Acrylic Kitchen Sink Pros Cons
When choosing a new kitchen sink, homeowners must consider various factors like budget, durability, noise, and maintenance. With so many options like stainless steel, porcelain, ceramic, and more, it can get overwhelming. One popular but polarizing choice is the acrylic kitchen sink.
Acrylic sinks offer several benefits but also have some downsides to consider.
Pros of Acrylic Kitchen Sinks
Here are some of the advantages that acrylic sinks provide:
- Affordable Price: Acrylic sinks are typically much cheaper than other sink materials like stainless steel or natural stone. This makes them a budget-friendly option when you want an attractive but inexpensive sink.
- Easy to Clean: With a non-porous surface, acrylic resists staining and buildup. A quick wipe down with a sponge and warm soapy water easily removes grime.
- Variety of Colors: While stainless steel and porcelain come in limited shades, acrylic sinks are available in many colors and patterns. This allows you to add a pop of color to your kitchen.
- Durable and Scratch Resistant: Modern acrylic formulas create a durable sink that resists scratches, chips, and cracks. This durability matches or exceeds materials like porcelain.
- Noise Absorption: A thick acrylic sink dampens sound better than thin stainless steel. This reduces noisy running water and clanging dishes.
- Non-Porous Surface: Acrylic's smooth, non-porous surface inhibits bacterial growth and makes the sink very easy to clean and keep hygienic.
With their affordable price point, stylish look, and durable acrylic construction, these sinks offer homeowners big benefits on a budget.
Affordable Price
One of the biggest advantages of acrylic kitchen sinks is their affordable cost. On average, an acrylic sink will cost $100-300 USD. This provides significant savings over materials like:
- Stainless steel ($300-800 USD)
- Enameled cast iron ($400-1200 USD)
- Copper ($600-2000 USD)
- Natural stone - granite, marble ($1000-2000 USD)
While less expensive, quality acrylic sinks are durable and attractive. This makes them a great option when you want the look of an upscale sink on a budget.
Easy to Clean
Acrylic's non-porous, glossy surface prevents staining and resists grime buildup. Food, grease, and water spots can be easily removed with soap and water. More stubborn messes can be cleaned with a gentle scrubbing pad and a non-abrasive cleaner like Soft Scrub.
Avoid using harsh chemicals or abrasive pads, as they could dull the smooth surface over time. But with proper care, acrylic's smoothness makes it one of the easiest sink materials to keep clean.
Variety of Colors
While most sink materials limit you to basic colors like white, bisque, or stainless steel, acrylic offers many vibrant colors and patterns. Brands like Swanstone and Elkay provide acrylic sinks in hues like:
- Black
- Grey
- Blue
- Red
- Green
- Yellow
- And more
This extensive color palette allows you to add a fun, eye-catching accent to your kitchen. If you want to match your sink to your kitchen's decor, acrylic offers you many possibilities.
Cons of Acrylic Kitchen Sinks
However, acrylic sinks also come with a few drawbacks:
- Not as Durable as Other Materials: While acrylic is durable, it doesn't match materials like stainless steel and cast iron for chip and scratch resistance over decades of use.
- Can Scratch or Stain: Acrylic is prone to superficial scratches, especially from cookware. Proper care is required to prevent staining.
- Seams May Leak Over Time: The seams joining acrylic sheets can separate, causing leaks. Higher-end acrylic sinks reduce this risk.
- Not Heat Resistant: Acrylic can melt or warp when exposed to very hot cookware. You must take care not to expose it to extreme heat.
- Prone to Condensation Buildup: The glossy surface leads to condensation, making the sink feel wet even when dry.
While minor, these drawbacks should be considered if choosing an acrylic kitchen sink.
Not as Durable as Other Materials
Acrylic sinks are durable enough for years of regular use but do not have the extreme durability of materials like cast iron. With proper care, they typically last 10-15 years. But over decades, an acrylic sink is more likely to show scratches and wear.
Materials like enameled cast iron and stainless steel better withstand heavy, daily use over many years. So acrylic is not the best choice for a high-traffic kitchen that sees extremely frequent use.
Can Scratch or Stain
While acrylic resists scratches and stains better than materials like porcelain, it is not scratch or stain proof. Pans, pots, and cutlery can leave superficial scratches over time. And spills from foods like coffee, tomatoes, and wine can stain the glossy acrylic if left to sit.
Proper care is required to keep your acrylic sink looking pristine. Using sink grids, rinsing food spills quickly, and avoiding abrasive scrubs will help minimize scratching and staining.
Seams May Leak Over Time
Acrylic sinks are formed by joining separate acrylic sheets with adhesive seams. Over years of use, these seams can separate from sink vibrations and allow water to seep through.
Higher-end acrylic sinks reduce this risk by using strong flexible adhesives and reinforced seams. But it remains a possibility to monitor, especially as your acrylic sink ages.
Comparison to Other Kitchen Sink Materials
To help decide if an acrylic sink is right for you, it helps to compare acrylic to popular sink materials:
Stainless Steel
Stainless steel sinks are more durable than acrylic over decades of use. But they tend to be noisier, show water spots easier, and offer fewer color options. Acrylic provides better noise damping and color choices.
Granite Composite
Composite granite sinks are durable and attractive like acrylic. But they are 2-3 times more expensive. Acrylic provides a similar look for less cost.
Ceramic
Ceramic sinks are comparable to acrylic in price and durability. However, acrylic offers more color choices. But ceramic is more heat-resistant.
When deciding between acrylic and other kitchen sinks, here are some factors to weigh:
- Budget - Acrylic is one of the most affordable sink options to consider.
- Durability Needs - Acrylic works for moderate durability but not decades of heavy-duty use.
- Noise - Acrylic dampens noise well for a quieter kitchen.
- Style Preferences - Acrylic offers many color options to match your decor.
- Heat Resistance - Acrylic can warp with very hot pans. Other materials are more heat-resistant.
- Porosity - Non-porous acrylic resists bacteria and stains.