All of our sinks are made from glass fiber reinforced concrete (GFRC) that gives them strength and durability at a lower weight than if we used traditional concrete. With these we actually mix glass fibers into the cement mix prior to pouring it into the mold. These fibers allow the concrete to “give” i.e., bend slightly when stressed instead of cracking which it can do if it is not reinforced.
So should you choose a concrete sink for your home? It does really depend on how you are going to use them. They are great for bathrooms and though they work for kitchens you have to take some things into consideration.
We can almost always recommend them for bathroom use as they normally don’t get the wear and tear that a kitchen sink does. Bathroom sinks are normally exposed to soaps and some cleaners and get used infrequently while most kitchen sinks are heavily used. Now don’t get us wrong, it’s not like they are going to break or crack, but they may stain.
We always protect our concrete sinks by sealing them. We use a polyurethane that offers excellent wear and stain resistance. It’s the same sealer we use for exterior concrete countertops that are exposed to rain and sun so it’s pretty tough. For bathrooms, this sealer will last for years with no issues so long as you don’t do anything that would damage it and that shouldn’t happen with normal use. A kitchen sink is a different story.
It’s a harsh environment. We don’t think twice about throwing dishes, pots, pans, and utensils in there and let’s be honest, we’re all guilty of pouring hot oil down the drain a time or two. Then we’ll clean the sink using harsh cleaners or even scrub pads. That’s normal use for a kitchen sink.
Our sealer is tough and will handle this abuse but not forever. Over time it will degrade and once it does you may start to see a “patina” which is a nice way of saying stains that don’t go away. You could reseal and that will prevent that from happening but how often do we think of doing that?
So do I buy a kitchen concrete sink? Depends. If you want it to look new for years without having to do any maintenance then it’s probably not the best option. If you are ok with resealing, then yes, it works. If you want it to patina, to have personality (like what copper sinks do after time) then it’s definitely the right choice. Let us know if you have any questions. Thanks!