How to lead yourself in the offer of the bathroom taps: 4 fundamental aspects

The choice of the bathroom taps is not common. It is far from all this. Nevertheless, when we think about the furnishing of the next house, when we decide to renovate the bathroom or we realize that those in use are marked by time, choosing the right bathroom taps cannot be postponed.

But how to do it? How to meet functional needs with aesthetic ones? How to make sure that the product meets the needs of durability and innovation?

With the exception of the design, which conditions the purchase but is affected by subjective evaluations, everything is going to deepen the theme, going beyond the surface of the product. Because if it is true that the goal is always the same, the materials, technology and innovative impact can strongly affect the functionality of the product, the quality of delivery, consumption and durability.

Rather than just listing the different types of bathroom taps, it is therefore worth addressing the theme in the round, starting from the basics and then deepening the themes of technological innovation, design and materials.

Bathroom taps, which type to choose?

The first consideration relating to bathroom taps concerns the choice of the type: single-lever, dual-lever or thermostatic mixer?

The differences between the first and the second are there for all to see. The single lever control is the most common and is characterized by the single lever that simultaneously adjusts (acting on the vertical and horizontal axes) both the flow rate, or the intensity of delivery, and the temperature of the same. The quality of the components that make up the mixer, as well as the adoption of advanced technologies (such as automatic temperature control), have an extraordinary impact on the final yield. In fact, let's think about how difficult it is - in some cases - to obtain the right temperature and maintain it during delivery, taking into account that the variation of the flow usually also corresponds to a difference in temperature. However, there remains the great benefit of being able to adjust both factors (flow rate, temperature) with a single move and, limited to the temperature, being able to keep it stable even for subsequent deliveries.

The dual-lever mixer aims to create a perfect synergy between the charm of the past and contemporary style. It is the classic faucet with double control for hot water and cold water, on whose mixing (manual) depends on the temperature and the power of the spray. It can be single hole, with two, three holes and with different types of water outlet. Among the faucets for the bathroom, the dual-lever is the one that has the greatest need for component quality, without which it is more difficult to obtain the correct mixing. Furthermore, unlike the single control, the temperature and the flow rate must be set manually at each delivery.

If assisted by the proper materials, first-rate components and a top-level project, the dual-lever mixer can give great satisfaction. A first aspect to consider is the maneuverability of the controls, which must be extremely fluid and soft to allow fine adjustments: models of reference, such as Lira, solve the problem by adopting a very high quality ceramic headwork, which guarantees fluidity to operations. and extreme durability over time.

The thermostatic mixer is synonymous with comfort and safety. Technically, it is an evolution of the traditional single lever control designed to allow fine temperature regulation, to disassociate it from the flow rate and to favor its stability, resulting in decreased consumption and increased safety. Thanks to the thermostatic mixer, particularly useful and widespread in shower and bathtub environments, it is possible to set an ideal temperature (in degrees) and keep it that way even for subsequent uses, managing only the intensity of the flow. The noteworthy aspect is precisely the decoupling of flow and temperature, which are instead closely connected in the single lever: here, a thermostatic cartridge ensures that the temperature remains stable regardless of the variations in the flow.

As an expression of technological innovation, many thermostatic mixers are equipped with anti-scald safety systems, which limit the temperature to a maximum of 38 degrees and stop the flow if the supply of cold water is not guaranteed. In addition, they often have flow limiters, which strongly affect water consumption. In selected products, as in our Thice, we also add the frozen body technology, which isolates the external surface leaving it always cold. A big advantage especially in the presence of children.

Other considerations (equally important) relating to the quality of the gaskets, the treatment of materials, the quality of production and assembly, as well as the availability of spare parts and the guarantee, reaching 5 years with high quality products must be added to the definition of the type of bathroom faucet. Commonly, the weight of the product can be an indication of quality.

Materials: brass and steel compete for the podium

Traditionally, bathroom taps are made of brass, an alloy of copper and zinc subject to a galvanic chrome plating process which gives them strength as well as the typical shiny and modern appearance. Brass is a staple of taps as it is (relatively) simple to work as it can be thermoformed, unlike steel. All this also allows greater versatility in terms of aesthetics and design: using brass there are no limits to the shapes of the product, which can accommodate all design trends, align perfectly with the style of the environment and represent the vision of designer. The quality of the final product is also affected by the finishing and surface treatment techniques, which can make it not attractive, colored and shiny, but also resistant over time. This includes the Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) coatings and the anti-scratch and anti-wear characteristics of the finest models.

An alternative to brass is steel, which is an alloy of iron and carbon. Less common than brass, especially for bathroom taps, it represents an interesting trend for the present and the future of taps.

Its benefits are known to the most. Among these, mechanical and chemical resistance occupies the highest step of the podium, the price of which is a more complex production process than that of brass. Steel cannot be subjected to a thermofusion process, on pain of losing its unique characteristics. This requires complex hollowing processes to achieve modern and attractive shapes.

Design, looking for the perfect shape

Modern bathroom taps are created to meet form and function. The design represents 50% of the experience and guides the choice of the product. Opting for countertop or wall-mounted taps, for example, is clearly affected by considerations of aesthetic harmony with the bathroom environment, without considering personal preferences and tastes.

Thus we find products that, with their square shapes and precise geometries, perfectly represent essentiality and minimalism, as well as modern, tapered and classy taps, as well as dual-lever mixers that remind us of the style of the past and match perfectly with a design with vintage touches.

It is difficult to provide winning advice in an area dominated by subjective trends, other than to carefully evaluate the harmony with the other elements of the bathroom and your home. The shapes and finishes are to be evaluated: the most prestigious brands can count on products that represent the vision of the great designers and which, consequently, clearly differ from the traditional and standardized shapes of the bathroom faucet. The company's technical-production skills, the desire to innovate and investments in research and development then enable dedicated surface processing, aimed at giving a further touch of color, shine and personality to the product.

Success passes through continuous improvement

Innovation and the ability to continuously improve are the prerogatives of a few. Those few who then win the games. This is true in all areas, and taps are no exception. The research and development of innovative, practical, resistant and durable solutions shapes the ideal product for your bathroom.

But how do you appreciate the innovative capacity of a brand and a product? From its functionality, first of all: the opening of the flow in cold water side, the flow limiters, the cartridges that revolutionize the structure of traditional mixers, the use of a spray breaker capable of reducing consumption even over 50% and a lot more, including the safety systems of the thermostatic taps and the ice-body technology mentioned above.

Continuous improvement means fighting for environmental sustainability and against waste. Opening the flow on cold water side eliminates (involuntary) emissions of carbon dioxide; quality cartridges allow you to quickly reach the optimum temperature; the use of multiple opening positions avoids opening excessively and wasting water. All of this must be coordinated with the adoption of technologically advanced and digitalized production processes as much as possible. The results are the reduction (or zeroing) of waste materials and a production agility that allows us to satisfy the needs of the market, providing ever better and higher quality products.