Enameled Cast Iron Sink Vs Fireclay

The nice thing about the enamel is that it will not stain or show any wear from water marks over time.

Enameled cast iron sink vs fireclay. One of the biggest advantages of cast iron material is that it can handle heavy use for years. During this process a protective glaze is actually fused to the clay rather than poured on top of it as with cast iron. Fireclay s type of sink doesn t come in such a variety of colors like cast iron sinks and doesn t have such a polished look to them. They also won t dull over time.

Fireclay sinks can be commonly mistaken for cast iron sinks. A cast iron sink is made by casting iron and then coating it with a porcelain enamel finish that is fused to the bare iron and is highly durable. To tell the difference between the two keep in mind that fireclay sinks have a handcrafted quality to them and will look better in rustic themed kitchens. The fireclay material is formed when a clay based ceramic is fired in a kiln at hot temperatures.

If you over tighten the drain flange especially around a garbage disposer it can crack right across. Cast iron sinks have an enamel coating and thus have a very polished look. It can make it very tough to decide between the two based on their similarities in appearance. They come in a variety of colors and can make it easier to find a sink that goes well with your kitchen s look.

As a result fireclay sinks are stronger and more durable. During this process the makers coat the iron in durable enamel. If these chips go down to the bare iron that iron can rust. Fireclay ceramic drawbacks fireclay is a particularly strong ceramic but it still suffers some of the same drawbacks that other ceramics do although perhaps to a lesser extent.

Like fireclay cast iron sinks are heavy and need proper support under the sink for installation. Cast iron is enamel over actual iron whereas fireclay is a dense china. Fireclay is stronger than the vitreous china they make bathroom fixtures out of but it can chip and crack.