You also want to make sure your spout isn't too high that the water splashes around or too low that you don't have room to wash your hands. A general rule of thumb is to have your spout 6 inches from the bottom of the sink.
IDEAL FAUCET SIZE & HEIGHT
If the height of your faucet is too little or too great, then it's more likely to cause splashing and will require cleanup more frequently. When you're planning your installation, be sure to leave at least six inches between the spout and the sink.
At Gerber, you may hear the terms 'Spout Height' and 'Faucet Height' used interchangeably. Spout height measures the length from the point of connection on the counter or sink (deck) to the top of the faucet. The higher the spout, the easier it is to fit tall pots under for filling or cleaning.
It should have a long enough tap to reach over the sink — ideally with the spout above the center of the bowl — and the tap should have a minimum of 1-inch clearance above the sink rim.
Typically, faucets are centered on the sink. From there, holes are drilled 4, 6, or 8 inches apart, when measured from the center of one hole to the center of the next hole. Like most design, rules are fluid and there is room for deviation.
We recommend you select a faucet height that is proportional to your sink. A shallow sink basin and high spout can generate excessive water backsplash. Deep kitchen basin(s) are a better choice for taller kitchen faucets.
The recommended height for the spout is 2 feet above the floor level.
The faucet should be located 3” to 6” over the rim of the tub, and the controls should be at least 33” from the floor. Mind the splash-zone. The higher the spout is over the rim of the tub, the more likely it is to splash water out of it.
Find out the length or reach of your faucet's spout (also called the projection). The distance between the faucet body (where the water enters the faucet) and the areator is usually 8 to 10 inches for a kitchen faucet. However some oversized faucets have a reach of 11 to 16 inch.
The standard height of the faucet and sink is 3 feet. The mirror is an essential element in the bathroom. The height of the mirrors should be based on your size. The lower part of the mirror should cover your shoulders.
Look at the general depth of the sink. Faucets that are too big can splash water out of a shallow sink. Check out the space around the sink.
Kitchen taps with a high spout offer more space in the sink, making washing up and filling pots and pans with water much easier. Those with swivel spouts are also incredibly convenient as you can move them out of the way when necessary, and direct water into different utensils.
Typically, shower controls should be placed at about 40 to 50” above the shower floor. If your controls or knobs serve both a shower and a bathtub faucet, though, the valve is typically installed between 8 to 18” above the faucet.
Like other controls, the minimum height for the shower valve should be 38″ above the floor, with the maximum being 48″. Architects always have a 10″ leeway to place these controls – as long as they are within 38″ -48″, the controls are always compliant.
An air gap is a 100% sure way to prevent backflow. This is a physical space between a safe water outlet and a source of unsafe water. If using a sink as an example, the faucet should be above the flood rim of the sink in addition to having space between the drain from the sink and the floor drain.
Undermount and Faucet Sizing
That leaves an inch of space in front of the sink and 3 inches behind the sink for the faucet. This is slightly different from a top-mounting, rimmed sink.
Size of the Faucet
If the faucet is too small, you may have trouble using it to wash larger items such as big pots and pans since they won't fit comfortably underneath. On the other hand, if the faucet is too big, then you may end up splashing yourself every time you wash your hands or rinse the dishes.
For the most accurate measurement, remove the faucet and handles from the sink. To get the faucet center, measure from the center of the hole in the sink on the far left to the center of the hole on the far right. Faucet center measurements can be anywhere between 4 and 16 inches.
Take a tape measure to your sink and measure the top of the counter surface to the nearest item above where your faucet will be. Then, select a product that fits in the available space.
The flow of water from the faucet relative to the drain is important. By placing faucets at the back of the sink, there's typically better alignment between the faucet spray and the drain. This prevents unnecessary spray or overflow.
For an ideal installation, the faucet spout should line up with the center of the sink drain so that when the faucet operates, water flows into the drain. This helps avoids many splashing issues, especially with taller faucets.
If you're installing a new vanity and sink, it's much easier to mount the faucet before you put the sink in place. Speaking of sinks, you'll either have one, two or three holes. It'll either be centerset or widespread. Make sure that you purchase a faucet that matches the holes in your sink.
Whatever your preferences, make sure that your taps are easy to use, and easy to adjust to get the right balance of hot and cold water if you have a mixer tap. Look out for taps with ceramic discs incorporated into the workings, as these are often easier to control than other types of tap.
If you frequently wash large pans or stacks of dishes in your sink, a high-arc faucet, also known as a high-neck or a gooseneck faucet, gives you more room to wash. Select a high-arc faucet if you often cook with oversized pots.