How to Choose a Kitchen Faucet
November 08, 2016
Finding the right faucet for your kitchen can be quite a challenge, but it doesn’t need to be. Sure, it’s a big world out there, and there are endless faucet options ranging from the most basic and standard to uber-fancy. But choosing one should be a simple and fun part of your kitchen remodeling once you take a few things into consideration. We’ll sum those up for you here.
Before you start going through different styles and finishes, the first thing you need to do is consider what style you’re replacing. If you have four holes (dual temperature handles, the faucet, and a sprayer) in your old faucet but choose a new faucet with a single lever attached to the faucet and a sprayer built in to the faucet head, you suddenly have three holes in your counter top that won’t be filled. You can always put in a base plate to cover them, but that’s generally not very attractive.
Of course if you’re also installing new kitchen cabinets and counter tops, or adding new counters to your cabinet refacing project, then you can cut new holes for any type of faucet you want. Just make sure to keep this in mind either way, as it can be an “oops” moment for some.
Once you’ve got that issue settled, the next one is also easy to navigate – the finish. Most people will have already decided on handles and pulls for the rest of the kitchen to match an overall look, and they’ll usually want their faucet to match. Any finish is fine for a kitchen faucet – chrome, brushed or polished nickel, pewter, bronze, etc. – except brass. Unless your kitchen sink is rarely used, brass will be the easiest to damage and the hardest to keep looking good.
Another consideration is the durability of the faucet. All but the most inexpensive faucets should hold up well both in valves and the finish, and most will have a lifetime guarantee from the manufacturer. However, a faucet with a ceramic disk valve and solid brass base materials will usually be the most durable.
The final consideration before you get to the fun part is the type and size of your sink. If you have an over-sized farmhouse sink but get a smaller faucet, you might have a tough time rinsing it down and cleaning it. If you’re replacing your sink, you can simply choose one that will fit well with your faucet. When choosing your faucet size type and handles, you may wish to use a ruler, tape measure, or objects of equivalent size to get an idea of how the fixtures will sit and the space they will take up once they’re on your countertop. However you determine it, make sure that the faucet size is appropriate for the sink.
Finally, time to have fun picking your favorite look and which features you prefer! There are so many different looks for faucets these days that you could spend days deciding. Maybe you want one that turns on and off when you touch the stem (very convenient for full hands!). If you do have the option, a single-lever faucet is the way to go. They’re easier to operate, look better (a matter of opinion, of course), and take up less space. Or maybe you’d love to have a dedicated hot water dispenser. Or a built-in sprayer head with buttons to choose the spray pattern. The options and looks go on forever, but once you’ve considered all the potential issues we’ve listed above, you can just have fun with the rest!
If you’re ready to have fun designing your new kitchen, call or fill out a form to get a free visit from one of our kitchen design consultants.
