Selecting a Faucet
With so many options out there and so many styles, selecting a faucet can make you scratch your head. Hopefully this guide can address some questions you may have.
1) Narrow it down to a brand.
Some are very inexpensive while others are over a thousand dollars, list price. You get what you pay for, but there is an exponential curve that begins to flatten where those very expensive faucets may not be right for you and your project.
The brands we recommend are Delta/Brizo, Kohler, and Moen. We do not receive compensation from these companies or affiliate commission. We recommend them because they are good companies with good warranties, and they sell a good product. Additionally, repair parts are readily available, and they likely still will be in 20-30 years, unlike an unknown faucet brand that was a special on Amazon. But there are many other brands out there and another brand for either price or a certain finish may work for your project better. At the end of the day this is your choice, and we are happy to install whatever you have selected. Here are links to the above mentioned manufacturers’ websites:
2) Figure out the location.
Is this faucet going in your kitchen? And where? Kitchen faucets are very different than a faucet you would find in your bathroom, from design to size they are different standards and dimensions. A prep sink faucet is a different size than a full kitchen faucet, so look at the sizes, dimensions, specs, on the companies website to make sure you are getting what you want. Almost all manufacturers break faucets down to kitchen and bathroom so it makes it easier for you to make sure you are selecting the right product.
Additionally, but less common, wall-mounted faucets are available (typically selected for bathrooms). If your design requires a wall-mounted faucet, this needs to be decided before rough-in is started. Many of these wall-mounted faucets have limited margins for error when it comes to tile depth other installation requirements. Ensuring these details are thought through before purchasing a faucet reduces additional expenses and headache.
3) Think about style and function.
You can go for something very traditional, or you can go for a more contemporary or modern look. This is up to you and your preferences. If you are replacing a faucet in the bathroom, you may want to match or get something similar in style to what is there with the tub or shower trim.
Additionally, you’ll want to consider functionality. Touch/motion-activated faucets are also available from many companies and can make a big difference in how you use a faucet. Faucets may also come with options for a pull down, pull out, or side spray for cleaning a sink. The height of a faucet or its ability to swivel can impact how easy it is to fill a large pot or clean a sink. Don’t overlook these features as they will make a big difference in your day-to-day experience after installation.
(From Delta’s website from Left to Right: Trinsic, Cassidy)
Delta Trinsic Kitchen Faucet - Image from Delta’s Website
Delta Cassidy Kitchen Faucet - Image from Delta’s Website
4) Select a finish.
Chrome is the base finish and has always been popular. It is inexpensive and looks nice and clean. Stainless Steel or Brushed Nickel — depending on the manufacturer — is another very popular choice and often is a closer match to modern appliances. In recent years Matte Black and Delta’s Champagne Bronze have become very popular as well.
It is important to note that each brand has their own take on each finish both with the color and often a difference in name. To get different fixtures to match the easiest is to buy all your fixtures from the same brand (ex. all Delta, or all Kohler, etc..) Delta Champagne Bronze finish and Watco Brushed Bronze are a very close matches but have different names. However, a Kohler Oil Rubbed Bronze tub and shower trim may look very different from an Oil Rubbed Bronze Delta faucet.
With the advent of being able to order many products online it is often very hard to tell how those products with look together if you are mixing and matching. If you are going this route, we recommend ordering the fixtures through a plumbing showroom where you can look at and touch the products in person, see them in different lighting, etc. before you order them or have us order them for you.
Here are some examples from Delta’s website:
Example of some of the different Delta finishes available from Delta’s website.
5) Don’t overlook the details.
Now it’s time to get down to the technical, nitty-gritty: hole spacing and number. The first four selection steps matter the most to you. Step number 5 matters the most to us. This is what determines if the you fixture you selected will work. If you have never had to think about this, it can be incredibly complicated. That is why I wrote this article. However, if you aren’t sure about the details, we are always happy to look at a picture and help you out.
