Choosing Bathroom Taps
Your bathroom’s taps might not seem like the most exciting or dynamic aspect of the room’s design and features. But they do offer a way of adding some impactful finishing touches to the space, helping to bring the various elements together in a satisfying way.
Taps come in all shapes and sizes, and when you make the right choice, they can really complement the overall style you’re trying to achieve in your bathroom. Here’s more about making that choice.
Taps That Fit With the Overall Design of Your Bathroom
Taps are broadly categorised as being either traditional or contemporary. So the first step in selecting your bathroom taps is to consider whether your bathroom design style is to be modern or classical, and then shortlist your tap preference accordingly.
Have you chosen your basin and bathtub as yet? A rounded basin and bath will be best matched with taps that have rounded handles and curved spouts. Square or angular tap designs will suit straight-edged bathware.
If you like a coloured tap, then be sure that the colours match. Ideally, you should compare a physical sample of the tap with the chosen basin and bathtub and any other bathroom accessories such as towel rails and toilet roll holders.
Tapware material
Taps are available in a range of materials and finishes such as chrome, brass, stainless steel, brushed nickel, gunmetal, matte black and rose gold. Be aware that many taps are made of brass – it being cheaper and easier to shape and mould. Brass can be coated with several finishes such as chrome, nickel and gold, so the tap you are considering may not be of the material it appears to be.
If you select a brass tap it must be of Dezincification Resistant (DR) Brass.
Stainless steel is superior in terms of durability and is best suited to homes located by the sea, as it does not corrode with the high salt content in the air. 304 or 316-grade stainless steel is the best available.
Selecting a Brand
Be sure to choose a brand that has a reputation for manufacturing durable and long-lasting bathroom taps of genuine quality.
Taps should be certified under the WaterMark™ Standard for Australia and ideally, at least 6-star WELS rated.
Practical considerations
Plumbing
When renovating a bathroom, using existing plumbing will be a lot more efficient and cost-effective. We recommend selecting tapware in the same format as is currently fitted in your bathroom.
Compatibility
Prior to finalising your purchase, please check with us as some tapware can require more installation space than is available; or it may not suit the other bathware selected. For example, a tall tap or a wall-mounted type will suit an above-counter basin; or a long spout will be necessary to extend over an inset basin.
Types of faucets
The type of basin or basin you choose will determine the type of tap you will have to select.
Widespread Faucets: A widespread faucet has separate hot and cold water handles which can only be fitted on a 3 hole basin or bath – two holes for the hot and cold handles and the third for a spout.
Centre-set Faucets: A centre-set faucet is intended to be placed in the middle. It can contain a single lever, or two handles and a spout combined together on a single base unit. It fits on three-hole basins where the holes are 4 inches apart.
Pillar Taps: Pillar taps are a traditional style meant for two-hole basins and baths where there are separate faucets for hot and cold water. These are typically suitable for older homes with low water pressure.
Single Hole Faucets: Single faucets are mixer taps which combine both, the handle and the spout. These are operated by either a single-lever or two handles. These fit in only single hole basins and baths.
Wall Mounted Faucets: These are attached to the wall, so suit basins and baths that have no tap holes.