SS, cast iron, and copper apron front sinks don't crack.

Potential problems from cracking come from over tightening the garbage disposal to the sink or pouring boiling hot water into the sink on a very cold morning.

Then there is chipping. Porcelain can chip also. And stain.

SS shows water spots and can scratch and Copper in anything but a natural finish can scratch. But some people don't like the patina and changing colors of natural copper.

Various acrylics and plastic type sinks look like .... well plastic.

If there was a perfect material for sinks most people on this board would have one material.

I have a Franke by Villeroy & Boch fireclay apron sink. It's been about 3 1/2 years since I installed it and I've had no problems with it. I do have a SS sink grid on the bottom of it though.

I think a lot also depends on your point of view. I think to your average kitchen consumer, fireclay sinks are extremely durable. Other people are bothered by every scratch, chip, crackle, crack whatever.

I am tough on my stuff, and admittedly wouldn't notice the majority of the things that would be considered a flaw to others.

I don't plan to baby my sink, nor my countertops, nor my wood table. Then again, my home is rustic and that aesthetic certainly lends itself more to the "distressed" look than an ultra-modern, contemporary kitchen might.

I think any good quality, durable material (including, certainly, fireclay) will go a great job. Now if you're looking for something that will look fresh out of the box 10 years from now - I can only tell you to maybe use paper plates and only use the sink to fill your water glass. ;)

I don't think the average consumer would consider a sink that can chip with a lodge cast iron pan or crack with boiling hot water to be durable much less extremely durable.

Nor does the average consumer consider any sink more expensive than your average priced sink at Home Depot or Lowes.

People buying fireclay are very much above average income(they don't care if it needs to be replaced) or a Totally Kitchen Obsessed(plan to baby the sink) or have a Shabby Chic type kitchen ( distressed/used look fits right in)

But, if you dropped a lodge cast iron pan onto any sink, wouldn't that cause significant damage regardless of the material? If I dropped something as heavy as that lodge cast iron pan onto a stainless sink, it might not chip but wouldn't it leave a pretty big dent?

Has anybody ever dropped anything that heavy onto their sink? What did that do to the sink?

And, I'm confused about how much I should be concerned about pouring boiling water down a fireclay sink because Rohl claims that that won't be an issue for their fireclay sinks.

Does this mean all fireclay sinks are safe from that concern, if its just that company's sinks that are safe from that, or if Rohl is engaging in some puffery about the durability of their products. .

This post was edited by marvelousmarvin on Sun, Jul 21, 13 at 21:39

I have a Whitehaus apron front fireclay sink that we installed in 2007, and after 6 years it looks 98% as good as when we installed it. The only issue after 6 years is, around the drain, it will get gray marks if you are scrubbing pots in it and pressing down. But the marks rub off with elbow grease. When I first got it, I was scrupulous about putting a silicone bumper grid in the bottom, but that wore off ;-) The sink gets lots of hard use, it is huge and I love it b/c I can wash (submerge) stove top grates, garbage cans, etc. in it--plus we are fairly heavy-duty cooks, and have had no problems. As far as cracking due to hot on cold, we live in Saskatchewan (-40 winters) and the sink is on an outside wall, and our Franke Little Butler hot water tap (water temp just under boil) flows into this sink--and we have never had a problem. I wouldn't hesitate to buy one again. I will also say, the reason I bought it is that I'm originally from New Orleans, and while we fared very well in Hurricane Katrina, some friends of ours who were badly flooded had 2 things survive the hurricane in their kitchen: their fireclay sink, which just needed a cleaning, and their Subzero fridge (b/c the motor was on top and above the waterline).

