Stainless steel is a derivative of an alloy of iron and carbon. And to get stainless steel, the carbon component is reduced to approximately 0.04% - 1.1%. Next, chromium is added to the steel to form stainless steel resistant to corrosion.   

Stainless steel is often utilized due to its pristine, shiny nature, and strength properties. You’ll find stainless steel across industries, from food to health to home appliances. It shows the versatility of steel, an aspect you can take advantage of and incorporate into your construction project.  

Suppose you’re constructing or renovating your home. Are you considering if you can adopt stainless steel in your bathroom design? This read will help you decide by highlighting the pros and cons of this adoption. Read on!

Pros

• Hygienic

The bathroom is a space where hygiene is paramount due to its use. Therefore, it’s always advisable to keep it clean to prevent the growth of bacteria that could harm your health.  

Some materials are more prone to harbor bacteria growth than others, especially the porous ones that absorb moisture and retain germs. Cleaning these materials doesn’t necessarily eliminate germs, especially if germs are embedded inside the materials.    

However, you can easily maintain the hygiene of bathroom accessories made from stainless steel. It's because stainless steel is non-porous and won’t absorb germs or water. And if there are any germs on its surface, be it a sink or channel, you can easily eliminate them. All you’ll do is wipe the surface with a disinfectant, giving clean and hygienic channels. Therefore, you’ll no longer worry about catching diseases from your bathroom.

• Durable

You expect your construction project to give you value for your money by standing the test of time. On the other hand, your project’s longevity depends on the materials you use. However, you need not worry about the quality and longevity of your bathroom design project should you use stainless steel. Why? 

By nature, stainless steel is strong due to its high tensile strength. This property is quite beneficial in bathrooms where falls and slips are rampant due to moisture. Therefore, with stainless steel accessories like grab bars, should you slip, you can grab onto them, and they’ll hold your weight, preventing the fall.  

As previously stated, your bathroom is a wet space. Therefore, rust can be a challenging thing to address, especially if you adopt the wrong material. However, with stainless steel, you shouldn’t worry about rust because it’s corrosion resistant, thanks to its chromium composition. Therefore, expect your stainless-steel bathroom accessories to stand the test of time and serve you without rusting.  

Cons

• Easily Gets Dirt

Stainless steel's soft, delicate nature makes it prone to getting dirty quickly. You’ll find dust lingering on these surfaces, especially if you open your bathroom window. Besides dust, you’ll likely see smudges on your stainless-steel hand or towel rail, among other accessories. These smudges arise from touch and are often your fingerprints.  

Although stainless steel gets dirty quickly, it’s easy to clean. All you'll do is wipe down with a piece of cloth weekly to prevent dirt accumulation. However, it’d also help to use a mild cleaning solution monthly or quarterly to clean the stainless-steel surfaces. They’ll always be shiny. And when cleaning, be wary of too strong solutions, like those with chlorine bleach which might corrode and discolor your stainless steel.

• Expensive

Although stainless steel has lucrative performance properties, it doesn’t come cheap. It's often more expensive than other metal finishes you can adopt in your bathroom. The expensive nature of stainless steel arises during the manufacture of bathroom accessories. 

Stainless steel is quite tough to weld, a property that requires advanced equipment and expertise. These two resources don’t come cheap, and the manufacturer will compensate the costs of these inputs through the price of the final product.  

Also, the durability of stainless steel is one of its selling properties. Therefore, it’s paramount to cost more since the stainless-steel bathroom accessory will serve you for years. However, you need not worry since you’ll get value for your money.

Conclusion

Custom stainless steel is a great addition to your bathroom design; the discussion above shows that. However, like any other material or innovation out there, stainless steel also has disadvantages. Therefore, as a homeowner looking to decide on adopting custom stainless steel in your bathroom, this read gives all the information you need for the decision. Ensure you make the right choice, all factors considered, including value for your money.