Wash Basins

The basin is the most-used fitting in any bathroom. Choosing one comes down to three questions, and the order matters — get the third wrong and you cannot correct it afterwards.

1. How is it supported?

• Full pedestal — a column to the floor hiding all the pipework, and taking some weight off the wall. The simplest to fit.
• Semi pedestal — hides the pipework but leaves the floor clear to mop under. The wall carries all the weight.
• Wall hung — nothing beneath at all. Best for wheelchair access and small rooms, but needs a genuinely solid fixing.
• Inset and countertop — drops into or sits on a vanity worktop.
• Cloakroom and corner — compact and shallow, for rooms a full-size basin will not fit.

If the wall is plasterboard, a wall hung or semi pedestal basin needs noggins or a backing board fitted before boarding. Retrofitting that means opening the wall.

2. What size?

Widths run from around 350mm for a cloakroom to 800mm and beyond. In a small room, projection from the wall matters more than width — a slimline basin coming out 250mm can make a cloakroom usable where a standard 400mm one cannot.

3. How many tap holes?

Decide this before you order, because holes are moulded in and cannot be added or filled.

• One hole — a single mono mixer. The modern standard.
• Two holes — separate hot and cold pillar taps. Traditional, but you cannot easily get warm water.
• No holes — for a wall mounted or countertop tap.

Don't forget the waste

Most basins are supplied without one. Check whether yours has an overflow hole — if it does you need a slotted waste; if not, unslotted. See our basin wastes.

Unsure what will fit? Call 0333 772 4162.