Granite Sink Reviews 2022 – The Indestructible Material
- SINK DIMENSIONS: 33.5" L X 22" W X 9. 5" D and designed to fit a minimum 36" cabinet base
Last updated on 2022-07-02 at 15:56 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
There’s a reason granite sinks have a class of their own. They are unique in their own way, and no other type of sink can offer what they bring to the table.
They also offer a kind of elegance to your kitchen that’s unmatched by other types of sinks. Similarly, their durability is usually unquestionable, and a premium granite kitchen sink can easily last you a whole lifetime.
However, they have their own downsides as well, although they often aren’t deal breakers for most people. But in order to make an informed decision, you have to take everything into consideration.
Fret not, though, as to do that all you will have to do is refer to this guide. You will then have no confusion whether a granite kitchen sink deserves a place in your kitchen or you need to start exploring the market for other types of sinks.
So with that said, let’s get down to business.
Model | Installation | Dimension | Price | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Undermount | 33.5 x 22 x 9.5 inches | $$ | ||
Drop In | 33 x 22 x 13 inches | $$ | ||
Drop-In | 33 x 22 x 10 inches | $$ | ||
Dual Mount | 33 x 22 x 9.5 inches | $$ |
Table of Contents
Granite Composite Sinks Reviews 2022
Blanco Diamond Single Bowl Anthracite
- Extremely durable with its resistance to heat, cold, scratches and stains
- Comes with drain grooves to facilitate drainage
- Effective drainage system
- Great sound resistance
- Incredibly easy to be cleaned
Cons:
- Might develop a white film that is difficult to get off
>> Read owner reviews on Amazon
Swanstone QZLS-3322 Drop-In Large/Small Bowl Kitchen Sink
- Can be installed as both undermount and drop-in sink
- Comes with clean lines and organic curves make it pleasantly easy to be cleaned
- There won’t be any stains except for the occasional water marks
- The center divider allows large items to be put on top in such a way that it can soak on both sides without overflowing any of the sides
- Produces little to no noise
Cons:
- Needs to be maintained with olive oil after cleaning
>> Read owner reviews on Amazon
Swanstone KS03322SB Solid Surface Kitchen Sink
- Can stay in the same new-ish condition for a long time to come
- It doesn’t get scratches or stains, especially if you use a good cleaning agent that doesn’t contain any abrasives to clean it
- Comes with a non-porous surface, which would make the maintenance a breeze
- Much easier to install than many other solid surface sinks
Cons:
- It CAN get scratches if you’re too rough with using it
>> Read owner reviews on Amazon
Kraus Quarza Dual Mount 50/50 Double Bowl Kitchen Sink
- Solid and spacious
- Incredibly easy installation
- Surprisingly low on maintenance
Cons:
- Might develop stains that are difficult to be removed
>> Read owner reviews on Amazon
How are Granite Sinks Made?
Understanding how granite sinks are made may help you get a deeper idea of their features, which, in turn, would help you make a more informed decision.
Now, there are two ways of making granite sinks. The first involves simply carving out a basin (or basins in case of a double bowl sink) from a big block of granite. These blocks are literally carved out from a huge block of the granite stone, making the sinks made using something termed as one-piece granite sinks.
As far as the cleaving process is concerned, for some sinks, it’s hand carved and done using hammer and chisel. For the rest, automated tools are used.
The second process is not as simple, and typically involves the use of several pieces or slabs of granite, and assembling them to make a granite sink. However, it’s believed that the sinks made this way have a stronger bonding between the pieces of granite stone used, while also making them watertight.
Regardless of the way these granite sinks are made, their walls and sides are polished to give them the kind of smooth touch and feel they are known for. However, some sinks also have their surfaces exposed, such as apron front sinks. A granite kitchen sink with this type of surface is also known to have a ‘broken edge’ exterior.
The Style and the Feel
Farmhouse or Apron Front
Most granite sinks come in the farmhouse or apron-front style. They are made in a way that allows their front to be clearly visible, which is done to let the granite show off its beauty.
However, the beauty of the granite is typically coupled with a lot of weight. These sinks often weigh a few hundred pounds, though it also depends on their size.
