European Sink Atlanta in Atlanta, Georgia

Selecting Faucets

There are lots of faucet styles from which to choose. In general, those with clean lines and few details will convey a modern look and those with details such as fluting, banding and floral motifs are more traditional. You can easily tweak either of these two categories to suit your taste by adding custom faucet handles.

Most faucets are made of brass, which is then plated with one of four materials. Chrome is the least expensive of all the finishes produced by manufacturers.

Nickel is a step-up from chrome, and can be either brushed, which gives the faucet a muted, burnished glow, or polished, which is somewhat shiny, like chrome. An advantage to choosing a faucet with a brushed finish is that it doesn't show fingerprints and water spots as easily as a polished finish.

Stainless steel is a higher-end choice for faucet material, and like chrome, can be either brushed or not.

Oil rub bronze is a finish that is currently popular that comes in many different shades dependant upon the manufacturer.

Some colors produced for faucets are called “living finishes” because they are not coated with a PVD coating. Many of the oil rub bronze, antique brass, and some polished nickel finishes would fall in this category. They will require more careful cleaning of soap and water (no harsh chemicals) but provide a richer color.

There are six basic types of plumbing faucets. They are categorized by use.

Faucets which are designed for use with a kitchen sink have a high clearance so that you can fit large cooking pieces underneath them easily. They may also have a detachable spray head so that you can pull the top of the faucet out to hose down items which might otherwise be difficult to wash.

These are usually a smaller version of the kitchen sink faucets. Some are single function (cold water only) while select manufacturers offer dual function (hot and cold).

These faucets are designed for use with large, tub-style laundry sinks. They usually extend out horizontally by six inches or more, which ensures that the spray is directed toward the center of the sink.

Bathroom sink faucets are smaller than kitchen sink faucets. Options are single lever, four inch widespread (used primarily on small pedestals), or eight inch widespread center sets.

These faucets are designed, naturally, for use with a bathtub or whirlpool tub. You will want to choose a faucet which has a fast flow-rate so that it can fill your tub in a minimal amount of time. There are wall mount, deck mount (generally called Roman Tub Faucets), or free standing tub fillers.

Once upon a time, shower faucets consisted of a knob which you turned, to control water temperature, and pulled, to control water flow rate. Nowadays, you can have faucets which control a variety of body jets, with different spray patterns and intensity. When choosing a shower faucet, be sure it's compatible with the type of shower you wish to install.

Faucets can be either single-handled or two-handled. A single-handle faucet has a lever, either mounted over the faucet or by itself which controls water temperature and flow rate. A two-handled faucet has one handle for hot water and one for cold water in addition to the spout. A single-handle faucet can be easier to use, especially for children or those with disabilities, but a two-handled faucet gives you a lot more design options. When choosing a faucet, make sure that the number of holes it requires matches the sink that you have, otherwise you will have to install new plumbing.

You can purchase faucets with a washer system, which consists of a rubber disc which closes against a metal seat. These types of faucets are usually inexpensive, but the disc is more susceptible to wear and tear, which means the long-term maintenance costs may be higher. Cartridge-style systems use a plastic or brass cartridge instead of a rubber disc, which doesn't wear out nearly as quickly. Better yet is the ceramic disc type of faucet. This one works the same as a standard, rubber disc washer system, but the disc is composed of very hard ceramic material, which is virtually indestructible.

Always choose a faucet whose manufacturer has a solid reputation. After all, your plumbing fixtures will likely last for twenty years or more.