Benefits of Stainless Steel Countertops

What are the Benefits and Advantages of Stainless Steel Countertops?

Aesthetics

Stainless steel countertops bring aesthetic versatility and are available in a variety of custom finishes, including a standard brushed finish, our antique matte, or our custom hand applied designs that add artistic elements. Stainless steel offers a high quality and pleasing appearance that reflects light within a living area.

Durability

As a durable hard surface material, stainless steel is waterproof, will not chip, is corrosion and stain resistant, and resists impacts, leaving it virtually indestructible.

Hygienic

One of the most hygienic surfaces for food preparation is stainless steel, which is very easy to clean using mild soap and water. There are no cracks or pores to collect dirt or bacteria and it does not require any special maintenance. Stainless steel has a self-generating protective coating and will not impart tastes to food.

Ease of Fabrications

With proper equipment, stainless steel can be cut, formed and welded to create a seamless waterproof counter top, along with stainless steel sinks, backsplashes, dish boards, and aprons.

Heat and fire resistant

Perfect for cooking, stainless steel countertops resist scaling and will not burn.

Environmental Green Properties

Made from 100% recyclable materials, stainless steel countertops do not emit any off-gassing, and have a useful life expectancy of over 100 years.

Economical

Over the total life of a project, stainless steel is often the best value option for countertop surfaces.

Most of these benefits are true for copper countertops as well, although copper is a softer material and does not resist dents as well as stainless steel. Copper has a uniquely exclusive benefit, as it has natural antimicrobial properties. Left natural, copper is considered a “living material” and creates a beautiful patina aesthetic.

Stainless steel and copper countertops are often only a portion of an entire countertop project. As with other surface materials, stainless steel and copper countertops can be used in specific areas such as food prep, landing areas or central islands, and complimented with other surface materials to finish the overall project design.

Stainless Steel Facts – Getting Technical

304 Stainless Steel

Our standard grade of stainless that we use for our sinks and countertops.

SAE 304 stainless steel contains both chromium and nickel metals as the main non-iron constituents. It is an austenite steel. It is not very electrically or thermally conductive and is non-magnetic. It has a higher corrosion resistance than regular steel and is widely used because of the ease in which it is formed into various shapes. It contains 17.5–20% chromium, 8–11% nickel, and less than 0.08% carbon, 2% manganese, 1% silicon, 0.045% phosphorus, and 0.03% sulfur.

Type 304 stainless steel is used for a variety of household and industrial applications such as screws, machinery parts, car headers, food-handling equipment, residential counter tops, sinks, and restaurant equipment. 304 stainless steel is also used in the architectural field for exterior accents such as water and fire features.

 

316L Stainless Steel

If your application requires higher corrosion resistance, we use 316L stainless for counters, sinks and cabinets. 

SAE 316L stainless steel is a standard for an austenic variety of stainless steel given the American SAE designation “316L” which indicates that this steel is low-carbon subtype of marine grade stainless steel containing 16-18% chromium, 10-14% nickel, 2.0-3.0% molybdenum, and no more than 0.03% carbon, 2% manganese, 0.75% silicon, 0.045% phosphorus, 0.03% sulphur, and 0.1% nitrogen by weight, with the remainder consisting entirely of iron (by comparison, regular 316 grade may contain up to 0.08% carbon by weight).

It is the preferred variety of stainless steel used in medical devices and corrosive enviroments.

Reference: http://https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SAE_304_stainless_steel