What tap did you choose with your stainless steel sink?

[Laconia]

I had no idea that the world of taps was so fraught with peril. Ceramic wotsit? Brushed or unbrushed? bridged?

Seriously, I've dithered and pondered more over this than anything else in my new kitchen.

I'm a bit lacking in ££ so want something I can get from Ebay or similar.
Quite like the look of this one that DH thinks looks like fallopian tubes

When out kitchen was fitted, we had one with a sort of hose that pulls out of the tap. 10 yrs on, we had to replace it and dh refused to pay out the cost for a new one of those. I miss it SSSSOOOOOOOOOO much. I'd definitely recommend one.

I like the look of those. I have a fear that they are easy to break, especially as I am a clumsy oaf and the DSs aren't much better.

this

It also depends on whether your sink has one, two or even 3 tap holes!

I paid £££ for a franke brushed one and it was a PITA, sent the first two back as the finish wasn't right. Was a pain to clean too, it never looked clean next to my shiny sink iyswim

New house, new kitchen, I got one like the one above from Costco, much easier to clean and I even like the single handle, though I thought I might not...

I got a giant spray hose one in chrome for the kitchen (it's great but was v cheap from ebay and will probably break in a couple of years) and two bristan pillar taps for the big sink in the utility. Kind of work with the washboard/cleaner's cupboard feel of the sink. Also chrome.

ceramic taps are more trouble and expense when they go wrong, especially the joystick ones.

Chrome is the most hard-wearing finish.

If you have a combi or a Megaflo you can get whatever you want, but if your hot water is low pressure with a loft tank, you will get better flow from a British tap than from a flashy stylish import. Some sellers may mention taps that are suitable for high pressure only.

Hooray - Chrome is the cheapest and I have a combi so not restricted there. Good news.

I think I do want two handles for hot and cold. I have a hankering for ones with long levers ( a la Holby City scrub room ) but I fear I may be vetoed on that one. Damn democratic kitchen planning.

Franke Olympus. Never, ever, had a problem with Franke. I would also recommend Grohe or Hansgrohe. German, so well built. I have a Grohe in my laundry where the end of the spout pulls out and can be directed closely onto items in the sink. Great tap and very useful. The only tap I have ever had go wrong was a Crosswater.

I have this one from Abode, I have an Abode sink too. It's fab. I have brushed SS finish as it matches the rest of my kitchen appliances.
I had a tap from them in my old house for 8yrs before we moved and it was great so we went for them again. Functional, nice clean lines, so easy to keep clean, no drips, easy to use even with messy hands - just what you want from a tap.

The ones linked to here are great, but most are a bit over budget for me. Would spending less than £50 on a non-branded one be a false economy?

My sink hasn't got any tapholes yet. It's a 1.5 bowl Ikea jobbie.

With an IKEA sink I am sure a cheaper tap will be fine.

I have a beautiful Caple chrome tap which goes perfectly with my stainless steel sink. Cleans up well too. Really wish I'd checked on here first though because the hot water pressure is pants (we don't have a combi).

You will also need the ikea tap cutting kit BUT if you're putting two taps in, you may well need a different hole cutter. You can order them (I've just given mine away or you could have it) for about £7 and you'll also need a 13mm metal drill bit, which is about the same. But the ikea kit is fine for monobloc mixers.

Mine was about thirty quid and was bought in the sure knowledge that it will need replacing in a couple of years.

Because the ikea hole cutter makes holes which are too big for pillar taps btw.

Excellent info MtM - thank you!