My sister has a boiling water tap with her under mounted ceramic sink. Any reason why you think your ceramic sink is not suitable? Also if you have an under mounted stainless steel sink it is not that visible so it may not clash too much.

Is it the design / style of the butler sink that won’t work with a boiling water tap or the ceramic material (although I can’t see why)? If it’s just the style, there are lots of other styles of ceramic sinks you could use. When I was researching kitchen sinks (4/5 years ago) composite sinks didn’t have great reviews.

Franke have a horizontal tank for some of their hot taps thats designed to go on the floor behind the plinth that could be suitable to fit under a butler sink, or you can get brass undermount sinks to match your other fittings. Ceaserstone, as far as i know, only make their sinks in 5 colours so i don't think you'd get a moulded mont blanc sink, the worktop fabricators sometimes make a sink to match the top but these all have square corners so can be difficult to clean. I don't think you can beat a ceramic undermount sink though, hard wearing and easier to clean.

Thanks for your replies.

The reason you can't have a ceramic with a boiling water tap is for safety reasons, not to do with style or space. The sudden change in temperature can mean they crack/explode?! I only found this out recently. From a style and maintenance perspective, I would definitely like the ceramic butler sink. The stainless steel, even as an undermount just wouldn't work as the tap is also brass/gold. If I can't get a moulded Caeserstone then I guess I could do a dark composite undermount? Sort of hoping someone might have a better idea that I haven't thought of?!

My sister has just removed her boiling water tap and replaced with a normal one. I don't have one but I was tempted. Has anyone else had issues? If I had to choose between my ideal sink or a compromise for a tap I think the sink would win.

The safety issue is not something I’ve come across. I’ve often poured boiling water into our ceramic sink, either from the kettle directly or drained pans of boiling water into it & it’s never been a problem. I would hope ceramic sink manufacturers would make sure that it wasn’t a problem given their use in a kitchen...

We were always told it was the intense heat and the possible fracture of a sink. We were informed only to fit stainless steel.

But my sister has ceramic with boiling tap fitted by an excellent kitchen company and no problems.

I have never heard of this issue but you have extra options.

Consider a steel sink with a coloured finish- many manufacturers such a Caple produce gold or brass or copper coloured steel sinks.

Dornbracht make a range of enamelled steel sinks.

You could also choose a composite sink from someone like Franke.

An internet search for undermounted sinks brings up lots of options.

I have heard of this as the change in temperature can cause a crack or a chip to fly off.

However in my last house I had a fire-clay butlers sink which is very heat resistant.

https://www.rangemaster.co.uk/sinks-and-taps/fire-clay-ceramic-sinks

in my current house I have a very old inherited butlers sink. No idea whether it’s ceramic, porcelain etc but it always has boiling water put down it without any issue although will caveat that by saying there’s also an Aga and the room is always warm

@Colourhappy - why did your sister remove her boiling water tap? I'm intrigued as I am considering one.

Abode advise in their care instructions for their ceramic sinks not to pour boiling water into their sinks but to run some cold water in first.

But thats different to having a hot tap as you use that to fill ceramic cups for drinks and possibly fill saucepans.

I was also going to ask Colourhappy why her sister has removed her hot tap?

We’ve now had our Quooker tap for over 10 years, and I wouldn’t be without it! The water from the Quooker is pressurised and 100 degrees, but it’s also quite aerated, so if it was turned on and hit the sink below, it’s not an intense flow. (Not sure if I’m explaining that very well!.

Also - not sure why you would turn the boiling tap on without anything underneath???

My sink takes more heat when I’m draining pans at meal times - that’s a more intense / concentrated heat.

Ok so I asked my sister and her hot water tap was a Pronto not a Quooker. She said it was really noisy and spat constantly.

Sula - I’m sure it will be fabulous!!! I’m envious - I’ve just worked out that my quooker is now over 12 years old and is one of their original designs (it’s a separate tap to the main tap) - I love the designs of the new ones, but I can’t justify the cost as there’s absolutely nothing wrong with ours. It remains our favourite (and most used) gadget!