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wall mount vs. countertop mount faucet???

12 years ago

I've just finished the design phase of an all new Henrybuilt kitchen. And having decided on the Kohler Karbon faucet, am debating wall mount versus deck or countertop mount. I think the wall mount is a cleaner look and perhaps is a tad more functional, but I fear that if I ever need to replace the Kohler Karbon there won't be another similar product on the market. That means I'll have to patch up the backsplash and go countertop. While there are other wall mounts, none that I've seen have either a pullout or the positioning flexibility of the Karbon. Countertop will be quartz, with a Blanco Cascade sink. Ideas / considerations?

Comments (6)

advertguy2
12 years ago
I'll be installing a wall mount karbon in a few months. We didn't want to worry about cleaning the gunk behind the faucet etc... which is why we went for the wall mount. As for replacement, we figure we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. the faucet is mounted on an interior wall so i can go in from the drywall side as required. patching a bit of backsplash wouldn't be a big deal either.
John Liu
12 years ago
That sounds both cool and functional.

Look at it this way - should the Karbon be replaced with a different faucet later, it will be easier to patch drywall than to patch Karbon-specific holes in your counter.
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Yes, the wall has to be opened up and the pipes moved up to the exact distance needed by the particular brand of faucet that you choose. Then you have to close up the walls, do drywall repair, and attach the finish trim pieces. If you ever have a leak or problem, the wall needs to be opened up to access things as well. Wall mount faucets are best located where an access panel from the other side of the wall can be concealed. The labor will be more than triple what installing a deck mount faucet would be, simply because of the work behind the walls being needed. A deck mount faucet is an easy DIY install, taking 30 minutes at most. You really don't need a plumber for that if your shut off valves are newish. Also, if you are utilizing an existing vanity, it may be too tall for a vessel sink. Vanities that will be short enough for a vessel sink would be in the 30"-32" height, not the 36" height that vanities have become over the last 20 years.
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We are building a custom home and I am thinking about putting in all wall mounted faucets. What would be the negatives with this option? We installed wall mounted in our master of our previous house and really liked not having to clean around the base. I just want to do my due diligence before making this decision. Thank you
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Fori
12 years ago
Just go ahead and do it. I'm sure it's worth any possible future headaches.

If your backsplash isn't drywall, have some spare tile or whatevers around (always a good idea anyway) and move on to your next decision.
Circus Peanut
12 years ago
"Look at it this way - should the Karbon be replaced with a different faucet later, it will be easier to patch drywall than to patch Karbon-specific holes in your counter. "

Exactly! Go for it. There are, and will be, many other wall-mount fixture options should the Karbon conk out in a decade. (And if you're really truly worried, live with it for a few months to make sure you love it, then pick up a second one on sale somewhere, just in case.)

I think the wall-mount version is even cooler, if possible, than the deck-mount. If I had any wall at all above my own sink, it would have been a definite contender.
dianalo
12 years ago
We have been using our wall mount faucet for a month or so now. I am so thrilled that it truly does not collect gunk.

If you think the Karbon will fail in 10 years, then I would not even buy it. Faucets, esp high end ones, should hold up for much longer than that. For what a Karbon costs, I'd be livid if needed replacement for reasons other than style. There is a difference in how a really well made faucet feels. Our wall mount Chicago one felt so solid from the moment I picked it up. It should hold up for decades.
cashew
Original Author
12 years ago
Wow, these are excellent points, thanks everyone. advertguy2, couldn't agree more about the cleanup which is a big factor pushing me towards the wall (literally in this case:). johnliu, that's a really good observation, and since the backsplash will be Henrybuilt's Corian system, modifications to it will be doable vs. with the quartz. One more decision now crossed off the list! Really appreciate the insights.

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