We make every effort to help you with every decision, and choosing a kitchen faucet is no different, as it is a combination of personal taste and style, although a little "technical" knowledge goes along way. Whatever your desires might be, spend a bit of time getting familiar with both the functional and aesthetic features of kitchen faucets so that you will ultimately make good buying decisions.

Kitchen Faucet

There is more to a kitchen faucet than just its finish and handle style. Getting to know the differences among the various faucet technologies will do two things: first, it'll help you understand faucet specifications and descriptions when you see them, and second, it will help you determine which particular type of faucet works best for you, based on your needs and budget, because not all faucets are created equal.

Faucets are broken down into 4 key factors:

• Configuration
• Style
• Finish
• Construction and Valve Type

Configuration

A kitchen faucet's configuration refers to things like quantity of faucet handles, mounting style and spout structure, such as conventional or pull-out/pull-down.

When choosing a faucet, you will need to decide whether you want a two-handle or a single lever configuration. Two-handled faucets generally have a more traditional look and provide one handle each to operate the hot and cold water.

Single-Lever Pull-Out Faucet
A single lever faucet combines the operation of hot and cold water together through the operation of a lever. The orientation of the lever will govern the amount of water coming out of the spout as well as the temperature. Also, it only requires one hole if no other accessories are added.

Style

The style of kitchen faucet refers primarily to its functional and aesthetic design. It's a safe bet that this factor is usually the primary determinant in choosing a kitchen faucet, at least initially. When you start shopping for a faucet, the typical tendency is to look for an aesthetic style that appeals to you and then proceed to the other deciding factors.

Gooseneck Faucet
Style features to consider include things like spout design (conventional, gooseneck), lever locations for single handle faucets (on the side, behind the spout), faucet handle shape and size (smooth, multi-lobed, minimalistic) as well as design motif like traditional, contemporary or commercial/professional style.

Even how a kitchen faucet is styled has some bearing on its function. Conventional faucet spouts, the kind that project out are roughly a 45-degree angle, usually have good reach but may be limiting when trying to fill large pots. Gooseneck faucets on the other hand typically accommodate larger cook pots better because of the higher location of their spout opening relative to the sink.

Finish

Faucet finish refers to the surface coating that you see on the spout and handles. It not only gives the faucet its decorative appeal, it also provides a protective coating.

Their are numerous kinds of faucet finish and they include chrome, brushed nickel, bronze, hand-rubbed bronze, stainless steel, brass and others.

Bridge Faucet in Rubbed Bronze Finish

Beyond these "colour related" coatings is the process by which some of them are applied. More and more faucets today receive a "PVD" finish, which is just a fancy acronym for a less-understandable process called "physical vapor deposition".

In short, this space-age process deposits metallic ions in vaporous form on the surface of the faucet. High tech aside, the practical aspect is that it provides a very tough surface protection, making the faucet very resistant to corrosion, tarnish and even scratching.

In contrast, certain finishes that are meant to "age" like hand-rubbed bronze, don't have a PVD finish. Chrome faucets don't usually have them either. Chrome provides it's own tarnish-proof protection, although tests have shown that PVD coatings are over 20 times more abrasion resistant than chrome. Some types of PVD finishes include brushed bronze and nickel as well as polished brass, gold and nickel.

Colored Faucet

Another type of faucet finish includes colored coat- ings, usually applied using a powder-coating process that's baked on. They offer an alternative to the metallic finishes.

Faucet Construction and Valve Type

A kitchen faucet's construction involves what it's made from, how it's made and the type of valve it uses to control the flow of water. All the beauty and style aside, this is what determines how well the faucet operates and how long it will last.

Kitchen faucets are made from stainless steel, brass and even plastic. Plastic can come in non-metallic colors, but in the long run, it's durability won't compete with a good brass or steel faucet.

