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Choosing bathroom fittings sounds simple, but as leading designers and experts explain, there are many potential pitfalls.
Unless you’re one of the (very) few people who create their decor using brass fittings, buying a bathroom faucet is unlikely to be your top priority. But that doesn’t mean it needs to be thought about in hindsight – at any rate, copper should be a top priority when planning a bathroom.
It’s easy to underestimate the hard work that goes into installing moving parts such as shower fittings and faucets every day. Choose something that is low quality or doesn’t fit in your space and you will regret it very soon. Repairing or replacing damaged faucets can be costly, especially if they are wall or floor faucets. That’s why when you’re coming up with a bunch of bathroom ideas, it’s wise to dedicate the majority of your thinking and budget to copper fixtures.
Faucets really offer the opportunity to match modern bathroom trends with metallic finishes like gold or bronze, or enhance traditional bathrooms with classic copper or brass that age gracefully over time. However, each look requires a different level of maintenance and aftercare should be considered before purchasing.
Read on to find out the key questions you should ask before investing in brass bathroom fixtures. You may be surprised at how many thoughts go into one tap, but you won’t regret spending that little extra time…
There is no doubt that your choice of brassware can be overwhelming. The best place to start is with the choice of finishes and overall design style – in other words, modern, classic, or traditional.
Once this is decided, you can move on to finishing, where your options will expand again to choose between chrome, nickel or brass. “Influenced by the flood of new finishes on the market, they are re-evaluating how brass fixtures affect the overall look of the bathroom,” says Emma Joyce, brand manager at House of Rohl (opens in a new tab). “For example, the sophisticated matte black finish is a great modern alternative to the standard chrome finish.”
It looks particularly impressive when paired with a rounded black bathtub, as in this example by Victoria + Albert.
Polished nickel is still a good choice for a classic bathroom—it’s warmer than chrome, but not as “shiny” as gold. For more traditional bathrooms, “living finishes” like unpainted brass, bronze, and copper will randomly age, adding patina and charm to your bathroom… though they’re not recommended for perfectionists.
Ask any bathroom designer or copper expert and you’ll get the same answer: spend as much as you can afford. Based on our own home renovation experience, we definitely agree. In fact, we could even say that it’s better to spend money on something like a vanity or even a bathtub than on a faucet. This is one of the biggest bathroom design mistakes.
In fact, any “moving parts” that may be subject to everyday stress, such as faucets, shower system and toilet, should be where you spend most of your budget, as they are more likely to fail if you get “cheap”.
“Very cheap copper cookware is never a good idea. It may look good at first, but quickly loses its luster and starts to look worn,” says Emma Mottram, Brand Marketing Manager at Laufen (opens in new tab). “The solution is to invest in quality copper from the start. Not only will it look great, but it will save you money in the long run as you won’t have to replace it for years.
“I am always in favor of spending as much money as possible,” agrees Louise Ashdown, design director for West One Baths (opens in new tab). “Brass fixtures take the stress out of a bathroom, and poor quality construction at a low cost can end up costing more to repair and replace in the long run.”
It is very important to choose copper cookware that will stand the test of time. “This is especially important for those that are attached to the wall: often there is no direct access to them, which makes repairs difficult and expensive,” says Yousef Mansouri, head of design at CP Hart (opens in a new tab).
So how do you ensure good quality? We definitely recommend buying a bathroom faucet from a “reputable” supplier who has a warranty on the durability of their brass fittings and has been around long enough to have an established reputation for quality.
The materials are also important. For less money, you can get a faucet with lower quality materials and less durable internals. Increasing your budget means you are more likely to get a solid brass faucet that is highly resistant to corrosion. For this reason, brass has long been the material of choice, hence the name “copper utensils”.
Stainless steel is worth it if you want something indestructible, ahem, for a lot of money. It tends to be more expensive because the metal is harder to work with, but the tap is scratch resistant and durable. If you want the best, look for “316 Stainless Steel Marine Grade”.
The last thing to look at is the “coating” or finish of the faucet. Four methods are commonly used: PVD (physical vapor deposition), painting, electroplating and powder coating.
PVD is considered the most durable finish and is often used for metallic effects such as the popular gold. “Roca uses this color on titanium black and rose gold brass appliances,” says Natalie Byrd, brand marketing manager. “The PVD coating resists corrosion and scale build-up, and the surface is highly resistant to scratches and cleaning agents.”
Polished chrome is second only to PVD for durability and provides a mirror-like finish. The varnish is less durable, but can give a glossy or even deep surface. Finally, powder coating is often used for colored and/or textured taps and is reasonably resistant to chipping.
