ebuild Guide to Kitchen and Lavatory Faucet Specifications

Faucets, and particularly those for the kitchen, offer a surprising variety of installation options and stylistic choices. However, a kitchen faucet that is dependable and versatile is essential. When it comes to lavatory faucets, style tends to be the main basis for choice. Manufacturers offer a wide range of faucet styles and quality ranges, with prices that range from modest to breathtaking. Domestic manufacturers typically offer the widest range of products, while imports typically come in a narrower range centered primarily on the higher price categories.

There are significant differences in faucet configuration so the choice of a faucet shouldn't be based purely on style. In fact, the first order of business is to match a faucet to the particular arrangement of mounting holes in the sink or countertop. The order lead time is lengthy for expensive faucets and those incorporating unusual features, so choose the sink and faucet at the same time in order to minimize problems.

For most kitchen and lavatory faucets, the key generic specifications include:

Configuration. This determines whether or not a faucet will fit the mounting holes (sometimes called fixture or faucet holes) of a given sink or countertop. It is based on the location of a faucet's hot and cold water inlet shanks, and in the case of lavatory faucets it also accounts for the location of the pop-up control mechanism. The distance between shanks is measured from the centerline of one to the centerline of the other.

Number of handles. A two-handle faucet is the traditional style for kitchen and lavatory faucets but it requires independent mixing of hot and cold water. One alternative is a single ball-type handle that controls both water streams, though some people find it awkward to use. Another alternative is a single lever-type handle. Many people find this handle easiest to use, particularly if dexterity is limited.

Finish. The overall finish of any faucet is a combination of several factors. Finish appearance type distinguishes between faucets that have a metallic finish (e.g. chrome, polished brass, etc.), and those with an enameled or colored-epoxy finish. Finish material describes the specific material used to finish a faucet. Generic finish refers to the style of the finish (e.g. polished, antique, oil-rubbed, powder coat, etc.). To prevent materials from tarnishing and to improve their scratch-resistance, faucets may have a generic coating that provides a protective barrier. This coating can be lacquer, sometimes called a clear coat, PVD (physical vapor deposition), or a powder coating.

Handle type. The shape of a handle is partly an aesthetic decision, but it also determines how easily the faucet can be operated by children or by anyone with limited dexterity. Lever and blade handles can be operated by the widest number of people.

Spout type. In the kitchen, an unusually tall faucet, such as a gooseneck, allows large pots to be filled with ease. A spout with a pull-out hand spray is somewhat more convenient than a separate hand spray because of its readily accessible location. Swivel spouts can rotate to make way for large pots or hair washing.

Accessibility. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) calls for faucets that are easy to operate by people with various levels of physical ability, including limited hand strength. Faucets for commercial projects may have to be ADA-compliant but this is not generally required for single-family residential projects. Lever, push-type, and electronically-controlled models are examples of ADA-compliant faucets.

MORE ON CONFIGURATION
The typical center-to-center distance between inlet shanks on a lavatory faucet is 4 inches; on a kitchen faucet it is 8 inches. In the case of a single-hole faucet, the inlet shanks are arranged so that they both fit into a single mounting hole. Sometimes mounting holes are spread farther than 8 in. apart, as when the faucet will be mounted on a countertop instead of on the sink itself. And in the case of antique fixtures, the mounting holes might not be at a standard spacing. In such cases, the solution is to install a widespread faucet, which features separate hot and cold handles and valves that are connected to the spout with flexible supply tubing. Some widespread faucets can be set into mounting holes as much as 16 in. apart.

A centerset faucet is one that combines a spout and control handles on a single body, or "base unit," and it's a common configuration for lavatory faucets. Centerset faucets are relatively easy to install because the basic elements are pre-assembled into a single unit. Where the visual bulk of a centerset faucet is undesirable, consider installing a mini-widespread faucet. Like the widespread faucet, it features separate valves, handles, and spout, but it will fit the standard 4 in. spacing of lavatory mounting holes.

Remodelers often face the need to install a new single-hole faucet on an existing sink that has more than one fixture hole. In some cases, the extra holes can be covered with an ornamental escutcheon plate, or flange. Order it at the same time as the faucet to be sure of a match in finish.

One feature that distinguishes kitchen faucets from those designed for the lavatory is the presence of a spray nozzle. In some faucets the nozzle is mounted on a flexible supply hose (metal is most durable; plastic is less expensive) that can be pulled from the spout. In other cases, the spray is placed in a mounting hole located in the sink deck, usually to the right of the faucet. In this configuration it is called a side spray.

Faucet Specifications Resources:
American Society of Plumbing Engineers
http://www.aspe.org/

National Association of Plumbing, Heating, Cooling Contractors
http://www.phccweb.org

National Kitchen and Bath Association
http://www.nkba.org/

Plumbing Manufacturers Institute
http://www.pmihome.org/

Valve Manufacturers Association of America
http://www.vma.org/html/flow_control.html