The Most Common Materials You’ll Find in Your Fixtures

Brass / Stainless Steel / Acrylic / Ceramic / Porcelain / Solid Surface / Cast Iron

Brass

Brass is an alloy composed primarily of copper and zinc that may also contain small amounts of other metals. These additional constituents give the brass specific qualities for particular applications and vary by use of the end product. Overall, as a material brass is highly corrosion-resistant, extremely durable, and has greater workability than materials like stainless steel. This is to say, it lends itself well to forming into more detailed shapes for products like faucets and console vanity legs. Additionally, brass is a recyclable material and even has scrap value at the end of the service life of the finished product.

Stainless Steel

Stainless steel is a ferrous (iron-based) alloy with at least 10.5% chromium to provide oxidation resistance. Stainless steel is rust and corrosion resistant, highly durable, and offers excellent structural strength. Stainless steel offers these qualities at a lower weight than a comparable item manufactured from a material like brass. Finally, stainless steel can be recycled at the end of the product’s lifecycle. Unfortunately, the scrap or recycle value for stainless steel is quite low, but at the very least it does not have to go into a landfill.

Acrylic

Acrylic is a clear, high-density polymer that is typically used as an accent material, such as on our line of crystal doorknob-inspired faucet handles. Acrylic can also be used as a primary structural material such as in our acrylic console vanity legs, but these applications are less common. The material itself offers the transparent qualities of glass and crystal without the same risk of cracking or shattering - and in the case of crystal without any added hazardous constituents like lead. Unfortunately, recycling acrylic is quite difficult and may not be available in all jurisdictions. Once your acrylic product has reached the end of its life, please contact your local waste management authority to determine what options there are for appropriate and responsible disposal. 

Ceramic and Vitreous China

Ceramic and vitreous china are frequently used interchangeably, but they are ever so slightly different from one another. Both materials are composed of a mineral clay base that is formed and fired to harden it. Both materials are then coated with a glass-based glaze and fired again to create a non-porous, glossy surface. Both materials are extremely durable and easy to maintain. So what’s the difference? Vitreous china is a slightly finer clay base, and it fires at a slightly higher temperature than conventional ceramic. When a ceramic or vitreous china fixture reaches the end of its life, it can be taken to a recycling center that accepts ceramics and porcelain, or it may need to be taken to a company that specializes in construction fill or reclaimed materials where it will be broken up and repurposed as construction backfill or the like, rather than being dumped. Please consider doing a bit of research and responsibly disposing of your old fixture before sending it to the landfill.

Porcelain

Porcelain is a close relative of ceramic and vitreous china. It is also composed of mineral-based clay and undergoes a firing process at high temperatures. Unlike ceramic or vitreous china, porcelain is non-porous after its first firing, so it does not require a glaze to be applied to achieve a glossy, easy-to-clean surface. Like ceramic and vitreous china, when discarding porcelain it can be taken to a recycling center that accepts ceramics and porcelain, or it may need to be taken to a company that specializes in construction fill or reclaimed materials where it will be broken up and repurposed as construction backfill or the like, rather than being dumped. Please consider doing a bit of research and responsibly disposing of your old fixture before sending it to the landfill.

Solid Surface

Solid surface, also called Solid Surface White Stone, is a new material on the market compared to materials like cast iron and ceramic that have been in use for hundreds (or even thousands) of years. Solid Surface consists of a composite of metal and mineral powders and high-grade resin. The resulting material exhibits a number of unique characteristics. It weighs less than cast iron or natural stone, and it retains heat better than acrylic. Matte solid surface can have minor scratch and stain damage repaired by the owner, and polished glossy solid surface can have minor scratch and stain damage repaired by a professional, so it is an unusually forgiving material even though it possesses a very fine surface.

Cast Iron

Cast Iron is another extremely long-standing material in plumbing fixtures. Most commonly found in sinks and bathtubs, but also used in accessories, handles, and other products, cast iron provides excellent durability and heat retention. Cast iron sinks and bathtubs are formed in a vacuum mold process, then coated with high-grade enamel for an exceptionally long-lasting and easy-to-care-for product. Expect a cast iron fixture to last decades or more. Kingston’s cast-iron fixtures are tested and certified to contain less than 10ppm lead (lowest detectable concentrations) in the iron substrate, the enamel finish, and the exterior paint, so feel confident you’re getting clean in a clean bathtub.