On Fri, 18 Jan 2008 15:01:28 +0000, Ian Chard
wrote:

Hi,

I want to replace the horrible twee gold-effect mixer tap on my kitchen
sink with something less offensive, and have a couple of questions:

- The sink has a single tap hole. Are all such tap holes created equal,
i.e. if I buy a replacement from (say) screwfix, will it fit? The sink
is a generic cheap plastic thing.

- At the moment the pipes look like they go straight into the tap. I'd
like to install isolating valves, so do I need to go: original pipe -
valve - a bit more pipe - tap hose? Or is there an easier way?

Many thanks for any advice
- Ian

I would imagine that monobloc taps all fit the hole in all sinks but I
can't be sure .Best to measure the hole and check the specs of one you
intend buying if there is any doubt ..or maybe take a cutout of the
sink hole and check the tap against it if you are buying it in person
..

From what you say "At the moment the pipes look like they go straight
into the tap" that suggests that they have been fitted with copper
tails which are in turn fitted to 15mm copper . You would be better
fitting flexible tails such as this

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/99193/...tor-15mm-x-M10

which is a pushfit to the supply but you can also get ordinary
compression fittings .
This Screwfix tap comes complete with tails
http://www.screwfix.com/prods/48053/...Mixer-CO-156-C
If you buy the tap and tails seperately make sure you buy the correct
size to fit in to the tap as some are 10mm and some other sizes. You
can also get tails with valves but I'm not sure if the monobloc ones
have valves as the hose has to be rotated to remove it from the tap so
the valve would prevent that . You would need to put the valve lower
down in the copper section so ,as you suggest you would have ...from
below .....supply in copper or plastic /valve/piece of copper or
plastic / then the tail / then the tap.

You say your sink is plastic? I take it it's not bog standard
plastic.

Some people have problems with sinks flexing when flexible tails are
fitted as these do not have the rigidity of copper and iirc some have
made suggestions to sort that but no doubt someone will be along to
say what .
Stuart