Wall-mounted outside tap

Facades have darkened: anthracite joinery, black cladding, grey render. A yellow brass tap looks out of place there; this one, entirely black, disappears. Only the lever axle shows a hint of brass, as a detail.

The supplier states it is brass, under a black finish. It suits a spot near a garage door, against a terrace wall or next to an outdoor kitchen, anywhere you want a water point that goes unnoticed. The photos show it from several angles, with the lever open and closed.

The lever measures about 92 mm according to the dimensions photo. Open in the centre, it gives plenty of leverage: you open and close it in one move, with no wheel to turn, even with gardening gloves on.

On the side of the spout, a small lug with a hole faces the lever. A padlock threaded through it stops the water being turned on in your absence: useful on a wall accessible from the street or in a holiday let. Bring your own padlock, with a thin shackle: it isn't among the items listed.

The tap measures about 110 mm long by 80 mm high; the inlet thread is about 20 mm. The product sheet does not give the size: check your female supply, 15x21 or 20x27, before ordering, then fit it with PTFE tape on the thread.

The quick-connect nozzle takes the garden hose without tools. At the end of October, close the upstream valve, open the lever to drain the body and unhook the hose: the tap spends the winter empty, lever open, and is back in service in two moves in spring.