FIXTURES : Faucet Construction and Finish Determine Price
Why are some faucets $50 and others over $500?
Four factors dictate the price of a faucet--construction, stem mechanism, functional features and finish.
Construction includes the material the faucet is made from and the method by which the faucet is made. Most faucets are typically made from brass and plastic. In a lower-priced model, there is more plastic than brass. Higher-priced models are all brass.
How the faucet is fabricated also has a bearing on price. Models made from extruded tubes are cheaper than die-cast models. Faucets with cast-brass spouts start around $100, and nearly all faucets over $200 have cast-brass spouts.
The valve, or stem mechanism, is the part of the faucet that prevents drips and leaks. These include simple rubber washers, plastic “washerless” systems that work off a spring and a gasket, metal washerless systems and ceramic cartridges. Rubber washers and plastic washerless systems are found in most faucets in the $50-and-under category.
Although rubber washers and plastic washerless models may eventually drip, they are usually easy to repair. Metal and ceramic cartridges don’t wear out for many years, but they also carry higher price tags, starting around $100 each. Ceramic-cartridge faucets last longer and start around $150.
Functional features include dual levers, pullout spray spouts that are mounted to the side of a faucet, top- and side-mount single levers, gooseneck spouts and so on. Dual-handle faucets are typically less expensive than single-lever models. Single-lever models can be purchased for as little as $60; dual-handle models for $40 or less. A simple side-mounted spray adds $15 or $20 to a faucet’s price tag. Features that affect a faucet’s styling, such as gooseneck spouts, add more to the price.
The material in which the faucet is finished has a significant impact on the price. Chrome faucets are the least expensive and by far the most popular choice. Chrome faucets are very durable and often carry a longer warranty than other faucet finishes.
Color finishes, such as white, black, red and almond, are either enamel or epoxy-powder coated and baked onto a brass underbody. These finishes add anywhere from $20 to $200--or more--to the price of a faucet. Polished-brass and antique-brass finishes are also available at a premium, starting at about $100.
Luxury faucets with gold plating, granite handles and other luxurious features make up the majority of faucets in the $500-and-over price range. Brand name also affects price, so be sure to compare similar models.
