Stainless Steel
Thinner Gauge (i.e. 22) = Less money, but not as strong.
Thicker Gauge (i.e., 18) = Stronger sink.
Pros - Durable, easy to clean.
Thinner gauges very affordable.
Thick gauges resist water spots and dents and conceal scratches. High nickel content gives it a smooth and shiny look. These sinks come in rectangular, round and contoured shapes.
Cons
Thinner Gauges - Dent easily, show water spots and scratches, are high maintenance.
Thicker Gauges - Higher nickel content and round or contoured shapes are more expensive.
Enameled Steel - Resembles cast iron, but thinner.
Pros - Comes in many colors, much lighter than cast iron (easy for do-it-yourselfers to install), low maintenance, affordable.
Cons - Thin, prone to flexing and chipping, not recommended with garbage disposal unit - it vibrates too easily and can be noisy.
Enameled Cast Iron
Pros - Has a substantial, traditional look, comes in many colors and styles, retains heat - good for hand-washing dishes, white is affordable.
Cons - Durable, but prone to chipping, very heavy - make sure your countertop can support it. Do-it-yourselfers should get help buying, transporting and installing this type of sink. Unforgiving for dishes, colors and contoured shapes can be pricey.
Tip - If you buy this type of sink, purchase a sink protector to put in the bottom of the sink to protect against chipping and staining.
Solid Surface Materials (such as Corian®)
Pros - Can be integrated with countertop or drain board, durable, stain resistant, comes in many colors, scratches and burns can be sanded out, very sanitary and low maintenance.
Cons - Must be installed by a professional, hot pans burn it, integrated countertop with sink is more expensive.
Fire Clay - European import, high-fired glazed ceramic with the look of cast iron.
Pros - Durable, glossy finish, low maintenance.
Cons - Limited sizes and colors, can chip, hard on dishes, expensive. An imported item that's not standard can slow down your job while you're waiting for it to come in from overseas.
Soapstone - Light grey stone, darkens with age.
Pros - Smooth texture, creates a custom look, retains heat well, good for hot pots, fairly easy to maintain.
Cons - Expensive, can scratch.
Stone - Slate and Granite
Pros - Creates a custom look, slate is harder to maintain than granite or soapstone, both are hard on dishes.
Cons - Softer granite can stain or etch, expensive.
Metal - German Silver, Brass and Copper
Pros - Creates a custom look, thicker gauges are very durable, works in traditional or modern décor.
Cons - Very expensive, high maintenance if you want it shiny and new-looking.
