Your kitchen sink has the potential to make or break your kitchen. If the sink is too shallow or narrow, washing bulky dishes is a nightmare. But, if it’s too big, your precious counter space dwindles even more. So, the perfect kitchen sink that offers the best of both worlds is essential.
If you’re in the market for a new kitchen sink, you have hundreds of options. Different materials, styles, configurations, sizes, brands, and price points fill the pool of kitchen sink options. As you browse for the perfect sink, you’ll probably come across Blanco and Kraus.
So, is one better than the other? Or should you skip these two brands altogether? We’re here to answer these questions and more, so keep reading to learn more!
Blanco
Blanco was founded back in 1925 by Heinrich Blanc. Now, with over 95 years of experience under its belt, Blanco is well-versed in the ins and outs of the industry. Blanco offers various products, including mixer taps, sinks, water optimization, cooling, filtration, and complementary accessories (soap dispensers, garbage disposal, etc.).
Blanco hinges its products on three core pillars: Drink, prep, and clean. Its product lineup is filled with items to meet these needs, creating an enjoyable experience while using the particular product.
The company is known for its Silgranit sinks, in particular, as these sinks continually rank among the best in the market today. This specific sink material is known for its durability, easy maintenance, functionality, variation in style, easy maintenance, and an excellent warranty.
However, many of these benefits extend to other Blanco sinks, many of which are popular in their own right.
Is Blanco A Good Sink Brand?
Yes, Blanco is one of the better sink brands available on the market today. Hundreds of customer reviews attest to these sinks’ quality, durability, and longevity, regardless of the material. These sinks are built to last a lifetime yet are reasonably priced.
So, if you’re searching for a new kitchen sink, Blanco is an excellent brand.
Pros And Cons
Blanco is known for its Silgranit sinks, so let’s take a look at the pros and cons of this particular type of sink. Like any product, it has its fair share of benefits and drawbacks.
A few upsides of this particular sink include:
- Durable
- Easy to clean
- Lightweight
- Easy to install
- Various color options
- Cheaper than real granite (solid, natural stone sinks)
On the other hand, a few downsides to this sink include:
- Pots and pans can leave marks on the surface
- Limescale can be tricky to remove
- Lack of design variation
- Warranty doesn’t include labor, only the sink itself
- Use of harsh chemicals may damage the surface
Popular Blanco Kitchen Sinks
Blanco knows its way around kitchen sinks, which reflects in the hundreds of positive reviews on its products. If you’d like to buy a Blanco kitchen sink, consider these top models:
- Blanco Performa Cascade Kitchen Sink
- Blanco Diamond Silgranit Kitchen Sink
- Blanco Attika Stainless Steel Kitchen Sink
Kraus
As a relatively new face in the industry, Kraus’ success is somewhat surprising. Kraus entered the industry back in 2007 with hopes of revolutionizing the industry by offering high-quality, affordable, and well-designed kitchen and bath products. Today, the company is headquartered in Port Washington, New York, but has a global reach.
Kraus prioritizes three sectors: quality, creativity, and design. This reflects in the company’s products, as they provide some of the best quality, innovative, and well-designed products on the market.
Kraus offers a few different products for kitchen and bathroom use, including sinks, faucets, waste disposals, etc. The company bases its faucet and sinks on German engineering, but they’re primarily manufactured in China and India.
The company offers its products for sale online at kraususa.com, as well as several various retail outlets. You can find Kraus products at many home improvement stores, like Lowe’s and Home Depot.
Does Kraus Make Good Kitchen Sinks?
Kraus is a well-known brand in the kitchen and bathroom industry, but it’s best known for its kitchen sinks. Like Blanco sinks, Kraus kitchen sinks boast hundreds of excellent customer reviews. Many folks mention the functionality and durability of these sinks across the board.
Many kitchen sink review pages place one of Kraus’ sinks at the top of the list or at least rank in one category. The Kraus Quarza regularly makes the list of the top ten.
Pros And Cons
Kraus sinks are a solid choice, but there are a few ups and downs to keep in mind. A few notable upsides include:
- Lifetime warranty
- Range of versatile designs
- Options spanning different budgets – mid-range to premium
- Stylish, modern designs
- Durable
- Long-lasting
- Various models, colors, coatings, and bowl styles are available
On the other hand, a few potential downsides include:
- Some coatings require more upkeep
- Premium models can be pricey
- Some folks have mentioned issues with draining
Popular Kraus Kitchen Sinks
Kraus is an excellent brand for kitchen sinks. If you’re sold on a Kraus kitchen sink but are unsure of which one you should buy, consider these popular models:
- Kraus Standart PRO 33-inch 16-Gauge Single Bowl Stainless Steel Farmhouse Kitchen Sink
- Kraus Loften Drop-In Stainless Steel Kitchen Sink
- Kraus Quarza Double Basin Drop-In Kitchen Sink
Which One Is Better?
