Out of all of the announcements we’ve had, this will probably end up being one of my favorites of the year, due to the triple whammy I’m about to bring you concerning sinks. From the wild stylings of our new Neo Metro brand, to the powerful germ killing properties of copper, I’m sure you’ll find something awesome in this post. Click “more” to embloggen your mind…
Our newest addition to the PlumbTile stable of brands is Neo Metro. These fantastic makers live up to their name, embodying bold uses of materials that are rarely seen in home fixtures as well as having a sense of style that is uniquely theirs. Highly polished stainless steel factors heavily into their sinks, basins and toilets, and are ornamented with a minimum other materials. This strong aesthetic in contrasted with their flagship sink- the Ebb concept.
The construction of their faucets, toilets and what-have-you pretty much begins and ends with stainless steel. The Ebb concept bathroom countertop isn’t to mitigate that, but to evolve it. While it’s not the official flagship product of Neo Metro, it is front and center. Featuring an extremely durable resin countertop that can be lit underneath with LED lights or traditional incandescents, the Ebb oozes sexy, futuristic style that can take it down an notch and blend in at the flick of a switch. I’ll just leave these pics here and let them speak for themselves:
Talking about the material the Ebb sink countertop is made of made me start thinking about sink materials in general. I thought I’d do a quick rundown here so that you could bookmark a one stop guide to sink construction.
Stainless Steel
I’ll start here since Neo Metro made that material key to its design process. Many professional kitchens use this for their surfaces and sinks, and it’s easy to see why: simple to clean up and very durable. With the right design, they can be handsome instead of industrial, and are probably one of the lowest maintenance materials.
Porcelain
An old stalwart of water delivery, porcelain is ceramic on a cast iron frame. Easily colored but usually delivered in white or off-white, porcelain is very strong, though care is needed in order to ensure its longevity. It’s also classic, being part of sink and bathroom culture for centuries. Despite this, it has aged very well, and having a porcelain kitchen sink would not be a tired idea in need of replacement.
Composites
This usually falls under the purview of ground marble sinks combined with other materials to make it tougher. Their biggest advantage is being able to be shaped into many different styles very easily, often guided by sophisticated computer programs. These tend to be very scratch proof, though are less durable than other choices. On average, their cost is lower too.
Copper/Brass
This entry is one of the most interesting to me. Often used for a rustic look combined with farmhouse sink builds, copper, brass and their alloys have an amazing property of killing 99.9% of the germs that come into contact with them. Yay science!
Enamel/Coated
These tend to emulate porcelain, but are more fragile. They are quite handsome, inexpensive, but need to be carefully used so that their finish is not compromised. Abrasive cleaners are to be avoided at all costs. Good cost cutting solution if money is needed elsewhere in a kitchen remodel.
Granite/Stone
Big, expensive, exotic and beautiful. Ugly ones are hard to come by, and they tend to be unique pieces, as they are rough cut from chunks of rock. Very durable, but must be cleaned in a timely fashion so that acidic foods won’t erode the surface
You can find all of these great sinks and more at PlumbTile.com.