Can you not change to the faucet to one with a different type of handle or is that one you especially want to use? There are countless single handle faucet options. Most faucets come with an optional deck plate to cover in the case of three countertop holes already being cut.

I hadn't thought of that option. The rest of the house has the two handle one faucet set up and I would like to have it consistent. Thanks for the suggestion.

The fabricators had to fit the bowl into the cavity in the vanity, so maybe they moved the bowl back to clear something in the front of the cabinet. Nobody knows without a direct inspection. The backsplash looks like a standard thickness, and the bezel around the faucet is not oversized.

Bruce

This Kohler Caxton undermount sink, for example, states that the faucet is to be placed 2-1/2" from the rear edge of the sink basin. For an ADA-recommended installation*, it specifies 3" between the basin and the front edge of the countertop. Use of these measurements would allow an additional 1-1/8" behind the faucet.

*I'm not implying you need this

Thanks for your responses . The fabricator came today and agreed that the faucet and taps are too close to the backsplash. He suggested that he grinds the holes a bit larger toward the sink in order to push them forward and away from the splash ? Any thoughts on this solution?

Doesn't seem like a great solution. I don't know what faucet you have but using this as an example, you can see that the lock nut isn't much larger in diameter than the countertop hole; it could be pulled into the hole when tightened instead of being pulled tight against the underside of the countertop as it's supposed to be. Also, the faucet could jiggle around in the enlarged hole if it became even slightly loose. Finally, there isn't much distance between the threaded portion of the faucet (that extends through the hole) and the body of the faucet. If the hole were enlarged too much, the hole might no longer be covered by the faucet. I would imagine the faucet couldn't be pulled forward more than, say, 1/4".

"The fabricator came today and agreed that the faucet and taps are too close to the backsplash."

Sounds like he owes you a new top. I would not agree to him hogging out the holes. And as you said what will that gain you 1/4" - 3/8" max?

One possible solution is to re-set the handles. There should be a set screw on each, and you could loosen them, lift off the handles, and position them further away from the backsplash.

And to think I worried that I had set the sink too close to the postformed backsplash in this powder room!

If the fabricator doesn't provide a new top, just switch to a single handle faucet, as suggested above. There is absolutely no need or requirement to have all taps in a home the same.

@worthy: "just switch to a single handle faucet"

She'd also need an escutcheon to cover the unneeded holes in the countertop which may not fit in the small space between the holes and the backsplash.

This is the view of the vanity today after the fabricator moved the taps forward in the existing holes as much as he could. It made a marginal difference between the backsplash and the taps. He as mentioned wants to return and drill the holes larger so he can move them closer to the sink.

That's an immaterial improvement, and drilling bigger holes is not going to help much either. I still say that you should rotate the handles forward, say 30-45 degrees. It's a practical solution, and won't cause an esthetic appearance problem either.

The drywall behind the backsplash can be cut out and the backsplash pushed back. That will give you additional clearance of whatever the thickness of the drywall is, say 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch.

Most single-handle faucets come with escutcheon plates designed to cover a standard three-hole basin. And besides the clearance problem mentioned by wdccruise, you will have to do some careful measuring choosing a single-handle, as the backsplash might interfere with the arc of the handle in motion. Makes it all very hard to order on-line.

Nice looking counter in any case.

As long as the escutcheon still covers and waterproofs, he can move the holes forward.

Elongating the holes, not making them larger in diameter.

I believe you can set the handles so they sit farther forward. when you turn them on, they won't hit the back. Some faucets will let you adjust the handle position. of course they will be at the 7 and 5 o clock position when they're off, but they shouldn't hit the back when turned on.

If he can't fix to where you're satisfied, I believe he owes you a new top. He should have foreseen the positioning if he installed it.

or, just switch to something like this.

Beth-

Yes...a suggestion I've made twice...to the sound of crickets ;-)

Thanks for all the comments. While the repositioning of the handles would help with hitting the splash aesthetically having them at a 5 and 7 position isn't something we would like . We are going through the other suggestions and comments but feel that we have had the fabricators move the taps and faucet as far forward in the holes as possible and that it made little difference so that a new counter is the likely direction now.

BC, is there a reason why you don't want a single handle? those close-set 3 hole faucets are rather dated looking, and make it so difficult to clean. so many nice singles, can't understand why you're married to the close-set, and would rather go through the hassle of a whole new countertop.

have the install guy pony up and get a nice single hole w/the plate to cover the 3 holes and be done with it.

just make sure you get the one w/the plate.

Builder ruined that piece of countertop. They should have shown you what it would look like before cutting any holes. I just measured my 4 sinks. The distance from the edge of the counter top to the opening ranges from 2 inches to 4.75 inches. My strong preference is for the sink to be closer to where I stand so I don't have to bend waaaaay over to reach the faucets.

b c-

I hear your concern that moving the handle position is an esthetic concern. However, let me also suggest that your view may be based on how you think the handles should be placed...as if there is only one correct way. In my guest bathroom I actually have a 2-handle setup much like yours except I have plenty of clearance. However, I reset each of the handles at an angle because they didn’t line up perfectly in a straight line, and now you can’t tell that there is a difference in how the handles set. To me nothing looks odd about it...and I have yet to have a single guest ask me about the position of the handles. ;-)