Faucets, for bathroom sinks, come in three major categories, based on the number of holes and the spacing of the holes that the faucet will require in order to be installed. There is a single hole faucet, a 4” drilling faucet and an 8” faucet.
The 1 hole faucet is a single hole, single post style of faucet. It usually comes with only one handle, off the top or from the side of the body of the faucet. This handle controls both the volume of the water and the temperature of the water. There are many style of spouts and handles offered in this style of faucet.
Some manufacturers have produced single hole faucets with separate hot and cold handles coming off the post of the faucet, usually one from each side of the post. The handles very often are offered in either a lever style or a cross handle. Again, there are many styles of these faucets, from the very modern to a very traditional look.
There are two other styles of faucets, both of them requiring a three hole drilling. One is called the 4” drilling faucet, the other is called an 8” drilling faucet. Basically, if you can fit your hand flat between two of the holes, you have an 8” drilling sink. If you can fit only a couple of fingers between the holes, you have a 4” drilling sink.
A 4” drilling faucet will be much less expensive than the 8” drilling faucet. It will also not have the same quality of look, but may have a similar style to an 8” faucet, depending on the manufacturer.
The 4” faucet category also breaks down into two other categories, the centreset and the mini widespread. A centreset faucet is very basic. There will be a bottom plate with two handles (hot and cold) and a spout coming out of the plate, or a spout coming off the plate with a single handle coming off the top of the spout. The mini widespread faucet actually comes in three separate pieces – 2 handles and the spout. These faucets are a little more expensive than the centreset, but also have a lot more style than a centreset. Both of these types of faucets will come in many styles.
The 8” faucet is also known as a widespread faucet, where the two handles and the faucet are installed separetely with a few inches between them. A widespread faucet is usually quite a bit more expensive than the other styles of faucet, but they offer an elegance that a 4” drilling faucet just can’t compete with. The 8” faucet will be found at all price points, and quality, but will always have a panache about them that just doesn’t compare to the other drillings.
