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Fire Clay Farm Sinks vs. Porcelain Farm Sinks (Reviews/Ratings/Prices) 

April 4th, 2016 | 2 min. read

By Danny Nguyen

The farm sink is once again popular in higher end kitchens. Although far more people will install an undermount stainless steel sink, there are few sinks out there that can be a design statement in the kitchen like the fire clay farm sink.

Another reason for its popularity is the re-emergence of the all white kitchen. The fire clay sink fits seemlessly into this design.

There are two popular types of white farm sinks, Fireclay and Porcelain sinks. 

Fire clay farm sinks looks good in the kitchen, but it is over $500 more than porcelain. We will look at why they cost more than porcelain sinks and if it's worth it for you to buy.

Porcelain Sinks

The sink is the most used item in your kitchen and the most abused. Think about it. Heavier pots and pans are not placed in a sink all the time. Porcelain sinks tend to be black cast iron, and then sprayed with a white coating.

The big advantage is expense. However, these are more susceptible to scuffing and chipping. In a porcelain sink, it will chip easier and then show the black interior. There is no repair for a chipped porcelain sink.

Fire Clay

Fire clay is made of clay heated to an extremely high temperature. This causes the clay and glaze to fuse together, creating a unique look and form. The clay is found in limited regions around the world, and makes for one of the most durable sinks.

Each sink is hand crafted, it will say in the specs to have the sink on site for install, as every sink will vary slightly, that’s part of its charm. They are resistant to acid, scratches, and impact.

Due to its composition, a fire clay sink is more difficult to chip. If they do chip, there will be solid white, not black underneath. Rohl also offers repair kits to fix any imperfection.

They are available in a variety of sizes, both apron front, farmhouse and undermount. In addition, Rohl fireclay sinks are lead free and 100% recyclable.

Final Thoughts

The farm sink is a great alternative to an undermount sink and will distinguish your kitchen from the others. Although porcelain is far cheaper, fire clay may be a better consideration over time due to durability.

Remember it is far easier to chip a farm sink, because it is bigger and has an outer face. Fire clay will be far easier to maintain than any other porcelain or composite surface.

Additional Resources

Get The Yale Kitchen Plumbing Buying Guide with a complete breakdown of different sink, faucet and accessories available. It is a great way to start your kitchen remodel project. Over 150,000 people have read a Yale Guide.

view our kitchen plumbing buying guide

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Danny Nguyen

Danny Nguyen has over 20 years of experience at Yale Appliance. He takes pride in helping customers complete their dream kitchens. Danny enjoys eating, running, and competing in Spartan races. If he's not competing in a race, he is often traveling with his family.

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Topics:

Sinks