Buying and Installing Bathroom Taps and Fittings

If you want to change your bathroom but don't have a big budget to work with, you can transform your bathroom without spending a great deal by making a few simple changes. Beginning with the taps and moving on to towel racks, cabinet hardware and bathroom accessories, you won't even recognize your new bathroom.

When fitting new taps it's good to start by asking yourself the simple things. Is it practical? Can you grip it easily even with wet hands? While you may be more drawn to handles that are perfectly round for stylistic reasons, they are more difficult to grip with wet or slippery hands than the handles with spokes.

If you decide you want a more modern look to your taps then you may want to consider installing a lever tap. A single lever tap is one tap that controls both hot and cold water depending on its position. A dual lever tap, in contrast, is made up of two taps, one for hot water and one for cold. The lever tap systems usually have one spout for mixing both hot and cold water, there are taps available with two spouts but these usually have one for regular water use and the other for drinking water.

The next thing to consider is the material from which the tap is made. The most common material is brass. However, chrome and gold plate are also frequently used.

Also take into consideration the valves. There are ceramic disk valves or conventional valves. The ceramic disk valves may be more functional, but they are significantly more expensive. It is up to you to decide how much you are willing to spend and if the price difference is worth it.

Types of Bathroom Taps

There are basically two types of tap designs: contemporary and traditional. If you're looking for sleek, stylish taps, then the contemporary route is right for you. However, if your bathroom requires a more traditional or old-fashioned look, check out traditional styles.

Never underestimate the power of changing your bathroom fittings. With just a quick trip to your local hardware store, you can transform your bathroom. Items such as the towel racks, the toilet tissue holder, switch plates and cabinet hardware can be easily and relatively inexpensively changed, giving you a brand new, remodeled bathroom for a lot less cost. It is simply a case of looking around for the best price for your pieces and choosing the right style of tap for the finish you want, if you want to have a more specialised finish there are taps such as waterfall taps that can create an expensive look but can be found fairly cheap.