If you are building a new house or renovating an old bathroom, something you’re going to need is a new bathroom sink. Now, this might seem as simple as just going to your local hardware or bathroom fixture store and buying a random product.
However, the fact of the matter is that there are many different materials that sinks can be made out of. Each of these materials has its own benefits and drawbacks that you need to consider. What we want to do today is to take a look at the eight most common bathroom materials, their pros, and their cons.
8 Bathroom Sink Materials
There are eight materials that bathroom sinks are commonly made out of including the common ceramic and rarer glass and bronze. So let’s dive into those in detail.
Ceramic
One big benefit of ceramic is the fact that it is fairly affordable to purchase. Another great part about this material is that it can easily be molded into many different shapes. This is why ceramic sinks come in so many different varieties in designs. Moreover, ceramic sinks are also quite durable in the sense that they are very resistant to both scratching and shipping.
While ceramic sinks do have some impact resistance, do keep in mind that a heavy impact will cause them to shatter. Ceramic is also very hard and smooth, which is why it is so nice because it’s easy to clean. Maintenance is made very easy with this kind of sink.
Pros
- Many styles and designs
- Affordable
- Relatively durable
- Easy to install
- Easy to maintain
Cons
- Not the best impact resistance
- Prices can vary greatly
Porcelain
As well, porcelain is treated with much more pressure and heated at higher temperatures than ceramic. The result here is a much more durable sink that is more impact, scratch, and chip resistant than a ceramic one.
Moreover, for one reason or another, porcelain sinks are also very affordable. In fact, this is one of the most affordable types of bathroom sinks out there. For all of these reasons, porcelain sinks are extremely popular, not to mention the fact that they are also very easy to install.
Pros
- Great durability
- Low maintenance
- Simple installation
- Low cost
- Look nice
Cons
- Limited styles and designs
Stainless Steel
In case you’re wondering, stainless steel is a type of steel alloy that contains a very small amount of chromium, a type of metal that is resistant to corrosion. This is why stainless steel sinks are quite popular because they will not rust even though they are made out of metal and they still look very nice.
On a side note, keep in mind that your average stainless steel object is made out of 60% recycled materials, and the material itself is 100% recyclable, which means that it’s actually a fairly eco-friendly thing to have. Something else to consider is that stainless steel does resist germs and bacteria very well, and it also resists staining. Stainless steel is also very easy to clean.
With that being said, one of the big downsides to stainless steel sinks is the fact they’re very easy to scratch and once they scratch it cannot be repaired. We also want to make sure that you dry your sink after use because you don’t want hard water spots developing on that metal surface.
Pros
- Very durable
- Comes in various shapes
- Corrosion-resistant
- Easy to clean
- Bacteria-resistant
- Lightweight
Cons
- Easy to scratch
- Can be expensive
Natural Stone
Moreover, each piece of stain has its own distinctive traits such as colors, veins, minor pits, and other such characteristics. Some of the options you have at your disposal here include granite, marble, sandstone, green jade, and travertine.
The bottom line is that if you want a good-looking bathroom sink, stone is always a fantastic option to keep in mind. All that said, stone is very heavy. It is hard to install and, opposed to what you might think, it is actually susceptible to damage.
Sure, the stone is resistant to scratching and to impact, and in fact, it is nearly impossible to break even with something like a hammer. However, the issue is that stone is porous, and it will absorb water. Therefore, you have to maintain your stone sink very well and you have to treat it often to prevent it from absorbing too much water.
Moreover, stone is also pretty easy to stain, so you have to be careful in terms of what types of cleaners you use.
Pros
- High impact-resistance
- Scratch-resistant
- Rustproof
- Each one is unique
- Extremely good looking
Cons
- Heavy
- Hard to install
- Susceptible to water absorption
- Very expensive
Resin
The next option you have at your disposal is resin. Now, resin sinks are also known as man-made stone, which is because the resin itself is actually plastic, but it is made to look like stone. The benefit here is that you get something that looks like an amazing stone sink, but is much lighter in weight.
It’s much more affordable and also much more resistant to the absorption of water. Resin sinks are nonporous. They don’t stain easily, and they are quite easy to clean as well.
Resin is also very easy to cast in virtually any form or size which is why there are so many options in unique designs available. That said, when it comes to the long run, resin is not the most durable material that you can use.
Moreover, if you have a keen eye, you can tell the difference between it and stone with no trouble.
Pros
- Looks fairly nice
- Many unique designs
- Scratch- and impact-resistant
- Rustproof
- Easy to install
Cons
- Susceptible to acids and solvents
Wood
One of the coolest and best-looking options that you have at your disposal is wood. There is no denying the fact that a wood sink looks simply awesome. Certain types of hardwood like teak make for fantastic bathroom sink materials.
Specifically, it is very resistant to water as it contains natural oils that will keep it from warping, cracking, or becoming brittle. Moreover, teak is also very resistant to fungi, mold, and mildew, not to mention that it is very impact-resistant too.
Wooden sinks definitely have their benefits, but there is also the fact that if not properly treated or taken care of, they can become susceptible to moisture over time. Moreover, these things are susceptible to scratching. They are also heavy and can be difficult to install. There is also the fact that a wooden sink is going to cost you a whole lot of money.
Pros
- Looks nice
- The right wood is moisture resistant
- Impact-resistant
- Fairly easy to clean
Cons
- Heavy
- Expensive
- Lots of maintenance
Glass
Tempered glass is also very scratch-resistant. It won’t corrode, and it won’t change color over time. That said this is still glass, so it can definitely be damaged through impact. Moreover, glass is actually quite heavy and it can be expensive too.
Pros
- Easy installation
- Looks nice
- Scratch-resistant
- Temperature-resistant
- Easy to clean
Cons
- Not impact-resistant
- Can be expensive
- Heavy
Bronze
Bronze is also quite impact-resistant, and it shouldn’t really rust either. That said, bronze sinks are very expensive. They are easy to scratch, and they are not easy to maintain.
Pros
- Stylish
- Impact-resistant
- Comes in many shapes
Cons
- Expensive
- Easy to scratch
What Is the Best Bathroom Sink Material?
The fact of the matter is that each of the materials we have looked at today has its own benefits and drawbacks. We can’t really tell you what the best bathroom sink material is, because what the best material is really depends on what your own means are.
For instance, if you’re looking for something cost-effective then ceramic and porcelain are great options. However, if you want something that looks very nice, then something like stone could be a way to go. It all comes down to what your personal preferences are.
Summary
As you can probably tell, what the best bathroom sink material for you is really depends on what your needs and wants are.
If you want something that looks amazing and is easy to keep clean, then glass is a great way to go. If you want something extremely durable, then stainless steel, stone, and cast iron are great options. If you’re looking for something that looks nice, but it’s not too expensive then both ceramic and porcelain made good options.
The most important thing for you to do here is to take a lot of time to do some research and to keep all of these considerations in mind.