As both cast iron and stainless steel fall under the category of metal, you might think that the products are relatively the same. Well, that is where you are wrong. Even though both of them are metal, they have some distinct features that make them unique.
And, when it comes to sinks, it is quite easy to get bewildered among the ones that are of these materials. Well, we are going to make things easy for you by putting cast iron vs stainless steel sink and let you know everything that you should know before making a decision.
Differences Between Cast Iron and Stainless Steel Sink
Cost
The first thing that will set both of them apart is the cost. If you take the average price of the sinks, you will find that the stainless steel ones are at around 200 dollar price point with the high-quality ones at about 400 dollars.
Yes, there are cheaper ones at 100 dollar range and premium ones at 500 dollars plus range, but we are only considering what the average price is.
On the other hand, for the cast iron ones, you will have a hard time trying to find one that is under 200 dollars. The high-quality ones start at around 600 dollars, and there are even farmhouse models that are over 1000 dollars. So, you could say that the stainless steel ones are comparatively cheaper than cast iron sinks.
Stain Resistivity
Even though the name of the material suggests that stainless steel is going to be entirely stainless, a different case can be seen in some criteria. They do stain, and some stains can be permanent.
The things that they are vulnerable to are chloride solutions and chlorine bleach that salty water can carry with them. These can cause a kind of corrosion that is known as pitting, which is permanent.
In comparison, as cast iron sinks will come with a porcelain enamel coating, you will not have to worry about it getting stained from the elements that we described above.
However, this coating can chip over time, and if you are a bit careless when you are handling a heavy pot, it can leave an unsightly blemish, which will be a pain to remove.
Durability
When it comes to durability, you will have a tough time trying to find something that will be more durable than cast iron. You will also have a tough time trying to put a bump on the surface of the cast iron sinks.
However, with this much amount of impact resistance, there comes one problem. You will are sure to break or put a ding on your kitchen utensils if you accidentally drop it on the sink.
Well, we are not saying that only the cast iron sinks are durable. The heavier-gauge stainless steel ones are quite impossible to leave a dent on. Its outer coating will not chip over time. Alongside that, it is flexible enough that it will spare the dishes that you might drop on it accidentally.
Weight
An excellent factor to talk about after talking about the durability would be the weight because both of them are kind of interrelated. It goes without saying that the things that have a heft to it will be more durable.
If we compare both the sinks, stainless steel would be relatively lighter than that the cast iron ones. Keeping this thing in mind, one thing that you should factor in is whether the cabinet that you are going to install can be supported by the cast iron ones or not.
On the other hand, you will not have to worry that much if you are opting for a stainless steel one.
Mounting Styles
In the case of mounting styles, both the sinks are going to offer you three options. You can either install them in an undermount manner, drop-in, or in farmhouse cabinets.
Well, you might think that cast iron ones are heavier to install as an undermount sink, but this method is relatively common. They receive an adequate amount of support from the brackets or posts that are fastened.
The easiest way to install the sinks, according to us, would be the drop-in one. They are relatively easy to maneuver, and you will be able to get the sinks installed in no time at all. Drop-in ones feature a rim that will let them rest on the countertop. That means it will get adequate support that it requires from the countertop itself.
Color Coating
As most of the cast iron sinks that you are going to stumble upon in the market will have a porcelain enamel coating, you are going to have plenty of options in the case of color. While the color white is the most common one, there are many others available.
On the other hand, the stainless steel ones will only come with one color finish. The metallic silver coating can also be polished, letting you achieve a mirror look. With that, you will be able to make your kitchen more elegant. However, if the silver color is not your thing, you can spray paint it.
Maintenance
The last factor that sets both of them apart is the maintenance process. As both the cast iron and the stainless steel ones will come with a smooth and shiny finish on the exterior, they can turn dull if you use abrasives for cleaning.
Usually, microfiber cloths, nylon sponges, and plastic scrubbing brushes are used to clean them. What you should steer yourself away from is using metallic cleaners.
Other than that, with the stainless steel ones, you should not use acidic solutions that have a pH level that is under 1.0. If that is all you have laying around and access to, then you should opt for cast iron sinks. As they are also not that vulnerable to chlorine pitting, you will not have to worry that much for them.
Final Words
In the case of cast iron vs stainless steel sink, we hope that we were able to provide you enough information that you are now well aware of the differences that lie in between them. With that, we would like to conclude here by wishing you good luck and hoping that you can make an efficient overall decision.