WHY COPPERSINKSALES.COM?

Coppersinksales.com is committed to providing you with the highest quality copper sinks at the most attractive price. With unique and superior design and great customer support, Coppersinksales.com offers you a positive experience while shopping and purchasing your copper kitchen and bath products.

HOW ARE OUR SINKS MADE?

Each sink is a true work of art. Using techniques brought over from Europe 500 years ago, skilled artisans carefully handcraft our sinks.  The process begins with a piece of copper which is then heated in a wood fired forge and hammered until the desired shape is achieved.  Because each sink is handmade, no two sinks are identical however they are similar enough to put side by side. 

WHY COPPER?

Copper Offers a Cleaner, Healthier Environment for your Home.  Copper’s antimicrobial properties may make your home a healthier place to live.  Why?  According to scientists, copper’s continuing antimicrobial properties work against bacteria, fungi and viruses including MRSA, E. coli, staph and other danger microbes.  When germs come in contact with copper, the bacteria cell membranes rupture and the membrane’s micro-current gets short circuited producing holes in the cell causing it to lose what it needs to survive.  In this process, holes occur and the cell loses what it needs to survive.  While germs aren’t killed instantly, they die within hours of sitting on a copper sink.  With a porcelain or steel sink, bacteria and germs can live for weeks.  Copper is the only solid touch surface material that can make this public health claim.  For people who like to wash dishes or soak fruits and vegetables in the sink, a copper basin is a good choice.

Copper Adds a Beautiful, Aesthetic Quality to your Home.  Popular for their “look”, copper sinks are works of art and add style and beauty to your home’s decor.  Whether you decide to put copper in your kitchen or bath, your sink will truly be the focal point of the room.  An extraordinary quality of copper is that is has a living finish or patina that will become more beautiful with time.  The patina has a rich weathered finish with light and dark tones creating the unique effect of copper.  This is also what gives your sink its antibacterial qualities. 

Copper is Environmentally Friendly.  As one of nature’s finest creations, copper is earth friendly.  Copper sinks are made to last a lifetime– resulting in less waste.  Copper is also one of the world’s most reusable resources.  Enough copper is recycled annually to supply all the plumbing and architectural products for all new buildings constructed in America each year.

Copper is Easy to Maintain & Highly Durable.  Your copper sink is very easy to clean and maintain.  No harsh cleaners – just soap and water to clean your sink.  It is also a highly durable material and will last a lifetime.  Our sinks come in various durable finishes that are covered by a lifetime warranty.

WHAT DOES 'GAUGE' MEAN AND IS IT IMPORTANT WHEN PURCHASING A SINK?

YES!  The gauge of a copper sink is a reference to how thick it is.  The lower the numbered gauge a piece of copper is, the thicker it is in millimeters.  The thickness of the copper used in sinks varies greatly and will determine the sink’s durability and how it wears over time. 

You’ll discover copper kitchen sinks range from 18 gauge (thinner) to 14 gauge (thicker).  At Coppersinksales.com, our copper kitchen sinks are the thicker 14 copper gauge.  Lighter gauge copper sinks may sound tinny when water hits the sink surface and can dent more easily – a very important factor when considering the extensive use a kitchen sink receives with pots, pans and utensils.

Copper bathroom sinks range from 20 gauge to 16 gauge.  Our bathroom sinks at Coppersinksales.com are the thicker 18 gauge which ensures it will maintain its look and durability as time passes.

IS IT IMPORTANT IF A COPPER SINK IS WELDED OR SOLDERED?

Yes!  This is important to consider when buying a copper sink. All of our sinks are welded, because welding creates a superior quality product. Let’s look at the differences between the two processes:

Welding joins two pieces of metal so that bonding, accompanied by interatomic penetration, occurs at their original boundary surfaces.  The boundaries actually melt and disappear at the weld, creating a single piece.

Soldering is done by fusing alloys and applying them to the joint between two metal objects to unite them. This process provides strength to the original metal by using a different material to join two pieces without heating them to the melting point.

