Home Furniture Help

It’s really time to fix the faucet. The constant dripping noise is driving you crazy, not to mention the sleep it is depriving you of. It’s not the washer in the faucet itself that’s gone bad this time; it’s the whole apparatus. A visit to Lowe’s or Home Depot causes total confusion as you stare opened eyed at the choice you are faced with. Help is seriously needed. How do you make the choice?

Stick With What You Know

First of all you have to decide whether or not to stick with what you know and replace the faulty faucet with exactly the same style as before. Replacing your faucet with the same style is the easiest route to go. You can even take off the malfunctioning bathroom sink faucet and bring it with you to your local hardware store where you can buy the matching replacement. Of course, if this is not possible then the complications set in and your task becomes much more involved. There are many different types of mounting for your faucet and you will need to be aware of what type yours is before simply going and purchasing the new fixture. This is actually the hardest step in choosing your new faucet because the one that you really liked at the store may not work with the current configuration of your sink.

Choose Your Type of Mounting

The most commonly seen mountings include widespread, where there will be individual cold and hot water knobs; center set, with a single knob for hot and cold and covering all three holes which may be present for mounting on your sink; mini-widespread, similar to widespread except for the knobs being less spaced apart; and single-hole, which is similar to center set but only filling one hole and usually wall-mounted - most likely a bathtub faucet. The center set and mini-widespread faucets are both aimed at sinks with pre-drilled 4″ holes and some of the single-holed faucets include covers allowing them to be used on a sink with 4″ pre-drilled holes. If you have one of the other types, though, you are best in choosing that same replacement.

Once you have determined what type of mount your sink has, your job of choosing a faucet comes down to aesthetics. It is a matter of personal preference as to which finish will look the best and complement the rest of your bathroom. It is also good to know whether or not your current faucet is a classical design (rounded edges, flowery embellishments) or modern (sharp angles, geometric embellishments). For example, if your bathroom is more of an antique decor, you may want to stick with a classical style, an everyday decor could use either, and somewhat futuristic decor would definitely go well with modern bathroom designs.

Add the Finishing Touches

After choosing a faucet, you just have to install it, right? Have you considered your faucet’s finish? Bathroom fixtures come in all manner of finishes from shiny to dull and wrought iron to chrome. Every finish has its good and bad points. Chrome and stainless steel are probably the most common of finishes but they scratch easily and water spots and fingerprints show up all too clearly. Brass, which looks like gold and is very characteristic, rusts more easily. And brushed nickel, which includes your flat finishes that do not show your fingerprints, is more expensive and its plating will eventually wear. The finish is a matter of personal choice, but knowing your options will help you to decide.

There is also a wide array of choices open as to the style of handles for your faucets. Once again these should be matched up to the decor of the rest of your bathroom. Not only will you be free of the dripping noise, you are also likely to receive many compliments on what can only be described as one of the most basic bathroom items of all time.