The sink and faucet area is one of the most-used in any kitchen, and are often treated as a design focal point for the room. Upgrading your kitchen faucet is an easy and economical way to give your space a quick design refresh, or complement a whole kitchen transformation. A new faucet changes the look of the whole space. Be smart about the choice so that you find the best fit for your home and know what to look for before you buy.
Smart Tips When Choosing A Faucet
It’s no surprise that the kitchen faucet is one of the most well used items in the room, but what might be news is how many improvements have been made to this simple fixture. There are many more options than just the selection of comfortable handles for the hot and cold water lines. Before you shop, it’s helpful to have an idea of what you want the end result to look like.
It’s a good idea to explore the different styles, finishes, and features that are available when selecting a new faucet. Take stock of the styles and colors you want to emphasize and accent in your kitchen, as well as the size of your sink and countertop to compare as you consider a new faucet. The right design will look great for years, and add to the value of your home – all while meeting the demands of your busy kitchen. Take a broader view of what the options are and bring home the best fit.
The most important part about choosing a new faucet is that you are happy with the new addition to your kitchen after the installation, so always keep the final product in mind as you browse.
Sizing Your Kitchen Faucet
Grab the measuring tape, because it’s time to get some numbers. It’s usually easier to find a faucet that works in the space allowed than it would be to rebuild the kitchen to accommodate a faucet. As with all home improvement projects, picking a new faucet requires some educated placement decisions, a general idea of what you want the finished sink area to look like, and the scope of the tasks it will be used for.
This means you should know how wide and deep the basin is, especially in comparison to the size of plates, pots, and pans you plan to wash in the sink.
Any faucet you buy will need to have a high enough spout for these chores and others, as well as a low enough placement to avoid excess splashing that will make a mess outside of the sink.
Similarly, if you are looking at a deck-mounted faucet, know how much room is available behind the sink to install the faucet.
A wall-mounted faucet needs to be placed with the spout extending over the center of the sink, which requires taking into account the space between the interior edge of the sink and the wall.
To keep track of all of these considerations, you will compare the sink measurements to the size of the faucets as you narrow down the selection.
Necessary Measurements
You will need to know the size of the installation area, to be sure it will accommodate the width of the sink as well as the depth and height. This measurement is also useful in determining the size of the faucet and any range of movement it may require.
Measure the countertop behind the sink, and the diameter of the pre-drilled holes and the distance between their centers. The hole dimensions are how to determine what size faucet will fit, before you buy the faucet.
Measure the distance between the wall and sink edge. This is important for both the installation and the regular use of your faucet, as you’ll need to be sure there is room between the wall and faucet to fully articulate the faucet handles or levers.
Kitchen Faucet Options
As you search for a new kitchen faucet, you’ll see a number of other options to choose from that influence the overall style and operation of the faucet in your home. It’s a good idea to understand the basic configurations before you choose, to be aware of the product information and ensure you get exactly the features you want.
Installation Types
There are two types of faucet installations to choose from, and the main difference is their location.
In a counter- or deck-mounted installation, kitchen faucets can be mounted on the counter or sink edge. Deck mounted is the more common style, and it helps draw attention to the sink as a design element in your kitchen. Here you’ll find the largest variety of faucets, ranging from single-hole mounts to up to three-hole mounts, in all sizes and finishes.
Black matte goose neck faucet, coil arched neck faucet, white sink.
Kitchen Faucet Features
There isn’t much to be done with a kitchen faucet; the entire purpose of it is as a water source, and the water is either on or off, right? Not exactly.
It started with the basics, like the side spray and the pull-down faucet. Now, technology-savvy companies have even wondered: why should you have to dirty up the finish with soapy fingerprints when waving a plate under the faucet could turn the water on? And their ideas and solutions improve year after year, all to make the kitchen life a little easier with a wide variety of standard features to choose from.
Side sprayer – A classic staple at the kitchen sink was the side sprayer. The smaller faucet is located at the end of an extendable hose, offering directed water pressure exactly where it is needed, whether cleaning the pots and pans, scrubbing the sink, or watering a potted plant.
Pull-out faucet – The pullout faucet offers all the convenience of the side sprayer without taking up any extra space on the sink edge. The hose extends down toward the sink or at an angle just above it, which adds a slight advantage in reach.
Electronic faucet features – A growing trend in today’s homes is the addition of smart technology, computerized mechanics that help make the everyday chores a little easier. The kitchen sink can now be turned on and off with the wave of a hand thanks to motion sensor technology installed in the faucet body.
Other designs include the ability to control the sink by talking to it, taking hands-free activation a step further with voice-activation. Electronic features are safe and convenient, but they may require professional installation. Sinks with electronic features will need to be installed with access to a reliable power supply, so keep their placement in mind during your kitchen remodel plans.
Water filtering – Some kitchen faucets are available with built-in filtration options that can purify your tap water to make it drinkable, right from the faucet. These high-capacity faucets are capable of delivering as much as 1GPM of water, filtering out common problem chemicals like chlorine, lead, mercury, and even pesticides and pharmaceuticals.
Drinking water dispensers – Whether filtered and cold, or ready for cocoa or tea, dedicated drinking water dispensers can be installed at the sink. They are sized to fit in the same holes that a regular kitchen faucet would use, but they are designed to pour water at a slower rate, more appropriate for filling drinking cups. They are usually found as part of a filter kit, and many include hot water dispensers that store and maintain water at a drinkable temperature just right for tea.
Finally, one of the most important details when selecting a kitchen faucet is choosing the perfect finish. The finish determines the color and durability of the faucet for years to come. From stainless steel, to copper, to modern black, the finish can be found in a variety of metals and colors to coordinate with the accenting colors of your kitchen hardware and appliances.
Newer finishes are designed specifically to resist the oils of fingerprints and smudges, making it easier to keep clean and helping to keep your family healthy. As it turns out, it’s even okay to mix metals in your home decor, so go with the style that you like.
Chrome is currently one of the most popular finishes because of its versatility. It is durable, easy to find, and easy to match with accessories and other fixtures.
A brushed nickel finish is very durable, keeping its finish longer and resisting wear and tear.
Copper finishes provide a bold and rich feel to your space. With the ability to ‘heal itself’, the more it gets used, the better it looks.
If you’re looking for a good balance of durability and style, you can’t go wrong with stainless steel.
At the end of the day, make sure you pick a faucet that works with your style. While some finishes tend to be more durable than others, on the whole, most finishes will stand the test of every-day wear and tear. So really focus on style here, and find something that matches your space.
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