What Are The Pros And Cons Of Wall-Mounted Faucets?

Paige Hanawalt
by Paige Hanawalt

When doing home renovations, the placement of a bathroom or kitchen faucet can be an afterthought. It’s one of those design elements we don’t really think about— a faucet is a faucet is a faucet, right? Wrong!

The wall-mounted faucet is one of the unsung heroes of design in the home renovation world. A well-placed faucet can make or break the flow of a bathroom or a kitchen. When we think of wall-mounted faucets, we often think of a restaurant kitchen. But this trend is quickly gaining popularity among home renovators and designers alike. Sleek and utilitarian in composition, a wall-mounted faucet will undoubtedly give your kitchen or bathroom an elegant feel.

Many designers are looking at wall-mounted faucets as works of art in and of themselves— stand-alone pieces that will set your space apart. If you’re looking to add a bit of flair to your kitchen, a little sophistication to your bathroom, a wall-mounted faucet might be a design element you can’t pass up.

If you’re looking to upgrade your home, you’ll want to look at both the pros and cons of a wall-mounted faucet before deciding if it’s something you’ll like.

The pros of a wall-mounted faucet are that it’s easier to keep clean, it has a unique design, and can create more counter space. The cons of a wall-mounted faucet include complicated installation, a higher expense, and is more difficult to repair.

Read on to find out if a wall-mounted faucet is the design element you’ll need to elevate your home!

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What Are The Pros Of A Wall-Mounted Faucet?

Wall-mounted faucets are becoming more and more desirable with builders and designers. There are quite a few reasons why homeowners across the board are interested in this particular design element.

Easier To Keep Clean

When it comes to practicality, a wall-mounted faucet is actually the perfect fit. Whether your wall-mounted faucet is going to go in the kitchen or the bathroom, you’ll undoubtedly be dealing with water, soap, and dirt. You can certainly expect a serious amount of splash or build-up over time.

Getting into every nook and cranny of a sink-mounted faucet can be annoying and time-consuming. With a wall-mounted faucet, you don’t have to deal with any hardware obstruction blocking your access to areas that need extra cleaning. A simple swipe with a cloth or a sponge and voila! Your faucet is gleaming and glistening.

Even though a wall-mounted faucet looks high maintenance with its sleek lines and pretty design, it actually isn’t. It’s easier to operate and clean, making it a perfect addition to a busy kitchen or a bustling bathroom.

Unique Design

Many designers are looking at wall-mounted faucets as design elements of backsplash. Backsplash can either make or break a kitchen or a bathroom. You want your backsplash to stand out, but not be overwhelming to the eye. A wall-mounted faucet can act as a focal point in your space.

Faucets can often be overlooked when it comes to bathroom or kitchen design. Sleek and posh, a wall-mounted faucet can work for the kitchen sink, the bathroom sink, or the bathtub. A wall-mounted faucet for the bathtub can really work for any tub type, giving you more space in which to rest and relax without the fear of knocking a knee or an elbow getting in and out.

Adding a wall-mounted faucet is a great way to give your home a unique and upgraded aesthetic. You don’t have to be living in the lap of luxury to enjoy luxurious fixtures in your home.

Space Saving

Wall-mounted faucets will save you space in the long run. Without the extra space needed for the faucet, a bathroom or kitchen counter suddenly becomes more roomy and spacious. If you have a small counter, your horizontal space is in high demand. Vertical space is less coveted. By opting for a wall-mounted faucet, you’re not going to lose any storage space on your counter. Instead, you’re going to create more.

Bathroom and kitchen storage is often an issue when renovating your home. A wall-mounted faucet will give you more space for decorative bits and bobs like candles, plants, or knick-knacks. It will also make extra room for the necessities of everyday life like soap dishes, paper towel holders, and toothbrush holders.

With a deck-mounted faucet, things can get overcrowded pretty fast. With a wall-mounted faucet, you won’t have too much clutter messing up the flow of your kitchen or bathroom aesthetic.

