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What's the BEST material for Farmhouse/Apron sink?

2 years ago

Doing a kitchen remodel and next on my list of planning.... the SINK! I've done lots of research and have landed on a Farmhouse sink. Better on my back. Easier for cleaning. And I personally love the rustic look.


But I'm getting SO MUCH conflicting information about what material is MOST ideal.


I don't want it cracking from pouring hot water, I don't want it chipping from dropping something, I don't want it scratching (although truthfully, scratches aren't a big deal... it's a sink, it's supposed to look used...But the chipping and cracking are a huge no-no for me !!!!). I also want rounded corners so food doesn't get stuck as does with an under-mount stainless steel.


I'm particularly interested in the Farmhouse sinks that protrude outward, and also have an extremely narrow front rail, where it's just the narrow rim of the actual sink bowl. Which means no leaning forward while holding heavy pots, where by doing so places strain at the center of my back.


What materials and brands would you consider for the best quality farmhouse sink?





Comments (11)

  • 2 years ago

    If you drop something with enough weight or force, either the sink or the item breaks. A softer metal will be most forgiving. I had a cast iron sink in a rental apartment when I was a young adult and won’t ever go with a hard material in a sink again. It was a dish breaker. I think stainless is the most ideal, it’s less heavy, it’s forgiving if something slips out of your hand, it’s easy to clean, and affordable. It doesn’t chip or break.

  • 2 years ago

    A sink is, first and foremost, a workhorse. Stainless steel can't be beat. You can pour anything into it, and it'll clean right up.

  • PRO
    2 years ago

    Stainless IMO no matter what the style of the kitchen.

  • 2 years ago

    I have a fireclay apron-front with a stainless grid on the bottom. No chips, scratches, glazing -- none of that, and I don't baby it. The brand I have is Whitehaus: Kitchen Sinks - Whitehaus Collection

  • 2 years ago
    last modified: 2 years ago

    “I also want rounded corners so food doesn't get stuck as does with an under-mount stainless steel.”

    Incorrect. What you are thinking of is called ”0 radius corners”. Just because a sink is an undermount SS sink, that does not mean it has 0 radius corners. In fact most SS sinks do not have 0 radius corners. Most undermount and apron front stainless steel sinks have low radius aka tight radius aka small radius corners which is what you want. The low cost SS sinks have more rounded corners which look a bit dated and cuts back on the interior space of the sink. If your sink’s corners are too rounded, you lose some interior space when trying to soak a big pan and the rounded corners are not letting you get the pan flat in there. Here is a photo from a quick google to illustrate.


    Low cost sink with more rounded corners


  • PRO
    2 years ago

    Apron sinks have been around for several hundred years; they are unlikely to be subject to fashion whimsey.


    Fireclay can crack and if you chip it, it's ruined. Enameled cast iron can look good for decades, but one dropped pot one time and you've got a black spot that's never going away and will probably oxidize. The color goes all the way through modern composite sinks and they can be repaired if chipped sometimes. They are fairly heat proof. Stainless steel is never going to crack or chip, however it can dent and scratch. Fortunately scratches in stainless are easily removed.


    And no, belt buckles don't scratch aprons and food doesn't stick in zero radius corners.


    There is no single best sink; it's all tradeoffs. Choose wisely please.

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  • 2 years ago

    I am in the Kohler Whitehaven camp now that I’m officially old and my back hurts. I have installed a Kohler enameled sink of one sort or another in almost every home I have owned. When stainless became very fashionable, I tried one. Not for me, but most folks prefer them. I found the constant clunking annoying, and it always looked water spotty. One of my sisters worships her Silgrant. The other two swear by stainless. No thanks. I do keep a white silicone mat in mine. Good luck.

  • 2 years ago
    last modified: 2 years ago

    Thanks. I just checked and I do in fact have a "small radius" stainless steel Kraus sink. But still, I must use my hand to sweep food toward the drain. Every. Single. Time!!! It's so annoying. I think the issue is that the base of the sink is notably flat. I think I need a sink with a more profound slope/pitch so that things drain correctly.

    Sabrina, I looked up that sink and it has a very strong slope and nice rounded corners. Being 35" wide there would be no issues with things not fitting - perfectly large. Looks nice.

    Since I'm more concerned with chipping and cracking and less concerned with scratches, it looks like stainless steel is a good fit for me. I googled "high quality stainless steel sink" and first things to come up are Ruvati, Havens, Kholer. I want to pay for quality, not just a brand name. Not sure how to differentiate quality from status symbol. Any pointers?

  • 2 years ago

    Most people like stainless. Myself, I agree with MixLizzie. Its Kohler all the way, and I love my porcelain enamel sinks. I have never chipped one, nor damaged one, in all my considerable years of having one. I also do not like undermount sinks. I like the old overmount type.