There are currently five popular kitchen surface treatment methods for stainless steel sinks: Electroplate, Brushed and matte finishes, Satin finishes, Decor finish, and Polish treatment.
These different kinds of surface treatments have numerous benefits and downsides. You can choose a stainless steel finish according to the environment of your home. This article will help you make the right choice.
Let’s get right to it!
What Finishes Are Available For Stainless Steel Sinks?
Electroplate
This finish looks like it has a layer of frost. It is made up of chemical electrolytes, which are there for surface treatment. This finish is similar to electroplating.
This finish has the simplest process and has very low technical costs. The price of this finish is also low. However, this type of finish has a defect. It is not scratch resistant at all. The surface of the sink will be easily scratched. In some severe cases, the coating of the sink might also chip off.
Out of the 2,000 manufacturers that operate in China, around 90% of them use this technology for their production.
Many high-end brands also use this specific type of technology to seize the lower end of the market: The people looking for an economical solution for their sinks.
High-end companies gradually phase out of this process eventually and go for other better finishes for their products.
Brushed And Matte Finishes
This method is most commonly used in drawn sinks.
This finish is not that great, but it can camouflage scratches and make them unnoticeable.
This type of finish uses fine sand particles. The particles hit the sink evenly at high speed. This causes the surface to form evenly, with tiny grooves to be invisible to the human eye.
This finish also increases the hardness of the sink significantly and improves its scratch resistance.
The principle used in manufacturing is equivalent to shot peening in mechanical processing.
There is one requirement for this treatment. The sink wall shouldn’t be too thin, and it should be able to withstand the sand particles hitting it. Otherwise, the surface will break.
Satin Finish
This finish looks fantastic. It is described as ‘velvety’ by several customers of the product.
This type of finish uses wire drawing equipment to draw repeatedly on the sink’s surface. This process is equivalent to the grinding machine processing in mechanical processing.
The sink’s surface is formed with a series of fine silk marks. Because of this, the requirements of the surface of the sink and the drawn surface are very high.
Occasionally, domestic sheet wire drawing affects the sink’s appearance because of the fine particles on the sink’s surface. For this reason, this finish is only used on high-quality imported stainless steel plates that can withstand pressure.
This finish is very popular, especially in the North American market.
Decor
The visual effect of this finish is extremely sought after in the market.
It is made by pressing a regular pattern on the sink’s surface. Alternatively, you can directly press with an embossed sheet (equivalent to the pattern steel plate used on the pedestrian bridge on the road) and then use the matt surface treatment method for surface treatment.
The advantage of this sink is the sophisticated look it offers. However, over time, oily smoke in the kitchen will cause the sink to accumulate a lot of dirt. This dirt can get difficult to clean eventually.
Polish
This finish gives the sink a new and clean look. The sink is spotless with this finish, and it is very satisfying for the appearance.
In this type of finish, you polish the sink’s surface enough to make it look like a mirror. This treatment is not suitable for everyone as it requires higher maintenance, and scratches are formed easily. However, it is amazing.
Pros And Cons Of Every Type Of Finish
There exists no perfect finish. It is only a matter of preference and your requirements. The pros and cons of the finishes are summarized below:
Electroplate Finish
This finish is a cost-effective way but is out of date for the market.
Polish Finish
This is gleaming without a single scratch. This looks amazing, but it is easy to scratch, and water spots form easily.
Brushed And Matte Finish
This is a rather dull finish, but it is incredible at hiding scratches.
Satin Finish
This is the most sought-after finish in the market. It offers a mix of convenience, price, and beauty well suited for many people.
Decor Finish
This finish is impressive at hiding damage, but it can become a little challenging to clean.
Stainless steel naturally produces a tiny sound and amplifies the sound of clattering dishes and silverware. For this reason, many high-quality sinks are equipped with sound-deadening pads on the underside of the sink.
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Conclusion
As we said earlier, there is no perfect sink. It is only a matter of preferences.
Ensure you know all your options before choosing what’s best for you.
Good luck!
