Plumbing

Plumbing Ideas for the Home Improvement DIY Enthusiast

Lavatory Basins Materials And Design Ideas

I fondly remember my grandmothers old cast iron washroom faucet. It was pure white with two huge basins. The enamel had started to chip away in places, but it gave you a sense of being worn in with the house.

Today, there are many more styles of basins to choose from. Basins are made much more durable and a lot are made out of man made materials. Older faucets give a traditional feel. Newer styles today are more elegant for urban and contemporary shoppers. Vintage faucets still exist, but, even they, are more elegant than their predecessors.

Rundown On Styles

Glass: The most elegant look is glass. There are custom handblown faucets that you can purchase, with long elegant spouts, in a variety of colors, to go with your basin. Most glass basins come in clear or black. Consider spending enough money to get a basin that is tempered because it is much safer. The most sophisticated look is a dark black glass basin with an oil rubbed black faucet. Clear basins and faucets are also a good choice. Clear glass makes the room feel bright and fun. Glass faucets can cost less than $75.00 and more than $2,000.00.

Copper: Bacteria can not grow on copper. Since faucet basins have a lot of bacteria, copper is a sterile choice. In addition, copper will patina (most people love this) with age. Copper is a high end faucet basin.

Stainless Steel: The most popular kitchen sink. Simple, light, beautiful, and sturdy. This sink is the most economical to own.

Corian: Corian is a basin that is molded directly into the countertop. It is made out of a very hard plastic. It resembles natural stone and granite products. The cost is similar. People prefer Corian because the built in basin is easy to clean.

Vitreous Clay: Vitreous Clay is a ceramic based product. Vitreous clay products come in splashy glossy colors. Most, however, are white.

Cast Iron: Cast iron sinks are very the most durable and very heavy. Today they are enamelized with a ceramic epoxy coating. This coating may scratch off with years of use and abuse. However, the sink will stay intact. Cast iron basins are preferred mostly for laundry rooms and areas where durability is an issue.

For design considerations, please visit lavatory design ideas