How Durable are Copper Sinks?

Copper is an ancient metal widely used in pretty much everything we encounter daily such as transportation, electronics and building construction to name some. It is also being used in cookwares and even kitchen sinks.  As we all know, it is a very common metal readily available to use in many ways, but how come copper is the hot topic these days? Simple, because every family has a kitchen, wants a good kitchen and copper sinks are the best way to perfect your very own high end cooking space.

There are many pros and cons in having copper sinks in the kitchen. A few of which is that the metal has natural antibacterial properties, is stylish enough to rock your kitchen and make it look perfectly classy and rustic, and comes with several benefits other materials can't offer. Well, style is one thing and all, but since having copper sinks in the kitchen is quite heavy on your wallet, the question is, is it durable enough to make the investment worth it?

It all comes down to the thickness or gauge of the copper sinks. The metal's thickness in hammered sinks depends on the brand but since copper is soft by nature, it greatly affects its durability of over time. It is an important aspect since sinks that are under a barrage of different cleaning products, pots and pans wear easily over time. Also, because its malleable thinner copper sinks will dent and scratch easier with time. Thinner sinks also tends to produce a tinny sound when the faucet is on though some low quality sinks are insulated with foam blocks to help dampen the sound it produces.  

This is why it is so important to check the gauge of the sink before buying a new sink. You'll find most kitchen sinks from premium copper sink companies range from 18 to 14 gauge. A good rule of thumb is that the thicker the copper sink is the more durable it is. A thicker sink will be much more expensive than thinner ones but believe me it will give you far fewer headaches over the years. Most people agree the durability and quality will be well worth the extra cost if it is something you can afford.

The thickness of the sink will also be dependent on the manufacturing process. If you are looking for a thicker sink, we would also suggest that you should look for sinks designated as handmade or hammered. In addition to the benefit of increased thickness, handcrafted sinks are truly unique which makes them perfect for your kitchen centerpiece and will definitely help attain a high end appearance.