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Stainless steel vs. granite composite

2 years ago

Hi everyone,

Originally I was wanting a stainless steel undermount sink with a stone front to it but my designer instead recommended a granite composite sink instead specifically this one.

If you have one can you share your experience with either a granite composite or a stainless steel sink? I did some research and my biggest concern is the potential for chipping.

https://www.build.com/product/summary/1125646?uid=3930431&jmtest=gg-gbav2_3930430&inv2=1&source=gg-gba-pla_3930430%21c1707673104%21a69500367074%21dm%21ng&gclid=CjwKCAiAp8iMBhAqEiwAJb94z4y7Ks_Of77IylnyJqnMyo8rf-0p4Th2oia9UTH5H6NmJjrQ-o7m5BoCfx8QAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Featured Answer

Linda Bui
Original Author

2 years ago

Joseph- thanks for the advice . Why do you recommend a slight positive reveal?

Malabacat- thank you for sharing your experience! What color of granite sink do you have? Seems either the light stains or dark shows water stains.

Comments (8)

PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
2 years ago
Chipping is unlikely, particularly if you utilize the bottom grate. Insist on a slight positive reveal please and strap the sink in place.
Linda Bui thanked Joseph Corlett, LLC
malabacat
2 years ago
I've had Blanco's Precis super single granite composite sink for almost 7 years. I love it and recommend it unconditionally. No chips, no stains, easy to clean. I think you'll be very happy with that model of Blanco sink your designer recommends.
Linda Bui thanked malabacat
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I just wanted to clarify a comment that Suzannes1 said above, "Silgranite would be worth investigating, although I don't prefer a dark colored sink". Please note that Silgranit comes in a number of colors including white and biscuit. See my link above to a Silgranit sink in the color biscuit which is a creamy and softer white than their "white". I think it may seem that Silgranit only is dark because so many people on this forum have chosen one of the dark Silgranit colors like Anthracite or Cafe Brown. That's because those colors show nothing, even if you spill red wine or spaghetti sauce, and also cause the dark color can look real sharp against granite. Our anthracite sink looks great with our Alaska White granite, and it seems to make the polished chrome of our professional-style faucet gleam more in contrast. Still no comment on the choice of a 3-bowl sink?
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Hi Haley, Sorry I just saw your comment. Here are some photos I have in my archive. I can take different angles tonight if these aren't helpful. FWIW, 6 months later and we still love this sink. The dark color matches our black stainless appliances, but also just makes the sink more of a shadow, which is good to avoid drawing eyes to dirty dishes! We use the faucet hose+sprayer to give it a good rinse every evening after cleaning up dinner to keep food from drying in place. We've given it 1 deep cleaning (we also have a grid on the bottom, so deep cleaning involved a thorough cleaning of that, too). The water filter is good for filling water to cook or a tea kettle. The soap dispenser is actually really nice because it keeps the counter tidy. The faucet is touch activated (got it before the remodel) and it's amazingly handy. We added an air button for the disposal (which by code has to have a manual light switch on the wall, which for us is not in reach of the sink) and it has never been pressed accidentally and is very useful so I recommend it. The dishwasher air gap is required by code here so no avoiding that!
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G
2 years ago
I have had my black silgranite for 6 months. I use a metal grate on the bottom. I also use mineral oil once in a while to help prevent water stains. I really like it. I have the precis 30” single basin.
Linda Bui thanked G
malabacat
2 years ago
I have anthracite, which is quite dark. I don't notice water stains at all.
Linda Bui thanked malabacat
salex
2 years ago
I have a stainless steel prep sink and a composite granite main sink and love them both for different reasons. I tend to put food directly into the prep sink (e.g., for soaking potatoes for oven fries) and like how bright and reflective the stainless is. Plus I can see every speck of dirt and scrub it clean before putting food into it.

The granite of my main sink is black and I love that it matches my black countertops. Occasionally I scrub it, let it dry, and then put on a little bit of mineral oil. I have very hard water and haven't noticed excessive deposits. I don't use a grate and am pretty hard on it!
Linda Bui thanked salex
PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
2 years ago
"Joseph- thanks for the advice . Why do you recommend a slight positive reveal?"

A negative reveal leaves a hard-to-see-and-clean crud ledge. A flush reveal leaves an elongated silicone joint that frays and becomes black, contaminated, and unsanitary.

A slight positive reveal protects the bottom of the stone from chipping and makes a perfect seal between the stone bottom and the sink flange. No maintainence ever.
Linda Bui
Original Author
2 years ago
Thanks Joseph. I have seen many of your advice in other columns in doing my research and it seems you change quite a bit of sinks in your line of work. I am hoping to do a Stone front to my under mount sink. Do you foresee any problems if in the future I need to replace my sink?

Thanks again for all your help and hope you and your friends/family have a great holiday.

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