• Kitchen Remodeling
  on the Cheap: Simple, Practical, Proven
  Ideas for Creating Your Dream Kitchen on a Budget
• Body Friendly
  Design: The Principles of Ergonomic Kitchen Planning
• Mise-en-Place:
  What We Can Learn About Kitchen Design from Commercial Kitchens

We really need to write an article just on how to choose a kitchen sink. This may be the year we get around to it.

Good luck with your kitchen.

I love Starcraft's website about kitchens and other design issues. It is one of the most helpful sites out there. I have saved and share here many of their diagrams that illustrate good design placement and other great tips. But I disagree with them about the value of a stainless steel sink. Of course, that is the only kind I have ever lived with since I was 13 and we moved out of a home with an enameled cast iron sink but I never considered anything but SS for my remodel because I think it works great.

Here is a photo of my current SS sink. It will be replaced because it's a dreaded shallow, double-bowl sink that is way too small. It is 44 years old and looks great to me. It has only ever been cleaned with a scrubby with a bit of dish soap. To my knowledge, nobody has ever used any kind of SS polish on it. I didn't dry it, it just dried naturally since the last use. No water spots. There is a bit of patina. So what? I think those small scratches that develop patina look great. (It was hard to get a good picture with all the sun streaming in and I only took a picture of one bowl because I didn't want to stand on a stool to get the whole sink.)

No water spots, no gouges, no awful scratches. Just patina. And this sink has NOT been babied. Every SS sink I've ever had looks like this.

I realize that the minerals in your water could create water spots so you need to know your local water to see if this is an issue. Our city water is terrific without minerals creating mineral build-up. YMMV.

Do get 16 gauge, at least 18, and one with good insulation to reduce noise if you get one. There are many good sinks out there. As long as you get good quality, I don't think SS is a viable option, no better or worse than the other options.

Every C-Tech, Karran (stainless steel) and Staron (solid surface) sink I've ever pulled out of the box was spectacular.

Julien I think is still being made in Canada. We are very happy with ours and with their customer service.

@Cat-mom,

Julien residential sinks are actually made in China by
Shenzhen KeHuaXing Industrial, Ltd. Its commercial sinks are, we think, still made in Canada.

Handcrafted in Canada:

http://www.homerefinements.ca/en/product/model/003667

i think this is the model we have (purchased in 2006 or 2007, installed in 2007).

@cat_mom

in 2007 the sink may have still been made in Canada. See our review of Julien at Julien Faucets Rating and Review.

Thanks starcraft. Quite some time ago, I bookmarked your 31 kitchen design rules. Your website is really helpful!

A Kohler cast-iron sink was my first choice. I happened to see a used Kohler sink for sale at a great price, it had classic scuff marks as though from a pan. I bought it figuring that elbow grease and and the kohler recommended cleaner and bon ami would do the trick. While it looked better overall, no marks came out. I then tried every cleaner I had, nothing removed them...I finally gave the sink to habitat for humanity....I was really surprised that I couldn't get the marks out....which is why I am looking for a sink now and considering stainless steel. Do you know if Kohler had a couple years of really bad finishes? (Government regulations can really mess up a manufacturer in the short term)

How do you wax a sink - by hand or with a machine using different types of buffing pads?

Well, Starcraft, my SS sink is zero maintenance. And it is probably our water. That's why I said someone should know their water and if water spots are a problem prior to making a decision. Although I have lived briefly in other areas, including other states, and always had SS and don't recall any problems with water spots or other issues in my sinks no matter where I lived. Oh, well, YMMV and all that.

homechef59, i have to ask how you like your kohler strive. i was going to go with this sink given the price for the almost zero radius corners, however, a couple of reviews stating the lack of a proper slope has them chasing down water and food particles was deterring me. what has been your experience with the strive?

Starcraft, the link I posted came from their current website. I would hope that that product line is still being handcrafted (otherwise they are guilty of false advertising).

I don't mind the scratches on SS at all. Mine looks like funkycamper's when it's just been dried. But the second it's in use, there are water drops everywhere. I don't know why it bugs me, but it does. Our water is soft, so it's not like they form an actual crusty deposit, but they do leave a spot. New house has silgranit, which still looks pristine after a year, so I hope it holds up. I was going to get a dark color, then was told no one in the area with a dark sink is happy with it, so switched to biscuit. Again, "it's the water."

Lori how do you like the silgranit? Do you have to do special cleaning?

I would never do anything except for a SS sink. I think some scratches add to the character, but if you're seeing all these imperfections now, maybe something else would be better. YMMV

BTW, the Chinese stainless sinks are every bit as good as the name brand counterparts, and I've owned them all: Franke, Blanco, Kohler, Elkay, etc. Get something with a nice metal gauge, 16 or 18.

Agk, no special cleaning. Just some Barkeeper' Friend for anything that looks like a stain, and some dilute vinegar or countertop spray if it seems greasy on the surface.