The Lemon Fool

My bathroom washbasin has two holes for taps, 4 inches apart (centre to centre), and originally had two separate taps in them (hot and cold of course!). Some years ago I replaced them with a single lever mixer tap, as below or identical to it.

All fine and good, exactly what I wanted ... except that it's a cheapo Chinese import (and was even quite a bit cheaper back then!) and that's beginning to show. So, I'm looking for a similar replacement but better quality.

However, I remember having difficulty finding a washbasin mixer tap with the inlets 4 inches apart originally, which is why I ended up with a cheapo Chinese import, and am similarly drawing a blank now (other than another cheapo Chinese import!).

Anyone got an ideas where I can find an equivalent-ish replacement, that'll fit my holes?

(Fitting a single hole mixer and blocking the other hole would be a poor alternative for me, and getting a new washbasin is definitely out!)


https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/152979387491

Why not just get another Chinese import. The quality may have improved by now but if not you are still presumably saving on cost against replacing more often. Is that really a hardship?

I tend to pay top dollar for quality in the first place but after 15 years or so they still need to be replaced so I am not sure which way is best.

Dod

If it is any help, that is what would be called a deck mixer (or deck-mounted mixer tap). They are readily available for sinks and baths, which have standard hole spacings, but not so much for basins.


Julian F. G. W.

Dod101 wrote:Why not just get another Chinese import.

That's an option and may be what I end up with, but the three week shipping time is always a little edgy, waiting to see if it'll turn up, and with the buyer-pays-return-postage back to China if there's any problem with it, well, I'd just prefer to find something in the UK, if possible.

jfgw wrote:If it is any help, that is what would be called a deck mixer (or deck-mounted mixer tap). They are readily available for sinks and baths, which have standard hole spacings, but not so much for basins.

Indeed, and not so much seems to be an understatement! I'd prefer a deck mounted one but would consider a pillar mounted one but I can't find any of those for holes 4 inches apart; they all seem to be for 150-200mm spacing ...

mc2fool wrote:

Dod101 wrote:Why not just get another Chinese import.

That's an option and may be what I end up with, but the three week shipping time is always a little edgy, waiting to see if it'll turn up, and with the buyer-pays-return-postage back to China if there's any problem with it, well, I'd just prefer to find something in the UK, if possible.

jfgw wrote:If it is any help, that is what would be called a deck mixer (or deck-mounted mixer tap). They are readily available for sinks and baths, which have standard hole spacings, but not so much for basins.

Indeed, and not so much seems to be an understatement! I'd prefer a deck mounted one but would consider a pillar mounted one but I can't find any of those for holes 4 inches apart; they all seem to be for 150-200mm spacing ...

It seems from your experience that deck mounted mixers for basins are a thing in Asia but not here where the options for basins are to choose a two hole if you want pillar taps and a one hole if you want a mixer. Just out of interest why is fitting a pair of taps out of the question?

There are of course 3 hole basin mixers if you feel like having a go at a bit of DIY adaptation of your basin

Why not just go back to 2 separate taps?

I know 2 taps of decent quality will cost more than a single mixer, but they generally work better.

Dicky99 wrote:Just out of interest why is fitting a pair of taps out of the question?

Lanark wrote:Why not just go back to 2 separate taps?

Because I want warm water to come out of a single tap, not hot out of one & cold out of the other which then requires mixing in the basin to get warm water and quickly becomes scummy as you wash your hands etc in it! And preferably controlled by a single lever.

And no, I don't want to fit a RetroMixer ... although the video is worth watching. https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01IBJ3RRY/ref=as_li_tl

mc2fool wrote:
And no, I don't want to fit a RetroMixer ... although the video is worth watching. https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01IBJ3RRY/ref=as_li_tl

Some of it is

RC

Would something like this suit you? There are a few different designs available.

https://www.batsbathrooms.co.uk/p/zucchetti-pan-2-hole-basin-mixer-tap-swivel-spout

What sort of hot water system do you have, is it high or low pressure? The few of the above that I have seen have been high pressure only.


Julian F. G. W.

jfgw wrote:Would something like this suit you? There are a few different designs available.

https://www.batsbathrooms.co.uk/p/zucchetti-pan-2-hole-basin-mixer-tap-swivel-spout

What sort of hot water system do you have, is it high or low pressure? The few of the above that I have seen have been high pressure only.

That's a thought but it's a low pressure system with only about 2 metres of head, so around 0.2 bar. But it may be worth me looking around at others to see if there's any low pressure ones.

There is this roca one too. I have had good experiences with roca taps. But I have my water on mains pressure at about 3 bar.

https://www.unbeatablebathrooms.co.uk/p ... p-up-waste

https://www.uk.roca.com/products/basin- ... A5A3801C00

fisher wrote:There is this roca one too. I have had good experiences with roca taps. But I have my water on mains pressure at about 3 bar.

About 15 times more than mine ... and with a budget to match it seems! Do people really pay £700 for a tap? No, don't answer that, some obviously do. Not me ....

mc2fool wrote:

fisher wrote:There is this roca one too. I have had good experiences with roca taps. But I have my water on mains pressure at about 3 bar.

About 15 times more than mine ... and with a budget to match it seems! Do people really pay £700 for a tap? No, don't answer that, some obviously do. Not me ....

Blimey £700! When I had the bathroom shop 35 years ago, Roca were new kids on the block and making waves by being cheap as chips. Their stuff was passable quality and only about half the price of all the established brands like Armitage, Twyfords, Ideal Standard etc.

How things change.

Back in those days basin deck mixers weren't popular but most brands had them in the range. And yes the basin holes were stupidly close together. Too close for a pair of taps as someone suggested upthread, they would look a bit silly.

Mike4 wrote:And yes the basin holes were stupidly close together. Too close for a pair of taps as someone suggested upthread, they would look a bit silly.

A pair of taps was what I had for very many years, and I wouldn't be surprised if they were original from when the block of flats was built (1979) ... along with the avocado bathroom suite, which is still there in half the flats, inc. mine....

mc2fool wrote:

Mike4 wrote:And yes the basin holes were stupidly close together. Too close for a pair of taps as someone suggested upthread, they would look a bit silly.

A pair of taps was what I had for very many years, and I wouldn't be surprised if they were original from when the block of flats was built (1979) ... along with the avocado bathroom suite, which is still there in half the flats, inc. mine....

Probably worth a fortune now, vintage bathroom suites like that. Very retro and trendy....

Mike4 wrote:

mc2fool wrote:About 15 times more than mine ... and with a budget to match it seems! Do people really pay £700 for a tap? No, don't answer that, some obviously do. Not me ....

Blimey £700! When I had the bathroom shop 35 years ago, Roca were new kids on the block and making waves by being cheap as chips. Their stuff was passable quality and only about half the price of all the established brands like Armitage, Twyfords, Ideal Standard etc.

To be fair you can get roca taps sub £200, the one I listed is fairly designer and specialised. The other link I gave has it for £547, so quite some saving

£700? I would look for a new one-tap-hole basin before spending anywhere near that much on a tap!


Julian F. G. W.