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Durability of stainless steel finish refrigerators?

Q. We are building a house in Grass Valley, CA and are attempting to choose our kitchen appliances. We are leaning toward stainless steel but are getting conflicting advice as to its durability. Would we be making a mistake filling our kitchen with it? My husband and I will be the only ones living in the home but we do have two small grandchildren that will visit. Should we go ahead and get the SS or try to find similar looking finish (i.e. ultra satin from Sears)? Is there any other finish that is easier maintenance-wise or are we doomed no matter what we choose?

Dori Stroppini
Home owner, buyer - Grass Valley, California, USA
2007

A. After fielding hundreds upon hundreds of letters from people with stained, discolored, rusted, "shiny spot", or scratched stainless steel and faux stainless steel refrigerators (search the site), I am convinced that they offer nothing approaching the durability of simple painted appliances, and can certainly not be touched up in similar fashion. Unfortunately, white is almost as "out" as almond and avocado; fashion seems to currently demand stainless steel no matter how overpriced and troublesome it is :-)

If you can bear the scorn from your grandchildren, just buy white appliances :-)

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2007