Choosing the Right Taps for your Bathroom

The style of your bathroom is denoted primarily by the finishing touches that you choose. Some suites, which you would consider to be a traditional design, have a timeless quality that allows them to be complemented by contemporary taps, to add a twist to convention. On the other hand, taps can be chosen to flatter the character of your suite items, by mimicking the curves or geometric lines of their design, adding to the overall tone of your bathroom

Invest in quality

The budget you should set aside for your bathroom taps should really be determined by the finish that you desire. In a kitchen, cheaper cabinets can be harmonised by more expensive work surfaces, doors and handles, without a detrimental effect to a high quality bathroom finish. In the same way, a budget-priced suite can be made to look of a higher quality by using more expensive taps. However, the theory also applies conversely, if you group your ceramics with cheap-looking budget taps, this will reduce the standard of your overall design. High-quality bathroom taps should therefore be viewed as an investment.

Complement the design of your ceramics

When deciding on your choice of bathroom taps, consideration should be given to the basis of your ceramics design. If your suite is angular and geometric in its basis, then taps with a high level of curvature would clash. The shape of the spout, and also the tap handles should both be regarded. A lever tap indicates a contemporary, angled finished and should be combined with straight or square-based spouts. For a more-rounded basin, a tap with a curved spout design or round handles balances these features, and will move you towards a better designed bathroom.

Before you purchase your taps, ensure that you contemplate all the items in your suite, from the basin, to the shower fixtures and the bath, so that all will complement each other. This is easily achieved by buying all of your items from a single manufacturer, as they often supply showers as well as taps, and their ranges will harmonise with each other.

Practicalities

If you have joint or arthritis problems, or are elderly, the design of your taps can be thus to allow you to turn them on and off more easily. Screw taps that have little consideration ergonomically in their design can be difficult to grip, turn and therefore turn on and off. The solution widely available in the market place of a level taps simply requires a quarter turn of a lever-styled handle to operate the tap, without any reduction in efficiency. The tight seals on ceramic valves in modern taps allow them to just use a simple turn to stop them running, removing annoying dripping and the need to screw them as tight as possible.

Lever taps also have the added qualities of being more hygienic and are often used in situations where cleanliness is paramount, such as doctors, dentists and vets, to ensure that germs are not transferred. In this instance, a single lever, attached to the existing taps, allows them to be switched on and off with an elbow or side of the arm, meaning that there is no direct contact for germs to transfer between the tap and clean hand. This methodology has now moved in to the public domain through the introduction of the lever tap, which reduces the surface area available for germ transfer.

Mix it up

Mixer, or monobloc taps differ from individual taps as they combine the flow of hot and cold water in to one unit. These taps have a single handle to control flow, temperature or both, with the water exiting out of a single outlet. The benefits of using a single unit are that it creates a more minimalistic appearance, and an optimum temperature can be achieved from a single flow of water.

Hudson Reed taps, accessories, mixer showers and heated rails are of the highest quality. The range includes a mix of contemporary and traditional designs, as well as numerous options of handles, so you can rest assured that they will have a range to suit your needs and tastes. 

Checklist for choosing taps

• Who uses your taps on a regular basis?
  This may affect the type of tap and also the budget you assign to your brassware.

• What type of décor and accessories do you have already in your bathroom?
  Your brassware must complement existing items in both colour and design.

• What shapes generally make up your ceramics design?
  For angular designs, use straighter taps and curves suit more rounded designs.

• Do you have any items that would require special consideration?
  Items such as a freestanding bath require specific taps to suit them.

• Have you included all the items that you would require taps for?
  Be sure to buy all your items at once, to be sure that they match.

• What type of waste feature on your basins and baths?
  Different taps have different wastes, or may include them, so you should consider this.

• How deep are the ceramic items, from the tap hole to the wall?
  A tap with a pull waste lever attached to the back would require room to operate.

• How many tap holes have you got on your ceramics (especially baths)?
  A monobloc mixer tap will not fit in to two tap holes. Baths are often supplied with no tap holes. Drilling of extra taps holes is an additional costing to consider.

• What is your budget?
  The type, design and brand of tap will be very much dependant on your budget.