I get where you’re coming from on the cracks—seen my share of those, especially in lower-end rentals. But honestly, I’ve had better luck with composite than stainless in a couple units, weirdly enough. I think it comes down to the brand and how the disposal’s mounted. Some of those cheaper composites are basically plastic with a bit of stone dust, but the heavier ones (like Blanco or Elkay) seem to handle vibration better.
Depth definitely matters more to me than rounded corners, too. Easier to wash big pots without splashing everywhere.
Funny thing, I actually had tenants complain about deep sinks being hard on their backs. Go figure. Personally, I’d take a little extra depth over rounded corners too, but I guess it’s one of those “can’t please everyone” situations. For me, the real killer is when someone drops a cast iron pan and chips the composite—stainless just shrugs that off. But if you’re careful, composite can last longer than folks think.
Depth’s a double-edged sword, for sure. I’ve had tenants love the extra space, but then you get the folks who complain about bending over. Honestly, I’ve started sticking with mid-depth stainless—usually 8” or so—since it seems to keep everyone mostly happy and holds up better when someone inevitably drops a pot. Composite looks great, but those chips are brutal to fix. Last one I replaced (stainless, 33” double bowl) ran me about $220 for the sink, $150 for install. Not cheap, but less hassle long-term.
Mid-depth stainless is a solid call, especially for rentals. I’ve noticed the same thing—tenants either want to soak a turkey or complain about their backs. Eight inches seems like the sweet spot. Composite sinks do look sharp, but yeah, once they chip, it’s game over. That $220 for a double bowl isn’t bad at all, honestly. Did you have any issues with the install? Sometimes those older cabinets make it a pain to fit new sinks...
Eight inches really does seem to hit that sweet spot—deep enough for big pots, but not so deep you feel like you're doing squats every time you rinse a plate. I agree on composite sinks looking nice, but I had one chip after just a couple years and it drove me nuts. Stainless is just easier to live with, especially if you’re not sure how careful tenants will be.
$220 for a double bowl is honestly pretty reasonable these days. I remember hunting around and most of what I found was either way more expensive or just felt flimsy. Did you have to mess with the plumbing much? Last time I swapped out a sink in an older cabinet, the drain didn’t line up at all and I ended up making three trips to the hardware store... kind of wish I’d just paid someone, but I guess that’s how you save money. If it fit right in for you, that’s a win.
I hear you on the composite sinks. They look sharp at first, but I’ve seen more than a few with chips or weird stains after a couple of years—especially in rentals where “gentle use” is just wishful thinking. Stainless might not win any beauty contests, but it’s the workhorse that keeps trucking even after someone drops a cast iron skillet in it.
$220 for a double bowl is honestly not bad at all. The last time I swapped one out, I thought I was being clever by ordering a “universal fit” model online. Turns out “universal” means “hope you like crawling under the cabinet and playing Tetris with PVC parts.” Ended up with a Frankenstein’s monster of fittings and about half a bottle of plumber’s putty smeared everywhere. The worst part? The shut-off valve decided to start leaking right in the middle of everything, so add another trip to the store for that.
I’ve learned to keep a stash of random elbows and couplers just for these moments. It’s like a rite of passage—no matter how careful you are with measurements, there’s always something that needs tweaking. And don’t get me started on those old cabinets where nothing is square anymore... sometimes I think they were built by pirates.
But yeah, if you managed to drop a new sink in and the drains lined up without a fight, that’s basically winning the home improvement lottery.