What qualities to look for in a stainless steel sink?

Question

this is for the kitchen.. so what are "must -haves"? such as:

- 18 or better gauge?

- shiny or matte finish (which one stays and cleans better?)

- anything else to look for?

Answer 1

You definitely want 18 gauge.  If you look for something thicker like 16 or 14 gauge, the cost can far outweigh the benefits.  Stainless steel is a high-maintenance material because it picks up finger prints easily, but a shiny (or polished) finish will be even worse.  A matte finish will be easier than polished to keep looking good.  Make sure your sink has an undercoating as well, otherwise it will sound hollow.  Most 18 gauge sinks will have an undercoating already though.

Other than that, make sure you are ordering the correct type of rim.  A stainless steel sink that mounts under the countertops (usually on granite) will have a much different edge on it than a sink that mounts on top of the counter or a sink that fits against a tiled counter top.  The best brands I can think of on short notice would be Kohler, Blanco and Elkay.  If you go to a kitchen and bath design store, they should be able to help with the smaller details.

So to make this simple, look for 18 gauge, go for a matte finish and make sure you are purchasing the correct rim for your countertops.  Also, if you are going for a top-mount sink, make sure to get one with enough holes to fit your faucet set up.