by Jack Blacksmith

When you are choosing the types of bathroom faucets that you decide to install, you will be amazed by the number of different options which are available to you. There are a number of different materials, including chrome, stainless steel, brushed nickel or brass. It can be difficult to know exactly which type of bathroom faucet to use. Each different type of faucet has different advantages and disadvantages, this makes them suitable for different purposes. Your preferences can affect the options that are suitable for you.

Stainless Steel Faucets

These are the most common finishes for bathroom faucets, these are very durable and long lasting. Faucets made out of this material are also often cheaper than many other types. There are many benefits to installing stainless steel, the main one being that it won’t need cleaning as often as it won’t tarnish. Stainless steel fixtures are also very easy to install, however there are a number of disadvantages. Stainless steel can show up fingerprints and can be scratched or scuffed fairly easily.

Chrome

Chrome bathroom fixtures are also fairly common, these are made by electroplating brass with a chrome finish. These have a highly polished silver color, they are much shinier than stainless steel fixtures. Chrome faucets are fairly economical, although you can buy these in different designs for more money. Chrome faucets do not corrode, and they are very difficult to scratch. There are problems with chrome faucets, and that’s because they can quickly show up water spots. After a long time the chrome can wear off revealing the brass underneath.

Brass

Brass bathroom faucets aren’t as popular as those made out of stainless steel or chrome. These have been used in bathrooms for a very long period of time. These are made from a single metal which means that there is no plating to wear off. Brass bathroom furniture is often a little more expensive than many other options, and the choices will often be more limited. Brass bathroom faucets can give your bathroom a unique look. There are many problems with brass, if you do not seal it then it can rust over time. It can scratch, and it tarnishes over time it will require regular polishing.

Brushed Nickel

This option is the newest idea in decorating bathrooms. These are electroplated over solid brass. Brushed nickel faucets are available in many different styles as they are such a popular option which is suitable for any budget. These bathroom faucets are popular because they do not show fingerprints, scratches or water spots. These are the most expensive forms of bathroom faucets at the moment, and the plating can wear off.

About the Author:

Focusing on latest developments in crazy shower curtains, Jack Blacksmith published primarily for http://www.curtains-drapes-coverings.com . His work on fun shower curtains are published on http://www.curtains-drapes-coverings.com/shower-curtains.html .

by Kaye Fretz

If you experience waking up in the middle of the night to the irritating noise of drip, drip, drip from a leaky faucet, it’s probably high time you learn how to fix a leaky faucet. Doing so will save you the trouble from calling up a plumber, and will save you from getting high plumbing bills.

You can fix a leaky faucet by yourself, without the need of a plumber. And to show you exactly how to do that, this article will enumerate simple to follow and easy to understand steps.

Here are just some of the basic materials and tools you will need:

- Screwdriver – Washers

Before You Start

1. Look under your sink and search for a shutoff valve. Turn its handles counter-clockwise (off) to switch off the water supply. Remember the saying “righty-tighty, lefty-loosey”. This will guide you in switching your water supply on and off.

2. Keep an assortment of replacement parts at hand. This includes washers, O-rings, and etc.

3. Make sure to plug down the drain (maybe with rags). This is to avoid having small parts like screws and washers go down the drain.

4. As you work, keep in mind the exact order of the parts from the moment it was taken apart and line them up. This will serve as a guide when it’s time to reassemble it, so you wouldn’t have a hard time tracing what goes in first.

Begin Working!

1. The first thing you should do is remove the faucet handles. For this, you can use your screwdriver to remove the screws that are holding them together. Once the screws are removed, you can easily remove the handles using a flathead screwdriver, or you may have to pry it open.

2. Once the faucet handles are removed, detach the old washer located behind the handle. Don’t worry if there isn’t one. Instead, go buy one.

3. Having bought a new washer, use it to replace the old washer. The new washer goes exactly where the old washer is supposed to be. Remember that the hole in the washer should just be a little bit bigger than the post where the handle turns.

4. Start putting things together. Put everything in place, according to the opposite order of how you took it apart. After, you can put the handle back to its post and screw it on. When you screw it on, make sure that you don’t screw it in too tight so that you wouldn’t damage the brass fittings. Just keep it hand-tight.

5. After, you can start testing if you did the right thing. Turn water supply back on by moving shut off valve handles to the left or clockwise.

6. There shouldn’t be any leaky faucet if everything went well. If not, though, try tightening the screws a wee bit more, or repeat the whole process again. If that still doesn’t work, and if all else fails, admit defeat and call a plumber.

Miscellaneous Tips

In going to the hardware when buying a washer, ask an employee for assistance. He could recommend the specific washer that is used for your sink.

Sometimes, leaky faucets are due to lime build-up. If you notice that a lot of lime build-up is on your faucet handle post, remedy this by using lime away products to clean the build-up.

So don’t endure the annoying drip, drip, drip noise any further. Fix a leaky faucet yourself and reap the benefits of doing so – no hassle of calling a plumber, no high plumbing costs, and no more sleepless nights!

About the Author:

Find out how to fix a leaky faucet yourself. All you need is your faucet guide!