Pros and Cons of Wall Mount Faucets
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Pros and Cons of Wall Mount Faucets
I absolutely adore the sophisticated, utilitarian look a wall-mount faucet brings to your bathroom.
I am always looking to add a unique design element to a space whether it be with hardware, wallpaper or paint color. In the bathroom the tile usually gets all of the attention, but an opportunity exists to elevate the vibe of your space by utilizing an often overlooked accent- your bathroom faucets. While we were in the process of renovating our master bathroom, there weren’t many design decisions that I had counted on, but having wall-mounted faucets was one of them.
We decided to go with Delta Stryke Wall Mount Faucet in Champagne Bronze. The Champagne Bronze color is exactly the brass tone I was looking for, it’s not too gold or shiny. It will pair well with matte black mirrors I picked out, and will add a contemporary look to my bathroom design. I adore the sophisticated, utilitarian look of wall-mount faucets, and today I want to share with you their pros and cons and how to position your faucets to avoid splashing while maximizing practicality.
Delta Stryke 2-Handle Wall Mount Facuet in Champagne Bronze
CONS OF WALL-MOUNT FAUCETS
The first thing I always ask myself when I am interested in experimenting with a design element is, “What are the downsides?”
In regards to wall-mount fixtures, there aren’t many, however, there a few things you need to be aware of.
First of all, splashing can be an issue and this seems to be the most common complaint. If you have a very round bowl, the water may deflect off of the bowl and splash on your counter. Unfortunately, the splashing is mostly discovered post-installation, after the plumbing has been set and altering the faucet’s height could be costly. The splashing has a lot to do with the curvature of the sink and where the water stream hits.
Choosing a sink that has less of a curve will mitigate the splash problem meaning flatter sinks will splash less. We chose a square sink both for the aesthetic look and to help mitigate potential splashing.
The cost of installation for wall-mount faucets will likely be more than their traditional deck-mounted counterparts.
The reason being, the plumbing is located behind the wall and as a result more difficult to access. This is also particularly important because since more plumbing is located behind the wall, leaks are potentially hidden until damage is significant.
Even if you’re an avid DIY-er like myself, you may want to consider hiring a professional for this one.
Installing deck-mount faucets into pre-drilled holes in the countertop can be accomplished by a weekend warrior in less than an hour. Wall-mount faucets take finesse as behind the wall plumbing adds an element of complexity, and if you have a stone backsplash, the alignment of the faucets must be done in conjunction with the installation of the stone backsplash. Often fabricators will cut the faucet holes on site to ensure an accurate fit.
PROS OF WALL-MOUNT FAUCETS
The biggest benefit to wall-mount faucets besides being aesthetically cleaner, is that they are actually physically cleaner.
Deck-mounted faucets can develop hard water build-up due to water pooling at the base of the fixtures. Wall mounted faucets leave the counter space behind the sink clean and free of water. I love the open, minimalist feel as the faucet now becomes a work of art and an element of design. If you have a smaller bathroom and countertop, a wall mount faucet will also give you more counter space to utilize. Another benefit to wall-mount faucets is that you don’t have to tile or have a backsplash behind the faucet, you can have painted drywall as your backing surface.
However, you will need to know if you plan on tiling when you install the plumbing rough-ins to ensure the proper installation depth of the faucets as tile will add thickness to your drywall.
HOW HIGH TO PLACE YOUR FAUCETS
Wall mount faucets and vessel sinks are a classic duo.
In order to determine the height of placement for the wall-mount faucet, you must know the dimensions of the vessel sink you plan on using.
The benefit of wall mount faucets is that you have total freedom over where you place them on the wall, likewise, this can also make it tricky to place if you do not have a sink picked out. Placing the faucets 6-8” above the countertop is typically a comfortable height for most above-counter sinks.
If you have the dimensions of the sink you want to ensure that you have at least 1-2” between the bottom of the faucet and the top of the bowl or the “flood level” of the sink. If you have a rounded sink, you will want to aim to have the stream of water hit as close to the drain as possible. Round sinks tend to have the greatest risk of splash as the water hits the curve of the bowl.
As far as where to position your sink on the countertop in relation to the faucet reach, the main thing to keep in mind is that you want to have room to wash your hands under the stream of the faucet without hitting your hands on the back of the bowl. If your wall-mount faucet extends about 7” from the back of the bowl, that will give you space to wash your hands comfortably.
In our bathroom, we are doing under mount sinks, with our faucets placed 6” above the countertop with an 8” backsplash. Our faucets are 8” inches long, and will have about a 7” overhang over the bowl.
LAST BIT OF ADVICE
If you decide to install wall-mount faucets on a wall that faces the exterior of your house, you should consider if you are in an area with cold weather. You may have to spray special foam to insulate the outside of your pipes so they don’t freeze. If your backsplash is tiled, it’s best to plan out where the tile will align with your faucets as the grout lines and tile cuts may alter the appearance of your look.
Overall, when choosing to do wall-mounted faucets, it’s best to have the sink, vanity, and faucet already picked out and in possession so the plumbing rough-ins can be installed accurately you can visualize where you want to place your faucets in relation to your sink. I absolutely adore the look of wall-mount faucets, and when paired with my under-mount sink, it will make cleaning a breeze! I hope now you have the tools you need to make your own wall-mount sink a success.
S H O P
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