Here's an interesting perspective about fireclay sinks:

"Fireclay is really just another name for vitreous china. The manufacturing process is the same. Real fireclay is used to make highly fire-resistant materials like bricks used to line fireplaces and clay crucibles to hold molten steel. Obviously, no sink is ever going to need such incredible resistance to heat. In reality fireclay is just a marketing term, adopted from England where vitreous china is commonly called fireclay when used to make kitchen sinks...Anyway, if the sales clerk tells you that a particular sink is more expensive than a regular porcelain enamel sink because it is fireclay, you can tell him or her than you are on to that particular con."

http://starcraftcustombuilders.com/bath.fixtures.htm

I hate to say it and jinx myself, but my Rohl Allia is 12 yrs old and has two tiny chips. It's extremely durable. I'm much happier than scrubbing scuff marks off of an enameled sink.
Now the layout of the the Allia can be argued, especially the predrilled holes that were the only option 12 yrs ago. I'd have much preferred moving my filtered water faucet on the other side of the basin. Today's Allia may be an entirely different layout.

I pour boiling water into my Franke fireclay sink all the time and I have never had any cracks from it. I don't have a cast iron pan, but even if I did, I don't think I would be dropping it into my sink. :)

Compumom,

Do you remember how you got those two chips on your Rohl Allia sink? And, how noticeable will a fireclay chip look? Does it stand out where anybody will notice it, or is one of the things where only you notice it?

Since the Allia is an undermount fireclay sink, I guess this means that its the fireclay material that makes those sinks vulnerable.

Although, most of the complaints about fireclay sinks seem to come from owners of undermount fireclay sinks which could be mean:

1) most fireclay sinks are apron fireclay sinks so that's why most complaints about apron fireclays

or

2) apron fireclay sink style is actually more vulnerable to damage than a undermount fireclay sink, although I can't really imagine the mechanism why this would be true.

I know some have said to be careful when installing a garbage disposal in a fireclay sink, but its not like you're tightening anything when you're installing a apron fireclay sink vs a undermount fireclay sink.

It's been 4 years since my undermount Rohl fireclay sink has been installed with a garbage disposal. It has held up without chips or stains or cracking. It is the cleanup sink with a stainless steel sink grid. It still has that wonderful shine that I don't have with the Kohler prep sink.

It cleans up easier and looks nicer than the prep sink that is a Kohler enameled cast iron sink. I wanted another fireclay for the prep, but could not find one that would fit my space.

In my old kitchen, I had a Kohler enameled cast iron sink that was stained and scratched and really looked pretty bad. I will not use anything that might scratch the new one, as I fear it will look like the old one (I had used cleanser on that one).

So far just a nylon pad and little elbow grease cleans up the sinks. Anyone else find a cleaning product that won't harm their sinks?

I've had my Rohl fireclay apron sink for 5+ years now. No chips, no cracks, no staining. I regularly pour boiling hot water into that sink with no negative consequences. I've never tried dropping any of my cast iron pots into the sink to see what happens but I've occasionally banged a cast iron pot against the bottom or sides of the sink. Again, no negative consequences. Durability has just not been an issue. As for looks and function? It's the prettiest, roomiest sink I've ever had. I highly recommend it!

Hello,

I have had our Shaw's (Rohl) single bowl farm sink for 8 years and love it! I have never used a protective grid, so I do have a couple of chips from heavy cast iron pots. Color is the same throughout, so not a big deal. I do clean with Barkeepers Friend or Bon Ami, especially after pots have left gray marks. Only con is the pitch, I have to rinse and chase food bits down always. I have not had any staining, and it is in heavy use, 3 boys and hubby who cooks.

We are about to begin a remodel and are adding a second sink. Can anyone tell me if they have the rc1515 sink and if it is too small to be practical? Or if another brand Fireclay in a bigger size will match the Shaw biscuit color? Thank you.

This post was edited by jhol on Sat, Sep 7, 13 at 15:29

Sorry, just seeing this thread now. My chips are really small, DH wasn't even aware that they had occurred. As stated above, the color is the same below the surface, so they're really not noticeable. The sink is an undermount and I'm not sure how they happened. Perhaps the cast iron or a careless housekeeper...?

