Brass wall-mounted outdoor tap

No cross handle or wheel here: a flat handle lifts with one finger above a cylindrical body, and a short spout, cut at an angle, tilts towards the ground. The tap is discreet on smooth render, wood cladding or raw concrete.

Matt black matches anthracite joinery, chrome reflects the light on a white facade, gold warms up a wood or pale stone wall. The wall plate has the same finish as the body, so nothing clashes.

This is the tap for new-build homes, decked terraces and mineral-style patios.

The dimensions photo gives 15 cm long, a handle of about 6.5 cm and a wall plate 5 cm in diameter. The threaded inlet is marked G1/2, i.e. 15x21: the most common format for an outdoor water outlet.

The spout is a simple draw-off spout, with no ribbed nozzle or quick connector: use it to fill a watering can or rinse boots and garden tools. For watering with a hose, a model with a nozzle will be more suitable.

Its small size also makes it handy near a front door, where a bulkier tap would get in the way.

The inlet thread screws into a 15x21 female connector coming out of the wall. PTFE tape, tighten with a spanner holding the body and not the handle, then the wall plate slides against the facade to hide the hole.

In autumn, shut off the water inside the house, lift the handle and let the spout drain completely.

On the chrome and gold versions, a microfibre cloth wipes away limescale marks without scratching; on the black, a damp cloth is enough. In spring, close the handle before turning the water back on, then check that the connection stays dry.