Choosing a Kitchen Faucet

Learning About Faucet Mounting Styles

When it comes to mounting styles, handles, ﬁnishes and quality for a kitchen faucet we have some tips to find what works best for your needs. The kitchen faucet’s basic function is to dispense hot and cold water for washing dishes, food and hands. But beyond that it’s a major player in selecting the style of your kitchen design.

Most faucets use cartridge, ball or ceramic disk valves. A faucet with a ceramic disk valve and stainless steel or solid brass base materials will be more durable and will cost more than one with plastic parts.

One good indicator of quality is weight. If you aren’t sure whether a ﬁtting is solid brass, pick it up. It should feel heavier than other units. Solid-brass bodies last longest and require the least care, especially with hard water, which corrodes some metals. These faucets, as you may imagine, cost the most.

Though their entry price may be appealing, lower-priced faucets are often made with plastic parts that don’t hold up. When you factor in the cost to replace an inexpensive faucet and the fees to hire a plumber to install a replacement, it may quickly negate the savings.

Sink-mounted faucets

There are many different kitchen faucet and sink designs, but they are not always compatible. If you are working with an existing sink, check how many mounting holes it has. New faucets come in one-, two-, three- or four-hole varieties. When you are replacing an existing faucet that requires fewer holes than you have, look for a new faucet that comes with an escutcheon plate (a deck plate at the base) to cover up the unneeded sink holes. This will do the trick on many standard sinks.

Pros: This is a great option if you want a quick update to your kitchen and want to reuse your existing sink.

Cons: Your sink will limit your faucet style options.

Deck mounted faucets

With these the faucet mounts directly to the countertop and not the sink. If you are installing an under mount sink, you have the option of mounting the faucet directly on the countertop. When installing a deck-mounted faucet, make sure to allow more than a finger’s width behind the faucet for cleaning.

Pros: Deck-mounted faucets provide a seamless look that’s especially well suited to contemporary kitchens (but they come in all styles).

Cons: They occupy space on the countertop. Also, you may find an accumulation of water, dirt and grime between the faucet and the wall.

Wall mounted faucets

Pros: Countertop cleanup is a breeze.

Cons: You’ll need to take extra care in colder climates (if local code allows installation on an outside wall) to insulate against freezing. Also, the plumber must get the spacing and location exactly right. If there is a wall stud in the way, it will need to be relocated so that the faucet and handles can be installed where you need them.

Installing a new kitchen faucet is a great and affordable upgrade that will improve your workspace. Shop RusticSinks.com for a new kitchen faucet today.