Quality bathroom fixture recommendations?

[Cajundaddy]

We are doing an interior facelift on the house and our master bath still has fixtures from 1965. I need 2 sink faucets and replacement bath shower fixtures in chrome finish to meet designer's (wife's) specs. Any personal preferences from our plumber and contractor brain trust?

I went to Home Depot and looked at Moen, Pfister, Delta, Peerless, and all had a suitable style. I am mostly interested in build quality and serviceability as our POS kitchen sink faucet literally fell apart after 2 yrs. We also still have galvanized plumbing from street to house so I have to clean out sediment and scale from fixtures yearly.

I would appreciate your thoughts.

[pavulon]

not a contractor but have Kohler products and they have served me well.

[LeeH]

The spout on the stainless Delta faucet I installed in our kitchen in 2004 developed some pitting over the last couple of years. Ran across the manual recently and noticed it said "Lifetime Finish Guarantee." Called up Delta just to see what that meant. They asked for the model number and my address. Said the new spout would be here in three days. That was it. No proof of purchase, no questions about what cleaners we'd used. Just sent a new one out.

[Cajundaddy]

Wow that was a great customer service story from Delta. I remember about 15 yrs ago a Delta shower at my last house had a jammed valve and they sent me a new valve cartridge no charge also.

Thanks for the input guys keep em coming.

[dafischer]

Don't buy a name brand such as you mentioned, at Home Depot or Lowes. Chances are, since they're going to be sold at lower cost, it will be a special line made to sell to the big box stores. These often use lower quality components, and are prone to quicker failure.

Check out a good plumbing suply store, and find the brand and model that you want. Check online at places like ferguson.com, or build.com, and you'll find a quality fixture of first quality at a significantly lower price than in the supply store, but a little more than at the big boxes.

I went with Kohler fixtures for the kitchen in the rental that we're renovating, and got great prices and service at build.com. Disclaimer: No connection with build.com, only checked them out on a recommendation from our plumber. Just a happy customer.

Some more info on the differing qualities sold at the big boxes.
Should you buy a faucet at the Home Depot or Lowes? | Millennial Living

[look 171]

Hans Grohe. KWC if you fancy "fancy stuff". What's the style, modern or traditional? For traditional styling, New Port Brass, CAlifornia faucet, or TOTO has both. No big box store stuff for me, no thanks. Personally, I stay away from ebay or internet unless its a large company who get their stuff from a wholesaler here in the US. Some of the stuff coming from Europe has metric or whatever thread that's a pain in the ass. I advice against it and you are saving 10-30 bucks on each item. Since you are local, and if you are willing to drive 10 miles to Pasadena, you can use my lic and get a few bucks discount from my local vender. First you have find out exactly what you want. I beat all of those internet pricing all day long.

[E38Driver]

When I did mine I bought from these guys.
Faucets, Toilets, Plumbing Supplies from Kohler, Moen at PlumberSurplus.com

Good prices and fast shipping.

Dave

[Rusty914s]

Big box stuff gets plastic or cheap ceramic guts while other sources get ceramics. I'm in the business and if you had a much larger order, I could help you.

Koehler is to plumbing as Pella is to windows. Very large advertisement budgets, huge name recognition and ok products.

YMMV.

Originally Posted by look 171

Hans Grohe. KWC if you fancy "fancy stuff". What's the style, modern or traditional? For traditional styling, New Port Brass, CAlifornia faucet, or TOTO has both. No big box store stuff for me, no thanks. Personally, I stay away from ebay or internet unless its a large company who get their stuff from a wholesaler here in the US. Some of the stuff coming from Europe has metric or whatever thread that's a pain in the ass. I advice against it and you are saving 10-30 bucks on each item. Since you are local, and if you are willing to drive 10 miles to Pasadena, you can use my lic and get a few bucks discount from my local vender. First you have find out exactly what you want. I beat all of those internet pricing all day long.

[pavulon]

Originally Posted by Rusty914s

Big box stuff gets plastic or cheap ceramic guts while other sources get ceramics. I'm in the business and if you had a much larger order, I could help you.

Koehler is to plumbing as Pella is to windows. Very large advertisement budgets, huge name recognition and ok products.

YMMV.

Despite his small order, would you be willing to recommend some manufacturers and/or products?

