Taps

Buyers Guide to Bathroom Taps

How To Choose Bathroom Taps

There are some technical considerations when choosing taps and we always recommend consulting a reputable plumber.

Replacing old taps with new ones is straightforward if you select the same type and size. If you live in an area with low water pressure you'll no doubt know about it. Look for bathroom taps that include the note to say that they're designed for low pressure use; others may state a minimum pressure.

For bathrooms renovations and new build projects, there is a very wide choice. Plan the layout of your bathroom and consider the sizes and models of the bath and sinks required; then you can think about which taps will suit them best. Take the advice of a good plumber as regards to positioning of the pipework and the sort of taps which will work with your requirements.

Then you can further narrow your selection based on design style - such as traditional taps to complement your Edwardian suite, or a state-of-the-art designer tap if you want to make a statement. And don’t forget colour choice: classic shiny chrome, matt black or perhaps gold.

Types of Bathroom Taps

Basin Mixer Taps

Most standard basin mixer taps are attached directly to the basin. Tap holes are normally pre drilled or pre formed in the basin, in some cases mostly with German basins, the tap holes are half cast out on the underside and your plumber taps out the holes as required. Wall mounted taps give a more contemporary style of basin mixer tap. Screwed on to the bathroom wall with all the plumbing hidden behind the tiles, they look great and are easy to clean. 

Basin mixer tap variations include tall spouts, swiveling spouts, traditional styling for period sinks, and digital units which are operated electronically.  

See our basin mixer taps page for a full range of product options.

Basin Pillar Taps

Sometimes considered the ‘classic’ type of tap system, these are the traditional one hot and one cold tap seen in bathrooms through the ages. They can be mounted on the basin, which is standard practise or wall hung, and are supplied in both modern and vintage designs. Browse the models from Bayswater, Imperial and Pegler for period fittings. For modern designs look at Vitra or Grohe. 

See our basin pillar taps page for a full range of product options.

Bath Shower Mixer Taps

A bath shower mixer tap is a bath tap unit which has two functions: to blend the hot and cold fills together in order to fill the bath and, at the flick of a switch, to take a shower instead. They can be mounted on the bath itself, wall hung or floor standing - the latter is designed for use with freestanding bathtubs (for striking gold or chrome floor standing taps, we recommend Crosswater and Britton). 

They are an ideal space saving option when there isn’t room for a seperate shower, or the additional function is a desirable option. Because it’s a mixer unit, the perfect temperature is simple to select and thermostatically controlled. There is a lot of choice from manufacturers Grohe, Roper Rhodes and Abacus.

See our bath shower mixers page for a full range of product options.

Bath Mixer Taps

Mixer taps allow water to be drawn from both hot and cold pipes, mixing the water from each pipe before it flows out into your bath or basin through a single spout. This allows you to achieve the desired water temperature more easily, saving time and potential wasted water and energy. 

They can be hung on the wall or mounted on the side of the bath, with a single adjustable tap, or two, and floor standing tall versions are available. For contemporary designs, we like Vado, Hansgrohe, Roper Rhodes and Pegler; or for traditional looks check out Old London, Tavistock, Perrin & Rowe or Burlington.

See our bath mixer taps page for a full range of product options.

Bath Pillar Taps

The traditional set up of one tap for the cold water inlet and one for the hot water. Whilst vintage designs are still popular in these taps, there are also many modern versions to suit all types of baths - such as from Vitra, Pegler and Crosswater. It can be quite a straightforward matter to update old bath pillar taps with new ones for this two hole installation.  

See our bath pillar taps page for a full range of product options.

Popular Styles

Traditional Taps

To complement a vintage style of bath or basin, the buyer has a great range of traditional taps to choose from. There are single, double or triple hole tap systems plus eye-catching floor standing taps which are designed to work with a freestanding bath. Manufacturers who specialise in traditional taps are Burlington, Imperial and Bayswater.

See our traditional taps page for a full range of product options.

Designer Taps

Continually technical improvements and buyer demand have seen an explosion in designer taps in recent years. Originally purely functional, taps have now taken a central role in defining style, adding a luxurious finishing touch to any basin or bath. Forms have diverged into almost organic curves and swirls and at the other end of the design spectrum are crisp structural lines with square edges - and plenty of designer taps are a perfect blend of each. Recently, alternative colours like burnished brass, gold and matt black have been introduced; if you are installing a modern bathroom you may want to look at bath filler tap systems. Browse the fabulous collections from Hansgrohe, Britton, Tavistock, Pegler, Roper Rhodes, Grohe, AXOR, Crosswater and Vado. 

Black Bathroom Taps

Blending beautifully with a fresh clean white suite, black bathroom taps are available in every tap type. Usually in a matt finish, they add a dramatic touch to a modern layout and are easy to keep clean. Stemming from the popular industrial look, black taps are instant chic. Emphasise the modern monotone cool by sticking with white and black only, or introduce an accent wall, tile or floor colour for a more quirky character. Pioneers of this trend are quality brands Vitra, Crosswater, Roper Rhodes and Abacus.  

See our black bathroom taps page for a full range of product options.

Gold Bathroom Taps

Giving an instant luxury upgrade to a bathroom, gold bathroom taps are a perfect way to inject opulence, colour and distinction. Gold taps have long been a feature of traditional bathrooms but are now being offered in different colours such as rose gold and burnished gold, as well as in contemporary styling for use alongside modern bath and basin designs. The combination of a modern suite with modern gold bathroom taps is simply stunning. At the forefront of this new trend are brands such as AXOR, Vitra and Swadling.