The History of Belfast and Butler Sinks
Standing the test of time when it comes to kitchen interiors throughout the UK, Belfast and Butler sinks are renowned for their style and elegance. Impressively, this simple design has become commonplace in many households and is now also extremely popular in America.
The Belfast and Butler sink design has been around for hundreds of years and has varied across regions throughout the UK. The reason for the variation in style is that years ago, each city would have an officer that controlled the drainage and fittings that were allowed in that district. This ultimately led to the two different models of sink – Belfast and Butler.
Traditionally, the type of sink used in each city was dependant on the raw materials available and what the city had to offer. Belfast for example had an abundance of water and so designed sinks which had a weir overflow so that any excess water was removed from the sink. Allowing taps to flow freely, the overflow feature helped to avoid overflowing.
Butler sinks on the other hand traditionally hail from London. They were used in a Butler’s pantry and didn’t have an overflow as water had to be collected from deep wells which was extremely laborious meaning wasting water was frowned upon. As the years passed however, and new technologies helped to introduce improved water systems, the water supply issues in cities such as London were lessened.
After the problems with water supply were addressed, the Belfast sink design became increasingly popular and started to emerge across other parts of the UK, making it now the most sought-after sink design that different districts manufactured.
As the demand for the Belfast sinks continued to grow, new styles were becoming increasingly popular. This came as people began needing more than one sink bowl and lead to the development of the 2.0 Belfast Sink. Thanks to its versality, stylish design and ability to multi-task more easily, this double basin sink has proven to be more popular particularly in the UK.
Although as 21stcentury technologies have allowed for dishwashers, a kitchen sink is still a necessity with Belfast sinks still being a great option as they allow you to fit larger items in such as large pots, pans and dishes.
Both Belfast and Butler sinks are constructed using fireclay ceramic. This highly non-porous surface means it is very hard to strain the material giving you peace of mind that any stubborn stains on pans won’t be transferred onto the sinks crisp white surface.
The Strength and Durability of Fireclay Ceramic
The impressive design of Belfast and Butler sinks is of course one of the huge selling points which makes them so popular. Concerns have however risen regarding the durability as a common misconception is that this style sink is manufactured using a ceramic material which is known for being fragile.
Belfast and Butler sinks however are extremely durable so ideal for the modern kitchen, but why?
Manufactured from Fireclay ceramic, these sinks are made using a blend of clays, fillers and fluxes that are combined during the firing process. Fireclay is known as ‘high fire’ clay as it is heated to temperatures in excess of 1,220 degrees Celsius with soaking times of above 960 degrees Celsius.
Constructed under such high temperatures, the materials within the Fireclay ceramic is very resistant to heat, scratching, fading and acid. Ceramics that are fired at a much lower heat are known to be less resistant and regarded as lower quality.
What gives Fireclay ceramics their additional strength is that blended into the clay is crushed pre-fired ceramic. This provides impact resistance and further heat tolerance to the finished sink.
To form the shape of the Belfast and Butler sink, they were originally fired before they were glazed in order to achieve a bisque meaning the clay had no chemical bonded water remaining. In the second firing, a white glaze was added and then fired in order to fuse to the body of the sink.
It is for this reason that any responsible ceramic sink manufacturer should insist on a +/- 5mm tolerance as natural clays can differ when being fired. All of this leads to a highly versatile sink that has grown in popularity throughout the UK.
Opting for a Belfast or Butler sink adds great aesthetic appeal to any kitchen. Whether a farmhouse or ultra-modern home, this style sink has stood the test of time and thanks to its impressive properties, they are also durable and long lasting.