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Original poster

Ceramic belfast sink or double stainless steel in the kitchen

19 replies

dilemmasdi · 25/09/2016 14:05

Trying to decide which sink to get for our new kitchen. Love the look of ceramic belfast/butler one but worried it may chip etc... we have le creusset pots - big and heavy.... I have already ordered a unit for Belfast one but we have a week to change the order and I am not dithering....Any advice- experience please? Worktop possibly marble- if we can afford it- money going fast on this project... thanks

OP posts:
MrsCampbellBlack · 25/09/2016 14:15

I am going for ceramic Belfast sink and also having marble/quartz composite work surfaces.

lucy101101 · 25/09/2016 14:17

We have inherited a lovely double belfast.... but yes it has chipped and frankly is a pain. I would always have a super stylish stainless steel one over a ceramic sink....

PacificDogwod · 25/09/2016 14:18

Personally I don't like Belfast sinks - I like them to look at but in use I find them too hard and too deep. Better for having bedding plants in them in the garden Grin

Worktops - we've had oak in the past (was fab, not a lot of upkeep as I had feared) and now have a composite which I love: absolutely bombproof, will last forever and not quite the hardness of marble/granite (it seems I have a hardness thing going - I just found it made a kitchen very noisy when every little think you put done made a hard-on-hard noise).

PacificDogwod · 25/09/2016 14:19

Oh, so we have a double stainless sink + small drainage sink - perfect.
Easy to keep clean and a bit more 'forgiving'.

PacificDogwod · 25/09/2016 14:20

I dropped a very large and very heavy iron pot in to stainless steel sink once and it left a little mark/dent, but I truly think a ceramic sink would have cracked.

Ausernotanumber · 25/09/2016 14:21

Belfast ones are harder to keep clean and the enamel chips and wears off. I'd go for stainless.

gillyweed · 25/09/2016 14:24

We got rid of a stainless steel sink with 2 draining boards for a ceramic sink... I hate it! It's already got a huge crack in the bottom in less than 6 months, you have to be so careful putting things in/on it. In my opinion they are not practical for people who really cook and use their kitchen, they simply look nice!

Mycraneisfixed · 25/09/2016 14:44

I love my Belfast sink but it is chipped and marked and it's only 5 years old.
I think I'd still opt for a Belfast sink again as I really appreciate the depth of it.

Sgtmajormummy · 25/09/2016 15:10

I'd go for double stainless steel. Chipping and cracking are a real risk if you do regular cooking with cast iron and the amount of water you need to fill a Belfast sink just for small jobs is a bit wasteful. I love my half sink.

However, if it's aesthetics you're interested in, the Belfast will be your best choice. Stainless steel looks a bit utilitarian.

scaryteacher · 25/09/2016 15:14

Have a stainless steel in the Belgian rental and it is not big enough for my le Creuset pots. I adore the ceramic butler sink I have in my house in Cornwall. The butlers sink is easy to keep clean (Barkeepers Friend or Astonish), whereas the stainless steel always looks a bit manky (but Belgium is very hard water).

My butlers sink was old to start with (we got it from a reclamation yard), so it has never been perfect, but that's part of the appeal.

frenchielala · 25/09/2016 15:25

You can get stainless steel butler sinks.. they look great - my friend just had one fitted. Gets around the chipping problem. Here is a pic from Pinterest to show you what they look like: pin.it/SC2_VTo

Original poster
dilemmasdi · 25/09/2016 17:34

Thanks everyone. First meant to say I am NOW dithering!

We will have a small stainless undermount sink by the coffee/breakfast area. Belfast/double sink will be next to DW (long story). Stainless steel butler sinks look great- a bit expensive though - i know it will last... I have been looking at the option below- more within budget... hmmmm. Still dithering.... thanks

www.building-supplies-online.co.uk/smeg-um4545-alba-double-bowl-undermount-stainless-steel-kitchen.html?utm_source=googlebase&utm_medium=datafeed&utm_campaign=google-shopping&m=Abstract&gclid=CjwKEAjw652_BRDfkebVrdOGkDISJAD0Q2Ru_9oUSpPzgtcw2q4tUOs1yqcJIAd-KEITNAhb-ybw5BoCjjXw_wcB

OP posts:
buddahbelly · 25/09/2016 17:38

Love that last one OP. Id go for that as it gives a very sleek look.

We had a marble countertop with our ceramic sink, its a pain to be honest. Most of our stuff goes in the dishwasher anyway, but for things like the grill pan i have to clean in the sink and its scratched the sides and left black marks that wont budge.

Stainless is a pain to clean & get streak free but will last a lot longer. Also our marble tops looks lovely at first but with constant cleaning there is patches on certain parts that have faded. Ive used the top cleaner that cost an arm and a leg so not ruining it by using some cheap stuff from b&m and still it looks like ive scrubbed it with bleach!

Original poster
dilemmasdi · 25/09/2016 17:58

thanks buddahbelly- very helpful

The marble worktop is another dilemma....I am wondering if we can get away with having half the worktop marble and half oak....the layout is such that the big sink /dw will be at the end of a long side return extension....Cost is main reason but maintenance also is an issue...

OP posts:
evelynj · 25/09/2016 18:07

Like the last double stainless - can you get a drainer top for half of it? We have a ceramic butler in the utility but rarely used other than for hand washing.

Tip for stainless steel to get streak free is once its washed and dried, use a little baby oil on a dry cloth and buff over - works a treat!

PacificDogwod · 25/09/2016 18:40

That's the kind of number we have - stainless steel undercounted with Corian worktops on top - now 8 years old, looks brand-new (except for the aforementioned dent Blush).
I'd go for the same combo again tbh although those stainless steel butler sinks are gorgeous.
Are they not TOO big in day to day use though? Do you use a washing up bowl inside them? Does that then spoil the look of them though?

I may be overthinking this or at least be a bit overinested as I am not getting a new kitchen ever. Too much stress. Too many options--

Original poster
dilemmasdi · 25/09/2016 19:01

Thanks PacificDogwod

Agree - too much stress, too many options and v very expensive. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. I wish I had told myself that...

OP posts:
Linpinfinwin · 25/09/2016 19:51

We had a ceramic one in a "normal" rather than butler style. Loved it, never had any trouble with it chipping, didn't need to stoop to it, looked brighter and stayed cleaner-looking than a metal one IMO. They seem a bit niche though, so they must look naff I guess. Still I really don't see it myself (or care) so we'll get another when we redo this kitchen.

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