But don’t mistake their weight for a downside right away. The weight is due to the fact that they are made using very robust parts and their walls and divider (in the case of a double bowl sink) are very thick and would likely last you for ages without any durability issues.
Granite sinks are easily comparable to concrete sinks in this aspect, thanks to their “massiveness” making their presence felt in your kitchen.
Undermount and Top-Mounted
Granite sinks also come in two other types: undermount and top-mounted. However, the granite undermount sinks are different from the undermount sinks made of other materials in the way that they need to be supported from underneath. This is obvious given their weight, which calls for the need to get them the required support from the base cabinet or other structural elements.
You can also find both a single and double bowl sink when it comes to granite sinks. Then there are different color options too, and you can also choose based on the “type” of granite. After all, granite sinks are very popular as kitchen sinks, and hence the manufacturers offer a huge variety of options in terms of the type of granite, colors as well as the shape or style of the sink.
Factors to Consider
So maybe now you know some important things about granite sinks such as how they are made, the fact that they are very heavy and durable, as well as aesthetically appealing and pricier than other types of sinks, but these may not be enough for you to decide on whether one of those more expensive granite sinks is going to be worth it for you.
So let’s take a look at some of the other factors that may be important for you to take into consideration when making this decision.
Quality
You probably already know that quality is a crucial factor when it comes to choosing a kitchen sink, but something you may not be aware of is that it’s not as easy to tell the difference between a good quality sink and a great quality sink.
This is especially true when it comes to granite sinks, as their price tends to vary a lot. While you can be sure that a product costing you an arm and a leg will likely be made using high-quality granite and boast a great build quality, things may get a bit tricky when it comes to the budget products.
That’s not saying that you should stay away from all the expensive sinks. In fact, we have highly recommended some of the granite kitchen sinks on the market that are priced very affordably as great value for money products.
But you do have to put in some serious effort and do a lot of research to find the better ones in the lower price range. Or, you can simply read up our reviews here on our website, and you will probably find more than a few affordable granite kitchen sinks that are still great quality products.
Durability
While the quality is how the product would hold up over a period of time, the durability is how well it would retain its functionality. Even if the product is resistant to stains and chipping, it may turn out to be a problem if it isn’t durable enough to handle some degree of rough use over a long period of time.
For instance, if you end up dropping a large pot in the sink, it may get a dent. This may obviously impact the functionality of the product from that point significantly.
Hence, the sink must be durable in a way that it’s strong enough to withstand a fair bit of rough use over a long period of time. And this requires the thickness of the sink to be on the higher side, and not just a better quality of finish.
Granite sinks are usually the most durable of the lot, though. They are known to stand the test of time and are typically thick enough to not get dented in any way even if you’re not careful with the way you put those heavy pans and pots in the sink.
That said, if you’re in the market for a budget granite sink and don’t want to compromise much on the durability front, you may want to look for a product that feels like real stone.
The ones made using natural granite – which is apparently one of the most durable types of granite that can be used to make kitchen sinks – feel like real stone, which is what you may want to go for. They are built like a tank and it’s hard to damage them in any way even if you want to.
While for the other types of sinks, you have to worry about ending up damaging them if you accidentally drop a large pan or pot into them; with a natural granite sink, the thing that you’re dropping in the sink is more likely to get damaged than the sink itself.
This speaks volumes about the kind of durability the granite kitchen sinks bring to the table. However, this kind of durability – coupled with the fact that the undermount granite sinks are often very hard to install and need a lot of support – means that you can’t change them as often as you probably can when using other types of sinks. Not to mention they are usually pretty expensive as well so make sure the style and design you choose is something you would be able to live with for a very, very long time.
Resistance to Damaging Agents
Some of the most common issues associated with a kitchen sink include things like scratches, staining, chipping, discoloration, getting damaged due to being subjected to heat and more. This makes it important to know whether the sink you’re buying comes with some level of resistance against these damaging agents.
If it doesn’t, you may find yourself being very careful with the way you use the sink, as even one small mistake may lead to ruining the look of your sink. Furthermore, if these issues continue with your regular use, the sink’s overall functionality may take a hit as well and you may not be able to use it the way you could when you first bought it.
