Aerator - A device screwed into the end of a faucet spout that mixes air into flowing water, and controls flow to reduce splashing. It sometimes contains a baffle to reduce flow to 2.5gpm.

 

Amber - A fossilized plant resin, not tree sap. It drips from trees and fills crevices, trapping debris such as seeds, leaves, feathers and insects. The resin then becomes buried and fossilized through a natural polymerization of the original organic compounds, presenting a seemingly plastic veneer. In actuality authentic amber does not appear synthetic at all. If you can, imagine hardened tree sap on the side of a tree. That is Amber… "nature’s plastic."

 

Apron Front - The front of the sink is exposed. This replaces the top portion of the cabinet over the doors.  Also called, “farm sinks” or “farm house sinks”.

 

Bridge Faucet - These faucets have an exposed elevated cross bar (bridge) between the hot & cold handles to which the spout is attached. Available for kitchen, bar & bath. Also available in 4 inch or 8 inch on center (see center spread or widespread). Some have adjustable centers, depending on the construction of the “bridge”.

 

Centerset - Style of bathroom faucet having combined spout and handles, with handles 4 inches apart, center-to-center. Also a single-handle faucet installed on 4 inches center-to-center faucet holes.

 

Center Spread - A small scale faucet with separate hot and cold handles, typically used for “pre-drilled” applications where the holes are placed at four inches on center. These faucets are three separate parts under the sink or countertop, and the handles can be spaced from 4” to 16” apart. Also called a “mini-widespread”.

Dishwasher Air Gap - A device mounted at the back of a kitchen sink, connecting to the drain line between a dishwasher and disposer to allow the dishwasher to discharge freely into the disposer while preventing contaminated water from siphoning back into the dishwasher. Can be any unobstructed vertical opening between the lowest opening of a waste line and the flood level of the device into which it empties to relieve pressure and prevent backflow contamination.

 

Escutcheon - A decorative metal flange or trim shield beneath a faucet handle that covers the faucet stem and the hole in the fixture or wall or countertop.  Escutcheons are used in any application which requires a large hole be made to install a product, such as plumbing or door hardware or to cover an existing hole which isn’t being used.

 

Fire & Ice finish - Applied to the apron only of the Custom Sinks by Rachiele copper sinks.  A chemical is applied to the apron, and is then set on fire.  After a few minutes, ice is thrown onto the sink to put out the fire.  The result, a totally unique sink!  You can see an example here.

 

Grid Drain - These are available for bar sinks, lavatories and tubs.

Lavatory (Lav) - A fixed bowl or basin with running water and drainage for washing. Bathroom application.

 

Lift & Turn Drain - Available for lavatories and tubs, these drains have a knob on the top of the drain plug, which you operate manually.

 

Living finish - Weathered Copper, Weathered Brass, Rust, Verde Green and a true Oil Rubbed Bronze are examples of “living” finishes. These do not have a protective coating and will age and wear down. This door hardware in our office is Oil Rubbed Bronze, you can see that after several years of use, the dark finish has completely disappeared around the edges of the knobs.

 

Mini-widespread or Center Spread Faucets - A special style of bathroom lavatory faucet having separate spout and handles but small enough to fit 4" center to center faucet holes.

 

Monoblock Faucet - This is a single hole faucet with separate hot and cold handles positioned on the sides of the faucet body.

 

Patina - A colorful veneer formed on copper and bronze after long exposure to the elements.  See a perfect example

 

Point of use Faucet - A low volume faucet typically used for filtered water. This water can also be heated or chilled.

 

Polymerization - A chemical reaction in which one or more small molecules combine to form larger molecules.

 

Pop-up Waste - The drain plug in the bottom of a tub or lavatory that is opened and closed by a lift rod, trip lever or cable.
 

Pressure Balance Valve - Shower mixing valve that automatically maintains balance between incoming hot and cold water supplies by immediately regulating fluctuations in pressure. As a result, temperature remains constant. though the outlet pressure may drop. Also know as an anti-scald valve.

 

Self-rimming - The outer rim of the sink or lavatory that sits on top of the counter. Traditionally there is a faucet deck on the rim to mount the faucet. It is becoming more “fashionable” to mount the faucet behind the sink in the countertop, even in this type of application.

 

Single hole faucet - All of the plumbing supplies for hot and cold water are connected directly into the bottom of the faucet body. These faucets can be used in most pre-drilled sinks, occasionally they do require a larger than normal hole size so it’s best to verify dimensions prior to ordering. With the addition of an escutcheon plate, these can be used in 4” or 8” center applications.

 

Sink - A stationary basin connected with a drain and water supply for washing and drainage. Kitchen application.

 

Supply Kit - Usually a kit of all parts needed to connect a faucet or toilet to the pipes coming out to the wall. Usually includes stop valves, water connectors and escutcheons.

 

Supply Stop - The valve controlling water supply to a toilet or faucet

 

Thermostatic Valve - Pressure-balancing shower mixing valve with automatic temperature control. When temperature or pressure fluctuations occur at the water inlets, a thermal actuator adjusts the hot and cold ratio to maintain the original temperature setting.

Undermount - The outer rim of the sink or lavatory is mounted under the countertop. Typically the faucet is mounted into the countertop in this application.

Vitreous China - Ceramic materials fired at high temperature to form a non-porous body, having exposed surfaces coated with ceramic glaze fused to the body. This is used to form bathroom fixtures such as toilets, bidets, and lavs.

 

Widespread - A style of bathroom lavatory faucet with separate spout and handles that are generally 8" from center to center of each handle.  Models with separate handles can be spaced from 6” to 16” apart.