Double Bowl Farmer sink : Stainless vs cast iron vs Silegranite

last year

I am doing a remodel and purchased the Blanco Vintera Silegranite in anthracite..but now reading many reviews where people say you get a haze over time. As a result I am considering swapping for a stainless steel or Kohler Whitehaven sink. Due to availability the Kohler would be white. I would still like to stick with a short apron.

I have seen white Kohler sinks with ”scratch marks” but have read they can generally be removed. I am also concerned about potential chipping with cast iron. We do NOT use cast iron cookware, but do tend to put a pot on the divide of a double bowl to fill with water, etc…and are not particularly careful putting things in the sink. (We have All Clad pots so they are heavy) I am quite careful about keeping a clean sink.

With the stainless steel version of a farmer sink I have been told that the front apron of the sink tends to get scratched…from belt buckles, etc. Although I am not worried about belt buckles per say, I would like to hear if anyone has a stainless farmer sink how it is held up on the apron front and the top. I am not concerned about general scratching in the bowls of the sink that create a patina over time. I have also seen a few complaints about difficulty cleaning the corners of the stainless farmer sinks.

Any insight is greatly appreciated!!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (15)

PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
last year
"I have seen white Kohler sinks with ”scratch marks” but have read they can generally be removed."

This is myth.

"With the stainless steel version of a farmer sink I have been told that the front apron of the sink tends to get scratched…from belt buckles, etc."

Myth also.

Those are never coming out and the spray-on "refinishing" fails at the drain in a month or so:

Corian before and after refinishing.

Cracked and faded Blanco Silegranite.
PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
last year
The apron on a stainless steel sink isn't finished as shiny as is the bowls. Scratches are easily removed with sandpaper and the finish matched. I've taken out gouges with a belt sander.
susanrhill34 thanked Joseph Corlett, LLC
Related Discussions
Farm-house sink Vs double bowl sink
Q
Comments (11)
Believe me, there are NO plumbing issues involved. What MAY be an issue is finding a hardware store--or other source--for the parts you need to do a changeover. The best thing you can do for yourself is get down and climb under your present sink, the neighbor's sink, your family member's sinks, and familiarize yourself with the plumbing that's under there !! While you're down there, check for leaks, and use a ruler/tape measure to get an idea of sizes. Bathroom sinks are usually 1 1/4" diameter thinwall pipe; the tub/shower and the kitchen sink are, or should be, 1 1/2". One thing to remember: the 1 1/2" thinwall pipe hooked directly to the bottom of your sink, and tied into the "S" or "P" traps under there, is NOT NOT NOT the same as the 1 1/2" drain piping; HOWEVER--there are adapters to mate the thinwall to the heavier piping. By the way, you ARE gonna go to the store and find out what a "P" or "S" trap is, aincha?? Dont be afraid to ask Q's, and do realize many of the guys you ask are about as ignorant as you are when it comes to plumbing....many--not all of 'em. THEN: when you find somebody who sounds like (s)he can help you do this project, and they put down on paper the parts you need, the best thing you can do is repeat the process--go find somebody else at another store who can do likewise, and then compare the parts recommended, &c. Maybe this soundz like plumbing 101--you're right, it is. Anything else spellz disaster in the making, not to mention the resultant feeling you bin ripped off and jerked around, and that you coulda done a better job yourself.... if only.... you'd taken to heart the suggestion of: kenn 1RmSchlHse millersport oHIo -- there's a time and place for spontaneity....
...See More
Silgranit vs. Kohler cast iron Smart Divide
Q
Comments (38)
We put in the kohler cast iron sink in our last house and I loved it .We had heavy minerals in our water that stained everything and bonami keep that sink looking new. The down side is its a very hard serface so I broke a few things before I got used to it. The other real negative was the weight of the sink its self . The sink that was in the house was horribly stained so we replaced it withen weeks of buying the house and before we redid the total kitchen a year later. The sink was so heavy it cracked the counter top and the frame of the cabinet. We replaced it with a really heavy duty cabinet when we redid the kitchen and it held up really well. I choose kohler cast iron for the bathtub we put in last month because of my good experance with the kohler kitchen sink.
...See More
Double bowl vs single, Domsjo vs stainless
Q
Comments (9)
Thanks funky! I think you are just confirming what I already know - that I should stick with the single bowl, even if it is stainless. They do sell the single bowl Domsjo, but it's only 24" vs 36". I don't really want to size down to the 24" as then I'll have wasted space in the sink cabinet, or have to deal with 6" fillers on either side. Maybe I should reconsider that though :/ Thanks for the info on undermounting in laminate. I think we are just not that brave. I wish we could spring for the granite, but with our first baby coming in July it would not be a smart move.
...See More
Strategies for washing dishes in a large single sink vs double sink
Q
Comments (105)
I just got a new ruvati stainless steel sink in a 60/40 split. It took me forever to decide because I felt I had to get a large single bowl. I finally chose what I felt I would like the most and I love it. I've had it three weeks and am so happy with it. I have two friends that each redid their kitchens and got single bowls and regret it so not everyone dislikes the double bowl sink. I'd never want a 50-50 double but the 60-40 meets.all my needs.
...See More
arcy_gw
last year
Skip the farmer sink fad all together. Two sink compartments are a minimum three works great if you have a disposal. Stainless has been around FOREVER and is quite the work horse. Messing with tried and true is a waste of money.
susanrhill34 thanked arcy_gw
Rachel Lee
last year
I’ve had many type of sinks over the years and houses. I chose to install a large single bowl stainless workstation as my favorite.
PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
last year
" but do tend to put a pot on the divide of a double bowl to fill with water, etc…"

