Kitchen Faucet Buying Guide

What is a Kitchen Faucet?

A kitchen faucet, a key design element in today’s kitchen design scheme, is a valve for controlling the release of water. The kitchen faucet’s function is to dispense hot and cold water to be used for washing hands or small objects such as food and dishes and may include a spray feature to be used for faster rinsing. The kitchen faucet can help to highlight a distinctive style in the kitchen setting.

Selecting a Kitchen Faucet

There are four important considerations when selecting a kitchen faucet. These include Handles and Mounting, Finish, Spout Height and Reach, and other Accessories.

Handles and Mounting

Handles: There are two basic handle options for a kitchen faucet: single handle and two handle.

A single handle kitchen faucet rotates directionally, usually providing the ability to regulate flow by up-and-down motion and temperature with side-to-side motion. The advantages of a single handle faucet are that only one hand is required to adjust the water and that potentially only one hole is required for installation. Many single handle faucets come with a mounting plate to cover up to three sink holes.

A two handle kitchen faucet features a handle for controlling the flow of cold water and another for controlling the flow of hot water. Two handle kitchen faucets usually require a minimum of three holes for installation. A wide variety of handle options helps to make the kitchen faucet design more customizable and unique.

Standard Lever Handles Porcelain Lever Handles Standard Cross Handles Porcelain Cross Handles

There are many more unique handle options from which to choose.

Mounting: Mounting options will depend greatly on your individual installation scenario and design scheme. Kitchen faucets can be purchased to be deck mounted and wall mounted.

Wall mount kitchen faucet are usually mounted in a two hole configuration, one hole for cold water and the other for hot water. The distance between the two holes is referred to as the spread. Spread is sometimes referred to as a number of inches or inches on centers (i.e. 8" or 8" on centers). The spread is measured by determining the distance between the center of the two incoming pipes. Some wall mount kitchen faucets feature an adjustable spread and some do not, so plan appropriately.

Single Hole Deck Mount Two Hole Deck Mount Three Hole Deck Mount Two Handle Wall Mount

Finish

Kitchen Faucets are available in the following finishes:

Almond	Biscuit	Black	Brushed Bronze	Brushed Nickel

Chrome	Glacier	Infinity Satin Nickel	Nickel	Oil Rubbed Bronze

Polished Brass	Polished Chrome	Polished Chrome with Polished Brass	Polished Nickel	Satin Nickel

Stainless	Stainless Steel	Steel Optik	Venetian Bronze	White

Additional Finishes (not pictured)
Blackened Bronze Bone Brazen Bronze Brushed Chrome	Chrome and Black Chrome and White Copper Infinity Polished Brass	Ivory Matte Black Pearl Nickel Rubbed Bronze	Sand Satin Stainless and Black White Heat

The variety of kitchen faucet finishes available makes it easy to find a coordinating design for any kitchen.

Other Features to Consider

Spout Height - Kitchen faucets are available with everything from relatively straight, short spouts to very high arching, long spouts. Many faucets also feature a pullout spout, which is great for rinsing large or awkward dishes.

Short Straight Spout
Kitchen Faucet

High Arching Pullout Spout Kitchen Faucet

Reach - Another unique option for filling large pots is a pot filler. These specialized faucets are designed specifically for filling large pots and basins outside of the sink.

Pot Filler Kitchen Faucet

Bridge Faucets - Bridge faucets are a relatively new arrival to the scene. They are designed to add a different look to your kitchen then what is normally associated with it. Many Bridge Faucets, have high reaching spouts and high handles which are perfect for areas where space can be an issue.

Accessories

Every installation scenario is unique. Your particular design may call for additional accessories to accompany your kitchen faucet. Many times accessories are available in a coordinating finish to add form and function to your faucet configuration.