The Kitchen Sink: Here is my handle…here is my spout

December 31, 2007 in Appliances,Home Improvement,Just Because,The kitchen with 6 Comments

The nice thing about buying a house is that you own everything in that house. Conversely, the bad thing about buying a house is that you own everything in that house.

Right now, I own cheap kitchen counters that are made of some sort of porous material that absorbs stains as a matter of course and a stainless steel sink that is slowly falling into the kitchen cabinets underneath. For this, I can thank the previous homeowners and their half-assed approach to DIY home repair.

Speaking of that gravity-impaired stainless steel kitchen sink, I’m in the market for a shiny new one… and I can’t imagine buying the kitchen sink itself without buying a new faucet set to go with it. Curious to see what I’m considering? Read on for pics and what to me are incomprehensible contractors stats.

Model N142 04 PB: Polished Brass Single Handle Kitchen Faucet with Spiral Handle and Sprayer

The Polished Brass Single Handle Kitchen Faucet with Spiral Handle and Sprayer:
-3-Hole Installation -1/2″ IPS Inlets -11-7/16″ Spout Height -6-1/2″ Aerator Clearance -9-15/16″ Spout Reach -3″ Maximum Deck Thickness -Ceramic Disc Cartridge -Spiral handle with porcelain index button


Model N140 04 ORB: Oil Rubbed Bronze Single Handle Kitchen Faucet with Pump Handle and Sprayer

Oil Rubbed Bronze Single Handle Kitchen Faucet with Pump Handle and Sprayer:
-2-Hole Installation -1/2″ IPS Inlets -11-1/6″ Spout Reach -6-1/8″ Aerator Clearance -9-15/16″ Spout Reach -3″ Maximum Deck Thickness -Ceramic Disc Cartridge -Pump Handle with porcelain index button -Matching Spray

Model N120 02 CP: Chrome Widespread Kitchen Faucet with Metal Crosses and Sprayer

Chrome Widespread Kitchen Faucet with Metal Crosses and Sprayer:
- 4-Hole Installation -1/2″ IPS Inlet -10-3/4″ Spout Height -7-5/16″ Aerator Clearance -9-1/2″ Spout Reach -2″ Maximum Deck Thickness -1/4 Turn Ceramic Cartridge -Metal Cross Handles with French and English porcelain index buttons -Matching Spray

What do the contractors stats for kitchen sink faucet sets actually mean? I haven’t gotten that far into my research yet… for now, I’m spending my time looking at pretty pictures of kitchen sinks and thinking about which faucet sets will look best dropped into my own kitchen counters. Isn’t that the best part of home repair and home renovations? I certainly think so!

The next step will be to learn about IPS inlets and that sort of thing, so I know what I’m talking about when kitchen sink installation time rolls around. I’ll share whatever I find out, of course, so stay tuned, and feel free to post a link to your own dream kitchen accessories in the comments.

About Christa Terry: Christa Terry is a writer and wedding and lifestyle expert whose book iDo: Planning Your Wedding with Nothing But ‘Net is a one-stop planning resource for modern, free-thinking brides and grooms. With one husband, one toddler, and more on the way – kids, not husbands – Christa somehow manages to stay on top of the tricks and trends that make getting married and living life stylish and fun.

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6 Responses to “The Kitchen Sink: Here is my handle…here is my spout”

  1. Momghee December 31, 2007 at 8:04 pm #

    Go for something with a single handle. It’s much easier to use. And consider one that elevates so you can put large pots under it!

  2. Jennie January 1, 2008 at 9:05 am #

    IPS outlets are the size of the supply lines (the pipe thingies that bring water to the faucet) This is industry standard so don’t sweat the small stuff. The spout length is important because you want to make sure the spout will reach both sinks if you go for an offset installation or a large bowl small bowl sink. Aerator clearance is letting you know how high the spout is from the faucet deck (countertop) so if you have really big pots you can make sure they can go into the sink and still have the faucet clear the top. Deck thickness is really important if you are using granite or concrete countertops. If the faucet threads (pipe thingies again) aren’t long enough to go thru the countertop, then whoops! won’t fit! Lastly, definitely go with ceramic discs. They last longer and are less maintenance than other faucets. As for sink choice, what kind of countertop? If you are getting a stainless sink, make sure it is at least 18 gauge (lower number better sink, i.e. 22 gauge is junk!)

  3. Never teh Bride January 1, 2008 at 11:32 am #

    Thanks for the tip, Momghee!

    And wow, Jennie, I certainly appreciate the crash course in faucet stats! I feel like I could go to the closest kitchen hardware outlet and not make a fool of myself. Woo!

  4. Jennie January 1, 2008 at 5:27 pm #

    No problem! I’m a kitchen and bath designer…

  5. Jen C January 4, 2008 at 5:02 pm #

    My biggest sink tip is: go with an extra deep sink. I have a 10 inch deep stainless undermount sink – with great insulation. Everyone who sees it and uses it LOVES it. My mom had to get one once she used mine. If you happen to put a dish (or five) in the sink temporarly you don’t see it. Also, fewer jets of water up and out when deflected by a spoon.

    I found it amazing that you can have those things overnighted to you if you happen to, you know, not remember to pre-order it and they are coming with the countertops the next morning and have to have the sink to measure. Just a tip.

  6. Ceri January 4, 2008 at 11:19 pm #

    If you get a sink with sections make sure you get one section big enough so you can wash your largest pot. One reason we replaced the sink that came with our house was the previous owners put in a very high end sink that had two sections neither which was big enough for our cookware to fit well when we washed dishes.