Anyone got brass or gold taps?

[Sunisshining12]

If so, how are they holding up? Do they tarnish or corrode?
Do you regret them? Where did you purchase?
Did you have matching shower, towel rad?

My MIL had brass ones. They looked a little tarnished (in a characterful way) after 10 years. Not sure where they came from.

Thanks - should have said I’m thinking for a very modern bathroom. Not traditional

We had gold taps in a house we bought - I hated them - the gold tarnished, bits were green or had come off. Eventually we would have replaced - but we moved on instead.

This was in a hard water area and there was no water softener. So may be different in a soft water area or if you had a water softener.

Formerly had gold-plate and enamel. Not too bad with a water softener, but nowhere near as durable as chrome. You may find it difficult to match the colour on your towel rails, bogroll holders, plugholes, WC flush lever, robe hooks, soap dishes, shelf brackets etc.

Some consider them to be tawdry.

@PigletJohn that is the problem. We live in a soft water area so not too concerned about that. I really don’t want chrome again, it’s just not the wow factor I’m after. But having trouble getting it all matching & worried about the longevity...

I had them in our last bathroom. I insisted on them. After a while they looked horrible and were uncleanable. With bits of green. Tried everything.

try to balance the benefits of a material that will look shabby but is unusual, against a material that is very durable but rather common.

There is a reason why some materials are very popular.

The tyres on my car are black rubber, which is frightfully common. Tyres made of yellow banana skin would be much more eye-catching.

I had gold plate and enamel ones too in a downstairs loo.
I actually, really liked them but then I do like unusual things.
Mine held up very well but they were looked after to the point of obsessional, as they cost me a small fortune.
They were dried after every use - I kid you not.
I only removed them when we changed the cloakroom into a wetroom and I definitely didn't want a gold shower.
The plumber fitted the hot tap onto a piece of brass pipe and it is now a "feature" in my garden, standing by the bird bath to give the birds a perch before and after bathing.
The cold tap is now the door handle to my understairs store.

Tawdry @PigletJohn. How very dare you!😲

When I say gold, I really mean brushed brass

Brushed brass here. I know it's the current trend but I loved the look and figured we should have what we love. I have it in one bathroom and kitchen sink. Fine so far but we have only been in post a full reno for 6 weeks. Get crosswater or jtp if you can, they've a long guarantee and I can't see why it would be any different than chrome.

Thanks all - I’m going for it. Chrome is just so unexciting compared to the brushed brass

Morning. For those who have gone for the chrome - how has it held up please? Still as gorgeous as the day you got them or a pain to keep clean and shiny? Ta

Chrome is really long lasting. We had gold look in a past house but someone had damaged a tap by cleaning it with bleach. It was a case of live with it or replace it.

@littlem133 we had chrome taps in our previous bathroom, which was done up before the latest brass/gold trend, and they held up beautifully.

We moved recently and had our bathroom re-done just over three months ago. We agonised for ages over trendy tap choices (including black) but in the end have settled for (the boring) chrome again.

In the previous place, the water was fairly hard so limescale was an issue. We used a buff cloth (well, an old fluffy hand towel ) to keep on top of splashes. If you're after the pristine show-home look, you'll have to wipe taps after EVERY use but this is true for ANY type of finish, the limescale is not just going to disappears by itself. We were a bit lazy (normal? ) and didn't wipe basin tap or shower that religiously, maybe once a day (occasionally every other day ) but in most cases just buffing it with the cloth was enough. Once a week or so, I'd use Kilrock + toothbrush or non-scratch dish sponge to get off bits of limescale in hard to reach areas.

That said, I think the quality of the taps makes a huge difference. We've inherited some basic builder-range taps in the downstairs WC in the current place, and no matter what I do to them, they look dull and water-stained. I think better quality brands have an infinitesimally smoother finish that makes it so much more resistant to limescale.

Our previous taps were from Bristan and we had used them for nearly 10 years. The new ones are from Vado; looking good so far but it's only been 3 months.

We have very.olf brass ones in French house. They look in place in old country kitchen with Belfast sink. No particulars care taken over them. In my house in UK I have chrome with enamel levers like beer levers. Also look good with Belfast sink. Again easy to clean.