If you're in the process of a home remodel, chances are you've seen or heard of the term fireclay. But what exactly is fireclay and why are so many people fascinated with it? Fireclay is a common material used to create kitchen and bathroom sinks because of its durability, nonporous, scratch-resistant and acid-resistant properties which make the material extremely popular in the home improvement market. These types of sinks are different than their enameled cast-iron counterparts because of the process in which fireclay is actually made.
Cast-iron sinks are molded from liquid iron and then coated with a porcelain enamel; however fireclay sinks take on a much longer and delicate process. The process of creating a fireclay sink really inspires the name. It uses fire and clay. After a sink basin is molded from clay, it is left to dry. Once hardened, enamel glaze is applied. This newly painted basin is then fired at 2200 degrees Fahrenheit for over 20 hours. The silicate in the glaze is fused to the clay under the intense heat and in turn becomes one unit. Typically the glaze colors used are white or off-white but can also be found in blue, black and gray.
In The Kitchen
Fireclay is used for several different styles of kitchen sinks. One of the most popular types
