The key to creating the right feel in any room is attention to detail, so I was pleased to be asked to try the Sol basin mixer tap from Soakology.
A British company, based in (rather pleasingly) Bath, Soakology have their own design team and create products for the UK market. They then outsource the manufacturing to third party specialists. According to Soakology, these manufacturers are often the same people employed by high end, big budget brands, with the aim of creating high quality products at lower prices.
Soakology say, “Whether it’s focusing on the plating of one of our taps or examining the wood finish on one of our cabinets we are always trying to get the products just right for our customers.”
As well as taps, they also offer bathroom suites, bathroom furniture, heating and accessories such as mirrors.
I tried the Sol basin monoblock mixer tap, £106.80, in chrome. Although there are a couple of traditional designs in the tap range, many of the Soakology designs are contemporary and would be best suited to a more modern decor.
When the box arrived, it contained the tap itself, two flexible hoses and a box of fixtures and fittings. As a little bonus, there was also a white hand towel included in the pack, complete with the Soakology logo.
The box also contained installation instructions that looked clear and easy to follow – fortunately, I wasn’t going to have to! The tap was destined for a downstairs cloakroom where we were having a complete refurb, so I was able to ask my plumber to install the tap as well.
I asked him what he thought of the tap and fittings in their box. “Looks fine,” he said. “Is that kettle on yet?” Hmmm, obviously a man of few words – I decided to wait until the tap was in situ before looking at it again.
Once installed, the tap fitted in well with the plain, simple white sink we’d chosen. It was easy to operate, and there was no stiffness of movement in the handle – it moved smoothly up and down, and locked at whatever position I’d chosen to regulate the water flow.
Overall, I thought this was a really nice product and I was impressed with Soakology’s attention to detail.
The tap came neatly packed in a soft bag so that it wouldn’t scratch in transit, and although I didn’t have to use them I thought the instructions were clearly written and explained with diagrams. I particularly liked the neat little engraved ‘H’ and ‘C’ notations on each side of the handle to show which way to turn it, as they didn’t spoil the look and sleek line of the tap.
In the interests of presenting a balanced review I always try to investigate any possible downsides, but in this case I honestly couldn’t find any.
My plumber had no problems with the installation, and commented on how nice and heavy the tap was. My only comment would be that the highly shiny surface tended to show up fingerprints, but it only needed a wipe with a soft cloth to keep it looking nice.
Over a week after installation, the tap’s been in constant use. I’ve been cleaning it with water only as per the manufacturer’s aftercare instructions, and it still looks pristine. Overall, not the cheapest tap on the market but a really nice quality for the price.
By Sara Walker
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