First, let's dispel a common, long held belief... a myth... about copper. 

Most of us grew up in an age of shiny copper bottomed pots and pans that had to be scrubbed and polished on a regular basis.  As a result, we're conditioned to believe that copper is a high maintenance, pain in the you know what, item!

But actually, quite the opposite is true...  Unless you're dealing with highly polished copper pots, pans or decorative items, it's simply a myth that copper requires a lot of care. 

If you love the look of a warm, natural, golden brown patina, you'll be delighted to know that pure copper kitchen sinks, bathroom sinks, vessel sinks and bath tubs don't require any maintenance!  Yes, you read that right... NO maintenance! 

The truth is... pure copper pretty much takes care of itself!  Click here to find out just how easy it is to care for your copper sink or bathtub.

 

Mother Nature has given copper a seemingly magical quality known as a 'living finish'.  This very unique characteristic sets copper apart from most other metals and is the primary reason why a pure copper sink or bath tub becomes more beautiful with age! 

When left untreated, copper interacts with its environment and naturally deepens in color and tone over time.  It begins its journey with a pinkish, salmon-like hue and very gradually darkens in color as it passes through a progression of russet browns until it finally stabilizes to a deep, rich tone. The speed at which it changes color and the final depth of tone for each copper sink or bathtub will differ and is greatly influenced by the amount and type of use it receives and by the prevailing weather patterns in your particular geographical location.   The truth is... pure copper sinks and bath tubs age gracefully and become even more beautiful with every passing day! 

Your copper sink or bath tub will not scratch any more easily than any other fixture made for kitchen and bath.  However, should you happen to scratch the surface and end up with a bright, shiny, streak somewhere on your sink or tub, you won't need to take any steps to 'fix' it.  Because of copper's 'living finish' properties, your copper kitchen sink, bathroom sink or bathtub will quite literally 'heal' itself!  Simply go about your normal daily routine and within a very short period of time you'll notice the scratch begin to darken and slowly blend back in with the original patina!  So, the 3rd truth about copper is... pure copper will naturally 'heal' itself!

 

Another of copper's amazing properties supports the fact that copper kitchen sinks, bathroom sinks, vessel sinks and bath tubs don't require any maintenance.  And, that is...  Copper is naturally antibacterial!  Recent studies have shown that bacteria only lives for hours on copper, as compared to living for days on stainless steel and longer still on all other types of kitchen and bath surfaces!  You can toss out all those disinfectants and antibacterial products you've got stashed under your kitchen sink!  Bacteria will simply not live on copper!
 

For more info, you may want to read these online articles about copper's antibacterial properties.  (To read the articles, click on the links then use your browser's back button to return to this page). 

"Copper Answer to Food Poisoning" - BBC Online ~ Health Article, 20 August 2001

"Copper Alloys May Be Allies in Fight Against Germs" - Copper Development Association, 15 November 2004
 

The 4th truth is... pure copper is naturally hygienic, making it ideal for your kitchen and bathroom.

 

Not all copper sinks and bath tubs are equal.  The components that go in to producing a copper kitchen sink, bathroom sink, vessel sink or bathtub are critical to its quality, appearance, ease of use and longevity.  They account for the difference between you loving your kitchen or bathroom sink or bath tub and... well... not loving it!

Here are some basic elements to look for...
 

*Pure Copper vs. Recycled Copper

Although copper has been used for nearly 10,000 years, only about 12% of the known worldwide copper resources have been mined throughout history.  And, because copper is indestructible, nearly all of it is still in circulation... but mostly in 'recycled' form.
 

recycled copper...

When an item made of copper is discarded, it is melted down, combined with other alloys, then re-marketed in the form of recycled copper.  As a result, the majority of copper on the market today is no longer pure copper.  It's an 80/20 or 90/10 copper/alloy mix.  And, the 'mix' portion is comprised of unknown alloys... as there is no industry standard.

The vast majority of copper products in use today... copper wiring, copper tubing, copper plumbing, copper valves, copper fittings, the copper in your home appliances, in your heating and cooling system... etc, are (with the exception of copper wiring), made of recycled copper.   Recycled copper contains a high enough percentage of copper for the above products to perform their primary function.  And, although the alloy 'mix' in recycled copper compromises copper's luxurious look, most of these products are hidden or 'out-of-sight', so aesthetics is not an issue.  pure copper...On the other hand, a kitchen sink, bathroom sink or bath tub made of copper plays a dual role in your home.  It obviously must be functional, but because it is in full view at all times, it is equally important that it be aesthetically pleasing as well! 

Many of the copper sinks and bath tubs on the market today are made of recycled copper which is really not well suited to handle the dual role of function and beauty... the primary duties of sinks and bathtubs.  Only a copper kitchen sink, bathroom sink, vessel sink or bath tub made of pure copper will truly satisfy both of these needs.  here's why...Kitchen sinks, bathroom sinks and bathtubs are the absolute 'work horses' of your home.  They not only have to be strong enough to withstand the demands of your busy family, they must also be easy to care for and remain beautiful in the face of constant daily use! 

While copper sinks and bathtubs made of recycled copper may look beautiful when they're first installed, they usually become a huge disappointment... sometimes, very quickly and often times even before they are put to use! The reason for this is the 'alloy mix'... that 10% or 20% mix of 'unknown' alloys that are a part of recycled copper.  In it's pure, natural state, copper has an entire menu of incredibly beneficial features... many of which are discussed here.  These features are exactly what makes pure copper the ideal choice for your kitchen and bath!   When 'unknown' alloys enter the picture however, they, in essence, contaminate the copper.  The alloy mix compromises the integrity of copper's pure natural state and dilutes or inhibits copper's very unique characteristics that make it such a beautiful and ideal metal in the first place.    The result?  You end up with a copper kitchen sink, bathroom sink, vessel sink or bath tub that just doesn't quite do the job it was intended too!  The 'alloy mix' in recycled copper can have one or all of the following effects on your copper sink or bath tub.  To a lesser or greater degree, it can...

 

·         compromise the natural beauty of copper

·         interfere with copper's natural 'living finish' properties

·         prevent the sink or bath tub from 'aging' well

·         cause the sink or bath tub to require extra care

·         lessen copper's antibacterial properties

·         weaken copper's natural durability

·         not stand up well to everyday use

·         cause the sink or bath tub to 'pit', rust and/or turn green

·         cost you more money in the long run because the sink or bathtub has to be prematurely replaced

·         or, worse yet... contain an alloy that may be hazardous to your health!

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