Ask the plumber: Faucet installation has homeowner up against the wall

Q. I can use some advice from a pro since I think I got in way over my head on this one. I promised my wife I would remove our old beat-up vanity, sink and faucet. Since I’m a pretty good handyman, I promised her that she can pick out all the new fixtures with no questions asked. She wants a very nice vanity-and-sink combo, with a wall-hung faucet. Where do I start? I have no experience with wall-mounted faucets. Any information and/or suggestions would be helpful.

A. You might want to start by taking your wife out for a nice dinner and gently explain to her that when you said pick out “any faucet” for the new sink, you were talking about any deck-mounted faucet (a standard sink-mounted installation).

If that works, you’re all set. But if she holds you to your word, you might want to read on.

A wall-mounted faucet is just that — it’s installed directly into the wall. They usually come in one- or two-handle configurations, with an extra-long spout. Such faucets make a dramatic statement and are considered to be a high-end fixture. These faucets are usually found on vessel or under-mounted sinks. This type of faucet also provides a clean, clear and open look for the vanity countertop, since the entire faucet is mounted above and away from the countertop.

That’s the good news.

The bad news is that because most of the internal plumbing for this style is inside the wall, these faucets are usually installed exclusively for new construction or heavy remodeling jobs. This is a big hurdle you could face, because you may end up replacing the wall surface above and behind the sink for this job.

Also, if the new wall surface cannot be matched up properly to the existing walls, you’ll be in for a very large remodeling job just to install a new faucet.

Bottom line: Unless you want to work with a professional contractor/plumber or get into a bigger remodeling job, I’d slowly back away from the wall, and hit the deck!

Ÿ Master contractor and plumber Ed Del Grande is author of “Ed Del Grande’s House Call” and hosts TV shows on Scripps Networks and HGTVPro.com. Visit eddelgrande.com or write eddelgrande@hgtvpro.com.

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