Master Bath Art

Open Plan Master Suite

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Gold Granite Countertop

Faucet Settings

Common Options

The perfect looking faucet won’t do you much good if its setting is incompatible with your sink. Depending on the style of faucet you choose, you will need one to three holes in the sink rim or countertop to accommodate the faucet. For a wall-mounted faucet, you’ll need to make sure you have the proper plumbing running up your wall.

What you want to avoid is buying a faucet that needs more installation holes than your sink or countertop currently has. While it is possible to drill extra holes into certain sinks and countertops, this costs more money and generally is something you want professionals to handle, preferably in their shop before installation in your bathroom.

Eight-Inch Widespread
As the name implies, the holes for the handles are spread 8 inches apart. Again, the spout and handles sit directly on the sink or counter. Eight-inch widespread is a more common style than four-inch mini-spread.

 

Single Hole
A single-hole faucet setting is used for faucets that have a single lever to control water temperature and pressure. If your sink has more than one hole for your faucet, but you still want to use a single-hole faucet, you can use escutcheon plates—metal discs that cover the extra holes.

 

Four-Inch Centerset
Four-inch faucet settings have three holes, one in the middle for the spout and one on each side for the hot and cold water handles. The distance between the outer holes is 4 inches. In a centerset model, the spout and handles all are placed on a 4-inch base.

Four-Inch Mini-Spread
Unlike a centerset, the mini-spread faucet does not place the spout and handles on a 4-inch base. Instead, they sit directly on the sink or countertop.

Wall Mount
Wall faucets are commonly used with vessel sinks, because the rims of vessel sinks sit higher than most standard faucets reach. Wall-mounted faucets require that your plumbing include a water supply line that extends up the wall behind your sink.

Some wall faucets have separate knobs for hot and cold water; others have a single hand lever that looks like a joystick to control water temperature and flow.