What determines faucet quality: the details that actually matter
Faucets are easy to sell on appearance. They are difficult to judge on quality from a photograph. This article lists the four details a specifier should confirm before trusting a faucet's quality claim.
Body material
Brass is the contract-grade baseline. Zinc is cheaper and visibly compromised inside three years. Ask for the body material in writing — every faucet in our range prints it on the specification sheet.
Cartridge brand
Ceramic cartridges are standard across the industry, but cartridges are not commodities. A named cartridge with published service data is a better guarantee than a brand promise. Unnamed cartridges are a maintenance risk on any project with a long service horizon.
Finish process
PVD finishes survive professional cleaning regimes. Electroplating is acceptable in residential. Anything thinner than electroplating is not a finish, it is a coating, and it will not last.
Spare-part supply commitment
The single most important question in contract specification is whether the manufacturer keeps spare parts for the life of the fixture. VALA's policy on this is published on our why VALA page and our trade team will confirm spare-part commitments in writing on request.
Request physical samples and the catalogue or open a project inquiry before committing a faucet specification.
