The Basin Buying Guide

Console or furniture basins are designed to sit on top of a worktop, furniture unit, or shelf, with only the bottom part of the basin in contact with the worktop. This basin style is available in several taphole options and usually with a built-in overflow. Equally, they can be specified with no tapholes to comply with deck-mounted taps. Some basins may have to be sanded down before installation to allow the bottom to sit flush on the mounting surface.

Featured: the Duravit Durasquare Furniture Basin 1200mm, shown here with the Duravit DuraSquare Freestanding Bath.

Most basins are pre-drilled with tapholes, so when buying a new basin, you will need to ensure that it will accommodate your chosen brassware. If you are yet to select your brassware, the basin’s tapholes may refine your options; this is well worth considering during the design phase of your project.

Some basins are supplied with one taphole, whilst others come with three. If your basin has one, you will need to acquire a mixer tap, where the hot and cold temperatures are controlled via the tap’s integrated handle. Should you opt for a basin with three holes, a three-piece mixer provides two separate hot and cold water controls. Alternatively, you may choose a basin with no tapholes, compatible with wall-mounted taps. Please note: we do not recommend drilling tapholes into basins yourself – please do speak to our sales consultants to answer any queries or look into bespoke requests.

Featured: our exclusive London basin and basin stand paired with Samuel Heath brassware, as seen in Cheltenham House, a recent C.P. Hart project.

The material of your basin determines its style, durability, and maintenance. Ceramic and porcelain are both popular basin materials, renowned for having extremely hard-wearing, easy-to-clean, and scratch and chip-resistant surfaces. The difference between ceramic and porcelain is that ceramic is made from pure clay, whereas porcelain has glass and metal mixed in to strengthen the material further.

Featured: the Cielo Marcel vanity unit, as seen at C.P. Hart Waterloo. The Marcel basin is available in 22 ceramic finishes.

Glass basins are becoming ever more in demand, though, as one may imagine, they come with a higher risk of damage. Despite most modern-day glass basins being crafted from tempered glass (a stronger glass with a higher thermal resistance), these basins are still at risk of damage should something drop on them. That being said, when used with care, glass washbowls offer a truly stunning touch to your bathroom design.

Featured: the Glass Design Ramada Washbowl.

A pedestal or syphon cover covers the pipework that stands the entire length between the basin and the floor. You may choose to install a pedestal or syphon cover if you wish to hide the basin’s pipework or purely for decorative purposes.

It is often assumed that a pedestal takes the weight of the basin, however, the basin is often wall-hung.

Featured: pedestal and basin as seen at Westminster Fire Station, a recent C.P. Hart project.

A semi-pedestal or semi-syphon cover does the same job as a pedestal, however it does not reach the entire length between the basin and the floor. Instead, it covers the pipework from the basin to the end of the pipework itself. This is typically the preferred option in smaller bathrooms or cloakrooms as it frees up crucial floor space.

Featured: the Duravit ME by Starck Semi-Pedestal.

Similar to pedestals, basin stands can enhance the appearance of your bathroom’s basin, some offering period detailing whilst others provide contemporary simplicity. Unlike a pedestal, a basin stand will not conceal the pipework beneath your basin; however, with the right bottle trap, exposed pipework can give your bathroom a striking and elevated appearance. Please read on to learn more about our bottle traps.

Featured: the Cielo Catino Ovale, as seen at our recent project at the Old Rectory, featuring the Catino washbasin in the eye-catching Polvere finish, alongside framework in Bronzo Spazzolato to match the golden finish of the brassware and bottle trap.

A basin waste is a channel where water flows out of the sink, usually accompanied by what is commonly known as a plug. All basins require a basin waste, and there are many different plug styles available, including pop-up wastes, flip-top wastes or the traditional plug and chain.

Basin wastes are not usually included with the basin itself; however, some taps may be accompanied by a basin waste. Please speak to a sales consultant at your nearest C.P. Hart showroom for specific product specifications.

Featured: the C.P. Hart FLO Single Lever Basin Mixer with Click Waste in Matt Black, as seen at C.P. Hart Waterloo. Plan your visit to our flagship showroom here.

A bottle trap is installed between the basin and the wall where the pipe connects to the rest of the property's plumbing. Its function is to conceal the bend in the pipe in an aesthetically pleasing way, often in keeping with the style of the basin itself. The bottle trap is an essential component of the basin's plumbing as it keeps the bathroom hygienic and odour free.

Featured: a bottle trap in Matt White as seen at our recent project at Beechmont, matching the rest of this monochromatic scheme's Matt White brassware.