7 Bathroom Remodeling Tips for Choosing Fixtures That Last

Upgrading your bathroom plumbing fixtures is a great way to increase the value and marketability of your Niles, OH home. These quick and easy remodeling projects are also low in cost and capable of saving you money. After all, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), replacing even just one leaky faucet can save up to 3,000 gallons of water each year. However, to ensure that you get optimum value, performance, and enjoyment from these additions, it’s important to choose products that will last. The seven tips that follow will help.

1. Search for High-Quality Fixture Materials

Although there are quality plumbing fixtures at nearly every price point, buyers generally get what they pay for. For instance, you can choose from faucets made from zinc, stainless steel, brass, plastic, or nickel. While brass is by far the most enduring choice, it’s also the most costly. High-end, dezincification-resistant (DZR) brass is even more durable and pricey still. Both brass and stainless steel fixtures can last five decades or more, often without any significant losses in functionality or aesthetics. Comparatively, many popular and lower-priced faucets made from nickel or zinc have average lifespans of just 15 to 20 years.

When considering fixture materials, it’s also important to pay attention to finishes. Stainless steel and chrome finishes are known for their resilience. These finishes are unlikely to tarnish and far less vulnerable to corrosion than many of their alternatives. At the interior of fixtures, look for components that are made from high-grade polymers, ceramic, or chrome-plated composite. Polymers work best in applications that require high levels of accuracy, such as in faucet aerators or valves, and ceramic can withstand dramatic temperature fluctuations. Composites serve as more affordable yet equally long-lasting alternatives to chrome-plated zinc and brass elements.

2. Opt for Simple Construction

Quality, well-made plumbing fixtures hold up well over time, irrespective of how many parts they have. However, across all price points, fixtures with multiple parts have a higher likelihood of breaking than fixtures with simple, single-part, or dual-part construction. The more pieces that a faucet, sink, or toilet has, the more that there is to break off or malfunction. Opting for products with simple designs is always a solid choice for high-traffic, high-use bathrooms. Leave the faucets with pull-down, pull-out, or hanging sprayers for areas where they’re less likely to sustain rapid wear.

3. Go for Faucets With Ceramic Disc Valves

If there’s one place where you want ceramic, it’s at your faucet disc valves. Unlike other materials, ceramic is less affected by high heat and rapid temperature changes. It also sustains less wear and tear when repeatedly exposed to sand, grit, rust, and other abrasive, hard water materials.

4. Consider Product Warranties

Before picking new bathroom fixtures, take a minute to consider their product warranties. Fixture manufacturers that believe in their products are more than willing to stand behind them for quite some time. Some brands offer limited one- to five-year warranties. Other fixtures come with lifetime guarantees on all of their moving parts and finishes.

5. Remodel in Phases

Don’t compromise on bathroom fixture aesthetics, functions, or features due to short-term spending constraints. You don’t have to replace everything in your bathrooms at once, and you don’t have to remodel all of your bathrooms at one time. If you have grand design visions, take all the time you need to bring them to life.

6. Look for Two-Handle Faucets

Choosing simple, limited-piece faucets and other fixture designs works well in most instances. However, you might get the best value at some of your taps by opting for two-handle faucets rather than single-handle styles. Single-handle faucets control both hot water and cold water with a single lever. Two-handle faucets have separate handles for each. They also lack the addition of a mixing cartridge, and this makes them less likely to break down in high-use areas.

7. Have Your Bathroom Fixtures Installed by a Licensed Plumber

Even the very best plumbing fixtures won’t last long if they aren’t installed incorrectly. If you’re working with a limited budget, you might be tempted to try tackling these improvements by yourself. Unfortunately, not only can DIY installation mistakes lead to poor performance and widespread water damage, but for certain products, they can also result in the loss of manufacturer warranties.

Choosing Long-Lasting Plumbing Fixtures With Confidence

Residents of Niles, OH can count on us for expert heating, cooling, plumbing, and indoor air quality services. We’ve been proudly serving the region for more than 60 years. To shop our expansive selection of plumbing products, find out about our preventative maintenance plans, or schedule an appointment, contact A To Z Dependable Services now!