If you closely examine our sinks, you will notice they are welded with the same copper material as the sink. There are no welds or joints in the water handling area, thus avoiding the potential to become porous or leak over time. When properly welded, a copper sink will not weaken at the joints, even after years of daily use.  A sink that has been soldered using an alloy has weaker, more visible seams that will blacken over time, rather than blending in with the copper. 

A related question involves the manufacturing process itself:  Is the sink annealed or cold pressed?  All copper is annealed (heated and slowly cooled to toughen and reduce brittleness in the metal) at some point to shape it into a sheet form and create a finished product. Cold pressing, on the other hand, is a bonding operation where pressure is applied without using heat until the paste interface has solidified.  Cold presses can crack, and are not as durable.  We believe that using annealed copper is the only way to ensure a quality product.

WHAT IS PATINA ALSO CALLED A "LIVING FINISH"?

Copper sinks undergo an oxidation process that forms a protective coating known as a patina or “living finish” on the surface of the metal.  This complex process begins immediately when the sink is exposed to the environment, exhibiting gradual color changes from natural reddish-brown to chocolate, plum, mahogany and ebony.  Unlike other metals, copper appears richer and lovelier as it oxidizes and forms a patina forms on the surface of the sink.

Besides beauty, the copper sink’s patina offers some unique benefits.  Should its surface become scratched or blemished, the sink will “heal” itself over time.  Acidic substances, such as lemon or tomato, may cause a pink spot on the sink’s surface, but this, too, will disappear as it is reabsorbed into the patina.

Copper’s patina is an organic, dynamic process, and you will enjoy watching your sink become more beautiful and unique as it matures.  

CAN I GET A TEMPLATE FOR MY SINK?

Because a copper sink is hand hammered and has slight variations in size by as much as a ¼” inch, we highly recommend waiting until your sink arrives to have the countertop cut.

HOW DO I INSTALL MY SINK?

For most sinks, there are four options to mounting:

If you want the above counter look, we recommend a partial drop in 2” to 4”. This makes the sink look more solid, although you can also mount the sink completely above counter, if desired.

All sinks with a flat rim can be under-mounted or flush-mounted.

DRAIN SIZE

Coppersinksales.com’s bathroom sinks are made for a thin lavatory, no overflow  1 1/2" drain. Our kitchen sinks require a 3 ½” drain size. We carry drains for both kitchen (basket strainer, disposal flange) and bath(grid strainers, lift & turn) in a variety of matching finishes.

HOW DO I CLEAN & CARE FOR MY COPPER SINK?

If you're thinking about adding a copper sink to your home decor, you’ll want to do everything you can to keep it looking its best, right?  Well, I’ve got great news for you: The best thing you can do for your copper sink is leave it alone. Less definitely is more when it comes to cleaning your copper sink!

Your copper sink may be the only thing in your home that thrives from lack of attention, but, trust me, it really is low-maintenance.  The unique beauty of copper is enhanced by its patina, a rich, living finish that builds over time and provides a protective coating for the vessel.  The patina also gives your copper sink its natural antibacterial properties, enabling it to eliminate bacteria and viruses from its surface.

I’ll share the simple steps I use to keep my copper sink looking beautiful, but first, let me tell you a story I heard about a conscientious housekeeper, a copper sink, and Drano.  Seems the sink was draining slowly, so she painstakingly poured a bottle of liquid drain cleaner in and waited for it to work. Unfortunately, the contents of the clogged sink bubbled up like a witch’s cauldron, spewing onto the sink’s “new penny” finish, which, to her horror, immediately turned a dingy gray.  In tears, she called a contractor friend, who told her to fill the sink with water and rub the surface gently with super-fine sand paper. This cautionary tale eventually had a happy ending--after much crying and wiping and rubbing on her part--but the poor woman may never clean her sink again!

