Look for a long-lasting, low maintenance finish to complement your decor. Your choices are quite extensive and include chrome plating, nickel plating, white enamel, brass, colored epoxy (glacier white, almond, biscuit and black), platinum, porcelain, bronze, stainless steel and gold or silver. The favored finishes are chrome and brass because they are easy to maintain and very durable. A word of caution if you go with brass - it requires a special protective coating to prevent it from tarnishing. For lots of color options and easy cleanup go with an epoxy finish. Today, many manufacturers use a technology called PVD (physical vapor deposition) for their faucet finishes, which makes them almost indestructible.

Basic styles

Faucets are manufactured in three basic styles, the centerset, widespread, and mini-widespread, with a number of variations within those styles.

Centerset faucets are the most common style and are available in a two-handle (each valve has a separate hole) or single handle style (both hot and cold water feed through a single hole).

Widespread faucets are where each of the valves - hot and cold - as well as the spout are all mounted separately. Because they allow for flexible installation (the pieces can spread across 8 to 20 inches) they tend to be more expensive than centerset faucets.

A single-handle faucet can also be widespread, but in that case the handle is a separate unit, not mounted on the spout. Sometimes the handle is mounted away from the spout for the sake of convenience or aesthetics.

Mini-widespread faucets are a variation of the widespread but with a 4 inch center to center instead of 8 to 12 inches.

Spouts come in various styles from straight to gooseneck. Most are fixed, but some are available in swivel.

Valves, which control your flow of water come in four basic types - compression, cartridge, ball and ceramic disc. Compression valves always have two controls, which operate by raising or lowering a stem, which has a rubber washer on the end to seal off the water flow. The problem with this type of faucet is it's prone to leaks because the rubber washer wears out. Cartridge units are offered on both single handle and two handle faucets and control water flow by...you guessed it... a cartridge. These faucets are quite reliable and easy to repair. The ball faucet uses a single lever that controls a rotating slotted metal ball to regulate your water flow. This faucet is only available in single-lever styles. The best valve of the bunch is a ceramic disc(actually two discs are used to regulate water flow). Because of it s flat form and highly durable structure, this valve is virtually maintenance free and usually carries a lifetime guarantee.

Look for quality

An inexpensive faucet may look as good as a more expensive one, but don't be fooled - it won't last long. Your flag should go up when plastic is used on integral parts, washers are controlling the flow of water (should have ceramic disks or replaceable cartridges) and are lightweight. Plumber bills will be far more costly down the road, than purchasing a high quality faucet from day one. The average cost of a faucet is $75 to $200 plus.

Know your needs

The important thing you'll need to know when choosing a bathroom faucet is the design of your sink or countertop in which it will be mounted. You will need to know whether you need a single hole design, a 4 inch mini-spread or center set, or an 8 inch widespread.

When it comes to your tub and/or whirlpool you'll need to know whether your installation calls for a wall-mount, a deck mount, and whether a hand spray will be required. Shower faucets should be discussed with your plumber or designer because there are so many different styles and options that you could easily choose a faucet that won't work effectively with your bathroom plumbing, like valves and supply lines.

Making it fit

It is imperative that you buy your faucet and sink together to make sure they are compatible. The sink must be drilled or have holes punched out to match the faucet you buy, and not all units will go together. Some specialty sinks require special faucets that match them. If you've opted for a cultured marble top, you‚ll need a faucet with a longer spout to fit correctly because of the setback. Never assume that everything will fit - make the salesperson earn their salary and have them show you the pieces work together. It's also important to note that many faucets require additional trim to complete the faucet or faucet handle set - this allows for greater choices in the design and appearance of your faucet.

Shower faucets

There are many types and styles of shower faucets, but the most common is a wall-mount faucet over the drain.. As for choosing a shower spray, a handheld sprayhead offers the most flexibility for cleaning, hair-washing and massage. You will have to choose your shower valve before construction begins to make sure the correct rough-in valve is installed. Even though the package says it's universal - that's not always true. If you want a high-tech shower system, like a car wash shower with multiple heads and sprays, be sure you have an adequate water supply.