Marble, Granite, Onyx, Sandstone, Travertine and Soapstone, there’s an endless list of beautiful natural stones that can be used to make a sink. Natural stone sinks are slowly making their way into modern households and are being used creatively to complement bathroom and kitchen spaces in an eccentric way. Natural stone sinks are not just used for the sake of functionality as is the case with porcelain or stainless steel sinks, instead, they are used to incorporate nature into a space and bring a unique sense of appeal. When you are thinking of having natural stone countertops or sinks it is advisable to be furnished with the right information regarding the good and bad that comes with it. This way, you are better equipped with the know how to better care for and maintain natural stone objects in your home.

Pros and Cons of Having a Natural Stone Sink 

Pros of having a natural stone sink 

Beautiful stone is particularly sourced from the hillside, mountain rock and river beds. It takes thousands of years to form. Different materials go through constant physical and chemical processes to ultimately become stone. A small chunk is carefully separated from the source and processed into an end product. No single piece of stone is exactly the same as the other despite being sourced from the same place. Natural stone contains different crystalline structuring, veining, coloration, pitting and other numerous variations that make each piece beautifully unique. One way or another, you are guaranteed a beautiful end product that will always be irresistible to look at.

Durable and strong 

Due to years spent under immense pressure, natural stone is extremely durable. It is very hard to cut or dent. Natural stone sinks are left unscathed by destructive agents such as high or low temperatures, humidity, pests, and rust. If the stone is properly sealed, it is pretty much going to last for hundreds of years. There have been numerous discoveries made of natural stone objects from ancient ruins still intact after thousands of years.

Easy to maintain 

A good natural stone sink is one that is properly sealed and polished. This is not only meant to bring shine but to also protect the sink against staining, cracking and chipping due to water damage. It is therefore very easy to clean and maintain. Wiping every now and then with a damp cloth is pretty much all it takes to remove accumulated dust and dirt. Every few years, be sure to find a professional to inspect and seal your stone sink to avoid incurring unforeseen costs brought by water damage.

Highly resistant 

Stone is a poor conductor of heat. This means that high temperatures or humid climate cannot contribute to the destruction of your stone sink. On the other hand, one may be warned from using, bleach, acid or certain detergents to clean or work on a particular type of sink. However, you don’t need to worry about that with a natural stone sink because it is highly resistant.

Versatile

Depending on one’s preference, a homeowner can adopt a small modern round prep sink or go for a farmhouse style sink to match the entire theme of the house. A farmhouse sink has a rough texture that looks to preserve the original state of the natural stone as it was sourced. On the other hand, one can have natural stone carved and chipped, into the round, square or rectangular shapes to better complement and bring out detail and enhance appearance.

Unique Stone can be cut and carved into many different shapes. It also comes in all sorts of colors and patterns that mean that no other sink will look the same as yours. They may look similar, but never the same. Take a fingerprint, for instance, we all have fingerprints but none of our fingerprints match any other person’s fingerprints. Depending on the type of countertop you have in your kitchen, you can select a natural stone to match your counter.

 Cons of having a natural stone sink 

One simply designed stone sink made of natural stone can cost an average of $1,000. Stones are susceptible to a great deal of chipping, cutting, sealing and goes through numerous other difficult processes to get you the alluring product you get to see in the end. Natural stone is carefully sourced and handled to maintain its original state and usefulness. It is durable and impressively resistant to destructive properties like rust, tear and wear, pests, humidity, hot or cold temperatures among others. It is for these reasons that natural stone products are significantly costlier compared to other types of sinks made from stainless steel, porcelain, clay and so on.

Heavy

One average sized sink made of natural granite, for instance, can weigh around 300 pounds. A homeowner, therefore, must build additional reinforcements in the area set to hold the sink to guarantee proper function. Otherwise, poor reinforcements may lead to sudden accidents that may lead to personal injury and destruction of the sink.

Requires regular maintenance 

A homeowner may opt for natural stone sinks by assuming that they are maintenance free. However, every once in a while, stone sinks need to be re-sealed in order to keep them from staining and developing cracks which can then give way to water and ultimately damage the sink. It will cost you less to have a qualified person to come and re-seal your stone sinks every few years than have to buy an entirely new stone sink.

Discoloration and oxidation 

Certain types of natural stone like soapstone tend to lose their vibrant color after years of exposure. Soapstone sinks can change color to appear dull and nothing like the color they were when you bought them initially. To keep your stone sink from going through oxidation and discoloring it is advisable to treat your sink with mineral oil every few months. This will guarantee that the stone sink maintains its lustrous color and appearance for a very long time.  A sink made of natural stone is always going to be different from another stone sink. This is a good kind of difference that many who value extraordinary possessions will appreciate. You can always enjoy the fact that, while sinks made of common types of materials appear plain, stone sinks have distinctive colors, attractive fault lines, and rough texture which is embraced when found in natural stone but is frowned upon if found on porcelain or stainless steel sinks. Ultimately, one is faced by the not so tough puzzle on which kind of material would be best suited for your sinks. The above information furnishes you with all the main facts to inform your final decision towards having your own custom designed spaces that are bound to take your breath away each and every time.

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