Choosing the Perfect Kitchen Faucet - Part 2
This is the second installment of our article about how to select a great faucet for your kitchen sink. If you have not read part 1 of our article, you can read it here. In this article, we will discuss faucet handle types, sprayer types, mounting options and finishes.
KITCHEN FAUCET HANDLES
Faucet handles control water temperature and water flow. There are a few options you can choose from when shopping for a new faucet. Single handle faucets have a handle that incorporated with the spout. This option is practical if you need to turn on your faucet with your forearm / elbow if your hands are dirty. By incorporating the handle with the spout, there is no need to drill additional holes in your countertops for the hot and cold water handles.
The double-handle faucet style allows the user to have two separate handles, one for the hot and the other for the cold water. Additional holes would need to be drilled through your counter top if you have an under mount sink. Another option is an hands-free or touch-free faucet. With this type of faucet, you won’t need to grab the faucet handle(s) to turn on the water. Simply touch the spout, or if equipped with a sensor, just wave your hand in front of the sensor to activate the faucet.
SPRAYER TYPE
There are 3 main types of sprayer you can choose from for your kitchen sink – pull down, pull out and side sprayer. Which one you choose for your kitchen really depends on the type of functionality your are looking for. Pull down and pull out sprayers are practical because of their height which helps when cleaning tall pots. Pull down sprayers, as the name indicate, pull down directly from under the faucet head. Pull out sprayers are designed to pull outward instead of down. A side sprayer is another option, where the sprayer is on it’s own and not attached to the faucet. An additional hole / opening will be required to install the sprayer.
FAUCET MOUNTING OPTIONS
There are 3 options to mount your faucet: directly onto the sink, on the counter top or on the wall. In most setups, faucets are mounted on a kitchen sink or counter top. It has become increasingly popular to mount a water faucet on the backsplash by the stove so large pots can be filled with water while on the stove, hence eliminating having to carry heavy pots filled with water across the kitchen from the sink to the stove.
FAUCET FINISH
Faucets come in a variety of material and finishes to complement any kitchen style. The most popular faucet materials include stainless steel, chrome, bronze, brass, nickel and enamel. Popular texture / finishes include matte, satin, brushed and polished. Each material has pros and cons. Click on the tabs below to review the different types of finish available for your kitchen faucet.
Stainless steel faucets come in matte, brushed and polished finishes. Stainless steel faucets are great fit for busy kitchens. They are easy to maintain and won’t corrode or tarnish.
Chrome faucets come in matte, polished and brushed finishes. If you are on a budget, this is the most affordable type of faucet. The down side is that they show water marks and need to be wiped down after each use.
Bronze faucets come in polished, oil rubbed and brushed finishes. This type of faucet is scratch resistant and won’t show finger prints or water marks.
Brass faucets come in antique, gloss and satin finishes. This type of faucet is very distinctive and has a vintage look. Brass faucets can be quite costly and may not be to everybody’s taste
Nickel faucets are durable, easy to clean and have a distinguished look. They come in satin, brushes and polished finishes. On the down side, nickel faucets are not as scratch resistant as other materials and the nickel plating tends to rub off over time.
If you are in the market for a new kitchen, we’d love to hear about your kitchen remodeling plans. Our kitchen specialists and consultants can guide you in selecting great elements for your kitchen. Call the Complete Kitchen and Bath Design Studio at (704) 849-0068 to request a quote or to talk to one of our designers.
