How I became a Grohe convert (and beware the Delta Lahara)

12 years ago

So, in the process of planning my master bath remodel, the classic 'scope creep' of redoing a half-bath crept in, and I found myself ordering new vanity, granite counter, sink, faucet, etc., etc. "No problem, I can do that myself", says I.... And all went beautifully, until I got to the Delta Lahara faucet, not a low-end faucet but a product designed and manufactured in a very wam climate, it seems.

Long story short - the Delta 'quick connect' connection between the 8" center spread valves and spout is anything but 'quick'. In fact, it's a total piece of garbage. 2 of the 3 wouldn't compression connect - no matter how much pressure was put inti forcing them together, they clicked, but wouldn't hold under water pressure. The 3rd connected so well that in removing it, the stupid plastic clamps popped off. This I found out when I ripped out the poorly designed faucet and marched out to my nearest big box store and got a Grohe Arden as a replacement.

the Grohe wasn't as pretty, but it's connections are all metal compression fittings - beautifully engineered in every respect, right down to the well-thought pop-up drain lifter. So, I'm now swapping out all of the fixtures I'd planned for the master bath and main bath for Grohe's. I figure if they're so well-engineered a non-plumber can do a full mini-remodel in a weekend with no issues or leaks, they're well enough engineered to be flawless in the bigger professional remodel.

Anyway, just my plug for a well-engineered product from a DIYer's point of view, and a warning about the flaws in design of the Delta Lahara. Maybe I just got a lemon Lahara, but even one lemon's too many in my opinion.

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Comments (7)

gr8daygw
12 years ago
I have always thought highly of Grohe and am disappointed that all the good ole American lines are now made in China...if I am forced to buy out of country then I'd rather go with a firm that has always made their own faucets. Grohe is one of my favorites and also Hansgrohe that has some manufacturing in Georgia, USA.
sas95
12 years ago
Glad you like your Grohe, but we have Delta Laharas on our double vanity and didn't have any issues. For our shower we used Grohe, and our GC did complain a bit about the way the Grohe products connected in our shower (though all worked out fine in the end).
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User
12 years ago
"not a low-end faucet "

I'm not convinced - a faucet that sells for $95 - $125 retail does not leave a whole lot of room for quality in my opinion.

"Hansgrohe that has some manufacturing in Georgia, USA."

While their N.A. Headquarters, training facility and distribution warehouse is in Atlanta - I'm pretty sure Hansgrohe isn't actually manufacturing anything there.
sas95
12 years ago
I'm not convinced - a faucet that sells for $95 - $125 retail does not leave a whole lot of room for quality in my opinion

Delta Lahara 8" widespread faucets sell for between $150 and $230 or so, depending on the finish. Certainly comparable to many in the Grohe line.
OrchidOCD
Original Author
12 years ago
I'm glad the Delta Lahara worked for you, sas95 - I may have just gotten a lemon, and the manufacturing standards may have gone down since you bought it, hence my warning. The lovely stainless Delta pull out convertable spray/normal in my kitchen that's been in for 8 years still works great and has all metal compression fittings.

Antss, the list on the Delta was $260, not to be confused with a Glacier Bay-type faucet; I paid about $150 for it on Amazon. The Grohe replacement was $170 in the DC area. Comparable price, big difference in quality. Another victim of JIT mfg to the lowest bidder-of-the-moment trend of US corps, IMO - but I'll avoid the political soapbox on that one (I'd be up on it all night!) and say I wasnt trying to slam Deltas, per se, just warn about the potential current lemons in the line based on my most recent experience with them and offer another option for those looking for top value at mid price in a design that non-plumbers can install flawlessly.
User
12 years ago
My comment still applies at $150 sale price.

And I totally agree with you on JIT outsourced manuf. Not all are bad. It ultimately boils down to who specifies what's going to be made and having one of your own inspect (at the factory) the stuff BEFORE it ships.

Managing outsourcing takes an entirely different skill set than domestic in house manufacturing.
OrchidOCD
Original Author
12 years ago
Right there with you on the mgmt needs for outsourcing. Professionally, I'm in IT - I could sing 'chapter and verse' on the mgmt challenges of managing outsourcing! Go global economy (or Not!)

Ahem - pardon my off-subject post...

How I became a Grohe convert (and beware the Delta Lahara)

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gr8daygw

sas95

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How I became a Grohe convert (and beware the Delta Lahara)

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gr8daygw

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