Black bathroom taps - coating fail?

[soxboy]

We’re looking at updating our bathroom and are considering black taps and shower.

The plumbers we had round to quote were very keen to steer us away from these as they reckon they’ve had loads of issues with powder coating peeling off after a short while - has anyone had this issue?

[John D.]

Our taps have been fine. In use since Feb 2023. The disc/cover things on the plug holes lost their coatings quickly though. Have been meaning to look for better replacements, or just swap for silver.

You do need to watch for limescale though. We are in a hardwater area so have a decent water softener.

[Rob.]

Ours are knackered after 2 years. Hard water area so limescale build up is a nuisance. Crosswater shower wasn't cheap but the coating has failed in several areas, same for the taps from Synergy Tec.

[JoshSm]

Like a lot of things it's a great finish, as long as you only plan to look at it and never actually use it.

[andy43]

I’ve looked at trendy black and brushed gold taps in B&Q etc and always wondered if they’d last.
Proper branded chrome taps for me. Goes well with the silver carpet.

[SeanyD]

All black bathroom fittings here. The only bit that flakes regularly is the plug surround in the washbasin, and when it does it looks dreadful. I re-painted it a few days ago with external gloss black metal paint, seems okay so far, but waiting to see if it lasts.

[Downward]

Yeah the waste peeled after less than 18 months. 3 year warranty so a new one sent but still needs fitting.
The taps had started to go too but we moved out since.

They may look nice but as most things now made as cheap as possible.

[Crumpet]

Yeah, did ours with black fittings in one, brushed brass in another and chrome in another.

Black is an absolute nightmare with chipping the finish (think rings caching on taps) and limescale. Brushed brass has picked up a weird tarnish, polished chrome looks like the day it was installed. All mid-range Crosswater and Burlington stuff.

Chrome. Every time.

[JoshSm]

I was always partial to a bit of proper satin chrome, but that's mostly unobtainium.

Plain chrome or variations of it always seem the reliable option if not necessarily the most decorative.

Should be possible to do a satin blackened chrome plated finish (and other colours too) but I guess a coating is much cheaper to produce.

[Downward]

Surely if you buy them you can get someone to paint them or coat them too ?

[8-P]

I have a mate who had them fitted all over his large house renovation, he has 3 kids, the taps all look terrible a few years later.

[Palmela]

andy43 said:

I ve looked at trendy black and brushed gold taps in B&Q etc and always wondered if they d last.
Proper branded chrome taps for me. Goes well with the silver carpet.

Silver carpet in a bathroom?

[Little Lofty]

You have to spend a lot to get anything that lasts, they are also harder to keep clean. My mate owns a plumbing/bathroom shop and hates it with a passion, not just taps but shower screens etc, they mark just unpacking them and he was getting loads of returns, he won’t sell the vast majority of it. It’s a bit like a black car, great when new and shiny, not so great to keep clean and un-marked.