Here's what that's gonna look like:
PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
last year
"Skip the farmer sink fad all together. Two sink compartments are a minimum three works great if you have a disposal."

Apron sinks have been around for several hundred years, so they're kinda immume from fads and trends. Subway tile ring a bell?

My sink replacement customers overwhelmingly choose a single bowl sink over divided, particularly the three-bowlers.

See for yourself please:
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
last year
I dislike famhouse sinks but I aslo do not like 2 bowl sinks IMO a good sized , deep undermount stainless sink will last forever and to be honest they get some scracthes over time. And you need to remeber a kitchen is first and foremost a work space . I have back to back stainless sinks in my island they are trully the cheapest sinks from Ikea they are 15 yrs old and still look like new and I run a catering bixz from my home so sometimes 6cooks in there. I have a few scratches over that time but you need a magnifying glass tofind them
susanrhill34 thanked Patricia Colwell Consulting
susanrhill34
Original Author
last year
last modified: last year
Everyone..thanks so much for the input! Given the repsonses I am going to look at returning the composite sink and get a stainless. Sooo appreciate you input, as I am sure chipping, hazing, etc as shown above would ultimately bother me. I will also consider the one bowl, although I have had 2 bowls for many years and find they work well for me. I have never had concerns with normal scratching with stainless sinks…it happens:)

@Patricia Colwell Consulting appreciate the input..due to mobility concerns, the farmers sink allows for a better reach and access. Otherwise, I am with you and would lean towards a normal undermount. My cooktop is in the middle of the island next to the dishwasher..the cooktop is opposite the short end of the island. I have toyed with adding a prep sink so it would be opposite the cooktop, but having trouble deciding if it is worth the extra cost. so roughly if standing at the cooktop and turn to the sink, you have about 4 feet. Curious since you have significant experience, if you think it would be worthwhile or not of signifcant benefit. thanks!

@Joseph Corlett, LLC thanks very much for the pix and info. definitely do not want to deal with chipping, etc. and great to know any heavy scratching can be reasonably repaired with a stainless apron.

I am looking at a Blanco vs Kohler stainless Farmer sink. I have always had Kohler and no issues. I prefer the Kohler short apron but see concerns about cleaning the corners due to the 90 degree angles from a number of reviews. Blanco has more rounded corners but I see concerns about it being noisy I have not been able to find any info to compare the sound dampening between Kohler and Blanco. And also if there are particular models of each that have better sound dampening and or finishes I should look at. Right now considering:

Kohler Strive

Kohler Vault

Blanco Quatrus

Blanco Precision Ro

I an unclear with whether there is a difference in sound dampening or other quality issues outside of the obvious design. also if there are other sinks worth looking at, I would appreciate the info,

Any info on the sound issue or the cleaning issue is greatly appreciated!
RoyHobbs
last year
We have the Elkay Crosstown stainless steel farmhouse sink. Single bowl with the corner "offset" drain. The corner offset drain is one of the best things - it allows more undersink cabinet storage because the plumbing is not down the center. You also don't have two plumbing drains the way you have with a double bowl. You will be surprised at the expanse inside the cabinet under the sink.

