The Hidden Problems with Granite Composite Sinks: What Manufacturers Don’t Tell You

Granite composite sinks have been popular for years for their choice of colors and suspected stain resistance and durability. That being said, there are hidden issues that you should be aware of. Decades ago, prior to me starting my sink business, I purchased a white Blanco silgranit sink for my mother. She, being Italian, was always cooking up spaghetti sauce. After a year or so, the bottom of her sink had stained an orange hue. We tried everything, including Clorox, to remove it - with no success. At that time, the Blanco Silgranit sink was considered the finest on the market. So... perhaps they have made improvements—I hope so! 

In recent investigations that I have done on Houzz.com, I have found a thread talking about leaving a warm pot in a granite composite sink. Below is the image. 

This photo shows a damaged granite composite sink sent in by one of our customers in urgent need of a retrofit replacement. The existing sink has not only developed significant cracks but also suffered a severe breach in the back of the bowl, highlighting the need for a more durable solution. 

The kitchen sink is easily the most used appliance in the kitchen. It also happens to be the most expensive appliance to replace if something like this happens. If this customer had not found us, their only option would have been to replace their countertops, as this model had been discontinued! Manufacturers constantly update their models to keep up with design trends, leaving customers like this with very few viable choices. Thankfully, we were able to provide them with a wonderful single-bowl workstation sink that did not require countertop replacement. Replacing damaged sinks has been a significant portion of our work over the past 25+ years. What we see more frequently is a need to take care of a crack that has developed in front of a sink. These are the options. 1. Repair the crack  2. Replace the countertops  3. Have us build a retrofit sink.

Solution 1 may work for a while; however, our past customers that have done this have told us the crack returns over time. These cracks form due to an oversight made by the granite fabricators. To strengthen the span in front of the sink, they have been making a channel under the granite, across the front of the sink area. They then place a metal rod in the channel and glue it into place. What they overlooked is that granite is porous. Over time, moisture seeps into the granite and rusts the metal support. The support expands when it rusts, and the granite cannot expand—hence the granite cracks. 

Solution 2 is simply very expensive. Not only may the countertops have to be replaced, but also often the backsplash and tilework have to be replaced.

Solution 3 is not only cost-saving, but it is also time-saving. Our solution is a permanent solution that can easily be accomplished in one day.

Please consider sharing this blog in hopes that it saves a family from going through what many of our past customers have gone through.

Thank you!

Dino