For a bathroom remodel, what brand of plumbing fixtures for the shower and sink should I buy?

Question

The big box stores have the basic items (Delta, Kohler, Moen , Price Pfister and Hansgrohe brands). What should I look for in quality and what brands should I avoid? I will have a professional plumber install the unit. If you have personal experience with this type of work I would really like to hear how your project turned out.

Answer 1

Budget faucets: Delta
Mid grade: Hansgrohe and Kohler
High end: Grohe
In low end faucets you want easy to repair and you want them to be cheap without looking cheap.
Mid grade you want stylish, metal drain assembly in the sink, pressure balance and/or thermostatic in the shower valves.
High end you want a solid piece of brass for the valve body (it should weigh 3x what a Delta does), Thermostatic pressure balance in the shower, ceramic disc stems in the sink valves, high flow rate capability in the shower valves (although the shower heads are supposed to be flow restricted), beautiful looks (which yes are subjective, but chrome and nickel plated on solid brass has a much richer appearance than chrome on pot metal, like a hmm hmm or a hmm hmm)
There are certain brands that used to be AMERICAN traditions in the bath that had that certain you know STANDARD of excellence that are now made like garbage. I don't want to bash any brands, like the one every plumber used to recommend that still makes some good stuff, but most seem like they were made by larry, MOEN curly. Some things just aren't worth the PRICE SISTERS and brothers, even if they're CHEAP.
Another thing to consider is the sinks and tub walls. A $500 faucet on a porcelain on steel sink in a Formica top is like putting whip cream on a turd, for example.
Good luck with your project. The low end stuff works well and most manufacturers have lifetime warranties, the high end stuff looks and performs great, the mid grade stuff is somewhere in between. No matter what you choose SAVE YOUR PAPERWORK. make sure the installer leaves the paper work with you, then put it in a plastic bag under your sink. This way when you need parts for it 10 years from now you will have no problem identifying them.

Answer 2

I would buy Hansgrohe Retroaktiv. They are reasonably priced but of the highest quality. They are thermostatic. With the shower set you can use any showerhead, handshower or tub spout.

Answer 3

definately do not go with the least expensive, but you dont have to go with the most expensive either. opt for something in between.

Answer 4

standerd american or kouler but that may not be the right way to spell it but thay are the best

Answer 5

moen they are great asherless