Despite cast iron and porcelain (ceramic) being a material of choice in the plumbing industry for grates, wastes and sinks, homeowners are slowly moving to stainless steel. The reason behind this is the many benefits stainless steel has been seen to provide. What are some of these benefits?
Rust
When comparing stainless steel and cast iron, the element of rust comes into play. Cast iron is usually coated to prevent rusting, but over time the coating gets damaged and exposes the cast iron to conditions suitable for rust. These conditions may also encourage the growth of bacteria. Stainless steel is more durable as it has chromium that enables it to be corrosion-resistant.
Peeling and Damage
Though good in appearance, porcelain is a delicate material. If an accident were to happen or was not handled carefully, chipping or cracking may take place. Repairing a crack or chip can be difficult, and at times you may need to replace it, which means you will buy new floor wastes or drainage grates. This is not to say that chipping or cracking will always take place. If handled with care, you can use the appliances for a long time. Stainless steel floor wastes and drainage grates may not require you to be so careful. It is very hard to cause damage or chipping. They even require less maintenance!
Cleaning and Discolouration
Cleaning stainless steel is easier than cleaning porcelain. The reason behind this is that ceramic (porcelain) is a porous material. This means that it has pores or voids, and over time discolouration will occur. Stains are also likely to form. Once stains and discolouration occur, it can be hard to restore the porcelain as using harsh chemicals may end up doing more harm than good. Stainless steel is not porous and will maintain its aesthetics for a long time without you needing to worry about discolouration.
No Need for Aesthetic Coating or Painting
Stainless steel has an aspect of blending with almost any interior or architecture design. You do not have to think about coating or painting. Cast iron may require coating, not only for prevention of rust but also for aesthetic purposes. As for ceramic, you will have to get the colour that matches your home interior design.
Having these many benefits of stainless steel, you can only see why most homeowners are more inclined to choose stainless steel floor wastes and drainage grates.
For more information, contact a company like Hydro Construction Products.
Hello! My name is Paula and on this blog, I will be taking you on a fascinating journey through the world of plumbing. Not many people like to think about plumbing as it can seem like a very dry and boring subject. I used to think plumbing was really dull. However, once I got talking to a plumbing contractor who had called around to fit a new tap, I discovered that plumbing is, in fact, a quite fascinating subject. Since then, I have done all I can to learn as much as possible about the plumbing industry. I hope you find what I have written here useful.