That being said, granite sinks are fairly resistant to these damaging agents, although many of them are not as good when it comes to handling stains. While this usually isn’t a major issue, it can still be avoided by just being a bit careful with your use and taking care of the maintenance needs of the sink.
Similarly, you would always also have the option to go for a more premium granite sink that may cost considerably more but would be much better at dealing with all such issues including staining.
However, overall, granite sinks are better than most other types of sinks in this aspect, although they may sometimes be a bit more demanding as far as maintenance is concerned.
Looks and Design
Well, kitchen sinks today are not just something you use to do your usual washing. A kitchen sink often turns out to be one of the most important components of your kitchen, and may very well make or break the overall look and feel of your kitchen.
This is why it’s important to choose a sink that’s not only durable and functional but also attractive enough to add a sense of elegance to your kitchen.
And granite sinks don’t leave much to be desired on this front. They look absolutely gorgeous, and you would be hard-pressed to find any other type of kitchen sink that looks anything like them without spending a fortune.
This is something that makes granite kitchen sinks a more “complete” sink than most of the other types of sinks. And of course, their durability always has quite an edge over their stainless steel or even cast iron counterparts for that matter.
Sound-Deadening
This is kind of a “hidden” factor that many homeowners fail to take into consideration when deciding on their new kitchen sink. However, it can greatly impact the overall functionality of the sink as well as your daily washing experience.
Many kitchen sinks tend to be very noisy, which may make it tiring and annoying when you’re using the sink for long periods of time. On the other hand, the quieter kitchen sinks are great to use even when washing a lot of utensils and other things.
However, the noise is a problem with stainless steel kitchen sinks, especially the budget ones. But that’s certainly not the case with granite kitchen sinks.
Many of them, including even the cheaper ones, come with natural sound-absorbing (thanks to the nature of the material), which make them significantly quieter than most other types of sinks which helps pave the way for a much better washing experience for you.
Hygiene
This is another highly overlooked factor that many buyers do not even bother thinking of when shopping for a kitchen sink. However, with food becoming a more and more common reason for serious health issues, it makes sense to make sure the kitchen sink you’re looking to buy comes with better hygienic standards and wouldn’t contribute to any food-related health issues.
When you are in the market for a granite sink, you may want to look for one that comes with a non-porous surface. Not only may it mean a higher level of durability and not required to be sealed from time to time, but it is also more hygienic and may not react with the food stuff it comes in contact with in any way.
The Downsides
There’s no kitchen sink that doesn’t have any downsides associated with it, and granite kitchen sinks are no different. However, we think that these downsides are far from outweighing the many important advantages granite sinks have to offer.
Despite that, it’s important to be aware of them to be sure whether you think the same about it, or if any of the downsides is serious enough to make you want to go for any other type of sinks out there. With that said, here are the major downsides granite kitchen sink users often have to deal with.
It will need some serious support
While we have mentioned this above, it’s something worth repeating. This is because granite sinks often weigh several hundred pounds, and they just can’t be “hung” the way you can hang a stainless steel sink.
If the sink is going to be installed by a professional, make sure they are aware of this fact and provide adequate support to the sink when installing.
The drainage may not be as efficient
Another issue typically associated with granite sinks is that they can often be not as efficient as some of the other types of kitchen sink out there when it comes to drainage. This is due to the fact that they typically come with a flatter surface than the other types of sinks, meaning the water residue and other stuff may remain at the bottom of the sink.
You can obviously get rid of it easily by wiping the surface after using the sink, but that does translate to a higher level of maintenance than you may be willing to take up.
Need to be protected against moisture
Granite is a type of porous stone, meaning that it’s prone to damage from moisture and the staining that may turn out to be a result of its exposure to moisture. In order to prevent this, it has to be sealed.
While many manufacturers do seal it before releasing the product to the market, you may still have to reseal it from time to time to keep the staining at bay.
More Demanding Maintenance Needs
We have already touched upon this issue, but it’s probably worth elaborating. Granite sinks are considerably more demanding than stainless steel kitchen sinks when it comes to maintenance.