When the countertop installer is coming or in the case of replacing an existing faucet has already drilled the holes through the countertop — you want to make sure each hole in the countertop is covered to prevent leaks but also to make sure the faucet you have selected fits. In a kitchen, faucets can be single hole, three-hole (usually covered with an escutcheon), or four hole (often with soap dispenser or hand-spray).
If selecting a new faucet, and a new counter-top will be installed and drilled, the world is your oyster! Select whichever kitchen faucet you want and save the specs. Even better is to have the faucet ready on site at time of countertop installation. Many counter-top installers can drill the counter-top to fit the faucet. Extremely thin or thick countertops can also pose an issue, so keep this in mind when making your counter top or faucet selections.
If you are replacing a faucet in an already-existing countertop, it is more complicated. The best way to start is by identifying how many holes do you have in the counter-top. The faucet can occupy 1-3 holes (2 in some cases) with a hand-spray from the faucet or soap dispenser occupying an additional hole. If you are at all confused, or the faucet is still in place, and you can’t tell, send us a picture. We would be happy to help you out.
If the faucet you selected is a single hole faucet, but you have 4 holes drilled in the kitchen countertop, don’t fret! There are always options. Many single hole faucets come with an escutcheon to cover two holes. Blank plugs, a soap dispenser, or garbage disposal button switch can often be added to cover up an additional hole.
The spacing of the holes is important to determine which faucets will work as well. Three-hole faucets occupy an 8” difference from the center of the left and right holes (4” left to center and 4” right to center). If selecting a single hole faucet, spacing will impact the functionality of the fixtures. For example, if you selected a single hole faucet, skipped the escutcheon, and added a soap dispenser and a beverage filler to fill the four holes, everything would be too close together and hard to use. If you had a single-hole faucet with additional holes further away, a typical three-hole faucet would not work in the space. Remember that additional holes can always be drilled and soap dispensers/faucet hole covers, etc. can always be installed to prevent the counter-top having to be replaced in the event your new faucet isn’t the same as the old one. Below are examples from Delta’s website:
From left to right: Delta Trinsic, Trinsic, Renaldi, Cassidy
In a bathroom, they are typically single or three-whole faucets. Three-hole faucets are either 4” center-set or 8” widespread. This is suggested spacing, a licensed plumber can install in an arc pattern around the sink edge or compress to a 4” spacing (however, keep in mind this can look too compressed and have design implications).
In a bathroom, make sure the faucet comes with the correct drain as well. A sink with an overflow hole needs to have a drain with overflow. A sink without an overflow hole needs to have a drain without an overflow. Many faucets come with a drain but some do not, or you may have to mix and match to get your perfect faucet to work with the existing sink. Be sure to check the specifications of the faucet you have selected to avoid a surprise at time of installation.
From Delta’s Website (faucets): Left to right - Zura, Nicoli
From Kohler’s website (sinks): Left (with overflow); Iron Plains to right (without overflow) Veil
6) Make a selection that fits your budget.
Selecting the right fixture is an investment. One way to keep the cost down is to supply the fixture yourself. When purchasing a fixture, each step often has a mark-up in price before the sale to you.
Another way is to consider the complexity of the fixture you’ve selected. Will it require additional rough-in work (like a wall mount faucet might require)? Will you need to purchase additional accessories like a soap dispenser or beverage filler? Good planning can help reduce surprise costs later in the project.
Next consider the finish. Chrome is a lot cheaper than Champagne Bronze or some fancier finishes. Stainless Steel or Brushed Nickel are often a good choice between chrome and some of the more expensive finishes.
And finally, consider the manufacturer. Kohler makes very nice products but some of their higher end fixtures are expensive. Brizo is Delta’s higher-end range. Selecting Delta instead of Brizo or some higher-end Kohler faucets can keep prices down. Moen is often cheaper or similar to Delta prices. But all three Brizo/Delta, Kohler, or Moen are great options.
I hope this has helped and if you have any questions, please feel free to reach out. We would be happy to help you select that perfect faucet for your project.