Guess which fixture is one of the hardest working in your home … Your faucets!
The adage “You get what you pay for” has certainly turned out to be true with faucets. Considering the sink is often the most used area in any kitchen or bathroom, your faucets get a lot of use and aesthetically are a big part of your home’s interior design. After spending much time researching faucets, it has become apparent that the more attractive the faucet, the more expensive it will be. We don’t mind paying for good design, but it made us wonder about the actual quality differences.
When it comes to faucets it turns out that it’s all about what’s on the inside. Low-cost faucets usually have internal plastic or thin-walled steel components. This can be a recipe for future disasters – leaks that can damage floors or cabinets, high water bills due to drips, and increased calls for repairs or replacements. If you have a ring of water on the countertop around a faucet base, it most likely means that a plastic part inside the faucet cracked. Lesser quality components cannot compete with brass. Solid brass interior construction (not brass plated) with ceramic discs (rubber washers harden and degrade over time) are the best components for a long-lasting faucet.
Benefits of Solid Brass Faucets:
- More resistant to corrosion, especially in hard water circumstances.
- More hygienic, as brass is an antimicrobial material that naturally kills germs.
- Fewer repair calls – brass is malleable which will make for less expensive maintenance.
- Brass faucets feel great. The weight and glide of brass is remarkably different than less expensive faucets. To experience it yourself, visit Ferguson’s showroom to try the faucet displays to feel the difference.
We chose Newport Brass faucets for our current project. Their selection includes the design and function we were looking for (i.e., higher handles for less bending over at the sink and lever handles you can turn on with an elbow when you have goop on your hands). Newport Brass faucets come with one of the longest warranties available: 10-year warranties to lifetime function warranties for their solid brass, chrome, and PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition) finish fixtures. Per Alex Carr of Newport Brass, they can offer such exceptional warranties because “We rarely have a faucet go bad or need service, so it is easy for us to give a lifetime warranty!”
Design Trends
Industrial-looking faucets are still a leader in design trends. A multitude of finishes are now available. The most popular finish colors for Newport’s industrial line are Gun Metal, Antique Nickel and Stainless Steel. In other faucet styles, their top trending finishes for the past 2-3 years have been Satin Brass, Satin Bronze and Satin Gold. Newport is also just coming out with a new black chrome called ‘Midnight Chrome’. Another new design trend is to mix and match handles and bases to build your own design.
Newport is one of the few manufacturers that offer a large selection of finishes (17 as of this writing). Keep in mind, some finishes require less maintenance and the finish you pick can vastly change the cost of the faucet. Chrome will always be the least expensive. You can mix and match throughout your house, for example, you can go with chrome at the laundry room and the garage sinks, then select other more expensive finishes for your kitchen and bathrooms.
A few of the many finishes to choose from:
Chrome is a shiny silver and is the bestselling finish. It is often found in contemporary bathroom designs (chrome shows water spots easily so requires more maintenance).
Nickel is a little darker than chrome and brass finishes and warmer in tone. It’s often more expensive but also durable and elegant (shows fewer water spots).
Bronze and oil-rubbed bronze finishes are darker in color and have a cool visual texture that’s reminiscent of older styles, which makes them perfect for a vintage-style tub or sink.
Polished Brass finishes can give your bathroom a vintage look, although this finish is more expensive than chrome or nickel, it’s easier to clean, more durable, and is antimicrobial.
Copper is another bold finish that also has natural antibacterial properties. This finish is great if you’re going for the Tuscan or farmhouse looks. It may require more maintenance than any of the other finishes, but once tarnished it will naturally develop a beautiful patina.
PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition) is a technical finish that is resistant to corrosion, tarnishing, and discoloration – look for finishes that have this coating.
If you have hard water in your home, you know how frustrating it is to constantly battle water spots on your faucets. Any matte finish will help hide the mineral debris better than a shiny finish – brushed or satin nickel, brass or bronze are your best choices. It is, however, still important to make sure you clean your faucet frequently to fight against any long-term staining and corrosion. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s directions for cleaning. Many faucets have had their finish ruined by using the wrong cleaning agent or rough cleaning surface.
If you are thinking of putting your home on the market, updated faucets can go a long way towards increasing a home’s appeal. Or, treat yourself to a new faucet just for fun!
Happy shopping!
Trudi
