Fireclay vs Cast Iron Sink
There can be no home without a kitchen. It’s a comfortable place where you can prepare tasty meals for your family, bake delicious cookies and enjoy a glass of wine with your friends. In addition, it is also a place where you spend a substantial amount of time cleaning dishes.
Most of your family’s time will be spent in your kitchen, and the sink will play an active role in that time. Therefore, if you are planning to install something so important to your home, shouldn’t it look good and last?
If you’re wondering about the most suitable sink for your kitchen, you cannot just choose any sink at random. It is important to do your research before making a decision. It will be important to consider the style of the sink as well as the material of the sink. This will make sure you get the right sink for your home.
In the past couple of years, farmhouse sinks have seen a surge in popularity as an attractive kitchen sink. This sink is available in both fireclay and cast iron types. Based on your aesthetic tastes and kitchen renovation styles, which material would be the best fit for your kitchen?
There are a major reasons casting iron is still a popular choice for most homes interior design, but the new fireclay material has quickly gained popularity as an ideal alternative to cast iron.
As we jump into the debate between fireclay vs cast iron sink right now, we want to share some key differences between the two so that you can make a wise decision that will serve your needs for years to come.
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Fireclay Sink: What Is It?
Fireclay sinks are the type of sink that is ideal for adding charm and classic appeal to your kitchen. Typically, fireclay sinks are constructed from a type of clay that maintains its characteristics even under high temperatures.
This clay is much more than your ordinary mud; it actually contains more aluminum. As far as the color is concerned, it’s a lot whiter compared to others.
During the cooling and drying phases, fireclay solidifies after being molded at extremely high temperatures. It is possible to apply porcelain enamel to the sink to reinforce it to make the sink more durable.
Cast Iron Sink: What is It?
There are many benefits to using cast iron sinks. They are very durable and they are solid. In order to create them, iron is melted and cast into a mold. A porcelain enamel coating is usually applied to these sinks to improve their strength and resistance.
There are several options to choose from, and the pop of color can add some vibrancy to your kitchen’s appearance.
If you’re cleaning the sink, don’t use abrasive cleaners since this could damage the enamel. It may also cause chipping and scratching in future.
The enamel coating of cast iron sinks provides enough protection for them against stains. There are many different substances that stain things, from pasta sauces and coffees to teas and other ingredients that are prone to staining things, however, the enamel seems to hold up quite well.
Fireclay vs Cast Iron Sink: Quick Review of Pros and Cons
In order to facilitate a perfect and easiest comparison between the two types of sinks, we have outlined below a brief choices of their pros and cons.
Pros:
- Long lasting and Sturdy
- Rustproof
- Easily cleanable
- Installation is simple.
- Resistant to scratches or chips.
Cons:
- Price is high
- Color options are limited.
Cast Iron Sinks
Pros:
- Strong Material.
- Affordably priced.
- Various colors to choose from.
Cons:
- Quite hard to install.
- Must be cleaned carefully.
- Susceptible to corrosion.
Also read: How to fix squeaky faucet handle
Fireclay vs Cast Iron sink: What are the Key Differences
Fireclay sinks differ primarily in their composition from cast iron sinks. As the name suggests, cast iron sinks are made out of iron, unlike fireclay sinks, which are made up of a composite clay.
If correctly maintained, both of these types of sinks are extremely durable and can be used for decades at a time. In spite of this, each of the sink has its own specific advantages that will help you determine which is the best fit for you.
It is vital that you take the time to fairly and thoroughly assess each sink’s pros and cons before choosing the right sink for your home and your lifestyle. To help you decide, we have compared each sink type on the factors listed below.
As you might have guessed, each material has its own benefits and disadvantages.
Durability
There is no doubt that cast iron is a strong material. The material is highly durable and capable of supporting the weight of heavy dishes in a sink.
Fireclay stands out from other materials in this category for the fact that it is extremely versatile and can be used for a very long time.
Cast iron that was once in pristine condition will begin to show wear as time passes. You may find that your fireclay will do the same thing, but it can still resist cracks, scratches, and nicks better than other kinds of ceramic materials.
Furthermore, if anything does happen wrong with your sink, the material beneath it is the same color as the sink, so it will be difficult to tell what’s wrong.
Personalization
Do you want a sink as bright and beautiful as the wall color you choose for your house? Fireclay design extends the range of color options quite a bit beyond the standard white porcelain enamel of cast iron sinks.
Instead, in addition to the standard colors such as baby blue and green apple, you can create customized color combinations for your sinks as well.
You can easily tie in your decor and increase the value of your budget by using this excellent idea.
Cost
The weight of fireclay is lighter and the installation process is much easier than that of cast iron. The cost of installing fireclay is also pretty lower than that of cast iron.
The fireclay sink will be far less expensive to maintain and upkeep over the years as well.
The only fuss you’ll have to worry about is keeping the basin clean on a daily basis.
As long as you take proper care of it, it will last for a lifetime without having to spend a lot of money.
Maintenance
Generally, fireclay sinks are much easier to maintain than cast iron sinks due to their lighter weight.
Cast iron sinks tend to show scratches and deep chips more easily than stainless steel sinks and that is why it is important to repair any damage as soon as possible.
If you want to keep your cast iron sink looking good, you may need to spend some money on purchasing various kits and materials.
You can maintain a fireclay sink by simply wiping it down after each use. Keep your drains free from harsh cleaners, and make sure not to pour boiling water down the drain.
If you follow these simple instructions, you should have no issue with small repairs.
Corrosion Resistance
In terms of corrosion resistant, there is no doubt that there is a clear market leader. In terms of durability, neither type is substantially different from the other, but fireclay sinks have a higher level of rust resistance than cast iron sinks.
The enamel finish on cast iron sinks helps to protect them from rust, yet there is still the possibility that the metal iron underneath will rust if chip or scratches are made to the surface.
This is because Fireclay sinks have a considerably higher levels of resistance to scratches and chips than cast iron sinks that are covered in enamel.
Due to the color matching of the underlying material with the exterior, enamel is able to conceal deep chips and scratches substantially better than cast iron, which is much darker.
Cleaning
The sinks can basically be cleaned with any mild household cleaner. It is however necessary to use a nonabrasive cleaner on cast iron sinks.
If you’re using a cast iron sink, stay away from rough brushes or scrubbing to avoid scratch in the enamel.
Alternatively, fireclay sinks are much more convenient to clean since they are easy to maintain. Abrasive cleaners should be avoided, despite the fact that fireclay holds up well than cast iron.
Wrap Up!
There are many variety of kitchen sinks from reputable brand on the market, so the choice ultimately comes down to what is right for your home.
I strongly believe that you should review both products to find out which type of sink will work best for you, because both products have their own advantages and disadvantages.
The cast iron sink is a great option for a sink that is both affordable and durable and will be able to stand up to long time and heavy usage.
On the other hand, the enamel could chip if you dropped the sink with sharp or strong impact objects, which then gives rise to the risk of rusting. Though it will not break the sink, it is recommended to handle the sink with care.
There are a few things to be aware of when cleaning the sink, namely abrasive cleaners that can damage the enamel of the sink.
In addition, the use of fireclay sinks can also be a biggest alternative if you are in search of a highly durable and high-end sink. Your kitchen will have a clean, sleek look while maintaining a vintage farmhouse feel.
It is generally more expensive to buy a fireclay sink, but they are typically easier to install and more durable than cast iron sinks. Finally in comparison of Fireclay vs Cast iron sink, Fireclay is the winner.
