Granite, stainless steel or ceramic: which kitchen sink to choose

A sink is replaced far less often than an appliance and is lived with for years, so the material decides more here than the shape or the colour does. Granite composite, stainless steel and ceramic behave differently every day: one is quieter, one is easier to keep, one is simply better looking. Here is an honest look at what you sign up for with each.

Granite: a composite, not a stone

What is sold as granite is a composite of stone granulate and resin. It is warm to the touch, it damps the sound of running water, it takes a hot pan within reason, and its matte surface hides droplets well. The other side of that: pale shades can pick up a stain from beetroot, coffee or red wine if it is left long enough, and abrasive powders are not for such a surface.

Stainless steel: the working classic

Steel fears neither boiling water nor dye, weighs little and forgives mistakes during installation. Its two traits are sound and marks. Thin metal drums under the tap, which is why sound-damping pads are glued under the bowl; a mirror polish shows every water mark, which is why many people choose a matte or textured finish. Scratches on steel always appear, and in time they blend into an even patina.

Ceramic: character and weight

A ceramic sink looks like a piece of furniture and belongs in a classic kitchen, especially in the version with an exposed front. The glaze is smooth, resistant to dye and easy to wipe. You pay for it in weight — the cabinet underneath has to be built for it — and in fragility: a heavy cast-iron pan dropped into an empty bowl is not something glaze forgives.

A few things to check before deciding

• the installation: inset, undermount or flush — the last two need a worktop with a moisture-proof edge;
• the bowl size measured against your largest pan, not against the catalogue photograph;
• whether the cabinet has room for the trap and a filter if the bowl is deep;
• the finish of the mixer and the accessories, which granite ranges often offer in matching colours;
• whether you need a drainer wing or a rack across the bowl will do instead.

Think about the mixer at the same time, and about how it sits with the sink. The spout has to clear your largest pan, and a pull-out spray earns its place where the bowl is rinsed down every day. A granite sink is often paired with a mixer in the same shade, a steel one with brushed steel, a ceramic one with a quieter classic shape. None of that is compulsory, but it is what makes a kitchen look considered rather than assembled from whatever was available. While you are at it, check whether the bowl has a hole for a soap dispenser: it cannot be added once the sink is in.

In short: steel if you want an undemanding working sink and water marks do not bother you; granite if you want quiet, warmth and a matte surface; ceramic if the kitchen is classic and the cabinet is ready for the weight. All three last a long time, as long as they are cared for the way their maker recommends rather than the way the last sink was treated.