Five tips for picking out plumbing fixtures
This seems like such a simple task but this is one place that can bed overlooked in your renovation very easily. I am going to share my 5 quick tips on picking out plumbing fixtures and how to get the best value and quality out of your purchase;
1. Where to purchase – there are literally thousands of kitchen faucets and sinks on the market and they all offer different finishes, spray options, touch/motion controls, accessories, styling and so on. I highly recommend purchasing these items directly from a plumbing fixture store like EMCO (if you’re local to Windsor, The Ensuite at EMCO has a beautiful showroom and some really amazing designers who work there).
So, why is this important you ask?
Well because that’s where the trades and designers buy their supplies from and they wouldn’t purchase something that they believed to be inferior so why would you? When I say plumbing fixture stores, I don’t mean big box stores, I mean stores that specifically sell only plumbing items. This is in no way sponsored because there is factual reasons behind this such as; cartridges in faucets from big box stores are mainly made from plastic which can break easily and quicker over time. Where as a faucet from a plumbing fixture store will almost always have a ceramic cartridge and be made of solid brass that is way less likely to break or leak over time. Also, most times the warranty last longer on the plumbing fixtures purchased through a plumbing fixture store vs. a big box store.
2. Consider drain location in your sink – if you are purchasing a sink you should really have a look at where the drain is located on that sink because you can actually gain more space for storage in your sink cabinet. If the drain is offset to one side or set at the back of the sink, guess where the plumbing will go? That’s correct to one side or the back of the cabinet box vs smack dab in the center. For some clients this is a huge thing to consider if they are putting a garburator under their sink or a pull-out waste bin system under there. So if you are someone who is looking to maximize storage in your kitchen consider this little tip.
3. Materials & Finishes – This is a much bigger topic that I can expand on but for now let’s talk sinks first. Sinks come in all different types of materials and finishes, stainless steel, granite composite, fire-clay, acrylic, cast iron and so on. I always recommend looking at what you use your sink for before determining what the material will be. Are you someone who does dishes by hand mostly? Then maybe a stainless-steel sink isn’t the best choice for you. Stainless steel can scratch over time easily and also usually has that “water-spot” look. A lot of my clients are leaning away from stainless steel because of that. Also depending on the gauge of stainless steel,it can be considered “loud” and or “flex” with use. You always want to buy the lowest gauge of stainless steel possible; this means it’s thicker (Example: 16 gauge stainless steel is thicker than 18 gauge stainless steel). If you are purchasing a granite composite sink, these sinks are “hard” and if you use a lot of fine glassware, the glassware if “tinged” off the sink can cause it to shatter easily. Farm sinks are beautiful but often cost more in the grand scheme of budgets (think anywhere from $1000- $2000 extra once you work in the cost of the sink, cabinet construction, and installation). Cast iron although is a hard material, it can chip over time easily because of the porcelain metal coating on top.
As for faucets; I usually recommend picking a faucet before you choose your hardware for your kitchen because faucets only come in so many styles and colours and there is a lot more hardware to choose from than a faucet. As for the finish, you can mix and match and have fun with them. I always recommend getting a “spot-free” finish to reduce water spots and finger prints overtime.
4. Technology – As far as technology goes, there are some really unique options for adding some tech into your kitchen routine such as a touch faucet, motion activated faucet, and a voice activated faucet. I’ve seen them all and used them all, they can be very handy for the avid cook or a busy household. With that being said they also can be somewhat “risky” when putting them into your space and this is purely from experience. I once had a client who had a rambunctious cat who jumped on up the countertop and accidently turned on the kitchen faucet when they were away… this resulted in a flooded basement and a very high water bill. I have also experienced kids fiddling around with the faucet and breaking it over time because it was treated like it was a toy. I would recommend getting one if you don’t have curious cats and you teach your children boundaries around it but in my eyes... it’s just one more thing to break over time. It sort of reminds me of the televisions in the fridge… very cool but one more thing to break.
5. Accessories – Depending on usage of your kitchen and work space, sink accessories can be a great addition to your cooking routine. Cutting boards, strainers, and drying racks can be very handy and with new innovation in plumbing fixtures there is a whole line geared towards the sink as a “cooking experience”. I always ask my clients before purchasing accessories to think about it while they are actually using their kitchen… will they make use with it or is it something that will just collect dust under the sink over time because it’s a pain in the butt to pull it out every-time you want to rinse strawberries or drain pasta. The only accessory I recommend all my clients purchase is sink grids for the bottom of the sink. These are little stainless-steel grids that sit in the bottom of the bowl that protect the bottom from scratching and such. These come with some sinks and sometimes you have to order them as an add-on but I would say 100% worth it.
Bonus: Have you heard of insinkerator? If you have a kettle and use it frequently then you might want to consider this handy plumbing fixture in your kitchen. To break it down for you it’s a little additional faucet that’s small that produces hot water instantly. You have a little separate hot water tank in your sink cabinet that you can set the temperature to so that everytime you turn on that faucet you get instant hot water at the temperature you were craving. Neat huh?
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Happy renovating!
Markie.