We considered composite granite too, but ended up going with stainless steel because we were worried about potential staining. Glad to hear yours is holding up well, though—maybe we overthought it. One thing I've noticed with ours is the noise level; dishes and pans can be pretty loud. Does the composite granite sink help dampen sound, or is it about the same as stainless? Curious if we missed out on that benefit...
Composite granite definitely has an edge when it comes to noise reduction. The material itself absorbs sound better than stainless steel, which tends to amplify every little clang. Still, stainless has its perks—durability and ease of cleaning are hard to beat.
Composite granite is definitely quieter, no doubt about that. I've installed plenty of both types, and clients who go composite usually comment on how much less noise there is when they're washing dishes or dropping utensils. Stainless steel can sound like a drum sometimes, especially if you don't add sound-dampening pads underneath.
But I wouldn't undersell stainless steel either. It's tough as nails and cleans up easily—just wipe it down and you're good to go. Composite granite, while quieter, can sometimes stain or discolor if you're not careful. I've seen a few homeowners frustrated after spilling coffee or red wine and not cleaning it up quickly enough. It can also chip if you drop something heavy at just the wrong angle. Not common, but I've had to replace one or two over the years because of that.
One thing I've noticed is that composite granite sinks tend to blend better aesthetically with certain countertop materials, especially natural stone or quartz. Stainless steel is versatile, sure, but it can look a bit industrial depending on your kitchen style. If you're going for a warmer, more natural look, composite granite usually fits better visually.
Installation-wise, composite granite sinks are heavier and can be trickier to handle during setup. If you're DIY-ing it, you might've noticed they're a bit more cumbersome to maneuver into place compared to stainless steel. I've had my share of wrestling matches with them during installs—definitely not my favorite part of the job.
Overall though, both have their strengths and weaknesses. It really comes down to personal preference and priorities—noise reduction versus ease of maintenance and durability. Either way, once it's in and you're used to it, you'll probably forget all about the struggle of installation... until someone else brings it up on a forum like this.
"Composite granite, while quieter, can sometimes stain or discolor if you're not careful."
Yeah, learned that one the hard way with a splash of pasta sauce... took forever to fade. Still, I prefer composite granite for looks alone—stainless steel always felt too clinical for my taste. Installation was a beast though; definitely had me questioning my DIY skills halfway through. Glad I'm not the only one who struggled!
