8 Things to Consider Before Buying a Bathroom Faucet by
Millicent Smith• Style – seems like an obvious consideration but there is more to it than meets the eye. There are four types of bathroom faucets – single hole, 4” center-spread, 4” hole mini-spread and 8” wide-spread. First consider are the size of the bathroom, the size and style of the sink and the placement of the faucet. Both a small bathroom and a small sink call for less flamboyant faucets where as a large bathroom needs a more dramatic look. Vessel sinks have their own needs as well including height and placement of taps and faucet.
• Finish – the most common finish is electroplated chrome on a brass or zinc body. This combination is easy to maintain, lasts well and is easy on the eye. Pewter, nickel and satin finishes are long lasting and have the added bonus of the softer finish hiding fingerprints, water spots, and mild abuse such as scratches. Natural brass is an excellent choice and easily kept shiny and clear of marks with brass cleaner. Painted or enamel finishes now come in a variety of colors and styles but these finishes are not at resilient to scratches and chipping so best to keep these in low traffic bathrooms.
• Construction Material – under the finish lies the important part of a faucet. What is the body of the faucet made of will give you a great clue into what type of quality you are buying. Solid brass is the longest lasting material while requiring the least amount of maintenance. All top end faucets are made from brass. The next choice is the slightly cheaper die cast zinc-alloy bodies. These are a good option although the zinc corrodes with contact with water so expect to replace the unit when the plating wears off. Avoid the cheap faucets with a plastic body – they will not last.
• Location – think high traffic versus low traffic when buying a faucet. In a powder room or guest bathroom, installing a less expensive model or a model that may take a little higher maintenance will work fine. However, in a high traffic bathroom or the children’s bathroom, more thought needs to go into the purchase. You want a sturdy and low-maintenance model that can take abuse while still looking like a million bucks!
• Users – For most people, using a bathroom faucet is easy – we do it many times each day without thinking twice. Seniors, small children and people suffering from disabilities may not have it so easy however. Arthritis is just one of the many conditions that can make turning a knob difficult if not impossible. Or consider a child who already needs a stool to reach the sink – how likely are they to turn two knobs when washing their hands? Not likely, they are more likely to use one knob and you just have to hope they reach for the cold tap. A single lever action might be easier in any of these situations or, at the least, knobs with a valve system that limits the amount of turning needed – some are as easy as a quarter turn. A metered faucet with a set temperature might work well for a bathroom for small children – one button and temperate water flows for a set amount of time (usually 10 to 60 seconds).
• Brand – it is all in the name when it comes to bathroom faucets! Moen, Delta, Kohler and American Standard are all common names in faucets but do not forget about Danze, Grohe, Pegasus and Porcher – all excellent manufacturers and worth the time invested in researching their various products. Choose a manufacturer that stands behind their product and their warranty.
• Expected Lifespan and Warranty – ever consider the fact that if a manufacturer only guarantees an item for a year that is all they are expecting it to last? Maybe it is not quite that bad but most bathroom faucets comes with 1 year, 5 year or 10 year warranties. The initial outlay may be a higher for the better quality faucet but there is a greater chance of it lasting until the end of the warranty while lesser product will need to be replaced several times over. Over time you save not only money saving but a few headaches while you’re at it.
• Resale value and appeal – fitting your home with higher-end fixtures increases the value of your home and a bathroom faucet, although not as obvious as an expensive dishwasher or stove, is like any other fixture when it comes to resale appeal. Obviously, an old or poorly maintained bathroom faucet will detract from the overall looks of the house but what about a newer faucet that looks cheap or common? Same thing. What might seem like a deal or bargain at the hardware store might hit you in the pocket later on so think a little more far reaching so save yourself a few bucks and consider the cost down the road.
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