Bathroom Taps: Everything You Need To Know
Adding new taps to your basin or bath can transform your bathroom’s look and feel. Whether you’re revitalising your old sink or bath or contemplating a bathroom renovation and need help with hardware selection, we’re here to guide you through the process!
Choosing bathroom taps can be challenging, as there are so many styles, types, and finishes to browse. Luckily, we’re here to guide you through all the tricky choices to help you find the perfect bathroom taps for your home.
Table of contents:
- Best bathroom taps for your water pressure
- Types of bathroom taps
- Different types of tap handles
- Which tap is best for a basin of different sizes
- Bathroom tap finishes
Best bathroom taps for your water pressure
Consider your home’s water pressure before shopping for your new bathroom taps. If your house has a high-pressure water system, you will have more choices of bathroom taps. However, if your home runs off a low-pressure water system, you must find specific taps for low-pressure water systems to get the best water flow.
Types of bathroom taps
Finding the right bathroom taps for your bath and sink washbasin can be overwhelming, with so many taps to select from. Here, we’ll outline all the different bathroom taps, along with the pros and cons of each one, to help make selection easier.Â
Basin taps
Let’s start with basin taps. If you’re replacing old taps and plan to keep your sink, your choice is limited to the number of tap holes in your basin. If you’re choosing a bathroom sink and taps, you can be more flexible.
Monobloc taps
If you have a sink with one tap hole, you are limited to monobloc taps, which have one spout. You can choose a monobloc tap with either a single-lever handle, which will mix the water to your desired temperature, or two separate temperature controls, which allow you to turn on the cold or hot water separately.
Monobloc taps can look very sleek and modern and are perfect for a contemporary bathroom. Furthermore, the mixer functionality is best for homes with small children as they are less likely to scald themselves from the hot tap spout.
Pillar taps
Alternatively, you are limited to pillar taps if your sink has two tap holes. Pillar taps feature two separate taps that control the hot and cold water flow separately.
If you can choose between pillar taps and monobloc taps, pillar taps are often cheaper and perfect for a budget-friendly bathroom renovation. They come in various styles, from contemporary to traditional, to suit any bathroom interior.
Waterfall taps
Add a touch of luxury to your sink with a basin waterfall tap. These basin taps have specially shaped spouts that create a waterfall effect.
Bath taps
When choosing your bath taps, you must undergo a similar selection process. However, your bath can have between one and four tap holes that fit different bath tap styles.
Similarly, if you are replacing your existing bath taps, you will have to find one that corresponds to the existing tap holes. Alternatively, if you’re purchasing a new bath, you can choose one with no pre-existing holes and drill your own.
Monobloc taps
If you have one tap hole, you must purchase a bath monobloc tap. Similar to basin monobloc taps, the water flow and temperature are controlled through one or two handles and a spout. These taps can look minimalistic and offer easy operation.
Pillar and deck-mounted taps
You can choose between pillar or deck-mounted mixer taps if you have two tap holes. Bath pillar taps have two separate hot and cold taps, like basin taps. In contrast, a mixer tap mixes the water from the hot and cold feeds and distributes it through one spout.
Pillar and deck-mounted mixer taps come in various styles, from slim-lined and modern with sleek lines to elegant and curvy, perfect for a period property. You can get deck-mounted taps with a modern “H” shape design or one sitting flush to the bath rim.
If you opt for a bath mixer tap, you can also choose a shower head attachment to give you flexibility when washing and cleaning. If you have a shower head attachment, your mixer tap will also have a diverter to divert the water to the tap or the shower hose.
4-hole bath-shower mixers
You can also get 4-hole bath shower mixers where you only see the two tap levers, single spout, and hand-held shower head mounted to the bath rim. At the same time, the rest of the plumbing is hidden beneath. These are ultra-modern and perfect for your luxury dream bath set-up.
Wall-mounted and free-standing taps
If your bath rim is too thin or you have a free-standing bath, you may want to consider wall-mounted taps or a free-standing tap. These taps require a bit more plumbing, but it is worth it for the luxurious look. You can also get wall-mounted taps to match your sink.
Waterfall taps
Why not add a touch of luxury to your bathroom with a waterfall tap? These are bath taps with specially shaped spouts that create a waterfall effect.
Different types of tap handles
You also have to consider your tap handles. There are a few to choose from, each providing different functionalities and aesthetics.
Knob and cross handles
If you’re looking for simple and functional, you can choose a knob handle for your pillar taps, a no-nonsense classic that is budget-friendly. As you turn the knob handle, you open the ceramic disc valve releasing the water. You also turn cross handles. You can find cross handles on various tap types in sleek modern styles or rounded traditional designs to suit your bathroom. Cross handle taps tend to be more suited for anyone with problems with gripping.
Single-levers
Alternatively, you can choose single lever handles for monobloc or mixer taps. These have a sleek and modern look, perfect for a contemporary bathroom. These are also more hygienic, as you can close them with your elbow or the back of your hand.
Which tap is best for a basin of different sizes
When choosing your basin taps, you need to think about the size of your basin. Nothing is more annoying than when you can’t fit your hands under the spout because it is too small or you spray water everywhere because the tap is too big for the basin.
Think about the depth of your basin and how far you want the edge of the sink from the tap spout. Consider the size of your basin. Does your basin have a cabinet or shelves above it? Is it just for hand washing, or is it for washing and shaving?
If you have a compact basin, choose a tap with a shorter spout. As a rule, the spout should not extend further than the plug hole. If you’re looking for a tap for a cloakroom basin, we recommend pairing it with a cloakroom tap.
For larger bathrooms and basins, a larger spout is more suitable. If you have a countertop basin that doesn’t have a tap hole and want your tap to come from the vanity unit, we recommend a tall basin mixer tap for a stunning luxury bathroom effect.
Bathroom tap finishes
Chrome
Last but not least, consider your tap finish. Chrome is the most popular finish you can choose for your bathroom taps. It also accommodates any bathroom style, offering modern and traditional tap design options.
Brushed-brass
We recommend our brushed brass bathroom tap collection if you want a bold statement or on-trend bathroom hardware. This collection will make your bathroom taps “POP” and take centre stage in your bathroom interior design.
Matt black
Our matt black bathroom taps have a similar stand-out effect and are able to adapt to various design styles. This is the perfect addition if you’re looking for a sleek and modern bathroom due to its timeless and classic elegance.
Bathroom taps at Build & Plumb.
We hope you feel more informed and aware of your options for taps for your basins and baths to help you find the perfect ones for your bathroom or cloakroom.
Whatever style or aesthetic your bathroom has, and no matter the size, we have a wide range of bathroom taps available at Build & Plumb.
Browse our stunning collection of high-quality basins and bath taps in our bathroom tap collection at Build & Plumb today and complete your dream bathroom with the perfect finishing touches.
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