Kitchen Faucets
Plain and fancy fixtures for your sink
Photo: Delta Faucet Co.
Sink faucets run a gamut from old-fashioned to high-tech, from soft-pewter-finish to jazzy epoxy, and from single-lever to spread-fit.
Finishes include polished chrome, brushed chrome, nickel, polished and antiqued brass, soft pewter, elegant gold, and jazzy enameled epoxy. For sheer durability and low maintenance, a polished chrome surface with high nickel content is still the best bet.
Sink faucets are available with single, center-set, or spread-fit controls. A single-lever fitting has a combined faucet and lever or knob controlling water flow and temperature. A center-set control has separate hot and cold water controls and a faucet, all mounted on a base or escutcheon. A spread-fit control has separate hot and cold water controls and a faucet, independ-ently mounted. While most faucets are sink-mounted, certain installations call for either deck-mounted or wall-mounted fittings. When you select your sink, be sure the holes in it will accept the type of faucet you plan to buy as well as any additional accessories, such as hot water dispenser, soap dispenser, water purifier, and a dishwasher's air gap.
Ask yourself three questions when you're attracted to clever, streamlined designs. How well could you work the controls with greasy hands? Can the spout fit over a large pan? And how easy would it be to clean or maintain the installation?
Whatever style you choose, you get pretty much what you pay for. Solid-brass workings, though pricey, are most durable. Ceramic- or plastic-disk valve designs are easier to maintain than older washer schemes.
If you'd like to give yourself a little treat, take a cue from restaurant kitchens. Instead of lugging heavy pots of water from sink to stovetop, consider installing a so-called pot filler (like the one shown at bottom left on the facing page) near the range or cooktop.
