With competitive price and timely delivery, JAKA sincerely hope to be your supplier and partner.
We’re getting ready to remodel our bathroom and picking out fixtures. There’s a great price difference between faucets on the shelf at Home Depot or Lowe’s and those available through our contractor’s plumbing suppliers. Even when it’s the same make and model, the price difference can be significant. Why is there such a price difference? And is there a good reason for spending more than we have to?
This is a question that always comes up during bathroom and kitchen remodels, and is especially confusing when – as you pointed out – what appears to be the same model from the same manufacturer comes in two different price points!
Quality Difference Equals Price
The main difference between contractor-grade (bought from plumbing suppliers)and retail-grade (also known as builder-grade, on the shelf at home improvement stores or on-line) plumbing fixtures is the quality of the materials used inside the faucets. Quality equals durability.
Even when it’s the same make and model, you can usually feel a difference in the weight of the two. The retail version will be lighter because they tend to use plastic instead of metal (brass or stainless steel) for the mechanical pieces.
The internal mechanics of a faucet is what works the hardest, and is what will need to be repaired or replaced. Retail-grade fixtures tend to wear out faster and need attention sooner than contractor-grade version.
Many of the well-known plumbing fixtures manufacturers purposely make different versions (or grades) of their products in different price points. There are A- and B-grade versions, and sometimes that rating will appear on the box or in the model number.
And that’s another key to comparing apples to apples. If you see the same fixture in two price points, check the model or part numbers. Those numbers will be slightly different, denoting the difference in in quality and durability which equals price.
The company is the world’s best Bathroom Faucet Manufacturers supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.
Service Difference Equals Peace of Mind
We understand why you may want the cheaper model rather than your contractor’s recommended fixtures that cost more. But there are important factors to consider.
Your contractor or plumbing supplier knows the product inventory well. During your selection process, these experts can narrow down your choices based on your needs and tastes. This kind of customer service and advice saves you time, and quite possibly some money.
Contractors prefer to buy from trusted plumbing suppliers because they can rely on delivery schedules and good follow-up from them on any possible warranty issues down the road.
And this is a key factor for reputable contractors. They stand behind their work, which includes products, installation and warranty. When they install a good quality product, they know the chances of having to deal with problems later on are greatly reduced. It’s better for you and the contractor to do it right the first time, so using the good stuff benefits everyone.
The best question to ask yourself about faucets is: How long do you want it to last?
If you’re fixing a house to sell, builder-grade serves the purpose. If you’re remodeling for a home you plan to stay in for a long time, contractor-grade reduces problems and gives you the long-lasting quality and efficiency you deserve.
If you have any further questions or would like help with your St. Louis bathroom remodel, call the Mosby office at 314.909.1800 or contact us here. And for answers to other frequently asked home improvement questions, visit our Home Improvement Library.
I can speak from experience on this subject, and I am not a plumber. When my house was built, I selected one brand for all of my plumbing choices. That was in 1992. Fifteen years later, one of my shower valves developed a problem. A close friend, who is a plumber by trade, suggested that I contact the manufacturer for assistance.
I got the model information from their web site and then called them. I explained to the rep that all of my fixtures are the same brand and exactly the same age. I then asked if I should be concerned about similar failures elsewhere. She agreed and sent me four new cartridges for my sinks and four for my tub/showers. She also sent a kit of parts for my kitchen faucet that have been known to fail (simple plastic pieces). All were covered under their warranty.
I am a firm believer after my experience that you should stick with one brand for everything and pick a reputable manufacturer. More importantly, select a brand that most local plumbing contractors carry. That way, there's a good chance they'll have the parts on-hand to handle your repairs in the future.
I can assure you, no service contractor in any trade makes money having to special-order parts, not to mention their wasted time tracking them down. They make money selling large quantities of a few brands that they know and trust. Having bought mainstream fixtures would have likely meant that one of the 600 parts on his truck would have worked, that it would have been fixed in 30 minutes and you would have saved money. It makes no sense to buy the brand that is popular in Denver when your house is in Atlanta. Everything in construction is regional, from brands to practices to codes to trends. Sometimes, being a trend setter isn't a good thing.
Even if you buy junk, by all means, buy all junk. At least you'll know what you are dealing with before everything fails at the same time. I am also a believer that you get what you pay for. If you must cut corners on costs, do so in areas where you won't risk flooding or burning your house down. The price differences on good plumbing fixtures just isn't that great to make the decision difficult.
---Ed---
Are you interested in learning more about accessible handrails? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!