Both of these brands offer a range of benefits and drawbacks, so choosing a singular winner is tricky. For instance, if you’re looking for an exceptional granite composite sink, Blanco is a solid choice. Or, if you’re looking for a durable, long-lasting stainless steel sink, Kraus is a good option.
Ultimately, the choice is yours. However, since that might not be particularly helpful, let’s take a look at a few categories, placing the two brands head-to-head.
Durability
Blanco and Kraus sinks are built to last. Of course, a sink’s actual lifespan and durability depend on the particular material and configuration, but these sinks tend to hold up well. Additionally, the amount of care and maintenance committed to the sink significantly affects how it holds up over time.
For instance, if you use harsh chemicals on a Blanco Silgranit sink, you may end up with discoloration and marks on the surface. Or, if you drop a heavy pot into a Kraus granite sink, you could cause cracks or chips in the surface.
Although these sinks tend to be extremely durable, they’re not bulletproof. That said, if you treat them well and use the correct cleaning products, there shouldn’t be an issue.
Cost
Blanco is a popular choice among homeowners looking for an affordable sink. These sinks come in a variety of price ranges, starting around $250 and extending to upwards of $500.
On the other hand, Kraus spans a much larger price range. Kraus’ smaller sinks start at about $220, while the larger sinks (like the 57” sinks) may cost $1,300 or more. However, both brands offer several affordable models, although they tend to be smaller.
Considering the quality of each brand’s sinks, you get what you pay for.
Reliability
Both brands are known for producing quality products. However, the customer service team is simply a call away should anything happen that is covered under warranty (or not). Many customers have reported positive experiences with the customer service help from each brand.
Longevity
With the proper care and maintenance, sinks from both brands are known to last for years. Of course, considering Kraus’ young age, there hasn’t been lifetime testing. That said, the company offers a limited lifetime warranty on its products, so there are no worries there.
Blanco has been around for a while, as have its sinks. Its products are known to last as long as the user takes care of the product. As with almost any product, care and maintenance are imperative for it to last.
Size
In terms of sizing, Blanco and Kraus cover a wide range of sinks. Blanco offers kitchen sinks starting as small as 15 inches, all the way up to 36-inch sinks. Kraus also provides an extensive range of sizes. The smallest Kraus kitchen sinks begin at 14 inches and go up to 57-inch commercial-style sinks.
Whether you need a small, deep sink or a large, expansive sink, no matter what size your kitchen is, these two brands have something to offer.
Installation
The ease of installation hinges on the type of sink you buy. Both brands send clear, straightforward installation instructions with each product, so you shouldn’t have an issue. Of course, some sinks are trickier to install than others, so it may be best to hire a professional to handle the installation.
Some products come with a cutout template to simplify cutting the sink hole in the countertop, but it depends on what product you get. Kraus typically provides a cutout template with its kitchen sinks, as does Blanco.
Maintenance
Maintenance is essential for any kitchen sink, but especially so on certain materials, like granite or fireclay. Some materials will react poorly with harsh cleaners, so following the manufacturer’s care instructions is essential. In some cases, using the wrong cleaners on the sink can void the warranty.
Specific maintenance guidelines vary from one model to the next, but they tend to be reasonably straightforward. Both Blanco and Kraus provide care instructions for each product, so there’s never any guesswork.
Warranty
The warranty is an essential part of any excellent kitchen sink. Both brands offer excellent warranties that are comparable to each other. Blanco offers a limited lifetime warranty on sinks installed inside a single-family domestic home, guaranteeing the product will be free from all proven defects in material and workmanship.
On the flip side, Kraus’ warranty is very similar, just worded differently. Kraus’s limited lifetime warranty guarantees the structure and finish of the kitchen sink to be free of defects in material and workmanship under everyday use in a residential home. This warranty extends as long as the product remains in the original installation location in the original purchaser’s residence. The warranty is non-transferable.
Which One Should You Buy?
As easy as it would be to give a clear winner between the two, it’s not always so obvious. Every scenario is different. For example, perhaps you want an expansive sink for your massive kitchen island. In this case, you might not find what you need from Blanco, so Kraus might be your better option.
On the flip side, perhaps you want an excellent granite sink for an affordable price. If that’s the case, a Blanco Silgranit sink might be ideal for your new kitchen sink. At the end of the day, it’s up to you, your scenario, and your budget.
Both brands offer solid options, so whatever brand you decide on should work perfectly.