Buying A Kitchen Faucet - 6 Tips To Help You Choose

Are you buying a kitchen faucet and can't decide which one? Too many choices? How do you choose between all the brands and styles? Well, here are 6 tips to help you choose.

1. Identifying your basic Style is the first step. The style is the lines and curves of the faucet. It should blend with the design of your entire kitchen. The general styles are:

a. Classic - An everyday look and very functional.

b. Vintage - Old world look. Antique, Victorian.

c. Contemporary - Sleek and modern.

d. Traditional - An everyday look but with a more detailed, fancier style.

2. Now, take a look at your kitchen and try to picture the type of the finish that will fit in with your overall design. The finish is the color or the look of the metal of the faucet. All faucet finishes are durable and easy to clean but the shiny look may show water spots and finger prints more readily. Here are the types of finishes available.

a. Chrome

b. Stainless

c. Painted

d. Oil rubbed

e. Nickel

f. Bronze

g. Many of the above will come with a brushed, satin or polished look.

h. There may be others and on some high end faucets you may even find luxury finishes such as Copper.

3. How will you want to use the faucet? Functionality is should be very important to you. There are a few basic types to choose from.

a. Single handle

b. Single handle with pullout spray

c. Double handle

d. Double handle with pullout spray

4. Now you are ready to find the Brand you want. What company makes the faucet design and finish that will work best for you and do they have a good reputation? The list is long but here are a few the more familiar names and a few that you may not have heard of.

American Brands

a. Delta: Gives a lifetime faucet and finish warranty.

b. Moen: Claims to be the #1 company in America.

c. Kohler: Created in 1883 and is a highly recognized company.

d. Price Pfister: In business for nearly a century.

e. Danze: Claims to be the fastest-growing plumbing company in North America offering world class service.

f. Showhouse: Faucets with graceful & unique lines.

g. Chicago: Established in 1901.

h. Cucina: Company is based in Chicago and their faucets have solid brass construction, ceramic disc cartridges and stainless pullout hoses.

i. Franke: Stylish, with a German influence out of Pennsylvania.

European Brands

l. Mico: An Italian high end quality, design and finish.

m. Jado: European influence with ceramic disc valves and brass construction.

n. Hamat: Carry the Made in Israel label.

o. KWC: Swiss made quality.

p. Grohe: German company doing business since 1975. Also an American division.

5. Is there a Warranty and what does it included? If something breaks or if the finish discolors does the manufacturer stand behind their product? Will they replace the defective part or the entire faucet if necessary?

6. Are replacement parts readily available? If the faucet leaks (and most all do at some point in time) will you (or your plumber) be able to get replacement parts quickly or will it take maybe 6 weeks?

Now, read #5 and #6 again.

When you buy a kitchen faucet make sure you get what you really want.

http://www.squidoo.com/lensmaster/workshop/KFStatement

Annette Soper is a published writer.

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