Mounting a kitchen faucet is not the hardest job to do if you really know what to do. Even if you are not installing the faucet yourself, at least you need to know how everything is actually done. Today we learn the different ways how to mount a kitchen sink Tap (Faucet)
There is more than one way to mount your kitchen sink. Let us learn about the 2 (two) different ways that one can mount their Kitchen Sink.
Ways of mounting your kitchen sink tap
There are two ways to mount a kitchen faucet that is deck mounting and wall mounting.
Deck mounting
To “deck mount” a kitchen tap is to install it directly to the countertop and not the wall or sink itself. This style of mounting comes in many varieties and is much easier to install and maintain. The water lines are available for repair under the sink, while the faucet and its accessories are also easily accessible at the sink. Deck mounting is often the only choice for faucets for Kitchen island sinks and bars sinks since there’s often no wall behind those.
Some deck-mounted faucets place the escutcheon plate (the deck) at the back on top of the sink’s lip or rim. You’ll see this style with drop-in sinks.
Also Read: Kitchen Sink Prices in Uganda
Wall mounting
This is where the kitchen faucet is attached or fixed to the wall. These faucets are attached to a wall behind the sink. You have to open up the wall to get at pipes and water lines. Kitchen faucets like pot filler faucets, only exist as wall-mounted faucets.
The main advantages of this style are its flexibility and ease to access, they don’t take up any counter space, which might be very important for narrow counters, and they are generally easier to clean than deck-mounted ones. The downside is that they have narrow purposes.
Read: How to maintain Kitchen Sinks in Uganda?
Types of kitchen sink Holes
In order for you to get water out of your faucet, it needs to be plugged into the water lines. Lines of deck-mounted faucets are located under the sink. Drop-in sinks are likely to already have these holes, set just behind the basin of the sink, but for under mount and farmhouse sinks, you may have to drill them yourself.
A faucet/ tap hole has a standard size of one and three-eighths inch in diameter, though the size can vary a bit (usually between 1 ¼” and 1 ½”). Most faucets on the market will fit into this standard size.
Tap holes can hold faucets and handles, but they can also facilitate a number of accessories, including sprayers, additional taps soap and lotion dispensers, garbage disposal switches, and dishwasher air gaps.
One Hole Sink
Under One-hole sinks, the faucet (tap) and the handle are part of the same piece that all fits in one hole. These sinks do not have room for accessories.
Two Hole sink
Two-hole sinks have a faucet or handle combination plus an accessory like a kitchen sprayer or a bridge design. The two holes can be symmetrical, or one can be offset from the centre. All major styles are possible with the two-hole sink.
Three Hole Sink
Three-hole sinks have one hole in the centre, with the other two holes an equal distance apart on either side. These are great for pull-out or pull-down faucets with integrated sprayers (the two side holes being taken up by the handles), but all major styles of faucets will easily fit. This style can also fit several accessories.
Four Hole Sink
Four-hole sinks are very popular and provide the greatest versatility. Four hole-sinks feature the same configuration as a three-hole sink, with the additional hole set off to the side. This is great for pairing a more complex faucet setup (like a bridge) with an accessory, or for having a variety of accessories available alongside a simpler faucet.
Tips to keep in mind before mounting a kitchen
Keep the following things in mind if you are planning to Install or replace your faucet.
- If you already have a sink in place, check its existing faucet hole configuration before looking for a replacement faucet.
- If you’re starting from scratch, stick with deck mounting unless your counters are especially narrow or the wall behind your sink is especially easy to access.
- More mounting holes are better than fewer. You can always plug unused holes or install an escutcheon plate to hide them.