Stainless Steel Buyers Guide/Checklist
Here is a checklist of what to look for when you are buying a stainless steel sink for your new granite or quartz countertop.
- Certified 304 stainless steel so the sink will match you appliances at install and for the life of the sink. – Many sinks sold as 304 are not so you need to ask if it is certified by and independent agency such as UPC to be 304. Many sinks are drawn from 301 stainless steel which has less chromium so they will not match your appliances and less nickel so they will age faster.
- Sinks with bowls that are individually drawn before they are welded together. This makes the bowls more even and heavier which means it is quieter. A welded 18 gauge sink is heavier than most sinks sold on the internet as 16 gauge.
- All model building codes require that sinks are certified by and independent agency usually IAPMO (UPC) to meet ASTM112.19.3. To meet this requirement, the sink must have the manufacturer’s name or logo on the sink, so it is visible after installation and must have the independent agency’s mark stamped on the sink. In the case of UPC, it is their shield. A sticker provided by the manufacturer that states the sink meets UPC requirements does not meet the code requirement.
- Does the sink have a sink professional to stand behind the sink? Many sinks sold on the internet are sold by companies with no inventory and no expertise regarding the products they offer. Companies like ANO are working with customers daily to resolve issues, so they do not return.
When you get a free sink, do not accept it just because it is free. You are buying your countertop for a lifetime. Make sure your sink will last as long as the countertop. If the free sink goes bad, it can only be replaced by another low-quality sink. Don’t let you expensive countertop project look second class for the price of a cheap sink.