A Quick Guide to Selecting Taps For Your Bath
It's exciting to be near the end of a home-improvement project.
You've been working hard, and are looking forward to the fresh look and added comfort that you've added.
To add the finishing touch, you need to select the perfect taps and handles for your shower, sink, and tub.
But which do you choose? How do you know where to start? Here are a few tips to get you going, and help you finish your project.
Determine the Type There are actually several standard types of faucets for bathrooms, differing in size and shape.
Before you begin your search, determine what type of faucet you currently have installed.
This is the easiest way to narrow down your options - picking the wrong type will either mean you need extensive remodeling or a trip back to the store to pick up the correct set.
Widespread faucet sets are also known as "mixer taps", and are the typical set we see, with one water faucet in the center and two taps on either side for hot and cold water controls.
They require three holes, and can range anywhere from 6 to 16 inches in base width.
An Escutcheon plate is a decorative base that allows you to cover unused holes in your sink - so you can now replace your three-hole set with a one-piece faucet.
Center sets, or mini-widespread faucets, are made for bases that are 4 inches wide.
The spout and handles are attached to a single plate, close together.
It can also come in the variety where a single mixing lever that controls the water temperature is attached off to the side of the spout.
Single hole faucets, on the other hand, are one-pieced.
The mixing lever is attached to the top or the side of the spout.
These are a great compact option.
Wall-mounted faucets are available for those freestanding or above-the-counter artistic basins.
They are a little more complex because they require a separate wall-mount valve and drain.
Make sure that when you buy one of these you get a spout that is long enough to clear the basin, so the water doesn't end up collecting on the floor.
Faucet Finishes Take stock of the color theme you have decided on for your bathroom.
Faucets come in an array of colors and finishes, so you can pick one that accentuates and emphasizes your fresh look.
Finishes usually come in the following: bronze, brass, ceramic, chrome, enamel-coated, pewter, platinum, and gold.
Try them in a combination for even more variety.
Look for a new type of finish made with PVD, or Physical Vapor Deposition, technology.
This is a process that protects metal surfaces from corrosion by binding coatings to metal, giving faucets an untarnishable surface.
Faucets also come in three different styles; lever, cross handle, and motion activated.
Levers are used most frequently and are easy for anyone, be they young or old, to use.
Cross handles create a more traditional look that may suite your decorative theme better.
Motion activated is a bit more expensive, but certainly hygienic, and comes with interchangeable, colored temperature controls.
You've been working hard, and are looking forward to the fresh look and added comfort that you've added.
To add the finishing touch, you need to select the perfect taps and handles for your shower, sink, and tub.
But which do you choose? How do you know where to start? Here are a few tips to get you going, and help you finish your project.
Determine the Type There are actually several standard types of faucets for bathrooms, differing in size and shape.
Before you begin your search, determine what type of faucet you currently have installed.
This is the easiest way to narrow down your options - picking the wrong type will either mean you need extensive remodeling or a trip back to the store to pick up the correct set.
Widespread faucet sets are also known as "mixer taps", and are the typical set we see, with one water faucet in the center and two taps on either side for hot and cold water controls.
They require three holes, and can range anywhere from 6 to 16 inches in base width.
An Escutcheon plate is a decorative base that allows you to cover unused holes in your sink - so you can now replace your three-hole set with a one-piece faucet.
Center sets, or mini-widespread faucets, are made for bases that are 4 inches wide.
The spout and handles are attached to a single plate, close together.
It can also come in the variety where a single mixing lever that controls the water temperature is attached off to the side of the spout.
Single hole faucets, on the other hand, are one-pieced.
The mixing lever is attached to the top or the side of the spout.
These are a great compact option.
Wall-mounted faucets are available for those freestanding or above-the-counter artistic basins.
They are a little more complex because they require a separate wall-mount valve and drain.
Make sure that when you buy one of these you get a spout that is long enough to clear the basin, so the water doesn't end up collecting on the floor.
Faucet Finishes Take stock of the color theme you have decided on for your bathroom.
Faucets come in an array of colors and finishes, so you can pick one that accentuates and emphasizes your fresh look.
Finishes usually come in the following: bronze, brass, ceramic, chrome, enamel-coated, pewter, platinum, and gold.
Try them in a combination for even more variety.
Look for a new type of finish made with PVD, or Physical Vapor Deposition, technology.
This is a process that protects metal surfaces from corrosion by binding coatings to metal, giving faucets an untarnishable surface.
Faucets also come in three different styles; lever, cross handle, and motion activated.
Levers are used most frequently and are easy for anyone, be they young or old, to use.
Cross handles create a more traditional look that may suite your decorative theme better.
Motion activated is a bit more expensive, but certainly hygienic, and comes with interchangeable, colored temperature controls.
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