The Individual Touch of the Copper Kitchen Sink

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The copper sink's most individual quality is in its makeup. Copper is a non-porous, non-staining, naturally durable metal. It does age by oxidation to form a patina. Yet instead of damaging copper's appeal it only adds to it. The patina will form over time as the natural luster of the copper slowly dulls by way of color combinations from pink to green to golden brown.

Copper is much softer than its main metal sink counterpart, stainless steel, and will therefore scratch easier. Fortunately, scratches will disappear on their own as the patina literally eats them right up. Anything that comes into contact with the copper will have some oxidizing effect on it, including water, and this helps the patina to be absorb scratches and blemishes.

There are some important considerations when shopping for a copper kitchen sink.

1. The Weld. The copper should be welded, not soldered, as soldered joints will turn black over time. The welded sink will be more expensive, as copper sinks tend to be by and large, but the added cost is worth it when it comes to the quality of the sink. Kitchen sinks should also be on the thicker side (around 16 gauge) for durability purposes. With copper bathroom sinks you can get away with a thinner gauge.
2. Non-Wax Finish. Some manufacturers will put a wax or lacquered finish on the inside of the sink. Generally, these are not a good idea as they require more maintenance. Kitchen sinks simply get too much wear and tear and the copper is naturally durable on its own.
3. In Square. Because copper sinks are built individually, you must take human error into account when shopping for them. In addition to welding and a non-lacquered finish you should make sure (if you have the chance to inspect the sink in person) that it is square. Many are built out of square and can cause trouble for your countertop fabricator at installation time.
4. Purity. Some copper sinks, especially those imported from other countries, have significant amount of impurities -- most notably lead and mercury. A quality copper sink will state that it is lead and mercury free. Your best bet is to find a sink made in the USA and that is 99.9 percent pure copper.

One of the more prohibitive problems with copper is cost, but the individuality and aesthetics of the sink are unrivaled by any other metal. Copper apron sinks are often popular because they make work easier at the sink and accentuate the qualities of the copper itself. Copper sinks may be hammered as well, offering that handmade appeal, although some inspection of the hammering job may be necessary to make sure that the sink will drain properly.

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