Replacing a kitchen tap is one of the most cost-effective ways to refresh a London kitchen. This guide covers the main kitchen tap types, what installation involves, and the pricing for supply and fit across London.
Kitchen Tap Styles and What They Offer
Kitchen tap choice has expanded significantly over the past decade. The traditional pillar tap pair — separate hot and cold taps — has largely been replaced by single-lever monobloc mixer taps in modern London kitchens. Beyond the standard mixer, a range of specialist tap types address specific kitchen needs. Understanding the options helps you choose the right tap before purchasing or engaging a plumber.
A standard monobloc kitchen mixer combines hot and cold water in a single body with a single spout. The lever or handle controls both temperature and flow. These taps are highly practical, easy to operate with one hand, and available in a wide range of styles from utilitarian to architectural. They fit through a single 35mm tap hole — the standard configuration in modern kitchen sinks and worktops.
Pull-Out Spray Taps
A pull-out spray tap incorporates a retractable hose inside the tap body that can be extended to reach all areas of the sink, a large pot on the adjacent worktop, or a colander in the bowl. The spray head typically has two modes: a standard stream and a wide spray pattern for rinsing. Pull-out spray taps are particularly useful in London kitchen extensions and open-plan kitchen-diners where the sink is used heavily. They require a flexible internal hose and a weight that returns the hose to the tap body when released. Installation is the same as a standard monobloc — single tap hole, flexi supply hoses under the sink.
3-in-1 and Boiling Water Taps
Boiling water taps (Quooker, Zip HydroTap, InSinkErator) combine hot, cold, and instant boiling water in a single tap body. A 4-in-1 version adds filtered cold water. The under-sink tank unit heats and stores water at 100 degrees Celsius under pressure. These taps require a cold water supply to the tank, an electrical socket inside the base unit, and a filter cartridge replacement every 12 months in London hard water. The tap itself passes through the standard 35mm tap hole. Installation time is 2 to 4 hours due to the additional tank and electrical connection. Cost starts from £400 for supply and fit, excluding the appliance cost.
What Kitchen Tap Replacement Involves
Replacing a kitchen tap starts with isolating the hot and cold supplies under the sink using the isolation valves. If no isolation valves are present, the cold supply is shut off at the kitchen stopcock and the hot supply at the cylinder or boiler. The existing flexi-hose connections are unscrewed from the isolation valves. The back nut securing the tap body from beneath the sink is removed using a basin wrench — a long-handled cranked tool specifically designed for the confined space under a kitchen sink. The old tap is withdrawn from above. The new tap is fitted with new flexi supply hoses, the back nut is tightened from below, the hoses are connected to the isolation valves, and the supply is restored with checks for leaks.
Tap Hole Sizes and Compatibility
Most modern London kitchen sinks and granite or composite worktops have a standard 35mm tap hole for a monobloc mixer. If replacing separate pillar taps on a sink with two or three tap holes, the additional holes must be covered with a bridge plate or blanked with a hole cover. We carry standard cover plates in polished chrome and brushed steel. Where a sink has no tap hole (an undermount sink set into a worktop), the tap is fitted through the worktop — this requires a core drill of the correct diameter for the tap body, typically 35mm to 40mm depending on the tap. Prestige Engineers fit kitchen taps across all London boroughs with typical next-day availability. Contact us for kitchen tap supply and fit or to fit a tap you have already purchased.