My Shaw's double fireclay sink has been in for 2 months now and is pitting, although Rohl says it is chipping due to impact. I purchased this sink because it was so beautiful, knowing that I would have to be more careful, so I am extremely disappointed that my sink already looks old and beaten up. I have remodeled 7 kitchens over the past 20 years and have never had a sink perform as poorly as this one.

MarvelousMarvin, did you end up with the Villeroy and Boch fireclay sink?
I hadn't heard of them until beginning my research here on GW, and I'm totally intrigued now.
I've been trying to decide between a Kohler enameled cast iron and Silgranite. I've had Kohler and am leary of how they look after several years because the finish does scratch. And I don't love the Silgranite out of the box, so really that's out.
I'm seriously considering the Franke fireclay right now - I don't want an apron sink, just an undermount. I'm curious as to what you may have chosen.

Whoever is out there claiming the Shaws Fireclay sinks are extra durable must not use theirs. I do relatively little handwashing, so my sink has not been used unusually hard; but it has a couple of sizable chips and numerous scratches all over the bottom. Eight years old and people regularly ask if it's an antique. I've had every kind of sink over the years, including relatively inexpensive porcelain ones, and never had this happen. I would NOT buy again.

I couldn't agree more with webb585. Mine is only 3 months old and is already chipped. While I do cook and hand wash a fair amount, I was aware this might happen so I've been extremely careful, and still, chipping and staining!
Rohl suggested I repair the chips with Porcafix, why bother if the sink is going to continue to wear as badly as it has! Very disappointing as this was to be a centerpiece of my kitchen!

mine has been in for ~ 2 years now. i use a sink grid, so far so good. it is a beautiful sink and i love how big it is!

Has anybody replaced a Shaw apron front sink? I have one that is crazing and Rohl has agreed that it is defective and will replace it. It is only 2 years old. I am wondering if I should just live with the crazing. I am having difficulty in finding someone to pull and replace it. Should I live with the crazing, I am reading that this is difficult to do and may risk damaging my granite counter.

I Have an Elkay double bowl fireclay farm sink and am soooooo disappointed!! Don't anyone get one. I treat this sink with kid gloves and it is still all scatched on the center separator!!! Can't be removed and Elkay does not have repair kits! Don't ever buy an Elkay fireclay sink!!!!

Bad experience with expensive Shaw’s

Farmhouse sink. Crazing after six months- looks old and worn after less than a year. Don’t know why anyone would buy one of these.

I'd like to tell everyone to NOT buy a shaw fireclay sink. my 30" apron front sink started pitting the first months that i used it. i am a cook, but i don't fling things into the sink and take care of this investment, without being too precious. rohl recommended using the porcafix, which did virtually nothing except fill the small holes - they are still quite visible and i can't keep up with all the new ones that keep popping up. this is even with a grid in the bottom of the sink - which i hate. i can't help but think this is a lemon but rohl has been nasty in assuring me otherwise. not really sure what to do.

I have the 36 inch Franke Villeroy and Both Fireclay Farmhouse sink. What a lemon! We bought it in 2015. It began crazing around the drain within a year. We are very careful to never drop anything in the sink , and maintain it very well. I had the Franke Representative out to look at it after the crazing began driving me crazy. They refused to replace it. It looks terrible and what is worse is the fact Franke did not stand behind their product. I have a Kohler farmhouse sink (not fireclay) in a second home and it is heads and tails, superior to the Franke. Stay away from Franke.

Not even 7 months old and our 33" Rohl/Shaws Undermount Farmhouse Fireclay sink has begun crazing, which they they say is rare. Has anyone had luck with replacing without having to lift/or potentially damage their quartz slab?

kim1211 I'm wondering the same thing. We have soapstone. Which is soft. Were you able to replace your sink without ruining your quartz slab? Wish I hadn't chosen fireclay. It's too fragile.

Joseph Corlett, LLC thank you. It's actually an apron front fireclay sink, with partial reveal. Is replacement the same?