While some of the sinks may require wiping the surface every time you use them, some others may have to be cleaned often in order to prevent them from falling prey to staining and other similar issues.
Even if you own a premium granite kitchen sink that’s naturally resistant to all issues like staining, you may still have to clean it from time to time if you want it to retain its premium look in the long term.
So yes, while granite sinks have a lot to offer and win hands down against other types of sinks like stainless steel kitchen sinks on the durability and quality front, the trade-off is a higher level of maintenance.
It’s not that it can’t be easily made manageable by using the right cleaning agents, though, but whether the effort is worth it or not may come down to your personal preferences and requirements.
A word of caution
Abrasive powders such as bleach, ammonia and caustic solutions should not be used for cleaning composite kitchen sinks. It will dull the appearance of the sink and may scratch the surface. Never use steel wool to wipe it. It is advisable to read the instructions provided by the manufacturer for proper cleaning.
Model | Installation | Dimension | Price | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Undermount | 33.5 x 22 x 9.5 inches | $$ | ||
Drop In | 33 x 22 x 13 inches | $$ | ||
Drop-In | 33 x 22 x 10 inches | $$ | ||
Dual Mount | 33 x 22 x 9.5 inches | $$ |
A Final Word
Granite kitchen sinks are extremely durable, elegant and very functional.
Of course, there’s the higher maintenance and being a bit more prone to staining on the downside, but these issues are not difficult to take care of. For the maintenance, you can use a good cleaning agent that will make the task easier and more efficient. The good ones would also help prevent staining, and with being just a bit more careful with your use, you may never see a single stain on your sink.
And do you know what’s the best thing of all? The good granite kitchen sinks no longer cost a bomb, and you can find a highly affordable one if you search hard enough.
You can obviously also skip all the hassle of doing the research yourself and simply read around the composite sinks reviews on our website as we have reviewed more than a few granite kitchen sinks that offer more than what you may ever need.
Can’t make up your mind yet? Read our reviews of various kitchen sink materials and types before you proceed with your purchase:
- Acrylic Kitchen Sink Reviews 2022 – The Colorful Material
- Best Bar Sinks 2022 – If your Bar Sink Stinks Your Party Sinks
- Best Copper Sinks 2022 – The Classy Material for Sinks
- Best Drop-In Sink 2022 – Enjoy The Ease of Installation
- Best Fireclay Sinks 2022 – The Heat Resistant Material
- Best Laundry Sink 2022 – The Lifeline of Your Laundry Room
- Best Stainless Steel Kitchen Sinks 2022 – The Wise Material for Sinks
- Cast Iron Sink Reviews 2022 – The Super Durable Material
- Farmhouse Sink Reviews 2022 – The Antique Sinks
- Porcelain Kitchen Sink Reviews 2022 – The Old School Material
- Quartz Composite Sinks Review 2022 – The Material That Resembles Natural Stone
- Undermount Kitchen Sink Reviews 2022 – The Discreet Sinks
You should also check out our individual reviews of kitchen sinks:
- Blanco Silgranit Sink Reviews 2022 – More Comfort In Your Kitchen
- Elkay Kitchen Sink Reviews 2022 – Sinks With Limited Lifetime Warranty
- Franke Kitchen Sink Reviews 2022 – The Brand With Superior Safety Standards
- Houzer Sink Reviews 2022 – There Is A Sink For Every Occasion
- Kohler Sink Reviews 2022 – There Is A Sink For All Budgets
- Kraus Kitchen Sink Reviews 2022 – A Minimalist Design With An Urban Feel
- Mr Direct Sinks Reviews 2022 – Sinks Made To Perfection
- Ruvati Kitchen Sink Reviews 2022 – Quality You Can Trust, Functionality You Will Love
- Sinkology Farmhouse Sink Reviews 2022 – When Practicality Meets Art
- Swanstone Kitchen Sinks Reviews 2022 – Superior Impact Strength, Heat Resistance, Durability
- Vigo Sink Reviews 2022 – Sophisticated Yet Minimalist Designs
- Zuhne Sink Reviews 2022 – Reliable With Excellent Build Quality