I debated that myself. And FINALLY decided on the separate sprayer. It's all I ever had anyway and this one is sooo cute and works wonderfully. It is by Fusion Hardware, Bordeaux faucet (in ORB).

I bought this faucet a year ago and just had it installed a few weeks ago. Absolutely love it. And the sprayer is NOT one of those cheap plasticy ones .... it has a real hefty feel to it. Hope this helps ;)

jody

I prefer side sprayers too. I can't really explain why but it just seems more natural and less cumbersome to me.

Oh man, we side spray fans are really falling out of the closet today.

I much prefer the look of a spigot without a pullout spray. People who have had pull down or pull out sprays seem to adore them on the ground of functionality, but it looks awkward for my uses.

HATE side spray. I've been using the only pulldown faucet I've ever used for only 5 days now. I sooooo love it. Plus I love not having the extra "thing" and hole on my counter.

I wanted one less thing to clean around at the sink and went with a pull out with sprayer. The big advantage I found is the spray is stronger on the faucet which is great for spraying greens, cleaning the sink etc.

Have a sie sprayer on main sink and pull down o veggie sink. Can't wait to get rid of the side sprayer and replace with a second pulldown!!

1) Agree with Breezy - 1 less hole in the countertop, so makes room for soap dispenser (or nothing), just less busy and cluttered

2) Agree with eandhl - less thing to clean, plus 1 less thing to drip water from onto your counters (my granite has absorbed a lot of water and darkened)

3) Pull down has a waaaay stronger spray stream in my experience

4) You can do it all with 1 hand, no fidgeting with the side sprayer

5) The nickel finish on my side sprayer (not cheap, some good German brand, can't remember the name) is starting to peel from constant in-and-out wear and tear. This isn't an issue with any pulldown I've ever had

I appreciate hearing from both sides. Speaking of more holes in the countertop, I need an air gap (don't know if this is just a California thing or not), so if I go with a separate sprayer, I'll have three holes and things to clean around. Makes me go hmmmmm.

I have a pull down (my first) and I really like it a lot. Better than the side ones I've always had before. One less thing to clean around and they always seemed to have a less durable finish than the faucets, or at least mine did. I also like that the hose doesn't get caught on things under the sink like my last side spray (cleaning out the undersink area didn't occur to me til now). FWIW, I had to buy the faucet that I have because I used a vintage farm sink and this was the only one that would fit, but still I really like it.

Went back to the store and looked some more. Ended up going with my first choice (pull-down), Hansgrohe Talis C.

linelle,
i have the hansgrohe talis c and i absolutely love it!!. the spray is wonderful and it "goes back" so easily. it also has a magnetic catch so it always sits nice, no hanging out like my other faucet.

spray stays on without holding button, which is a nice feature.

i did get some splashing when i first used it, but have now gotten use to flow rate, so all is good.

would not change it. also, love my finish in rubbed bronze!!

so much better than side sprayer for all above stated reasons. relax on this decision, its a good one.

hth

If you are getting a side spray, make a plan ahead of time--which side of faucet will it go on? Then TELL someone.

I made [unsaid] decision as to where both my sink sprays went--on the right, natch! because we're both right-handed; DH installed both on opposite. I came home, the installation was done and he wanted praise. I should have slugged him! Instead, I mumbled something and got busy cleaning toilets.

I am always unhappy with the position of the sprays because I have to cross arms--my right hand that is used to turning on faucet should move over to grab the spray but since it has to go to left where the faucet is now running, it's messy so I grab the spray with awkward left hand, start the spray, then change hands. Not ergonomic. DH MIGHT remember that I wanted him to swap the soap dispenser and the sprays but he acts like it will never happen. I am afraid it's becoming a moot point.
___

I chose side spray after visiting Ikea at the end of a busy Saturday had rendered a couple of the demo faucet sprays obscene, lolling down from the heights in a way I knew I could not tolerate in my kitchen. I went to Menards and saw similar dead goose necks hanging down only more awful (esp. the cheap ones). I don't care if you can guide the hanging spray thing back into position and make everything okay--I don't want to EVER see that in my house.

My sprays may be awkwardly positioned but at least they don't hang down from the faucet on their own accord. And my faucets are always ready to serve me without messing with them.

No! You don't need an air gap!! There are a few ways around the hideous air gap. First, ask your plumber if he can do a high-loop or a Johnsons T. Those two methods replace replicate the air gap function and eliminate the need for the air gap on the counter.

