In modern modular kitchen designs, metal kitchens are a popular preference, especially for commercial spaces. Of the many types of metals that can be used to make kitchens, stainless steel is a particularly ideal material as it offers many benefits and is easily available. Continue reading to understand exactly what a stainless steel kitchen is, why it’s so popular, its types, cost and limitations of an SS kitchen.
What Does a Stainless Steel Kitchen Mean?
As the name suggests, a stainless steel (SS) kitchen is made using SS as the primary material. This includes one or all of the following components:
- Stainless steel kitchen countertops: A kitchen countertop is the horizontal working surface used mainly for cooking processes.
- Stainless steel kitchen cabinets: These include base units (storage below the countertop), wall units (storage above the countertop) and loft units (storage above easily accessible heights).
- Stainless steel kitchen cupboards: These include tall units and any other additional storage units (such as pantries and grain stores) provided within the kitchen area.
- Stainless steel table with sink: An SS sink is one of the most affordable types of kitchen sinks available and is very practical.
Why Opt for a Stainless Steel Kitchen?
A stainless steel modular kitchen design offers several benefits, such as:
- Durability: SS has a high resistance to heat, chemicals, stains and corrosion. It is extremely durable even under rough usage conditions in large commercial kitchens.
- Easy Maintenance: The smooth surfaces of stainless steel kitchen cabinets and working surfaces ensure that they can be easily cleaned and maintained with mild cleaning agents. The surfaces are also non-toxic, providing safe areas for cooking processes.
- Modular: Modular SS components like kitchen working tables, sinks, storage units and cupboards are easily available and their sizes can be customised. Therefore, their installation processes are typically simple, fast and efficient. Each component can also be relocated at a later time within the kitchen if its usage pattern changes.
- Reusability: At the end of its life cycle, an SS kitchen can be reused in different locations if it has been maintained well. All of its components are also fully recyclable, thus advancing sustainable building practices.
- Versatility: SS kitchen components are available in several finishes, such as matte, glossy, brushed, antique and mirror finishes. They can also be coated with any colour as required and take on curvilinear shapes, enabling versatility in modular kitchen design.
Types of Stainless Steel Modular Kitchens
Stainless steel is divided into numerous categories of grades defined by multiple international organisations. However, the most common grading system used is the one provided by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). This system grades SS in 100-900 series, of which the most popular grades used for kitchens are:
304 Grade SS Kitchen
This steel grade has 8-10% Nickel and 18-20% Chromium with large amounts of iron and smaller amounts of Carbon, Sulphur, Silicon and Phosphorous. It is the most commonly used grade for stainless steel kitchens as it is fairly affordable and provides good corrosion resistance under normal climatic conditions. However, it cannot last long in regions with warm and humid climates.
316 Grade SS Kitchen
316 grade SS has 10-14% Nickel, 16-18% Chromium and 2-3% of Molybdenum along with Iron and other elements in smaller percentages. The higher amounts of Nickel and the presence of Molybdenum give this metal a high resistance to corrosion. Although 316 grade stainless steel kitchen design is more expensive, it is ideal for regions with high salt and moisture content in the air, such as coastal areas.
430 Grade SS Kitchen
430 grade SS has large amounts of iron with 11-13% Chromium and other trace elements. This is the most affordable SS grade for kitchen design. However, it has much lower resistance to corrosion than the other two types and is not as durable. It also has low resistance to acidic food materials.
Cost of a Steel Kitchen
The stainless steel modular kitchen price depends on several factors like:
- The grade of steel used
- The type and brand of hardware fittings used
- Colours and finishes required
- Location, material availability and market trends
- Site conditions and installation complexity
However, the general prices of a stainless steel kitchen in India may vary from ₹3000 – ₹15,000/ sq ft. This means that a minimally sized kitchen with an area of 65 sq ft will cost at least ₹1.95 lakhs, while a medium sized kitchen with an area of 120 sq ft will cost at least ₹3.6 lakhs. These rates can be lower for stainless steel commercial kitchens with large areas and lower storage requirements.
These are approximate values of current costs in India. Consult a professional construction agency like Brick & Bolt to get more accurate and customised cost estimates based on your kitchen design needs and desires.
Limitations of a Modular Steel Kitchen
- Cost: Compared to a conventional modular kitchen made of engineered wood products, a stainless steel kitchen design is typically much more expensive. This is majorly because stainless steel fabrication for manufacturing is a complicated process that requires skilled labour and advanced machinery.
- Appearance and Finish: SS kitchen components, especially the stainless steel countertops, are prone to scratches and dents. Finger prints and smudges are also easily visible on these surfaces, reducing their aesthetic quality.
- Noise Generation: During usage, any contact between the SS surfaces and other materials can generate noise. This is particularly noticeable in large commercial kitchens, where the excess noise generated can be disturbing.
- Cold Surface: Stainless steel kitchen tables and surfaces are generally cold to touch. This is against the principles of climate responsive architecture and can be very uncomfortable in cold regions, reducing its functionality and usability in such areas.
Getting a Stainless Steel Kitchen Built
Before opting for a stainless steel modular kitchen over a typical modular kitchen (made with engineered wood products), a careful analysis of individual needs and desires, design requirements, climatic conditions and project budgets is required. This analysis is done by top construction companies like Brick & Bolt, which provides customised designs and end-to-end construction services for all its projects. Quality is also assured with 470+ quality checks (QASCON) and premium building materials supply, ensuring that property owners have peace of mind during building projects. To get your stainless steel kitchen designed and built at affordable prices in your residential or commercial building project, reach out to Brick & Bolt today!
Apoorva H P Achar