With a corner drain you can soak large pans in the sink without covering the drain. We have not had a double-bowl sink since a condo from the '80s. Not trying to insult you, just saying there isn't that much need for a double bowl sink with a dishwasher, and we do handwash pots and pans and knives. It is much easier without a divider.

The belt scratching the front is a myth at least in our experience, it just has never happened. A stainless steel sink will scratch on the inside, in the bowl. That is just what it does. As has been mentioned many times on this forum, the scratches blend into a patina after a month or so and you don't see them. I swear. You could also get a grid to protect the sink - Elkay sells them with the sink as a "kit" or sells the sink by itself. I think the sink grid is a pain, but lots of people like a grid. With a stainless steel sink, you don't have to worry about chipping, boiling water, dark liquids like coffee or wine, or even about scratching since after the first few scratches (on the inside) you don't care anymore.

The Elkay comes with either a tall apron or a short apron these days. When we bought ours, they only sold it with a tall apron. This is personal taste. I will link to the Elkay page of Crosstown farmhouse sinks, but please note that the prices on the Elkay page are much higher than when you go to purchase them on other websites or in stores.

https://www.elkay.com/products/category/sinks/collections/crosstown?f=installationType:Farmhouse;numberBowls:1;roomDesignation:Kitchen&o=price_desc
susanrhill34 thanked RoyHobbs
PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
last year
The Elkay sink linked above has beautifully rounded inside corners. The Kohler corners aren't, however, the difficult-to-clean is myth.
susanrhill34
Original Author
last year
last modified: last year
@RoyHobbs thanks for the info. in reading the Elkay site it said that the sink has a flat bottom. do you have any issues with water draining out? Not likely we would be dry the sink after cleaning, so do want one that drains well.

Also is yours 16 or 18 gauge…do you find your sink noisy?
PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
last year

20 minutes, tops.
RoyHobbs
last year
last modified: last year
@susanrhill34 - we have not had any issues with water draining in the sink. Having said that, the laws of Physics say that every water molecule on Earth has the properties of adhesion and cohesion. That means that water drops will stick to a surface - think of a water drop sticking to a leaf. No one objects to that, it's also called "surface tension" of the water. I am only mentioning this because there have been posts here where people sometimes expect their sinks to show no water after water has been in it. I know you are talking more about pooling water in the sink, which we have not had with the Elkay. I just wanted to manage expectations for anyone reading this thread because you can't fight the laws of physics.

In answer to your question, I wanted the 16 gauge sink. Not only because it cuts down on the sound of the sink when utensils hit it, but because it has a better "feel" to it. Hard to describe in words. The sink also has sound-deadening undercoating and pads underneath it. So the sink is not noisy.

I don't know whether the Elkay model numbers have changed since we bought ours, but looking at the website, the model EFRUFF3417RDBG looks like what we have - Crosstown farmhouse sink with corner drain, 16 gauge, requires a 36" cabinet base, and that's the one that came with the grid. We used the grid for a while, then stopped and we are grid-free right now. You could get that one to see if you like the grid, many people like it. Or you can get the sink without the "kit", which is model EFRUFF3417R.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Elkay-Crosstown-16-Gauge-Stainless-Steel-35-7-8-in-Single-Bowl-Tall-Farmhouse-Apron-Kitchen-Sink-Kit-EFRUFF3417RDBG/314835226?source=shoppingads&locale=en-US&srsltid=Ad5pg_HBAFcB8beZuuZ0l0yXMDcwx4izol6ZPhNoPKUWXiDhK6fvp7vpulE

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Elkay-Crosstown-16-Gauge-Stainless-Steel-35-7-8-in-Single-Bowl-Tall-Farmhouse-Apron-Kitchen-Sink-EFRUFF3417R/314835034?source=shoppingads&locale=en-US&srsltid=Ad5pg_E2urAT4fdL9tGfk35y-cK89EVCjKrm21HRfyLTvSxlLOyFNGiGaOk
blueskysunnyday
last year
We’ve had a stainless farm sink for 9.5 years. I’m not sure how long it was there before we bought the house. There are no scratches on the front. My husband always wears a belt.
susanrhill34
Original Author
last year
@RoyHobbs thanks so much for the info. I completely agree with you regarding the laws of Physics. And, yes, I was concerned about pooling, not droplets of water. not sure what some folks might expect, but I do expect a sink to be wet :) appreciate you attaching the links for the sink as well. (I am also not interested in using a grid..too much trouble/maintainence for me).