The Hidden Problems with Hammered Nickel Farm Sinks (What They Don’t Tell You)

You will not see the problems until it is too late!

After you watch the video, take a look at the photo I just received in my email. The email said, "Who can I speak to about repair, as this is not normal wear and tear? Somehow, they mistakenly thought we built this sink. This is clearly not our sink. I implore you to do your homework! Replacing a sink is nothing short of expensive!

Imported hammered nickel farmhouse sink showing significant quality issues that showed up after installation.

Over the years, I’ve seen just about every sink finish imaginable—and while hammered nickel looks impressive at first glance, it’s one of those choices that tends to disappoint once you start actually using the kitchen.

Let’s start with the basics: Hammered nickel sinks aren’t solid nickel. They’re usually made from copper or brass, then plated in a thin layer of nickel. How thin? Let’s just say I asked a friend of mine—who owns a company that plates these sinks—how long his plating warranty lasts. His answer? “Until the sink is outside of my building.” That should tell you everything you need to know.

The plating wears down quickly, especially around the drain and any area you scrub frequently. Once that nickel starts to wear through, you’re out of luck. There’s no polishing it back to life, and replating isn’t exactly cost-effective (or easy to find someone who will do it).

Then there’s the maintenance. Nickel tarnishes and shows water spots like it’s proud of them. If you’re not wiping it dry after every single use, it’ll start to look blotchy and tired in no time. And if you do try to polish it? You’re probably just speeding up the wear.

Let’s not forget about scratches. Nickel is a soft metal. Even with a hammered finish to disguise wear, everyday use will eventually leave its mark. And unlike stainless, you can’t buff those marks out. What you see is what you’re stuck with.

Bottom line: if you're building a showpiece kitchen that never gets used, maybe it’s worth considering. But if you're like me—someone who actually uses their kitchen—I’d strongly suggest going with something that holds up. A good sink should age gracefully and look better over time, not worse. That’s why we only work with solid, time-tested metals that don’t rely on a fragile coating to look good.

Choose something that wears in, not out. Our quality sinks age gracefully, just like a good leather jacket or a cast iron pan. Hammered nickel? That’s more like a shiny pair of shoes you wear once… and regret by the end of the night.

Consider sinks that are heirloom quality, sinks that will last generations, not months or a few years. Visit our website and see some of the amazing sink installations we have done over the past 25 years.