A tub filler should be chosen alongside your bathtub. The mounting position determines where plumbing needs to go, how the spout reaches the bath and whether the faucet matches the tub's holes. Start with those practical details, then choose the finish and handle style.
This guide compares wall-mounted, floor-mounted and deck-mounted tub fillers, with a Cheviot example to help you identify what to check before ordering.
Start with the bathtub's faucet holes
Look at the exact model and configuration on your order, not just the product photograph. A bath with a continuous rim and no faucet holes needs an arrangement that mounts elsewhere. A drilled rim needs a faucet designed for that mounting surface and hole spacing.
The Sandringham Cast Iron Bathtub illustrates the difference:
- #2154: no faucet holes.
- #2163: no faucet holes.
- #2162: available with 6-inch or 7-inch centre-to-centre faucet drillings.
A 6-inch drilling and a 7-inch drilling are different configurations. Match the selected bath to the faucet's specified spread, and confirm the complete pairing with your installer. Matching the spread is one check; spout reach and mounting details still need review.
Wall-mounted tub fillers
A wall-mounted tub filler places the faucet on the wall beside the bath. Consider this arrangement when the room layout brings the bathtub close enough to a suitable wall for the selected spout to reach into the bathing area.
The important measurement is not simply the distance from the wall to the tub's outside edge. Your installer needs to account for the finished wall, the gap beside the bath and the width and shape of the rim. Review the faucet drawing against the bathtub drawing before fixing either position.
Ask your installer to confirm:
- Where the spout outlet will sit relative to the bath's rim and interior.
- Whether the controls will be comfortable to reach.
- The mounting and plumbing requirements for the exact faucet.
- How the connections can be accessed for service.
Browse the wall-mount options in Cheviot's faucet collection, then compare the specifications for your shortlist.
Floor-mounted or freestanding tub fillers
A floor-mounted tub filler stands beside the bath. It can be useful when a wall-mounted arrangement does not suit the layout, but its position needs to be planned as carefully as the bathtub's.
Allow space for the filler, the person using the controls and access around the bath. Review the base location, spout reach and outlet height together. The fixture's overall height alone does not tell you where the water will enter the tub.
Before the floor is finished, have your installer confirm the required mounting support, supply arrangement and service access. Ask which installation components are included with the selected model and which are supplied separately. Do not assume every freestanding filler uses the same mounting system.
Deck-mounted and rim-mounted tub fillers
A deck-mounted or rim-mounted arrangement places the faucet on a suitable horizontal mounting surface. Depending on the design, that may be the bath's drilled rim or a separately planned surround. Confirm which surface the specific faucet is designed to use.
For a drilled tub such as Sandringham #2162, begin with the selected 6-inch or 7-inch spacing. Then check the number and size of holes, mounting-surface requirements, spout reach and access beneath the fitting. A faucet that looks right in a photograph is not enough to establish compatibility.
If you are planning a faucet on a custom surround, coordinate the faucet and tub drawings before fabrication. Leave room for installation and future access to the connections.
Do you want a hand shower?
A hand shower is another selection decision to make before ordering. Compare the exact model's included components and controls, and consider where the hand shower rests when not in use. Ask your installer to confirm hose clearance and the installation requirements for the complete assembly.
A hand shower and an overhead shower are different features. If you want to use the bathtub for standing showers, discuss the full arrangement with your installer, including water containment and the suitability of the selected fixtures.
A checklist to use before placing your order
- Identify the bath: record its model number and faucet-hole configuration.
- Choose the mounting location: wall, floor, drilled rim or a suitable surround.
- Compare the drawings: check hole spacing where applicable, spout reach, outlet height and mounting requirements.
- Review the layout: make sure the controls are accessible and the filler does not obstruct movement around the bath.
- Confirm the complete order: check the finish, hand-shower option, included components and any separately required installation parts.
Get help matching your bathtub and tub filler
Explore Cheviot tub fillers and faucets and bathtubs together. If you are still deciding on a bath, our cast iron bathtub buying guide covers size and installation choices.
For help narrowing the options, contact Cheviot's sales team with your bathtub model, faucet-hole spacing and preferred mounting location. Include the faucet models you are considering so the conversation can focus on the combination you want.
