9 brass garden taps, from €21.90 to €64.90
A garden tap stays outside all year round: you choose it for its material as much as for its look. This selection brings together 9 brass models, from the double-outlet tap at €21.90 to the aged cross-head model at €64.90. Brass is a material: depending on the model, it stays bare, gold or aged, or it is covered with a chrome, black, grey or red finish.
Brass, zinc or stainless steel: check the material
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc. A gold tap isn't necessarily made of brass, and a brass tap isn't necessarily gold: the colour says nothing about the material. On a chrome, black or red brass tap, the material is under the finish. To be sure, read the "Material" line on the product page.
Chrome-plated brass or bare brass?
- Chrome-plated brass: a brass tap covered in chrome, shiny and silver, which matches chrome tapware. This is the case with the Brass Garden Tap and the Brass Wall-Mounted Garden Tap.
- Bare or aged brass: the colour of the metal stays visible, golden or darker; this is the brass finish of the two aged models. It darkens over time and develops a patina.
- A coloured finish: black, grey or red, to match the tap to a shutter, a door or a fence.
Single-handle models
5 taps from €29.90 to €47.90, which differ mainly in their finish:
- Brass Garden Tap: €29.90, in chrome-plated brass.
- Brass outdoor tap: €29.90, gold finish.
- Brass wall-mounted garden tap: €29.90, in chrome-plated brass.
- Brass outside tap: €29.90, red finish.
- Brass wall-mounted outdoor tap: €47.90, in black, chrome or gold.
All wall-mounted models, whatever the material, are on the page wall-mounted outdoor taps.
The frost-proof model
The Brass frost-proof outdoor tap (€29.90, grey finish) is designed, according to its data sheet, to protect the installation against frost. The other frost-proof models are grouped on the page frost-proof tap.
Aged, cross-head or double outlet
- Brass double-outlet garden tap with quarter-turn lever: €21.90, two water outlets.
- Antique brass garden tap with cross handle, long or short spout: €39.90, ball valve and ceramic valve core according to the data sheet, with a choice of long or short spout.
- Antique brass double-outlet garden tap with cross handles: €64.90, ball valve, two water outlets.
The aged look suits a stone façade or a fountain. More models, in all materials, are on the page garden taps.
Handle, cross-head or quarter-turn lever?
The handle changes how you open the water. A cross-head is easy to grip, even with gardening gloves. A quarter-turn lever, as on the €21.90 double-outlet model, opens or closes the water in one movement: this is the principle of the ball valve, which the data sheets of the two aged models also state. To see each handle up close, and see the details of the outlet, open the product page.
Which tap should you choose for the garden?
Start from how you will use it:
- Watering or rinsing with a single hose: a single-handle model, from €29.90 to €47.90.
- Two uses at the same water point: a double-outlet tap, one outlet for the garden hose, the other for a second connector.
- A cold winter: the frost-proof model.
- A garden with a traditional style: an aged cross-head model.
Connector, thread and garden hose
The tap connects to the water supply on one side and to the garden hose on the other. Before buying, check three points:
- The inlet thread: measure the one on the old tap or on the pipe, note whether it is male or female, and compare it with the thread given on the product page. A male thread screws into a female fitting, a male fitting into a female thread. Tap threads are most often expressed in inches: the details are on each product page, which is why it is best to measure the old fitting before ordering. On this page, the data sheet of 3 of the 9 models states a 1/2 inch connector.
- The pipe connection: on a copper or multilayer pipe, a suitable fitting connects the pipe to the tap; if the threads differ, an adapter fitting makes the join. Depending on the location, an elbow or a fixed fitting directs the pipe towards the tap.
- The outlet: a quick-release garden hose connector screws onto the outlet; on a double-outlet model, allow for two connectors, one per outlet. Brass connectors go well with a brass tap. To connect two hoses to a single tap, a Y-connector also exists; a double-outlet model avoids this accessory.
The stop tap, before winter
A stop tap fitted indoors, on the same pipe, lets you cut off the garden water without cutting off the whole house. Before the frosts, close this stop tap, open the garden tap to drain the pipe, then leave it open. In spring, close the handle again before reopening the stop tap.
Where should you fit a garden tap?
Place the water point near the areas to be watered, to avoid dragging long hoses. Fix the tap to a solid support, a wall or low wall, so that it doesn't move when you pull on the hose. At knee height, it lets a watering can or bucket fit under the outlet. On a façade, plan the pipe and the indoor stop tap from the construction stage or at the time of the building work, and a frost-proof model if the wall is exposed to the cold.
How do you replace a garden tap?
For safety, turn off the water upstream and open the tap to drain the pipe. Unscrew the old model with a spanner, clean the thread, apply sealing tape to the thread of the new one, then screw it in, with the outlet pointing downwards. Turn the water back on and check there are no leaks. Fitting height and choice of connector are covered in our article on fitting an outdoor tap.
Brass garden tap FAQ
Does a brass tap rust?
Brass contains no iron: it doesn't rust. It can oxidise on the surface and darken, which doesn't affect its use. A chrome or coloured finish protects it from this look.
Do you need a frost-proof tap?
In a region where it freezes, the water left in the tap and the pipe can freeze and burst the body. A frost-proof tap, or failing that a closed indoor stop tap and a pipe drained each winter, avoids this risk. The frost-proof model on this page is the Brass Frost-Proof Outdoor Tap at €29.90.
Long spout or short spout?
The long spout moves the water away from the wall and leaves more room for a watering can; the short spout stays discreet. The aged brass cross-head garden tap comes in both versions, at the same price.
Where can you find a brass outdoor tap?
On this page: 9 outdoor taps from €21.90 to €64.90, 8 of which their data sheet states are brass, single-handle, cross-head, frost-proof or double-outlet. The brass models for the kitchen and bathroom are on our brass tap page, mentioned below.
Maintenance
A damp cloth and a little soap are enough. Avoid abrasive products, which scratch the finish. Bare brass darkens over time: this is the look that the aged models are after.
All models for outdoors, brass or not, are on the page outdoor tapware, and all the brass tapware for the home in brass tap.
