Replies

1. 
   Cloud_Hidden | Jan 06, 2002 02:49am | #1

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   The only ones I've seen were while house hunting prior to deciding to build. All were scratched and stained, esp around the drain. Thus we decided to go with heavy-gauge stainless steel undermount. Happy, happy, happy with choice.

1. 
   Mark_McDonnell | Jan 06, 2002 03:08am | #2

   *I think S.S. is the best choice for sinks other than if your planning to use Corian for the tops. In that case, a seamless Corian bowl is very nice. Having serviced and installed dozens of Corian top w/bowls, I would have to say that unless your a complete pig, The Corian bowl will hold up well beyond your needs. Your "kitchen Consultant" ain't.

1. 
   Ooze | Jan 06, 2002 07:10am | #3

   *I'd go with something other than the corian sink.I work in a custom cabinet/furniture shop and the feedback I've gotten on these sinks is not favorable. They stain easily, scratch easily, have a dull finish and the worst part is every single one I have seen has at one time or another developed a bad joint where it undermounts. The imperfections I've seen ranged from minute, almost invisible hairline cracks to total seperation. At first I wrote it off as poor workmanship but as more of the sinks I looked at closely showed the same symptoms I have to conclude it's more than poor workmanship. For the cost of the corian sink you could have a really nice heavy duty cast iron unit that will outlast the corian by years with no forseeable problems.Ooze

1. 
   Peter_Shlagor | Jan 06, 2002 07:31am | #4

   *I love my two corian sinks and wouldn't think of using anything else. They clean easily and look new. On the other hand, most SS ones I've seen look scratched after a few years and the undermounting gap is a great place for science projects to take hold,

1. 
   Rich_ | Jan 06, 2002 08:07am | #5

   *Last month replaced a ss sink that had been in constant residential use since '84. Not a scratch. Actually, the only thing bad with ss sinks is the mounting bracket. You're right about the science projects that can grow there.

2. 
   Bob_Walker | Jan 06, 2002 04:58pm | #6

   *Will there be a disposer? SS tends to be pretty noisy with one, the thicker the better, of course.I like my newer manmade white stuff - senior moment re name/make.Its quite with the disposer, cleans easily, etc.I've never been a fan of SS for a sink, but I'm not quite sure why!

3. 
   Cliff._Johnston | Jan 06, 2002 05:33pm | #7

   *We used to be installers for Corian and of course one of the first ones that we did was in our own house.My wife loved the large oversized sink. It was very quiet (as opposed to SS) when the faucets were on. She did have to be careful with hot pans, but that was not a problem. The biggest downside was that tea stained the Corian, but with a little bleach it looked like new. The Corian sink and countertop never did sustain any damage from cooking; however, a friend came by one day, did her nails and spilled some nail polish remover on the Corian countertop - big mark. I cussed as best I could under my breath. With some sandpaper and elbow grease though it became unnoticeable under 98% of the lighting circumstances.We've gone the SS route - good for cheapos.We've gone the porcelain and cast iron route - Kohler - very good installations with 100% customer satisfaction. Somewhat more expensive though. In fact my wife (very difficult to please) stated on more than one occassion that the Kohler cast iron/procelain sink was her favorite for upkeep, but she still liked the oversized Corian sink for doing those killer pots and pans. Of course most of the small stuff goes into the dishwasher so the large sink does have "cook appeal".Cliff.

4. 
   r__ignacki | Jan 06, 2002 07:52pm | #8

   *Cliff.Hows that ss sink attached? Under-mount.

5. 
   Bill_Hartmann | Jan 06, 2002 09:49pm | #9

   *CliffKohler makes oversized cast iron also. At least they did that is what I have in my house. One large, deep basin, and a smaller one for the disposal. I have seen similar shapes in SS and solid surface. I love mine. But it is top mount in a laminate counter and I don't like the high rims.