OR, have your plumber put the air gap in a hole meant for the soap dispenser. Then, after you pass inspection, have him take out the air gap and put the soap dispenser in the hole. Many of us here, including me, have done this. If you search past threads, you'll find lots of info. Modern DW have safeties built-in to negate the need for an air gap. I think that building codes will catch up someday and the required gap will be eliminated from code.

sprtphntc, so glad to hear you love your Talis C! Never did I think I'd pay that much for a faucet! Maybe I'll become a spray person after all. I'm getting the steel optik finish. ORB is gorgeous, but probably wouldn't work for me.

breezygirl, air gaps are hideous. I had no idea what the one on my current sink was meant to do. I will ask my GC if his plumber can do either of the methods you suggest. If there is insistence, I'm just gonna take the path of least resistance. I don't plan to have a soap dispenser, so one extra hole is as good as another.

This is untrue, false, not correct: "Modern DW have safeties built-in to negate the need for an air gap."

This is because the anti-backflow valve is a minor, unguaranteed, thingie. In those DW's which are manufactured with it.

Whether air gaps are necessary is another subject, which I am not addressing here.

I find side sprays really awkward to use. However, some of my favorite faucets have a side spray. But since the kitchen faucet is the most used faucet in the house, I had to go with function over form and get a pull down.

No side sprayer. Single handle faucet with pull down sprayer is my preference. I like less clutter.

I realize you have already made your decision but in case someone else is pondering this and reads through the thread... I have always had a side sprayer and a GOOD one for the last 6 years. I like it so much better than my MIL pull down (maybe her's is just cheap, I don't know) but the MAIN reason I like the side sprayer is b/c frequently it seems like I am using the side spray and then the DH comes over and just needs a quick spurt of water in a glass or to wash his hand or a utensil (I don't even know what really) and I just let the thumb button goes, he gets the water he needs out of the main faucet and 2 seconds later he is out of the way and I am back to doing what I need to with the sprayer. This wouldn't be the case with a pull down spray b/c I'd have to switch it to the other setting (which never goes well when I try it on my MILs) and had it over to him, etc etc. Might sound silly but it impacted my decision.

I went from a pulldown in the old kitchen (Grohe) to a side spray in the new kitchen. (Perrin & Rowe bridge faucet.) I liked the pull down function but hated the Grohe faucet. I made the decision on the bridge faucet based on aesthetics. It took a short time to get used to the side spray. But I love the faucet-- it seems so much more solid and well made than others I looked at. After having used the new side spray faucet for several months I am used to it and it doesn't feel at all like a give up with respect to functionality.

HATE pulldown. I had one in a previous home and all I ever did was complain about it. I am going with a side spray.

I have both.... both from Grohe Bridgeford line. I really wanted a bridge faucet so that one has a side spray. As it turns out, I think the pull-down is much more convenient and easier to use. If I could do it all over again, I might go with two (good quality) pull-downs....

For the record, the pressure on the bridge faucet side spray is intense. The pulldown has an aerator built-in to the faucet which reduces the pressure.

Also, in a previous home, my pulldown faucet was cheap and I hated it. I think the brand/faucet can make a difference.

I hate side sprays. I've had trouble with them leaking or not having enough spray power. We have a pull out faucet (Grohe Lady Lux). I like that I can put it on spray to use in place leaving both hands free for a task.

Ditto Cloud_Swift! I can also aim the head of my pull down faucet in any direction and use it.

I also really, really dislike having to hold down the lever in a side spray to keep the spray going.

I'm not sure I understand the issue when someone needs water, simply move your hands (or whatever) out of the way & let the person use the faucet...does it have to be changed from spray to stream? My DH uses the spray for just about everything. (I use the pull out at the prep sink most often, also on spray.) However, switching is just a quick push & it's switched.

I have been following the forums and trying to decide on the right faucet for our kitchen remodel. I really wanted a pull down or pull out style to keep the area clean looking.

My concern is sending my main tap water through the plastic tubing as I am trying to avoid plastic for my drinking and cooking water.

I am not sure if anyone still uses flexible steel (a bit harder to maneuver) - Grohe uses plastic with braided steel.

Not sure about Franke or any of the others. I assume the lower end companies do use plastic - it is easier to maneuver.

Thoughts?

PS - Feel free to tell me your favorite faucet :-)

A2gemini, all of our water is in plastic tubing - from the water plant to our home 3 miles away. The large diameter pipes along our roadside are all a plastic material, I saw them put them in 10 years ago when we went from well water to a rural water supply company. So I wouldn't think you are able to avoid plastic in your water supply.

Good point. Our house has copper plumbing but didn't think about the upstream. I am sure you are right. Bummer. I kept thinking of this all night (and you can tell I didn't sleep too much by the times) and came up with an idea of installing 2 Grohe K4 - one with a pull out/down for the main part of the sink and then a drinking version K4 over the other section(I am getting the Blanco SG cascade - one drain but has kind of a prep area to the side)
I am sure I have a lifetime of plastic and teflon in my system already.
Thanks!