Having your plumbing options done rightly is the direct way to ensure efficient water flow in your home.
However, it can be challenging to balance price and value when purchasing plumbing items like faucets.
You will find faucets selling at over $150 while others are retailing at as low as below $40.
In this regard, if you are in the market for kitchen faucets, you need to ask yourself….
Are Expensive Kitchen Faucets Any Better Than Cheaper Ones?
Well, expensive faucets are not always better than cheap ones. In fact, the only things that create a price variation are the finishing, material, additional features, and brand. However, if you are not concerned much with these factors, you can still be comfortable with cheaper faucets. After all, the above factors have no great impact on the functionality of faucets — both the cheap and the expensive faucets serve a similar function.
Expensive does not always imply high quality. This is why you need to be careful when purchasing household items, especially those that you will get in contact with every day.
Whether you are buying kitchen or bathroom faucets, there are several things you should consider other than price.
This post will help you choose the best faucets for your house without necessarily based on the cost.
Why Are Some Faucets So Expensive?
While looking for faucets to install in your new home or to replace the old ones, you will realize that some are way too expensive than others.
Considering the various prices, materials, designs, and finishes, you will find the faucet selection and purchasing process challenging.
However, when you understand these aspects, you can easily choose the best faucet within your budget. Here are the main reasons why some faucets are too expensive.
1. The Material Used
The type of material is the most fundamental factor to look for when purchasing faucets.
You need to choose a strong material that can withstand high water pressure.
The quality materials may also not be prone to wear and tear, cracking, or leaking after a short time.
These materials will last long; thus, you may not have to do faucet repairs or replacements soon. In most cases, high-quality material faucets are more expensive than weak or low-quality material faucets.
Choose faucets made of bronze, copper, or brass because they don’t corrode faster and will last long.
2. Functionality
The functionality of a faucet has a great impact on its cost.
Any added feature on a faucet should be meant to enhance its functionality, and that extra feature should be paid for.
High-end faucets are more vast in how they can be used and cost more than casual faucets. For instance, faucets with sensor technology cost a lot of money.
Additionally, not all faucets can pass hot water, and if you regularly use hot water, you will need to find a faucet that can withstand high temperatures and be ready to pay more.
3. Design
Faucets are usually designed differently.
The most classic and pristine designs come with an added cost.
Traditionally, designer faucets are believed to be used in prestigious homes or by individuals of the high class.
In essence, such people are not concerned about the price and can spend any amount to get a faucet designed perfectly for them.
The custom design faucets are either hand sketched or handcrafted with engraved marks and can cost more than $500.
Even though the design of a faucet has less impact on the entire functionality, it significantly affects the price. Simple designs are cheaper than custom or classic designs.
4. Brand
Manufacturers try to compete with each other to ensure they produce high-quality products that can sell their brand.
Some brands are familiar to a particular class of individuals and can be pricier.
Since faucets are not regularly bought, as they can last for over five years, manufacturers try to improve their brands to create a large market and attract customers.
However, they tend to raise prices to give their product quality or value.
You might blindly think that a certain brand of faucets is expensive because of features, yet it’s just a brand tag that sets its price higher.
5. Finishes
Appealing finishes on faucets have a significant impact on price.
Low-grade or light finishes usually cost lower as they are prone to damage, wear and tear and will need replacements in a short timeframe.
Such finishes begin to fade away in 2 to 3 years, and water stains get more visible.
Faucets with quality finish last longer, and the finish can make the faucet appear new, even after being used for some years.
Typically, faucets with durable or quality finishes are pricier than those with low-quality finishes. It can take several years for the high-quality finish to start fading away.
Two Things To Look For When Purchasing Kitchen Faucets
When you want to buy faucets, check out some basic features and sinkhole configurations.
1. Basic Faucet Features
All faucets should at least have these features, though they vary in a few aspects.
Control
Controls can have an appealing touch on style or be hands-free.
You can get either a single lever or a two-handle faucet. Both have to control or activate the change between hot and cold water or mix.
Sprayer
Sprayers are more prevalent in modern faucets. They are very functional, especially when washing pans and dishes. They can be integrated into the spout or attached to the sink countertop.
Spout And Body
The spout of a faucet can be low and out of the way, or it can be long, shaped like a neck, high, and arching. The body creates the look and function of your faucet.
2. Hole Configurations On The Sink
Determining the number of holes and their configuration on the sink is very important when choosing a faucet.
The configurations of a sink must always match that of a faucet, whether you are replacing it or installing it for the first time.
You will find the following hole configurations to guide you choose suitable faucets.
No Hole
Also referred to as counter faucets. They are usually mounted on a wall that has no pre-drilled holes.
One Hole
The hoses come from below in a single bundle, and the controls are attached to the faucet body.
Two Holes
One hole is for the sink faucet and receives water from a source, while the second hole is for a soap dispenser or sprayer.
You can also cover the second hole if you don’t want to buy a soap dispenser or sprayer.
Three-Hole
Three-hole sinks are more flexible, giving the user a two-handles faucet without creating additional holes.
Four-hole
The four-hole sinks can have a sprayer on the side and a three-hole faucet. The sprayer is usually not clustered with other sink controls.
Conclusion
While expensive may be used to mean quality, it does not usually apply to all products.
Expensive faucets are not always better than cheap ones.
If your budget does not meet the classic faucets, you can choose to buy the cheap ones, and you will get the same service.
However, in most cases, expensive faucets may have a few added features that enhance functionality, but this does not mean they are much better than the cheap ones.
Sources
https://www.forbes.com/home-improvement/kitchen/faucet-buying-guide/
