For those of you who are familiar with our plumbing blog, you probably know that we reference faucets quite often. After all, faucets are one of many plumbing fixtures that are used on a daily basis. With this being the case, it can definitely be beneficial to understand what makes up a quality faucet (when it comes time to purchase one) and how to properly maintain a faucet (to ensure you get a quality return on your investment). Having said that, you can start to see why we talk about faucets so often. Not to mention, faucets are also the perfect example of a plumbing fixture where physical appearance and aesthetics play a role in the purchasing process. That isn’t always the case with every single plumbing fixture!
So…that leads us into the topic of this week’s blog post, which happens to be why a faucet’s finish plays such an important role in the purchasing process and how the type of finish you select may affect other things like maintenance. Before getting into everything you need to know about faucet finishes though, we would first like to welcome any first-time visitors to our plumbing blog. Welcome to Stine-Nichols Plumbing! If you’re landing on our blog, chances are you either have a current plumbing problem you’re needing help with, are in the process of purchasing new plumbing fixtures or are simply interested in building a better understanding of your plumbing system. Regardless of the reason, we’re happy to have you here! Stine-Nichols Plumbing is a business serving the Kansas City area with residential, commercial and new construction plumbing services. If you reside in the KC area and need a plumber for an upcoming project, feel free to give us a call at (816) 348-3481 or fill out the form HERE.
Now, no matter if you need new faucets installed or simply want your existing ones to last longer, what role does the finish play?
Faucet Finish Tip #1: Different Finishes Require Different Amounts of Cleaning
While you’ll have no trouble finding a plethora of faucet types in all of the standard finishes, we felt the best place to start this blog post was with the realization that different finishes can require different magnitudes of cleaning. After all, I think most homeowners would agree that a faucet which isn’t as prone to water spots and fingerprints can be a real advantage. With that in mind, your next question would likely be centered around how this mindset applies to the popular faucet finishes on the market. Let’s roll through them here.
Starting with chrome, which is likely the most common finish nowadays, you’ll find this faucet finish to show fingerprints and water spots pretty easily. Keep in mind that these can be cleaned off without much time and effort, but it is worth noting.
On the other hand, matte black is a faucet finish that has quickly risen in popularity. Its modern and sleek appearance allows it to serve as a statement piece, while also being flexible enough to suit a number of different settings. In contrast to chrome, matte black actually does a wonderful job at resisting those annoying blemishes.
The third finish that we’ll highlight in this section is stainless steel. With this, we will note there are different stainless steel finishes available to consumers. Having said that, you’ll notice they don’t all react the exact same when it comes to fingerprints and water spots. Nonetheless, you will see most stainless steel faucets may show some fingerprints and/or water spots, but they are not necessarily as noticeable as their chrome alternatives. For those wanting a stainless faucet, while limiting one’s exposure to these blemishes, consider going with something like Delta’s Spotshield Stainless. HERE is an example.
Faucet Finish Tip #2: Consider the Surrounding Area
As we mentioned in the opening section, aesthetics isn’t typically something most people would associate with plumbing, but it definitely plays a role! This is especially true when it comes time to purchase a new faucet for your home. Whether it be the kitchen, master bathroom or even a secondary bathroom, you’re going to want something that looks good, right? With that in mind, our next faucet finish tip for you is to take into account the surrounding components in the space. As a side note, if you’re planning on turning this into a more extensive project (and replacing countertops, cabinets or the sink too), you’ll have a little more options at your disposal.
Nonetheless, when evaluating potential faucet finishes, think of how each will mesh with items, such as the countertops, backsplash, sink, cabinets and even other appliances in the room. If each of these has a rather neutral appearance, you’ll likely be able to go with just about any finish. However, those with more unique color schemes may have to do a little thinking! Luckily, most of the popular faucet finishes (especially the three we highlighted above) will mesh with just about any setting.
Faucet Finish Tip #3: Finishes Can Impact Price
Thus far in this blog post, we’ve talked about how the amount of required cleaning/maintenance and surrounding elements can impact the faucet finish you select. Next on our list is how it can also impact the total price. After all, that will likely be a determining factor too, right? So…does a faucet’s finish affect the price of the faucet? In short, the answer is yes! Keep in mind that the exact variance will change depending on which brand or type you’re looking at. Nonetheless, with the large majority of brands/types out there, chrome is usually the most affordable finish. To sum it all up, yes the price will be affected by which faucet finish you select!
Faucet Finish Tip #4: They All Need Maintenance
While regular cleaning is technically a type of maintenance, we are going to be discussing something different with this final section. In particular, we’re talking about how mineral deposits can not only create an unsightly appearance on your faucets (no matter which finish you have), but also give off the illusion that your faucets are experiencing low water pressure. And this is all the result of hard water! Luckily, you’ll be glad to know that the “maintenance” associated with this isn’t going to require a whole lot of time or effort. You’ll simply want to place the aerator in some vinegar before poking out the deposits with a toothpick. Add that to your to-do list on a routine basis and you’ll be in great shape. This is a worthwhile task no matter which faucet finish you end up going with.
Have Any Faucet Questions? Give Our Team a Call!
As a plumbing business offering residential, commercial and new construction services, it should come as no surprise that we tackle our fair share of faucet projects throughout the year. Whether that be installing new faucets, repairing existing ones or anything else, we have you covered on all things related to faucets. As shown throughout this week’s blog post, picking out the finish is certainly an important decision. From the cleaning requirements to the price and even how it meshes with the surrounding area, you’ll want to put a little thought into this choice!
If you’re needing some help with a faucet project or simply are unsure which brand/type you should go with, don’t hesitate to give us a call at (816) 348-3481. We look forward to helping you with all of your faucet needs!