GET STAINLESS STEEL ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES INFORMATION

What is Stainless Steel?

Stainless steel is a general term of corrosion-resistant alloy steels containing 10.5% chromium or more. All stainless steels are highly resistant to corrosion. This resistance is due to a naturally occurring chromium-rich oxide film formed on the surface of the steel.

Stainless Steel Advantages and Disadvantages

Stainless Steel Advantages

Superior Durability

Stainless steel offers industry-leading durability — simply put, the material is strong and holds its shape. It is highly resistant to impact and structural damage, and the rigidity of the steel is preserved with a broad temperature range (up to roughly 1400 degrees Fahrenheit, at the top end).

If you purchase stainless steel, you can count on it to last for a very long time. Replacements are generally not necessary (assuming adequate maintenance), except where the business requires new equipment for additional functionality.

Resistance to Corrosion

Stainless steel is resistant to corrosion, whether rust-based or otherwise. As such, stainless steel is perfectly suitable for a wide range of environments — it’s worth noting, however, that despite being corrosion-resistant, there are still certain chemical environments that may pose a problem for stainless steel equipment. Speak with the vendor for more details about the limitations, and how you can avoid exposing your new stainless steel equipment to those corrosion risks.

Equipment Stays Clean for Longer

Unlike other popular materials, such as wood, grooved plastic, and various metal alloys (like aluminum), stainless steel retains a smooth and even surface quite easily. So long as you properly maintain the steel, there will be very few dips, crevices, and grooves that form in the steel. This makes it much easier to keep the steel clean, as there is less opportunity for dirt, oil, and dust capture — further, bacteria will not have an opportunity to grow and thrive in these hidden areas.

Resale Value is Preserved Over Time

Because stainless steel equipment is so durable and can be maintained in tip-top condition for a long time, it tends to hold substantial resale value. This makes it a fairly safe and reasonable investment, even if you’re not sure whether you’ll have to replace the equipment with new equipment at a later date.

For example, suppose that you are just getting started with your pizzeria, and aren’t ready to purchase a brick oven setup yet. Instead, you’d like to purchase a stainless steel convection oven as a stop-gap measure. The price of the “stainless steel” oven is rather high, however, so you’re worried about whether the investment is sensible given that you’re likely to replace it at a later date. Fortunately, because stainless steel equipment holds its resale value fairly well, you can simply sell the convection oven later, defraying your costs significantly.

Commonplace in Today’s Market

Stainless steel equipment is fairly commonplace, so you’re most likely not going to run into issues with finding vendors with the requisite stainless steel equipment on sale. If you can’t think of any reasons to go for an alternative material, it may be worth purchasing stainless steel equipment as the “default” choice, assuming that you have sufficient capital.

Stainless Steel Disadvantages

Stainless Steel Appliances Tend to be More Expensive

One of the potential cons of stainless steel appliances is that they end to be more expensive than those made of other standard materials. The extra cost usually isn’t a problem with homeowners building a custom home and it’s often worth the investment because of all the benefits they provide. Still, if you’re adding a lot of extras in other areas and need to be more budget-conscious, stainless steel appliances might not make your priority list.

They May Require Frequent Cleaning

Although stainless steel appliances are easy to clean and maintain, they also tend to show fingerprints and smudges more noticeably. Because of this, you may need to wipe them down more often to keep them looking great, especially if you have children, a big family, or pets.

Stainless Steel Appliances Could Clash With Some Styles

Stainless steel appliances tend to fit in well with a lot of different styles, but they can still clash in some instances. They could work well in a country kitchen, but they could also look stark in a softer country kitchen style depending on the look you’re going for.

In other settings, stainless steel could make things look and feel too industrial. It all depends on the style, decor, and more. But, your custom home builder will be able to walk you through the options and make sure everything works together.

They Are Sometimes Non-Magnetic

Some stainless steel appliances are non-magnetic. If you don’t normally put anything on the fridge or other appliances, then you probably don’t need to think about it. But, if you like to hang art, post lists, or keep fun magnets or pictures on the fridge, you need to make sure you can find magnetic stainless steel for that.