Hello everyone. I need some advice regarding bathroom sink faucets. Basically, I would love feedback from you experienced plumbers (and plumbing enthusiasts!) about ceramic cartridges vs. washerless cartridges for lavatory faucets, as well as about PVD nickel finishes (over brass and/or other metals) vs standard nickel over solid brass.
I am replacing the vanities and faucets in our master bathroom on a very tight budget--and I need two widespread faucets-- so I have been shopping on the internet looking for deals (especially on ebay). I like the vintage style of a faucet made by Kingston Brass, but I am also considering one by Glacier Bay and am trying to decide between the two. I find that I really do NOT like any of the lower-priced styles sold by the regular American faucet companies at all.(As a matter of fact, the only styles I seem to like, sold by the big name American faucet companies, are quite astronomically priced, so even if when I find them on ebay they are still too expensive!)
The faucet I like best for price (online) and looks (and generous 6.5" spout reach) is made by Kinston Brass, but this model only comes with a "washerless cartridge" (I believe I read somewhere that it was "Duraseal" brand, if that means anything.) I would have to pay about $100 more, ($50 more each) to get the same style faucets with a ceramic cartridge (sold by one of their "affiliates," Princeton Brass.) Is it worth it to pay that much more for ceramic vs washerless cartridge?
The Kingston Brass/Princeton Brass Faucets are solid brass, but only come with a standard (electroplated?) Nickel finish (not PVD.)
Another option I'm considering, is the Glacier Bay Lyndhurst sold at Home Depot (same as the former Pegasus model), which has a ceramic cartridge and advertises a PVD nickel finish, which I understand is supposedly better than the standard nickel finish. However, it doesn't list "brass" anywhere on the product information, so I assume it doesn't use brass. I'm not sure if a PVD finish is so superior to the standard finish that it is worth it, even if it isn't over brass? (The spout reach on the Lyndhurst is a bit shorter (5.33") than ideal for my particular vanity top and sink, but it will work.)
Thanks so much for your help and advice.
I am replacing the vanities and faucets in our master bathroom on a very tight budget--and I need two widespread faucets-- so I have been shopping on the internet looking for deals (especially on ebay). I like the vintage style of a faucet made by Kingston Brass, but I am also considering one by Glacier Bay and am trying to decide between the two. I find that I really do NOT like any of the lower-priced styles sold by the regular American faucet companies at all.(As a matter of fact, the only styles I seem to like, sold by the big name American faucet companies, are quite astronomically priced, so even if when I find them on ebay they are still too expensive!)
The faucet I like best for price (online) and looks (and generous 6.5" spout reach) is made by Kinston Brass, but this model only comes with a "washerless cartridge" (I believe I read somewhere that it was "Duraseal" brand, if that means anything.) I would have to pay about $100 more, ($50 more each) to get the same style faucets with a ceramic cartridge (sold by one of their "affiliates," Princeton Brass.) Is it worth it to pay that much more for ceramic vs washerless cartridge?
The Kingston Brass/Princeton Brass Faucets are solid brass, but only come with a standard (electroplated?) Nickel finish (not PVD.)
Another option I'm considering, is the Glacier Bay Lyndhurst sold at Home Depot (same as the former Pegasus model), which has a ceramic cartridge and advertises a PVD nickel finish, which I understand is supposedly better than the standard nickel finish. However, it doesn't list "brass" anywhere on the product information, so I assume it doesn't use brass. I'm not sure if a PVD finish is so superior to the standard finish that it is worth it, even if it isn't over brass? (The spout reach on the Lyndhurst is a bit shorter (5.33") than ideal for my particular vanity top and sink, but it will work.)
Thanks so much for your help and advice.
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