There are some common misconceptions when a company states that they have a range of granite sinks. For a sink to be pure granite, you would have to carve it into granite - which would make designs very limited and also extremely expensive. Manufacturers had to get creative, and use new methods to create a material with the same qualities and aesthetics that would be desirable to customers.
Here is a genuine pure natural stone granite sink made in France, priced at €1218 ex VAT. In the UK, it would likely cost upwards of an eye watering £1500 for the same item!
How is granite made?
Manufacturers such as Schock and Elleci, make stunning sinks from granite composite material, in some designs made only possible by modern technology and methods.
The material is a man made composite, compromising from many different materials to create the final product. This is also aided by a specific procedure that brings the composite material together in a way that is pleasing to the eye, and also very tough.
With an engineered blend of crushed quartz and stone, an acrylic resin is added to combine them all together. The finished product is a highly durable, low upkeep stone-like material that is much lighter and mouldable than traditional granite - but still every bit as capable when it comes to everyday challenges found in any kitchen. Although its primary use is kitchen sinks at the moment, there is a big emergence of composite worktops entering the kitchen market.
The manufacturing processed simplified considerably is as follows:
Feed and Mix - Raw materials are checked and added to mixers to blend together
Molding - The mixture is then poured into a mold and formed into a sink shape (size depending on mold/manufacturer
Pressing - The mold is then compacted by a special vacuum, followed by a vibration process applying 100 tonnes of pressure
Curing - The sinks are then taken to a kiln and heated to give strength and rigidity
Polishing - Sinks are then measured and polished to their final finish
Quality Control - Finally the sinks go through quality control and are packaged and labelled with any relevant information
Here is a short video from Blanco showing how they are made;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGTAtQTZA5c
What is quartz?
Quartz is the main material used to create composite materials used for these sinks and worksurfaces. It is crystallised silicon dioxide which is found naturally as a mineral in the earth's crust. The main qualities of the material lends itself towards these products, as it is very hard and resistant to most acids found in general household foods and cleaners.
The makeup of the composite materials is very different to natural stone, as the structure is much more compact due to the resin component. Another added benefit of the resin is that the final composite material is non-porous, which means due to the quartz surface, it is extremely stain resistant and easily cleaned back to the original finish.
The best way to see the hardness of granite is to take a look at the internationally recognised scale, Mohs Hardness Scale which shows you that quartz is level 7 out of a possible 10 (1 being talc, 10 being diamond). Comparatively, a natural stone (granite) worktop, would also be around 7 on this scale. It’s some pretty tough stuff.
Are granite sinks worth it?
When you are looking at kitchen sinks, not much comes close to the resiliency of a granite composite. It is very resistant to many types of damage as we have already mentioned. It also takes accidental drops in its stride, with Schock even shooting a bullet at one to prove it’s hardiness (see below).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGf7jF-9pp8
Here are some more key benefits listed below;
Heat Resistant - Composite can withstand temperatures of over 260°C, so your hot kitchenware won’t fade or discolour the sink
Stain Resistant - Unlike natural granite the finished material does not need sealing
Chip and Scratch Resistant - Strong enough to take on daily tasks and knocks.
Lightweight - Natural stone is heavy, and for the same footprint would be easily 4 times the weight of a composite sink, meaning it would need a custom frame to hold the weight. Composite sinks are installed the same way as a stainless steel sink, and require no additional support.
Malleable - Because of the way the sink is manufactured it can be shaped into many different designs and styles so it can fit into any kitchen. There is a massive amount of styles, colours and sizes available to purchase.
Affordable - It’s natural stone, without the expense or additional requirements. You get the look of natural stone at a fraction of the cost, and in the modern market thay are competitively priced against ceramic and stainless alternatives.
Are granite sinks better than stainless?
As with all sinks, it depends entirely on what you are looking for. Both sinks are hard wearing, but stainless steel does scratch more easily. Granite is more expensive at entry level than stainless steel, but high quality designer stainless steel sinks often surpass all materials in cost.
If you’re budget is less than £100, then it’s going to be a stainless steel sink every time, but if you can make it to the cost of a composite, there is not a massive difference between cheap and expensive granite sinks, and by that we mean you get the majority of the benefits from having a granite sink, at all price points - the more expensive sinks are normally a more unique design or advanced colour.
Is it true granite sinks (especially black) stain easily?
As said many times already, Granite is a really hardy material and does not stain easily. It can however fall victim to hard water, and limescale build updates can cause you a headache. An issue we see quite often is watermarks in the sink caused by limescale then get stained by other things like tea or coffee. Here is an example below;
How to Clean and care for a granite composite sink
A really easy way to combat this is to wipe your sink down when you’re finished using it as keeping it dry does not allow the limescale to build up - but there are other solutions if you leave it for a bit and the build up gets worse. Take a look below at a Blanco demonstration of their sinks and how easy they are to clean.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifRlSywn4FI
Moving onto the heavier limescale issue we discussed above, some brands have developed their own cleaners designed specifically to restore the finish, whereas others recommend more traditional household cleaners like white vinegar and baking soda. Take a look at the blog on limescale to get more information, also our section of cleaning and care products to help look after your granite sink.
As always if you do need any further help, please do not hesitate to ask one of our team on the helpdesk, or by calling in on 01527 868510.
