Compact Cloakroom Basin Mixer Tap Recommendations

[TheScullster]

Hi all

Can anyone save me acres of leg-work please???

SWMBO has decided on a modern looking rectangular basin for the downstairs bog. The problem now is to find a mixer tap that will fit and look right. Have trawled the manufacturers' sites, but most do not give dimensions for basin mixers.

Has anyone bought a small(ish) mixer tap recently for a similar application. Needs to be angular in style rather than smooth and flowing to match the basin.

I notice that the taps displayed with the basin in the showroom (all v expensive and not to her taste) sit above the tap hole rather than engage with a spigot into the hole. The basin hole is only 33mm dia with the flexi pipes and securing bolt passing throught this into the botttom of the tap body.

Is this basin hole a standard size?

TIA

Phil

[Andy Hall]

Yes I have.

Take a look at the Hansgrohe Axor range. I have also gone for a rectangular style of porcelain and chose their Uno wall mounted tap in satin (I can't stand shiny chrome). This is rounded, but I preferred that. However, there are is an angular version called Steel.

[TheScullster]

"Andy Hall" wrote

Thanks Andy

There should be something there to keep SWMBO happy. Doing a quick google on the Focus S, they don't seem ridiculously expensive (~£65) - most of the decent quality options we have seen (Tre Mercati and Deva) have been ~£100+. Noticed that the basin versions were calling for 30-32mm dia basin hole which is a big relief! ISTR (probably many moons ago now) that manufacturers varied the spigot size on these mixer taps and thought I might have got lumbered with a basin that had an unusually small tap hole. I did query the tap hole size at time of purchase, but considering the accuracy of other info given, I was not overly confident.

Where did you source yours, did you buy it direct?

Phil

[TheScullster]

"Andy Hall" wrote

Andy

Another quick Q How do you know whether these can tolerate mains pressure cold on one side and gravity hot water on the other?

Phil

[Andy Hall]

I puy together a complete project list for all the items needed (ceramics, taps, brassware, radiator, miscellanea) and went to several suppliers. This produced better quotes overall than trying to shop around for individual items. Total spend was about £1300 and went to Boundary Bathrooms. I can't remember who the next nearest was, but the figure was £1450.

If you have everything else, then you can get keener prices on Hansgrohe from on-line suppliers in Germany. I looked at that, but it wasn't worth doing overall.

[Andy Hall]

Yes they can.

Really the intent is to have mains pressure on both sides. However, there are several factors I've used to achieve appropriate performance.

- Gravity supply is two floors up

- There is a flow reducer in the spout which can be removed

- I arranged reduced flow through the cold service valve

- For a cloakroom basin one doesn't want a huge squirt of water. If the flow of the cold matches what the hot would do standalone the results are quite appropriate.

[TheScullster]

"Andy Hall" wrote

Thanks once again Andy. Know where I'm going now :)!

Phil

[Andy Hall]

You're welcome.

I should have added that the behaviour of the sink mounted versions may be a bit different to the wall mount ones. I took 15mm pipes all the way to the fitting. For the wall mount version, the brass body fits inside the partition wall and then the works are fitted from the front. I haven't checked, but probably the basin mount version will have

10mm tails or something like that.

Since the basin I chose has a flat bottom and the tap is mounted relatively high above it, the flow needed to be kept reduced anyway to avoid splashing. having said that, the spouts are fitted with aerators (Hansgrohe calls it a mousser).

There are also waste fittings in the same series. I chose one with a push-push mechanism. Again I needed to get the non-chrome appearance. Hansgrohe's waste fitting in the series is very well made and seals properly. The basin has no overflow or provision for a chain or other mechanism to pop up the waste so this was the obvious choice. In any case, I suspect that mostly people wouldn't fill the basin in a cloakroom anyway.

[TheScullster]

"Andy Hall" wrote

It appears that you and I are following very similar routes. We have also opted for a basin without overflow. Just hope the kids don't leave the taps running and the waste pushed closed!

Phil