What To Look For When Buying A Copper Sink
There are some very important things to keep in mind as you make your decisions about if a copper sink is right for your home, and then when choosing which copper sink you want. Some of these issues are purely aesthetic, but some are very serious and the health of you family is involved. Let’s go over some of these things so you can get the most out of whatever copper sink you choose without having any worries.
First of all, cost is a factor. As you do your research you will see that the price of copper sinks is very wide ranging. You will see some copper sinks from a couple of hundred dollars all the way up to a few thousand dollars, and everywhere in between. If you decide on a totally custom copper sink, you can spend as much money as you want, there really is no top end!
With today’s economy, most people are looking for discounts and bargains. As you shop for your new copper sink, I would suggest to you that you do not make a quick decision and pick a low cost sink. With copper sinks the old saying “you get what you pay for” really comes into play. There are definite concerns with some of the cheaper copper sinks available on the market.
When looking at copper sinks, first check to see if there are any welds. If there are, they should be welded of copper. If the weld is not a copper weld, you will likely see color changes of the welded areas over time that do not match the cink color. If you are ordering your copper sink online, check out the vendor’s return policy. this is especially true if you are having a copper sink made to certain specifications. You do not want to purchase a sink that was made to the wrong size and then find out you cannot return it.
Another issue when dealing with the low end of the price spectrum is the thickness of the copper used during manufacturing. The amount of copper used to make the sink directly affects the cost of the sink, so thinner sinks can be sold cheaper than thicker sinks. There are a couple of issues with copper sinks made of thin copper. First, they can be dented much more easily. Also, when water is running, it can sound like water running into a tin can rather than a sturdy sink. To avoid these issues look for sinks made from at least 16 gauge copper. A sink made from 14 gauge copper would be ideal. The lower the qauge, the thicker the material.
And finally, let’s talk about safety. Copper is a worldwide commodity, and like many other metals the prices have been rising. As copper sinks have become more and more popular, there have been more of them being manufactured in third world countries. The source of the copper can come into question in some cases, and you may not be getting pure copper in your sink. There have been cases of lead appearing in copper sinks, and obviously that is not a good thing and can lead to health issues. To be safe, make sure your copper sink was made in the USA. Aside from that, ask for documentation that your copper sink is truly 100% copper. A good secondary source of quality copper sinks is Mexico, where some of the most beautiful sinks are made.