What Are The Cons Of Wall-Mounted Faucets?

Despite its aesthetic appeal and space-saving ways, wall-mounted faucets do have a few disadvantages.

Complicated Installation

When it comes to the more traditional deck-mounted faucets, holes for plumbing are already built into the counter or the tub, making installation fairly simple and straightforward. For a wall-mounted faucet, the installation process can be a little trickier.

You will need to cut out the holes into the wall itself. The process of installing a wall-mounted faucet is a little more invasive and requires more attention to detail. In a new build, the installation won’t be so terrible. But if you’re renovating, redoing the set up of your bathroom or kitchen is going to be decidedly more difficult, especially if you already have a backsplash you love.

Pro Tip: Make sure you have plenty of extra backsplash available in case you make mistakes when installing the wall-mounted faucet or faucets.

Expensive

Because of its unique design and the amount of work it takes to install, wall-mounted faucets are going to be more expensive than a regular deck/counter-mounted faucet. You’re looking at spending, on average, 30% more on a wall-mounted faucet than a regular, more traditional deck-mounted faucet.

The costliest part of a wall-mounted faucet isn’t necessarily the faucet itself. Rather, it’s the plumbing behind it. Because you’re tapping into the plumbing through the wall, it can be more difficult to access. Even if you’re an avid DIY-er, you’ll want to consider hiring a professional to install your wall-mounted faucet which can get pretty pricey pretty fast.

Things to Look Out For When Installing A Wall-Mounted Faucet

Someone with a little bit of home reno experience and access to an online tutorial can hook up a deck-mounted faucet in no time. Wall-mounted faucets require quite a bit more finesse, attention to detail, and knowledge of the intricacies of plumbing. Wall-mounted faucets can be complex, making them a little more expensive to install. Here a few things to keep in mind when installing a wall-mounted faucet:

  • Paint vs. Tile— what are your walls made of and what will you need to repair any damage?
  • Plumbing— how old is your plumbing and is it in good condition?
  • Holes— how many holes will you need to drill for your new faucet?

Difficult To Repair

If something is difficult to install, it’s most likely going to be difficult to repair. If your wall-mounted faucet starts to leak— a common problem for homeowners over time— you’re going to have to open up a hole in the wall to access the plumbing. A giant hole in the wall will require extensive patchwork to make it look seamless, like it never happened.

Tile makes everything more complicated. You’re probably going to have to replace backsplash or re-tile around the wall-mounted faucet if ever you need to pay for repairs.


Related Questions

Should Wall Mounted Faucets Be Over A Drain?

Yes. The end of the faucet should hang a few inches over the rim of the sink or tub.


How Far Should A Wall-Mounted Faucet Be Above A Sink?

To alleviate any over-the-top splashing, a wall-mounted faucet should roughly extend seven inches out from the back of the sink or tub.


Are Wall-Mounted Faucets Good For Bathtubs?

Yes! Wall-mounted faucets can be used with all bathtub types. An alcove bathtub, however, is the most ideal design for a wall-mounted faucet. As is— unsurprisingly— a wall.

Do You Need a Faucet, Fixture, or Pipe Repair or Replacement?

Get free, zero-commitment quotes from pro contractors near you.

Our Verdict

Wall-mounted faucets are well worth the costs of installation and potential repairs. They will up the resale value of your home, and give your space an element of sophistication more traditional faucets can’t. Luxury is becoming more and more affordable, and more and more builders, designers, and homeowners are adding elements of luxury to kitchen and bathroom designs. If you’re looking to give your space a unique and modern look, a wall-mounted faucet will more than deliver.

Paige Hanawalt
Paige Hanawalt

Paige is an elementary school librarian with a passion for writing. Her hobbies include reading an exorbitant amount of fantasy, slowly teaching herself to draw, and home decor. While she isn't the most talented artist or interior designer, what she lacks in skill she more than makes up for in enthusiasm. When she's not curled up with a book, you can certainly find her curled over the keyboard.

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