I've read previous posts about recommendations for kitchen faucets -- thanks. Wondering if there's anything new we should consider in buying a new pull-down faucet. We are getting laminate countertops installed with an integrated undermount sink and so will need a new faucet.

We'll be visiting a local plumbing supply house in a few days to see what they have to offer. Are Delta, Moen and Kohler still the most reliable? I'm willing to spend up to $400 or $500 for a reliable faucet. I'm mostly concerned about preventing water leaks around the countertop.

Also: We found a plumber (friend recommended) about six months ago who we really love. But the countertop installer has a plumber who works with them a lot on this type of installation. Since installing this type of faucet in laminate might be unusual, we would be more comfortable in using the countertop installer's plumber for this job. But I would like to contact our regular plumber for his advice in what faucet we should choose. Is that at all advisable? I don't want to insult him by asking his advice but not hiring him for this particular job. But the next time we call him for a job, he's going to notice the new counter/faucet anyway. And we'd be calling him if there's any problem with the faucet in the future. I'd appreciate your guidance.

You would do fine with any of your listed faucets. Have you considered the "touch" faucets? Pretty cool. As far as a conflict between plumbers, don't let that worry you. Your regular guy knows that contractors have their own 'go to' plumbers. HO's supplying their own faucets these days is a fact of the plumbing life. The HO assumes all the risk, and we charge for any follow-up problems associated with correcting problems with their faucet.

Thanks, M&M. The countertop installers (they're actually making the counters, too) told us we need to supply the faucet, so that's why we're going shopping. I know to make sure the valves have ceramic discs, not plastic. I'm not sure we need anything as fancy as the touchless. A friend has one and says she loves it in the kitchen, but the problem is whenever she's at another sink, she tries touching the faucet and nothing happens.

how do they install an undermount sink in a laminate counter?

does your faucet mount in the sink or thru the laminate?

quote: how do they install an undermount sink in a laminate counter?

VERY carefully, and even then delamination can occur because of splashing.

I have seen a couple laminated countertops with undermount sinks. The sinks are not your normal off-the-shelf sinks. Rather, the sinks are made of a synthetic material and have a special flange that is "let" into the side edge of the countertop first, then anchored (glued/epoxyed?) Then the laminate is brought down over the flange. Seems to be watertight.

The faucet drilling has a waterproof sleeve placed into it.