The Ultimate Guide to Kitchen Faucets for Multifamily Buildings

Potential buyers are willing to pay more if they feel a place can be their forever home. So it pays to make a great first impression.

A gorgeous kitchen with high-end appeal has some of the best return potential of any area in an apartment, condo, or townhouse. 

Upgrading the sink area is a cost effective way to create a luxurious kitchen space. So the faucet is a dependable investment for builders that gets great returns.

Once you hook the right residents, an enjoyable kitchen will keep them happy so they want to hang onto their unit as long as possible.

The more functional and comfortable the kitchen, the longer residents will stay in the home. 

That means steady and consistent income from your projects year over year. And an improved company reputation, which leads to more returns later. 

Can a faucet really make that much of a difference in how satisfied residents are in their home? Absolutely!

The wrong faucet can make daily tasks frustrating and messy. A spout at the wrong height can mean it’s impossible to put large cookware or tall pitchers in the sink. Or it can lead to splashing that makes washing up a mess.

But the right faucet makes it easier to do everything from prepping food to cleaning up after a meal. And that means residents can enjoy their day-to-day life and meal times with their loved ones.

Choosing a well-made faucet that’s easy to install the right way also minimizes maintenance calls, making everyone’s lives easier.

The happier residents are in the homes you built, the better your reviews and reputation will be.

It’s not just about the buyers and residents though. It’s also about making things easier on your team.

No faucet is perfect for a multifamily builder unless it’s also easy to source and easy to install.

That means it’s not the right faucet unless it comes from the right supplier.  

Picking the right brand from a quality supplier will help you avoid delays from supply chain issues. A wholesaler that offers bulk discounts and fast delivery will ensure your team has everything they need, when they need it.

Faucets that are fast and easy to install will help your team to keep things moving on deadline, without wasting your labor budget.

So you'll be able to maximize your profits while delivering stellar results.

You can see how important it is to pick the right faucet for every multifamily project. Next, let’s go over a quick checklist of how to be sure you’re getting the perfect fit every time.

Single hole kitchen faucets also have streamlined controls that work best for most homeowners.

A single, lever-style handle is the safest, most functional option for faucet controls.

Double handle faucets can be dangerous for families with children. Small kids might turn on only the hot water and burn themselves. For homes that will have children, faucets with anti-scald controls are a nice option that adds a layer of protection.

Elderly family members may have trouble gripping or twisting knobs.

Single lever controls can be used with a wrist or forearm, making them more hygienic when you’re cooking and might have grease or food on your hands.

So a single-hole faucet with a lever handle that’s easy to lift and lower is best for everyone in the family.

Finding the perfect kitchen faucet for your multifamily build starts with your basin.

If you’re using a top mount kitchen sink, the basin will dictate how many holes are available to mount your faucet. If your basin only has one hole, then you can’t use a wide set three- or four-hole kitchen faucet.

On the other hand, you can install a more compact faucet and cover any excess holes with a deck plate.

So single-hole kitchen faucets are the best choice because they’re the most versatile. You can use them with any basin. 

A single hole faucet also makes your install as fast and easy as possible. They tend to be more budget-friendly than other designs, and there are tons of options to suit every aesthetic.

So for multifamily builds where you need a faucet that will work with lots of different homes, you’ll need something that will fit every unit. That way you can order the same model for the whole project and streamline your buying process and installation.

Multifamily homes usually need at least a few ADA units that are accessible for residents with disabilities. This affects kitchen and bathroom design more than any other areas of the home.

ADA kitchen sinks need faucets to match, and most single hole designs fit the bill.

Controls on ADA kitchen faucets should hit three main requirements:

1. User can turn it on and off with less than 5 lbs of pressure.
2. User can activate it with one hand without pinching, grasping, or twisting.
3. Accessible from a seated position.

A single, lever style control fits the bill. A good rule of thumb is that if a resident can turn it on and off with the back of their wrist, one-handed and blindfolded, you’re looking at the right kind of faucet.

Let’s put all that together.

The best faucet for a multi-unit project is easy to use, easy to install, and versatile enough to fit standard and ADA kitchen sinks. 

So the best design for these builds have:

• Single hole design
• Single lever control
• Accessible design that’s easy to use for people with disabilities

For example, Allora USA’s model A-710 is a single-hole, single-lever faucet with a pull-down sprayer and a classic look

Model A-200 in stainless steel is ideal for multifamily builds because it has a sleek design that will blend in with each resident’s unique tastes.

We’ve narrowed down what configurations work best for multifamily builds. Next let’s look at spout height and how it affects the look and function of your faucet.

If your design includes a double kitchen sink with a split basin, a rotating spout is non-negotiable.

A spout that pivots to line up over either basin is essential for making both sides of the sink usable. Although it’s not strictly necessary for single kitchen sinks, a rotating spout is still helpful because the user can easily move it out of the way when needed.

A spray nozzle is the number one added feature to improve a faucet’s functionality. As mentioned above, integrated pull-out or pull-down sprayers give you the most function without taking up extra space. 

Of course, that added functionality might come with a slightly higher cost per unit. So keep that in mind when budgeting for your build.

Another great feature that’s helpful is a spout with adjustable pressure settings.

For example, a faucet may have a gentle setting that’s great for washing berries and a boost option to dislodge stuck-on debris from cookware.

Many sprayers come with adjustable settings. This is an appealing feature that makes the kitchen sink much more versatile and enjoyable to use. If you have room in the budget, of course.

For multifamily builds, there are some bells and whistles that don’t bring enough value to your project to be worth the added cost.

Touchless and touch-activated faucets are appealing for many builds, especially commercial properties. They’re easy to use–great for people with disabilities–and more hygienic than standard faucets.

However, they cost too much and take too much upkeep to be useful for most multifamily builds. The added complication of installing them with a power source can also add to the cost and slow things down.

Some of the complex components also tend to break down and malfunction over time, making them a maintenance headache for property managers.

Pot fillers are accessory spouts that can be installed near the stove or in another area of the kitchen. Because they need to be plumbed in and are usually wall-mounted, they add a lot to your labor costs and can become maintenance problems down the road.

These are great for high-end kitchen designs for custom builds, but won’t get enough ROI on most multifamily builds to be worth it.

Some faucet designs take up unnecessary space 

• Wall mounted faucets not only create dead space. They also make repairs and maintenance more difficult and costly because it’s harder to access the supply line attachments.
• Bridge faucets tend to be expensive, create dead space on the counter top, and can be hard to keep clean. 

We’ve nailed down the best design for your build that will deliver great looks and function while making your install as affordable and efficient as possible.

But there’s one more decision to make.