Seriously, though, cleaning my copper sink is the easiest chore on my household list.  I use a soft, clean cloth to wipe the surface, removing any standing water or substances that might create shiny spots.  Drano aside, any acidic substance--lemon hand soap or toothpaste, for example--will create shiny spots in the patina.  Over time, spotting caused by normal use will fade back into the patina as the copper heals itself. For extra protection, or to slow the patina process, you may use a high quality carnauba wax.  Never use anything abrasive.
I have had wonderful results with our Copper Care Kit, which includes an oxidizer to speed repair of shiny spots, a wax to protect the original finish and slow the patina process, and a microfiber cloth to use with the wax.

So, just to summarize when it comes to caring and cleaning your copper sink, remember these tips:

• Wash with soap, water and a soft cloth or sponge
• NEVER USE anything abrasive like: Soft Scrub, Clorox, Drano or anything acidic
• Wipe off surface to remove standing water, whitening toothpaste, acidic substances (citrus, tomatoes, industrial soaps, whitening toothpastes, etc.).
• For extra protection, use Renaissance Micro-Crystalline Wax Polish or Wright’s Copper Cream depending on your type of sink (Follow directions on how to use wax or cream)
• Copper is naturally anti-bacterial and will eliminate bacteria and viruses from it surface, when maintained properly
• Wipe off standing water with a sponge or soft cloth to minimize spotting during the patina process
• If you have purchased a kitchen sink, please allow hot pots or pans to cool slightly before placing them in the sink.

 

WHAT HAPPENS IF I GET DARK STAINS ON MY COPPER SINK?

First of all, relax; the areas you are seeing are normal. They actually are a part of copper's unique and ever-changing charm.  Because copper has a living finish (the patina), it can react this way when any substance sits on its surface.  This is especially true with acidic substances like toothpaste, juices, or certain soaps that can cause the patina to be removed.  When this occurs on the surface, the lighter copper showing through from underneath will begin to darken with exposure (think of a new penny vs. an older one), ultimately blending back in with the finish of the sink. 

One way to accelerate this process is to apply a touch of olive oil directly over the spot and let it sit.  This should accelerate the darkening process, but it will take time to blend back in completely.  After a couple of weeks, if you are not satisfied with your result, consider a copper care kit which we have available for purchase.  The care kit includes wax, a soft cloth, and a copper-darkening chemical solution for direct application on the lighter copper areas. Please use with care; your copper sink requires a gentle touch. Johnson's Hardwood Floor Wax, available at your local hardware store, is another product you might try. This wax will help prevent spots, protect the finish, and add to the sink’s natural luster.

With time, and a little TLC, you'll find your problem solved!

 

SHIPPING POLICY:

Coppersinksales.com uses UPS Ground and FedEx Ground for shipping. All purchases are processed through our warehouse Monday through Friday.

Once the order is received and shipped, you will receive an e-mail with your tracking number and website details to access your shipping status and estimated delivery time. You can expect your item(s) to arrive within 5-7 business days, Monday through Friday, daytime hours based on the shipment details above.  If you’d like to receive your item next day or two-day, please call us at 336-891-0056.

Coppersinksales.com offers free shipping for all orders. 

Items shipped to Alaska, Hawaii and U.S. Territories are delivered by UPS and FedEx for an additional charge. Please contact us at 336-891-0056 for details.

HOW DO I RETURN MY COPPER SINK?

Coppersinksales.com strives to provide only the highest quality products to our customers and will make things right if you are not satisfied with your purchase. Our goal is to ensure that every transaction with our customers is a positive experience.

While we inspect our shipments carefully before leaving our warehouse, if you’re not satisfied with your purchase, we will accept product returns within 14 days of purchase. There is a 25% restocking fee on non-defective returns. To return a product(s), follow the instructions below:

• To return an item(s), please call us at 336-891-0056 for your UPS return authorization number.
• Please return the product in the original shipping container to the address shown on the label with the return authorization on the container.
• Upon return, your merchandise will be inspected. Coppersinksales.com will not issue credit for returns of abused, misuse, or for not following the specified cleaning instructions. If the item is damaged in shipping, please notify us within 72 hours -- after 72 hours the return will not be accepted.
• Once your return has been received and processed, you will be issued a full refund less the 25% restocking fee.

If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact us Monday – Friday, 9:00am-5:00pm EST at 336-891-0056.