Cheap Kitchen Taps & Sinks

aarchk

My kitchen works continue and I would appreciate some advice!

I have a kitchen on order but refused to use B&Q for sinks, taps and handles as I felt the cost was too high. There are definitley cheaper alteratives on ebay but I am concerned that perhaps it would be a false economy and the chrome or stainless steel may fail after a while.

The bath tap was put in by the previous owner and the chrome has rubbed off in places, something which I would like to avoid if poss.

Has anyone bought cheaper taps/sinks online with good results? if so where from? Anything I should be wary of?

Many Thanks!

ryder72

You wont go wrong buying Blanco or Franke sinks and taps. Check your local kitchen retailers and they should be able to offer competitive prices and competent advise.

anotherbaldrick

Taps particularly you get what you pay for. El Cheapo taps look good out of the box but in a couple of years time they will be dog rough with the wear they get, especially the single hole ceramic disc mixers which give up the ghost when the internals wear. A good make like Franke will last and still look good

ormus

i bought my sink from BQ and the taps from screwfix. hard to beat those prices.
so far no problems with chrome failing etc...

BestBehaviour

kmdesign wrote: »

You wont go wrong buying Blanco or Franke sinks and taps. Check your local kitchen retailers and they should be able to offer competitive prices and competent advise.

The OPs operative word was CHEAP!!

ryder72

The OPs operative word was CHEAP!!

CHEAP is relative. Does OP mean a sink and tap for £50. It will certainly be rubbish as well. Is he means £125, then the basic sink/tap packs from Franke and Blanco can be had for that sort of price. The cheapest Franke and Blanco taps are usually far better than most products available out there.

I have seen basic Franke sinks and taps on sale at B&Q for very reasonable prices (around £100).

cddc

I do rather wonder what the OP considers as too much for a sink if B&Q are seen as being too expensive....... Like KMD says they are hardly extortionate............

southcoastrgi

sometimes you get what you pay for, if you have to replace them in 12 months then the taps didn't end up being cheap

aarchk

Perhaps I should have called the thread 'cheaper' rather than cheap! I dont mind paying for quality, just havent been that impressed with B&Q either in terms of service or pricing so have been looking for cheaper alternatives. Also as a complete novice I wasnt sure what to look for in terms of which brand is the best quality etc. I was quoted over £130 for a basic 1.5 sink and £90 for a basic (& unattractive) monoblock tap which I am convinced is not good value for money.

Incidentally the cheapest Franke sink in B&Q is £199 not £100.

Fortunately I have found a Franke one on ebay for £85 and the same company also sell taps for £40. The seller seems a reputable one so will go for that.

Thanks for the advice!

jackieb

ormus wrote: »

i bought my sink from BQ and the taps from screwfix. hard to beat those prices.
so far no problems with chrome failing etc...

We bought a bathroom suite from B&Q. The actual suite was good but the fittings weren't. We also ended up replacing the taps with ones from Screwfix.

marmitepotato

I got my kitchen mixer tap from an eBay seller. It was a great design at less than half the price of the DIY stores. The builder who fitted my kitchen was impressed with the tap and the price I paid. Three years later the tap is still as good as new.....