6. 
   Cliff._Johnston | Jan 07, 2002 04:53am | #10

   *No. Unfortunately top mounted. I had a ship's carpenter who wanted to do an undermount, but $'s spoke, and it went the cheapo route.With the modern epoxies, etc., one can do an undermount very successfully. It just takes time, effort and the customer's money.The biggest thing to remember with Corian cutouts is to radius all inside corners (templates always work best) and sand, sand, sand smooooooooooooth. As far as routers go we preferred the big 3hp's with 1/2" shank carbide bits. You can get by with much less hp and smaller bits if you're only doing a onesy-twosy, but you have to exercise greater care.We've been out of the Corian business for 15+ years. The biggest test is that of time. We still use it. It has no peer for window sills, IMHO - I cut them a little deeper so that the little lady can put on decent sized flower pots - she likes 7", and we always use the 3/4" thick stock. They don't rot or need painting, and overwatering spills clean up easily. On top of that, they just look great.My wife still likes them in the bathroom too, except for the nailpolish thing, they're almost maintenance free beyond normal cleaning.By the way, we dropped the Corian line because they (the local wholesale distributor and the factory representative) made us some promotional promises that weren't kept. I don't like working for nothing for architects, etc., on their own personal homes, and then ending up doing it for nothing, which is what happened.Good luck.Cliff.

7. 
   Cliff._Johnston | Jan 07, 2002 05:00am | #11

   *Bill, Yeah, I put one in for my parents sometime ago. Nice unit. It's one of my favorites. But as you say, I don't know if they make it anymore either. I got out of that business except for family jobs.While we're on the subject of brand names, I've been very impressed with the Kohler items over the years. I can remember my first bathtub set that I installed (too many years ago) - the only thing that matched the decor was a Kohler. I almost coughed blood when I saw the price - about 2 1/2 times what we had budgeted for the job; however, it was so substantial and attractive that I bit the bullet, and we put it in. The customer went overboard with compliments. It turned out to be worth every cent.Cliff.

8. 
   L._Siders | Jan 07, 2002 05:42am | #12

   *The only thing I like about solid surface counter tops is I make easy money. (I am not a fabricator) I just write up the job and the fabricator builds and installs it and I get to up-charge his work 15%. I think they are too expensive. I guess if we were all alike we would all drive Ford trucks.

9. 
   Bill_Hartmann | Jan 07, 2002 07:07pm | #13

   *CliffI just checked out Kohler's web site. I see that they still make the one that I have (Lakefield) and they also make it in an under mount series. So I know what I am going to get if I ever go to a solid surface or stone.In fact about 1/2 the units they showed had asymeterical bowls. Some with the big on the right other on the left.I noticed one change that they made in the 20 years since I got mine. The optional cutting board for mine goes over the small bowl, which makes sense as there is where the disposal is. They now make the cutting board to fit onver the big size.My rotted out and I had to make a new one. But I still want the cutting board for the small side.

10. 
    Steve_Weeks | Jan 07, 2002 09:42pm | #14

    *I've had an Avonite sink for about five years now, and I like it. It will seem to stain (coffee, mostly), but a little Bon Ami cleans that off, plus it freshens to like new when a bleach/water solution is allowed to soak for about twenty minutes. This is advised by Avonite, and we do this about three times a year. Any scratches are removed with a ScothBrite pad. Much quieter than SS, but you shouldn't pour boiling water into it without water running. No big deal. Have seen no separation, and we also have a very heavy ISE disposer hanging under the smaller of the tubs. Would I do it again? I think so.

2. 
   CarpetBagger | Jan 07, 2002 09:44pm | #15

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   I am in the midst of a home addition / renovation project, and must soon make a decision regarding replacement of the kitchen sink. I am considering a Corian countertop with a Corian sink, but was advised by a "kitchen consultant" at a local home improvement store that the limited color selection (light colors only) in Corian sinks does not stand up well (scratches and staining) to daily use. While she advocated Corian countertops, she suggested a stainless steel sink. The seamless connection of Corian sink to countertop is attractive, but durability is more important. Anyone have experience with this, pro or con?