“Always make sure that the water pressure in your home matches the copper utensils you choose,” advises Emma Mottram, Brand Marketing Manager at Laufen (opens in new tab). “Making your faucet or shower match the water pressure will provide the best performance, while mismatching can result in slow water flow and difficulty in maintaining an even and constant temperature.”
“You can ask a plumber to calculate the water pressure for you, or buy a pressure gauge and do it yourself.” After taking measurements, check the minimum water pressure requirements for the product you have chosen. Both Laufen and Roca series of copper cookware are suitable for 50 psi water pressure.
For reference, “normal” water pressure in the United States is between 40 and 60 psi, or an average of 50 psi. If you find that the pressure is lower, around 30 psi, you can look for a professional faucet that can handle these lower costs. Showers usually don’t present such a problem, and a pump can usually be used to pressurize.
“Before spending money on brass appliances, take a look at your washbasin – how many tap holes does it have?” explains Emma Mottram from Laufen. ‘ This will help you narrow down your choices. For example, you can install a wall-mounted brass fixture over a sink that doesn’t have a faucet hole. This hotel or luxury bathroom pairs well with a double vanity.
“If your wash basin has a pre-drilled hole, you will need a one-piece faucet (spout that provides a mixture of hot and cold water). If you have two pre-drilled holes, you will need a column faucet. , one and the other for hot water. They are controlled by a rotary knob or lever.
“If you have three pre-drilled holes, you’ll want a three-hole faucet that mixes hot and cold water through a single spout. It will have separate controls for hot and cold water, as opposed to a monobloc faucet.
In a small bathroom where everything is at a glance, most designers will recommend that your brass fixtures match—preferably from a manufacturer so you can ensure a uniform finish.
This applies not only to faucets, but also to shower heads and controls, exposed pipes, flush plates, and sometimes even peripherals such as towel rails and toilet paper holders.
Larger bathrooms have more freedom to mix and match finishes without disturbing or spoiling the overall look. “While I wouldn’t place copper and brass finishes too close together, some finishes, like black and white, work very well with other finishes,” says Louise Ashdown.
If you’re dreaming of a vintage-inspired bathroom, you’ve probably thought about finding used antique brass fixtures. This may be a good choice, but you should never buy based on looks alone. Ideally, refurbished accessories should be refurbished and tested to ensure they are working properly. If you are planning to install a vintage faucet in an existing plumbing, make sure the hole size matches and there is enough space underneath for installation.
The combination of a faucet with a dressing table or a bathtub depends not only on style, but also on practical considerations. In addition to holes (or lack thereof) in ceramics, you also need to consider placement.
The nozzle should protrude far enough above the sink or bathtub so that it does not hit the edge and flood the countertop or floor underneath. Similarly, the height must be correct. Too high and too much splash. Too low and you won’t be able to put your hands under it to wash your hands.
Your plumber or contractor should help you with this, but the industry standard distance between hot and cold water faucets is about 7 inches between the centers of the holes. As for the spacing from the faucet spout to the sink, a 7-inch spacing will give you plenty of room to wash your hands.
“With so many options on the market, choosing a faucet or faucet can raise some questions, like you might like the design, but will it fit your sink?” This is a thermostat, is it too high, will the water flow be splashing? Martin Carroll of Duravit said. “That’s why Duravit recently launched the Duravit Best Match configurator (opens in a new tab) to help you find the perfect combination of faucets and washbasins.”
So, how to save a new surface after installation? Well, it should be pretty easy – just wipe with a soft cloth, warm water, and dishwashing liquid after use. You should avoid abrasive cleaners as they can dull, tarnish or create a matte finish on many faucets.
“Our matte black and titanium black brass finishes are stylish and easy to maintain,” says Natalie Bird of Roca. “No more fingerprint smudges or discoloration on brass fixtures – just a quick wash with soap and water.”
The key is to avoid the formation of lime scale, as scale is not only difficult to remove from the surface of the mixer, but can also damage its internal structure. If you live in an area with hard water, consider purchasing a water softener to avoid scale build-up.
Most of us take tap water in our homes for granted. But its disposal and heating require precious energy and resources, so if you care about the environment, you need to use water-saving bathroom accessories as little as possible.
“We all have to do our part to save water,” says Natalie Bird, brand marketing manager for Roca. “Choose brass bathroom fixtures with flow restrictors to limit the amount of water flowing from your faucet.”
“Roca has also developed a cold start system for its copper cookware. This means that when the tap is turned on, the water is cold by default. Then the handle must be gradually turned to introduce hot water. Only at this point does the oven start, avoiding unnecessary operations and potentially saving on utility bills.
It may not be the first thing you look at when shopping for copper products, but we think it’s an easy way to do your part for the environment with little or no impact on your lifestyle.