Kitchen Design
Kitchen Sinks: Slate Surfaces Rock for Strength and Style
Go for a sandblasted pattern or keep it simple — slate sinks show quality and promise durability no matter how you roll
Looking for a new kitchen sink material? Consider stepping back in time and taking advantage of the natural beauty of slate. Heavy-duty slate sinks are antibacterial, stain resistant, noncombustible and unrivaled in strength and durability. Most often installed with a front exposure, they have a low-maintenance farmhouse feel that may be just what your kitchen is missing. Learn the basics and costs here to see whether this material can work in your house.
More kitchen sink choices
More kitchen sink choices
The basics: Genuine slate is a metamorphic stone with distinctive properties and excellent performance capabilities. New England slate, which is known for its superior quality, is especially appropriate for kitchen sink use.
Cost: A slate sink for a standard 30- to 36-inch cabinet base typically costs between $900 and $1,200 and is usually made to order based on outside dimensions.
Advantages: Every slate sink is unique and individually hand crafted. Built based on outside dimensions, slate sinks are constructed like fine furniture. The slate is cut and fitted together by hand, ensuring quality and durability.
Often described as bulletproof, slate makes for a rugged work sink that is resistant to fading, burning and scratching. Custom lettering and designs can also be sandblasted into slate for a truly one-of-a-kind farmhouse sink.
Often described as bulletproof, slate makes for a rugged work sink that is resistant to fading, burning and scratching. Custom lettering and designs can also be sandblasted into slate for a truly one-of-a-kind farmhouse sink.
Disadvantages: Due to their made-to-order nature, slate sink are not inexpensive and easy projects to install. Homeowners may also feel that these sinks are limited to kitchens of a certain aesthetic.
Sustainability: "We use no chemicals in production," says John Tatko of Maine's Sheldon Slate Products. "We recycle our water, and the only waste we make is slate mud, which we use as fill." Restoring and installing antique slate sinks is also quite popular today. Reduce, reuse and recycle!
Maintenance: Slate sinks are nonporous, making for an antibacterial, stain resistant, noncombustible and easy-to-clean surface. While standard cleaning practices should do the trick, elbow grease, scouring pads and cleansers will not harm your slate.
Are you a fan of slate kitchen sinks? Let's discuss! Share your thoughts in the Comments section below.
More kitchen sink choices
More kitchen sink choices