Selecting a kitchen or bathroom sink use to be easy. There were just a few large companies selling ceramic, enameled steel, cast iron and stainless steel sinks. In the past decade, there has been an explosion of new products in the sink category and a growing demand for hand crafted and custom work. There have been several “new?sink mediums gaining recent acceptance ?glass, various stones, brass, copper, and even wood. This article will focus on copper sinks and what to look for before making your purchase.
Copper is man’s oldest metal, dating back more than 10,000 years. Its use in the home in modern times ranges from copper tubing in your plumbing system to some of the finest cookware available. Restaurateurs, hoteliers and interior decorators look to copper and brass as naturally inviting metals that make a statement of quality, comfort and beauty. It is no wonder that copper has also become a popular material for sinks in the kitchen, bath and bar.
Copper artisans abound throughout the world, however the artisans that have gained a reputation for making sinks has been primarily centered in India, Mexico and the US. Most of the shops making “hand crafted?copper sinks are small and the methods used to construct sinks goes back centuries. The term “hand hammered?has recently become synonymous with Mexican sinks. This term refers to the original ancient techniques that artisans have been using for centuries in this area. Copper sheets are literally hammered into shape and hand finished.
The results are somewhat rustic, but truly unique and one of a kind. Copper sinks in the US are made with similar techniques but are more often “smooth?rather than “hammered? US copper craftsmen are dominated by shops doing custom work primarily for commercial projects such as restaurants. You can see examples of all these sinks at Sinks Gallery. They specialize in artisan crafted sinks and have one of the largest selections of copper sinks available, as well as sinks from all different mediums including glass, ceramic, various stones and even wood.
There are three primary differentiators determining quality ?construction technique, copper thickness and the company you are buying from. Construction quality is made up of several factors - how corners are constructed, welding technique and proper dimensions for ease of installation. Quality can vary even when considering sinks made in the same town such as many of the sinks from Mexico. The buyer should make sure they are buying from a legitimate company that knows the product and is not selling “seconds? In the world of hand crafted products, not all sinks are created equal and oftentimes there are two or more quality levels sold by the same shop (i.e. “firsts?and “seconds?.
Copper starts out in sheets of various thicknesses or “gauge? The thickness of the metal can also be referred to by the weight per square foot. The thicker the gauge copper, the lower the number. Most bath sinks are made from 20 gauge (the thinnest) to 16 gauge (the thickest) and most kitchen sinks range from 18 gauge to 14 gauge. When shopping for copper sinks, always ask about the gauge and be aware that a thicker gauge sink will cost more ?and in many cases is worth it! A lightweight gauge metal can result in a “tinny?sound when running the faucet.
Finally consider the store you are buying from. If a copper sink seems “cheap?in price, there is usually a reason. I have seen many of the copper sinks sold on the most famous “auction site?. All I can say is “buyer beware? or more to the point “you get what you pay for”…. If something goes wrong with your sink or there is a problem when it arrives, you want to make sure the company you purchased from will stand behind their product. Think carefully about buying internationally. Too often, a sink that is received isn’t as represented. A reputable dealer should identify their shipping location, clearly state their warranty and return policy and be available for consultation.
I am a fan of copper sinks. I think they are rugged yet elegant ?especially as they age. The rich highlights and undertones of the patina process are constantly evolving. A copper finish is a “living finish?and never really stops changing in color. That being said, the evolution of a copper finish is gradual, and as it ages it becomes even more handsome. You can greatly reduce this change with the use of wax or even a lacquer product, but personally I like to let the copper evolve. Most often this process results in a mellow brownish weathered copper patina. I like to refer to it as the basins soul.
Copper sinks often come in various finishes from a bright copper finish (like a new penny) to a dark patina (we call ours “Dark Smoke? and everything in between. The copper finish you choose is a matter of personal taste, but oftentimes our clients prefer the more “weathered?patinas to avoid the upkeep or uncertainty associated with shiny copper. If you want to slow down the patina process, try applying a wax like “Renaissance Wax? Applied every few months, the wax will provide a barrier between the copper and the environment. You can read more about the care & maintenance of copper sinks here.
Copper sinks for the kitchen come in two basic forms: Under Counter Mount or Farmhouse style. The rustic nature of copper sinks lends itself well to the farm sink style. Sometimes referred to as “apron front?sinks, these sinks come in a variety of sizes, shapes and with different configurations ?i.e. single bowl, double bowl and even triple bowl. Bath sinks are generally available in three styles: vessel (above counter mount), “drop-in?or under counter mount. Usually the lip style determines whether the bath sink is a drop in or undermount. Be sure to order the proper lip style to accommodate your project. A recent trend in bathroom design is matching a copper mirror frame to the sink in the same patina. This can help create consistency in the look and feel of the décor.
If you have any other questions before you purchase any sink, feel free to give us a call at Sinks Gallery or Copper Sinks Online ?1-877-320-0800. We would be happy to answer any other questions you might have.
Jack Healy is part owner of Sinks Gallery and Copper Sinks Online. Sinks Gallery offers the largest collection of artisan and designer kitchen, bath and bar sinks available in North America. As a 20 year veteran of the plumbing industry, Jack has written several articles aimed at helping the homeowner make more informed choices when purchasing plumbing products.