Tap and Shower Buyers Guide
1. Before you buy - know your plumbing system
At Trademark Taps we have a wide range of products suitable for both low and high water pressure systems. However, before you buy you must be sure to identify the type of plumbing system you have because low pressure systems are often unable to run many large shower units satisfactorly.
With We have included minimum pressure requirements within the key features section on many of our product pages. For products which will work with any plumbimg system no reference to pressure requirements are made.
2. Products
Trademark Taps is the only supplier of Bagno taps in the UK.
We only source taps and showers of the highest quality from suppliers with a reputation for quality, design, innovation and reliability.
3. Brassware Glossary
If you're new to brassware and want to know the difference between a mono-mixer and a bath filler or just want to brush up then look no further than our Brassware Glossary. Alternatively if you're not sure what type of tap to look for take a at our brassware comparison table below which shows the most commonly found configurations of brassware on a room by room basis
| Tap Type | No. of holes for installation | Mounting | Kitchen | Bathroom | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deck | Pillar | Wall | Sinks | Basins | Bidets | Baths | ||
| Pillar | 2 | • | • | • | ||||
| High neck | 2 | • | • | |||||
| Bib | 2 | • | • | • | ||||
| Mixers | ||||||||
| Monoblock | 1 | • | • | • | • | |||
| Standard | 2 | • | • | • | • | • | • | |
| Bridge | 2 | • | • | • | ||||
| 3-hole | 3 | • | • | • | • | • | ||
| 4-hole* | 4 | • | • | • | ||||
| Fillers | 2 | • | • | • | • | |||
General:
In the kitchen:
In the bathroom or cloakroom:
General
Bar
The bar (symbol bar) and the millibar (symbol mbar, also mb) are units of pressure. It is important that before you purchase any new brassware item that you identify the type of plumbing system that you have in your home, office or building so that you can be sure that it will generate sufficient water pressure (denoted in bars on this site) to run your fitting of choice. Many modern showers, for example, require high water pressure in excess of 1.0bar to power them. Please see our Buyers Guide above for more information on the need to identify your plumbing system before you buy.
Bib taps
These are normally sold in pairs of hot and cold taps, although they can be seen singly when used externally, for example, for connecting up to a hosepipe. They are similar in appearance to pillar taps but are designed for wall mounting.
Bridge mixer taps
Unlike mono or monobloc mixer taps which, as their name suggests are affixed to the sink, basin or bidet via one hole; bridge mixer taps originate via two holes but are then joined via a horizontal pipe. They can be pillar mounted.
Tap shown: Destinction bridge sink mixer »
Ceramic disc taps
This refers to the turning mechanism employed by modern taps which do not have washers ( or 'globe valves') but instead use ceramic discs to generate the water tight seal. These can be found in both two handle mixer taps and single lever or monobloc mixer taps and commonly allow the tap to be turned from on to off in just a quarter turn in the case of quarter turn ceramic discs but can also be manufactured to facilitate half and three-quarter turns. They are low maintenance and are hard wearing.
Deck mounted taps
These are taps designed for mounting on a flat horizontal surface.
Tap shown: Zenith bath filler »
Faucet
This is the term employed in America to refer to the household valve used for controlling water delivery or what we recognise in the UK as a tap. Although the word 'tap' is now increasingly employed in the United States to signify this type of valve it is still often restricted to more specialised usage eg. beer tap. The more basic valve lacking the cosmetic refinements normally associated with the home and devoid of a mechanical thread or fastener is a spigot although in North America this would most likely be just a valve, a hose hydrant or hose bib.
Globe valve
The engineering term for the leak proof seal which stops the flow of water in taps. This type of seal is created by the soft rubber washer which is screwed down into the valve seat.
Mixers/Mixer taps
Unlike pillar taps which come in pairs, mixers or mixer taps deliver water via a single spout. This can be installed in the basin, bidet or bath via a single hole in the case of a mono or monobloc mixer or via two in the case or bridge mixers or three holes in certain fashionable deck or wall mounted designs. Four hole mixers are usually confined to the bathroom with the fourth outlet comprising a shower head.
A mixer tap can have two independent controls for hot and cold, very similar to those found in pairs of pillar taps or can be operated via a single lever or knob in the form of a single lever mixer.
Tap shown: Morphic monobloc sink mixer »
Monobloc mixers
These mixer taps deliver water via a single spout and have divided flow.
Mono mixers
These mixer taps deliver water via a single spout.
3 Hole mixers
In a three hole mixer the water is still delivered via a single spout but there are three separate visible components to the tap (the spout and two handles - one for hot and one for cold water) which are each inserted into the bath, bidet, basin, sink or wall via a hole.
4 Hole mixers
These are also generally found in the bathroom, functioning in the same way as the three hole mixer but with the forth hole being reserved for an extendable shower head/rinser. Occasionally a range may extend to include 5 and 7 hole designs which give the ultimate luxury of a fixed and flexible shower head.
O-ring
This is the black rubber ring often found in mixer taps.
Pillar taps
This term will commonly evoke a traditional pair of kitchen taps but refers specifically to the way in which such taps are given their height through their mounting on pillars or lengths of extra tube which sit between the sink, basin or bath unit and the main tap.
Tap shown: Twist sink taps »
Pillar mounted taps
A tap mounted on an extra length of tube to give additional height eg. the traditional pair of kitchen sink taps which are pillar mounted and also pillar mounted bridge sink mixers.