[stealthn]

Same vote for Moen/Delta, called on two separate issues, faucet replaced after 10 years and internals replaced on another one at 8 years, they even sent extra parts.

[Rusty914s]

Originally Posted by pavulon

Despite his small order, would you be willing to recommend some manufacturers and/or products?

Of course, what style are you going for? Also, just somewhat of a budget would be helpful.

BTW, Kohler is a fine product but you're paying mostly to their advertisement budget. Also, if you decide to buy Kohler, do not buy at box-store…instead buy at Plumbing supply store.

[Jim Bremner]

http://www.calfaucets.com/

[look 171]

Rusty, What is it that you do? I don't buy in volume, but a few pieces at a time. We'll remodel two or three baths to a home or a kitchen but are usually pretty high end, so the big box store products wouldn't work for my clients. Where are you located?

[look 171]

Is that what you have in your home Jim? That make a great product and head quarter is very close by.

[Rusty914s]

The main company is out of Denver but we do projects throughout the country. I started in the biz much like you...remodels and new construction. We do kitchens, from builder quality to German and Italian manufacturers, countertops, plumbing supplies, door hardware, lights, gas fireplaces, and some furniture lines.

We often sale to large/national wholesalers so that gives you an idea of our buying power. Shoot me a pm and I'll send you our website and info.

Rusty, What is it that you do? I don't buy in volume, but a few pieces at a time. We'll remodel two or three baths to a home or a kitchen but are usually pretty high end, so the big box store products wouldn't work for my clients. Where are you located?

[look 171]

Originally Posted by Rusty914s

The main company is out of Denver but we do projects throughout the country. I started in the biz much like you...remodels and new construction. We do kitchens, from builder quality to German and Italian manufacturers, countertops, plumbing supplies, door hardware, lights, gas fireplaces, and some furniture lines.

We often sale to large/national wholesalers so that gives you an idea of our buying power. Shoot me a pm and I'll send you our website and info.

Sounds like you are no longer in the construction or hands on side of the business and are selling wholesale instead?

[Rusty914s]

I am now going back to small development since money is more available. If anything, I am backing away from wholesale but will retain the contacts.

At the end, I simply want to do my own projects. Working for others or selling stuff to people gets old.

I don't mind selling to hotels, developments, apartment buildings, etc. when it comes to selling to homeowners, sometimes the numbers don't add up unless the owner knows what they want and understand a budget. I usually bring an in-house designer and can bring specialists in everything that we sale...if owner eats up that time, I can be upside very quickly with small projects.

This is tough to explain from my little iPhone. Anyhow, I'm happy to point you in the right direction and if I can help you...happy to do so.

[JAR0023]

Originally Posted by LeeH

The spout on the stainless Delta faucet I installed in our kitchen in 2004 developed some pitting over the last couple of years. Ran across the manual recently and noticed it said "Lifetime Finish Guarantee." Called up Delta just to see what that meant. They asked for the model number and my address. Said the new spout would be here in three days. That was it. No proof of purchase, no questions about what cleaners we'd used. Just sent a new one out.

I'm a big fan of Delta and second the recommendation to buy from plumbing supply vs big box. Delta has great warranty service and for the wearable bits (seals, washers, etc.). They can be found just about anywhere and for cheap. We are about to break ground on a significant addition and remodel. One of the few things we, the architect and the builder agreed on was Delta for the faucets. My Dad owns, manages and maintains a couple dozen group homes. He buys Delta. -J

[NY65912]

I am a plumber, we install some of the highest priced fixtures/faucets for residential customers. Most of our work is institutional using Am Std or Sloan. But I have Delta in my home.

[Cajundaddy]

I really appreciate all the input guys.

We are doing a fairly traditional upgrade to the fixtures that will compliment the paint/mirrors/cabinet/carpet/flooring upgrades so we are not looking for ultra high fashion Taj Mahal stuff. I have no problem paying for quality fixtures from a plumbing supply though. I expect I should be able to do this for around $1000 in materials for 2 sink faucets and a Roman bath/shower. Does that seem like a realistic budget? I am comfortable handling the install which always takes twice as long as I plan.

Edit: I just went and checked the nearly 50 yr old, still working fine, built-like-a-Sherman-tank shower mix valve... Delta.