Brass faucets come in two varieties: cast brass and tubular brass. Of the two, cast brass is typically thicker and robust than tubular brass. Brass also needs to be coated to prevent tarnishing. Common coatings include chrome plating as well as any of the PVD coatings mentioned above.

Stainless steel offers strength and durability, combined with excellent corrosion resistance. It also provides a good match to kitchens with stainless appliances and/or sinks.

The mechanism that actually controls and delivers the water through the faucet is the faucet valve. If there's any part of the faucet that might eventually wear or cause problems, it's the valve.

There are four types of faucet valves: compression, ball, cartridge and ceramic disk. The important distinction between these types of valves is the relationship between their construction and their overall level of reliability (in other words, how long before you have to get your faucet fixed).

Compression valve faucets are noticeable by separate hot and cold water handles. They're the oldest and simplest form of valve, controlling the water by turning a screw-like handle that compresses a valve against a seal, usually a rubber washer. These valves tend to wear out the fastest, causing drippy faucets. However they're usually easiest to fix.

Ball valves are used with single lever faucets. Slots within the ball valve regulate and mix the hot and cold water flow through the back and forth, side to side motion of the lever on top of the valve body. These valves don't have washers but do have more parts making them a bit more complex.

Cartridge valve faucets utilize a brass and plastic cartridge that's more reliable than the washer system used in compression faucets. They're also less complex than the ball valve which means fewer chances of problems and easier repair when something does go wrong.

Ceramic disc faucet valves use two highly polished and very hard ceramic disks that slide across each other. This movement controls the water flow by opening or restricting the passage of water through openings in the disks. This type of faucet construction is considered the most durable and long-lasting, though it is more expensive than the others types.

Kitchen Faucet Considerations

Now that you're a little more familiar with the particulars of a kitchen faucet, let's take a look at some basic considerations you should think of when choosing one.

• Single Lever Faucets Offer Several Conveniences
  Single lever faucets leave one hand free to hold dishes, food or whatever, while the other adjusts the water control. Two-handled faucets require you to use both hands to turn on the water and regulate temperature (or use one hand to operate one handle, then the other).
  
  Fewer requirements for faucet holes (as with a single-handle faucet) also mean fewer holes to be drilled in a countertop, making for a slightly easier and cheaper countertop installation, particularly if your countertops are stone.

• Choose A Faucet Size That Complements Your Sink
  The size of your kitchen faucet should be in proportion to the size of your sink. A large faucet will tend to overpower a small sink while the reverse is true when a small faucet is used with a large, three-bowl.

• Make Sure The Faucet Has Adequate 'Reach'
  The faucet you choose should sufficiently cover your sink, meaning that it can swing in an arc large enough to dispense water to a good portion of the sink's basin(s). The faucet's reach is determined by the horizontal distance from the spout opening to where it connects to the sink or countertop.
  
  This really isn't a problem with pull-out and pull-down faucets since these features effectively increase the range of where the water can be delivered.

• Know/Understand Delivery "Lead Times"
  Unless you choose a faucet off the shelf, the faucet you want may have a 'lead time' which is the time it takes between actually ordering it and getting it in your hands. This is true both when ordering online and sometimes through a bricks-and-mortar supplier. Keep this in mind relative to the timing of other facets of a kitchen remodel so the faucet won't be holding up any aspect of the project.

Popular Kitchen Faucets - MOEN

Arbor
Chrome one-handle high arc pulldown kitchen faucet.
For more details Click Here

Boutique
Chrome one-handle high arc pulldown kitchen faucet.
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Caprillo
Chrome one-handle low arc kitchen faucet.
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Dorsey
Chrome one-handle low arc pullout kitchen faucet.
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Renzo
Spot resist stainless one-handle kitchen faucet.
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AquaSuite
Chrome one-handle high arc filtering single mount bar faucet.
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Popular Bathroom Faucets - MOEN

Eva
Chrome two-handle high arc bathroom faucet.
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Banbury
Mediterranean bronze two-handle low arc bathroom faucet
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