Pop-up waste
A mechanism fitted inside the plug hole and waste pipe which can be used instead of a plug and chain to prevent or allow water to flow down that waste pipe in a sink, basin or bath. This is usually controlled by a lever which when used causes the fitting inside the waste to pop-up and let water out. The use of a pop-up waste in a unit should be considered before purchasing any sink, basin or bath as these do alter the cosmetic appearance of the unit in question and for example, negate any additional holes in which to fix the plug chain and also dispense with the traditional vented appearance of the plug hole.
Quarter turn ceramic disc taps
This refers to the turning mechanism employed by modern taps which do not have washers but instead use ceramic discs to generate the water tight seal and allow the tap to be turned from on to off in just a quarter turn. They are low maintenance and are hard wearing.
Tap shown: Viscount basin taps »
Screw-down taps
This term is used to refer to traditional taps which have washers and because of this require many twists of the handle.
Seating
This is the term used to refer to the edge the washer sits on in order to seal off water within the tap.
Single lever mixers
Mixer taps where the water flow and temperature is controlled via a single lever.
Tails
This is the part of a tap which protrudes under the sink or basin.
Tap
The term refers to the valve type and its usage for controlling the delivery of liquid and gas. This term is widely used in the UK and the Commonwealth to signify the type of domestic tap commonly found in kitchens and bathrooms. It is often referred to as a 'faucet' in the US.
Two handle mixer taps
A mixer tap which has two individual controls for hot and cold water.
Wall mounted taps
Taps designed to be affixed to the wall eg. bib taps are mounted in this way, as opposed to deck mounted or pillar mounted taps. However these are becoming increasingly common in contemporary bathrooms.
Tap shown: Empressa 3 hole wall mounted mixer »
In the kitchen:
Kitchen sink taps
Traditionally a pair of pillar mounted taps these taps are larger than basin taps and now come in a wonderful variety of designs from period bridge sink mixers to the ultra-contemporary monobloc mixers with pull-out rinser which can be quickly viewed and purchased via the 'Kitchen taps' section of the site.
Kitchen bridge sink mixers
These are a large size of bridge mixer tap which can be wall or sink mounted via two holes but are then joined via a horizontal pipe before culminating in a singular spout. They have two controls; one for hot and one for cold water. They are a design with heritage and are often, but not exclusively, found in our more traditional collections.
Tap shown: Centenary bridge sink mixer »
Kitchen mixer taps
A larger size of tap suitable for heavy domestic use which delivers water via a single spout. An elegant solution utilising only one hole they can feature two handle or single lever operation and our extensive range can be quickly viewed and purchased via the 'Kitchen mixer taps' section of the site.
Kitchen monobloc sink mixers
A larger size of tap suitable for heavy domestic use which delivers water via a single spout with divided flow. Many of our contemporary designs feature pull-out rinsers for maximum convenience. Our extensive range can be quickly viewed and purchased through our 'Kitchen mixer taps' section.
In the bathroom or cloakroom:
Basin taps
These are a smaller size of tap than those traditionally found in the kitchen and are found in the bathroom, cloakroom, en suite and public washrooms.
They can be wall or sink mounted and are available in a very wide range of designs from traditional pairs of taps complete with inlaid ceramic tops to sleek and hygienic contemporary single lever mixers and ultra-modern wall mounted 3 hole mixers. These stunning designs and many more can be quickly viewed and purchased via the 'Bathroom basin taps' section of the site.
Tap shown: Avant basin tap »
Basin mixers
A smaller size of tap than the kitchen mixer which delivers water via a single spout. An elegant solution, utilising only one hole they are found in the bathroom, cloakroom, en suite and public washrooms. They can feature two handle or single lever operation and our extensive range can be quickly viewed and purchased via the 'Bathroom basin mixer taps' section of the site.
Monobloc basin mixers
A smaller size of tap than the kitchen monobloc mixer which delivers water via a single spout with divided flow. Our extensive range can be quickly viewed and purchased through our 'Bathroom mixer taps' section.
Tap shown: Amico monobloc basin mixer »
Bath taps
An intermediary size of tap between kitchen sink and basin taps. They can be wall or bath mounted and are available in a very wide range of designs from traditional pairs of taps complete with inlaid ceramic tops and bath/shower mixers to sleek, contemporary bath fillers and ultra-modern wall mounted 3 hole and 4 hole mixers. These stunning designs and many more can be quickly viewed and purchased via the 'Bathroom bath taps' section of the site.
Bath fillers
These deliver water via a single spout and can be deck mounted so that the main body of the tap sits completely parallel and flush with the bath, having two handled control or can be pillar mounted in the same manner as a bridge mixer and can have two handled or single lever control. Our bath fillers are available in a stunning array of designs from traditional Elizabethan style bath fillers to more contemporary single lever controlled designs. Our extensive range can be quickly viewed and purchased via the 'Bathroom bath fillers' section of the site.
Bath/shower mixers
These deliver water via a single spout and all feature a shower head. They are available with traditional ceramic fittings as pillar mounted mixers with the shower head on a rest atop both handles or as ultra-contemporary 5 hole bath/shower mixers with pull-out shower heads.
Our extensive range can be quickly viewed and purchased via the 'Bathroom bath/shower mixers' section of the site.
Tap shown: Moda bath/shower mixer »
Bidet mixers
Delivering water via a single spout these are an elegant solution for the bidet. They are available in both two handled and single lever controlled designs and can be quickly viewed and purchased via the 'Bathroom bidet mixer' section of the site.
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