Information About Composite Sinks
The use of composite materials to manufacture sinks is a trend that has been growing in popularity in recent years. The manufactured product, which uses polyester, quartz or granite mixed with acrylic, is durable, heat-resistant and easy to maintain. These models will offer a variety of colors, textures and shapes not found in solid stone. Additionally, composites are often less expensive than their full granite or quartz counterparts, making them ideal for builders on a budget. Does this Spark an idea?
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About Composites
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When choosing a new kitchen sink, homeowners have a large selection of materials available to them. Composites are made from combining two or more materials, which gives each product a varying amount of durability and other features. These material combinations are generally easy to clean, durable and provide an equal, if not better, amount of heat and stain resistance. Additionally, composites tend to be significantly more resistant to dents and scratches, something that is especially important in a kitchen sink.
Polyester and Acrylic
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This combination of materials is most popular for budget remodels or designs. It is perhaps the lowest cost sink among the composites, but is more prone to damage than the others. The combination of polyester and acrylic is still considered a "soft" material, unlike natural stone or other composites. This soft texture makes these sinks more likely to scratch, chip and crack than other varieties. On the plus side, these composites do offer an array of colors not available with other mixes, and sheen more like natural rock that is not available with quartz or granite composites.
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Quartz Composite
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Quartz composites are usually a 70/30 mixture of natural quartz and resin filler. The quartz makes this material significantly more durable than the polyester blend, and also tends to be more widely available. The Moen Company and DuPont have their own product, Moenstone and Zodiaq respectively, both of which come in a wide variety of colors and patterns. Since the material is manufactured, its color is more uniform and is guaranteed not to fade. Once installed, quartz composite is easy to clean and care for and will resist scratches, dents and scuffs, and will withstand staining or heat damage. The designs and styles vary widely, which means quartz composite sinks can be used in most homes. Prices is usually less than natural stone. One drawback with quartz composite is it often lacks the glossy look of stone or cast iron.
Granite Composite
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Like its 100 percent stone counterpart, granite composite is the most durable and scratch-resistant sink product on the market. This added durability makes it the most expensive of the composites, meaning it may not fit with every budget. The material is available in a variety of colors --- the same as traditional granite --- and will withstand heat, staining and water damage better than any other composite. Like other composite materials, it is only available in a matte finish, so it lacks the natural sheen and luster of 100 percent granite.
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