Tapware Buying Guide: How to Choose the Best Tap for Bathroom Renovations

The bathroom is considered one of the busiest parts of the home, and when it comes to renovation, it requires equal attention. This attention includes choosing the right tapware that works for the space.
When renovating your bathroom with modern fixtures, tapware is a good place to start. The tapware controls water flow in the bathroom, ensuring that water is dispensed in your bathroom when you need it.
However, the challenge faced by homeowners and project managers is how to identify the right tapware for their bathrooms. The market is full of different types of tapware, making it difficult for shoppers to know which one will work for their renovation project.
We understand this pain and have compiled the answers to your questions in this bathroom tapware buying guide:

Tapware Meaning Explained

First, it is important that we are on the same page by understanding the meaning of tapware, the components involved, and how they work together to provide water flow in your bathroom.
In simple terms, tapware is a collection of control fixtures working together to control and regulate water flow in the kitchen and bathrooms.
Modern tapware models serve functional and aesthetic needs. For example, depending on your choice, your tapware can regulate water temperature in your bathroom while enhancing its overall aesthetics.
Key components of bathroom tapware:

• Spout: where the water comes out from
• Handles: the control mechanism that lets you release or stop water
• Valve: a special control feature for the water pressure

Common Types of Taps

• Mixer Taps: using the handles or a single lever, you can control the water temperature by mixing hot and cold water in the right proportion
• Pillar Taps: the system dispenses hot water from one tap and cold water from another
• Shower Heads: these can be fixed or handheld shower heads
• Wall-Mounted: a wall-mounted tapware is fixed to the wall instead of the basin

Choosing the Right Tapware for Your Bathroom

With the basic understanding of tapware meaning, let’s discuss factors to consider when buying the right tapware for your bathroom:

Identify Your Ideal Tap Style and Finish

When picking the right tap for your bathroom, you will come across different styles and finishes. With options ranging from sleek and modern designs to classic and timeless styles, you are assured to find the one that works well with your home, but how do you know which one to go for?
If you don’t know how to pick the right design and finish for your bathroom, look around your bathroom and check for the common design. That alone is enough to give you an idea of what to go for.
The feel you aim to create in your bathroom also matters, and each style and finish is associated with a feeling. While white is linked to a feeling of cleanliness, peace, and purity, black emits the vibe of sophistication and authority.
Hence, you want to do your homework before committing to a style of bathroom tapware.
Regardless, black hardware and brushed brass are choices you cannot go wrong with.

Factor In Your Project Requirements

One thing we have noticed among tapware shoppers is that they have something in mind and are determined to have it, thinking it is the best for them, but are heartbroken when they learn that their choice won’t work for their space. Hence, it makes sense to cross-check if your choice of tapware is designed functionally for your space.
The best way to achieve this is to talk to your plumber or tradesperson, who can confirm if what you are going for is suitable for your bathroom and overall home setup. While this seems like a simple act, it ensures you’re not locking your investment in the wrong purchase.
When identifying if your tapware is the right one for your project, consider factors like mounting style, basin spout and mixer installation. Your shower head placement is also a crucial factor that can influence the right type of taps for your space.
For example, if you are setting up your bathroom from scratch, one of your duties is to decide if you are installing the basin spout and mixer on the wall behind or on the vanity top. Similarly, you should decide if your shower head is installed on the wall or on the ceiling.
With these considerations, you might find yourself making a U-turn from the choice of shower tap you initially had in mind to purchase.

Consider Your Budget

Cost is undeniably an important factor that can determine the tapware to buy for your bathroom. Your choice of tapware is narrowed down to what your budget can afford.
Oftentimes, shoppers’ budgets are based on their projects. For example, a home renovator who is building his forever home would more likely pay attention to every detail and come to the market with deep pockets, while someone who is planning to flip his property may likely plan for something less costly.
However, it is important to debunk one common misconception about cost and quality. Most people believe that quality always comes at an extremely high price, but there are quality taps with reasonable prices.
It is, therefore, your duty to balance quality and cost, ensuring you don’t hurt your pocket while trying to invest in quality and vice versa.

Buy From a Reputable Brand with a Good Warranty

You might have done everything right, but if you buy your tapware from the wrong supplier, you are likely to regret your purchase. This is why you want to be careful with your choice of shower tap supplier and only patronise a reputable brand that offers good warranties.
The warranty on your purchase determines the longevity to expect from the tapware. A good warranty policy covers any damage or issue to your product, which gives you the peace of mind that you are investing in a quality product that is built to last.