Basin taps: single-lever, two-handle or concealed, depending on your vanity unit

When it comes time to choose the basin tap, most people look first at the finish and forget about something more important: the type of mechanism. A single-lever tap mixer that you open with one hand in three seconds is not the same as a classic two-handle tap that turns hot and cold separately, or a concealed tap in which the water comes out directly from the tiles. All three serve the same purpose, but they fit very differently depending on the bathroom furniture you have, the type of basin and the style you are looking for. This guide helps you distinguish them and decide which one makes sense for your renovation.

The three basin tap types and their differences

Before comparing finishes or series, it is worth being clear that there are three different opening mechanisms for the basin tap, and that they are not simply interchangeable: each one requires a different type of installation.

• single-lever mixer: a single control that moves vertically to regulate flow and laterally to mix temperature. It is installed in a single hole, on the basin or countertop.
• Two taps (deck-mounted two-handle): two independent controls, one for cold water and one for hot water, which are located in a central spout. The body can be a single piece over one hole or a three-piece assembly for three-hole installations.
• Embedded in the wall: the body of the tap and its mechanism are hidden within the partition, embedded before tiling. On the outside you can only see the controls (or rosettes) and the spout, which comes directly out of the wall.

Single-lever mixers: one control for everything

The single-lever mixer is, by far, the most widespread option in current renovations and also in new construction. Its great advantage is the simplicity of use: with just one hand you regulate flow and temperature, something especially convenient if you have children, elderly people at home or simply if you want to wash your hands without thinking about two controls at the same time.

On a technical level, the single-lever mixer works with a single internal ceramic cartridge that acts as a valve and a mixer at the same time. This also simplifies maintenance: if over the years it loses tightness or leaks, it is normally solved by replacing that cartridge, without touching the rest of the installation.

In terms of installation, the single-lever basin mixer is mounted on a single hole, which makes it compatible with the vast majority of bathroom furniture with a countertop and with basins already drilled at the factory. It is also the most common option when replacing an old tap without touching the countertop or the furniture, because it usually takes advantage of the same existing space.

Aesthetically, the single-lever mixer tends towards a more contemporary and minimalist language: slender bodies, high or low spouts depending on the basin, and finishes that range from classic chrome to more modern options such as matt black or brushed nickel.

Two-handle taps: the timeless classic

The two-handle tap, also called two-handle, is the traditional mechanism: one control for cold water and another for hot water, which the user combines manually until the desired temperature is achieved. It is the system that many of us remember from old bathrooms, and today it still has a very clear place in renovations with classic, vintage or 1920s-1930s-inspired aesthetics.

From a technical point of view, each control incorporates its own cartridge or closing mechanism, so there are two elements susceptible to wear instead of one. This does not mean that it will fail sooner, but it does mean that a possible drip can come from either of the two controls, and it is advisable to identify which one before ordering a replacement.

In installation, there are two variants: the deck-mounted sets, which are mounted in a single hole with the two controls and the spout integrated into the same body, and the three-hole taps, in which each control and the spout are installed separately on three aligned holes in the countertop or basin. This second variant requires that the furniture or basin be prepared at the factory for this, so it is advisable to check this before opting for this type if you are not starting from an already existing installation.

It is a very common choice in classic-style countertop basins, in bathrooms with solid or vintage wood furniture, and in renovations where a more timeless look is sought than that of a single-lever mixer with straight lines.

Concealed wall taps: a clear countertop

The concealed tap goes one step further: the body of the mechanism, the hot and cold water connections and a good part of the pipe are hidden within the partition, installed and tested before tiling. On the outside, only the control (or controls, in the two-handle versions) and the spout are visible, which comes directly from the wall towards the basin.

The result is a completely clear countertop, without any taps or holes on it. That is why it is the option that is usually chosen when the countertop basin is a bowl or conical type - pieces that, precisely, do not have a hole for tap - or in suspended furniture with very little shelf, where there is no comfortable space for a traditional tap body.

A real example of this type within the NOLUXA catalogue is the two-handle BUILT-IN basin TOSCANA , from the Toscana series, available in Chrome, matt black, brushed nickel, brushed gold and brushed rose gold finishes. As it is a two-handle, it maintains the classic gesture of the cold control and hot control separately, but with the body completely hidden in the wall, which combines traditional aesthetics with an installation with very clean lines.

The downside is that concealed installation is not something that can be improvised once the tiling is finished: the body of the tap has to be placed, leveled and tested before tiling, with the water outlets exactly in the position where the basin will later go. That is why it is a decision that must be made in the planning phase of the reform, not at the end.

Comparison of the three types

With the three options already described, this table summarizes the most relevant when comparing installation, maintenance, style and indicative cost.

Choosing taps for your vanity unit and basin

The question that really decides between these three types is not so much personal taste as what your bathroom furniture allows you to install without complications.

Vanity units with a countertop and a basin tap hole

If you have or are going to install a piece of furniture with a countertop and a basin designed to carry tap on top (with its hole or three holes already provided), both the single-lever mixer and the two-lever mixer are direct options, without added work. Here the decision is above all one of style: single-lever mixer for a contemporary bathroom, two taps if you are looking for a more classic look.

Bowl or conical countertop basins without a tap hole

These basins, very common in bathrooms with current design, do not have a perforation for a tap because they rest entirely on the countertop. In this case, the tap embedded in the wall is often the most practical and also the most aesthetic solution: the spout comes out of the wall just above the basin and there is no need to look for space on a piece that is not designed for it.

Wall-hung vanity units with limited ledge space or pedestal basins

When the furniture barely leaves a shelf around the basin, or in basins with a column where the aim is to visually clear the piece, concealed is once again an option to consider, as long as the renovation is in the construction phase and can be planned before tiling. If the bathroom is already finished and cutting into the wall is not contemplated, the compact single-lever mixer is usually the most reasonable alternative.

Phased renovations and individual replacements

If you only want to change the tap without touching the furniture, countertop or tiling, the simplest thing is to maintain the same type of installation that you already have: replace a single-lever mixer with another single-lever mixer, or a set of two taps with another equivalent, taking advantage of the same existing holes. Changing from one type to another almost always involves touching the countertop or wall, so it is important to be clear about this before requesting a plumbing quote.