changing taps to mixer one - possible without changing the sink?

[likeatonneofbricks]

I like the recently fitted bathroom in the new place I'm buying, all modern, power shower, but amazed that young vendors went for seperate taps on the sink! I find it extremely inconvenient (or unhygienic if having to mix by filling the sink). Wouldn't want to change the whole sink (extra cost but also disrupting new-ish floor tiles). Is it easy to take them off and put a mixer in, without disrupting the floor, or not? how much would it cost to refit?
grateful for advice!

Hmm ponders you could be right that the hole wouldn't be big enough for a mixer.

Sorry likeatonne I think you'll have to wait till you've moved in and then measure the hole. If you can find a single mixer tap that will fit that hole then I think you can do it, as everything else is fixable. You can remove the pedestal without messing with any tiling, and use flexible connectors to get both water supplies going to the right place, and use a metal cap to cover the hole.

As Piglet says, though, this is a bit of a bodge solution. The ideal would be to get a new sink with one hole. But that is more expensive, and you may well have to redo the wall tiles.

I reckon a plumber could swap the basin, change the pipework, fit new taps, silicone seal the wall joint, in half a day's work. As there is no heavy lifting, soil pipes or crawling around, it is not an unattractive job even for an older man on the cusp of retirement.

Not all plumbers are millionaires and I wouldn't have thought it would cost £200

but you must get recommendations from neighbours or local friends and inspect recent samples of work.

Fixing new tiles would mean it takes longer because of setting time and grouting.

Are tap holes really different sizes for different kinds of taps? Of course the space around/beside the taps varies.

If it's a fairly new suite, you might be able to get the exact same basin in a one tap-hole version. It's not a space-saving design is it?

Diplomatically ask the vendors where they got the bathroom fittings from and even better can they remember the make/name of the suite?

Otherwise one option would be to get a single mixer for one hole - a slim one with single lever control, and a popup waste for the other (you can get them as separate fittings, try a plumbers merchant)

or one of these?

fossil -the tap on the picture looks nice but the price !
I think if it goes on the corner of basin it will have to be streamlined with lever on top, on the side would look too bulky.
I will ask the vendors, good idea, not sure about being diplomatic, they can't be offended surely!
it's not space saving, though I'd prefer a bigger basin. It's a white suite so anything will go as long as size and tap is right. But I need a good price.

Just a thought about two faucet old fashioned sinks. Couldn't you put a single mixed valve in say the hot water tap and leave the cold water alone? A little handy plumbing might help, but better to have one that is mixed. This way you could keep your old fashioned sink which is great and have a mixed tap too!