How to Choose A Kitchen Faucet

Sizing Your Kitchen Faucet

Grab the measuring tape, because it’s time to get some numbers. It’s usually easier to find a faucet that works in the space allowed than it would be to rebuild the kitchen to accommodate a faucet. As with all home improvement projects, picking a new faucet requires some educated placement decisions, a general idea of what you want the finished sink area to look like, and the scope of the tasks it will be used for.

This means you should know how wide and deep the basin is, especially in comparison to the size of plates, pots, and pans you plan to wash in the sink.

• Any faucet you buy will need to have a high enough spout for these chores and others, as well as a low enough placement to avoid excess splashing that will make a mess outside of the sink.
• Similarly, if you are looking at a deck-mounted faucet, know how much room is available behind the sink to install the faucet.
• A wall-mounted faucet needs to be placed with the spout extending over the center of the sink, which requires taking into account the space between the interior edge of the sink and the wall.

To keep track of all of these considerations, you will compare the sink measurements to the size of the faucets as you narrow down the selection.

Necessary Measurements

You will need to know the size of the installation area, to be sure it will accommodate the width of the sink as well as the depth and height. This measurement is also useful in determining the size of the faucet and any range of movement it may require.

Measure the countertop behind the sink, and the diameter of the pre-drilled holes and the distance between their centers. The hole dimensions are how to determine what size faucet will fit, before you buy the faucet.

Measure the distance between the wall and sink edge. This is important for both the installation and the regular use of your faucet, as you’ll need to be sure there is room between the wall and faucet to fully articulate the faucet handles or levers.