Bao diamond embossed basin buying guide
This page holds the Bao Round 380mm Above Counter Diamond Embossed Basin in matte white textured. It is a ceramic basin with a speckled, textured exterior that the listing says looks and feels like concrete, and a brushed finish inside. It sits on top of the bench, has no tap hole and no overflow, and is sold without a plug and waste. The guide below covers the numbers the listing gives, what diamond embossed and concrete-look mean here, how the basin compares with a real concrete one, which taps suit it, how it is fixed, the heights to plan around, and how to clean a textured surface. It also lists what to ask the supplier, because some details are not published. Every fact below names its source: the listing, a maker sheet or a guide, and conflicts between sources are stated.
The basin in numbers
The listing gives a length of 380mm and a width of 380mm, an overall height of 145mm, and a height above the benchtop of 145mm. The depth is 110mm and the water capacity is 15 litres. The listing says the 380 by 380mm size will suit most vanity sizes. The material is ceramic, the finish is matte white with a textured, speckled surface, and the inner basin has a brushed finish. Tap holes are none, with the note that it suits wall mounted or tower basin mixers. Overflow is non-overflow only, and the plug and waste are sold separately, with an invitation to match them to your tapware.
The 145mm height above the bench is the number that decides most of the install, and it is a tall basin for its width. A listing for the plain Bao Round 360mm gives 365mm by 365mm by 120mm and 12 litres, and the Bao Classic 310mm is 155mm high and holds 4 litres. The diamond embossed round holds more water than the plain round because its bowl is deeper, and it stands 25mm higher. See Bao basins for the rest of the range and above counter basins for the mounting type.
What diamond embossed means here
The listing calls the surface a unique embossed design with a textured, speckled finish, and names it diamond embossed in the title. It does not describe the pattern beyond that, and no outside page does. Another seller's basin called Diamond is listed as a ceramic with a distinctive patterned texture in white gloss and 360mm square, and that page does not describe the pattern either. So treat diamond embossed as a raised or recessed pattern across the exterior that you will see in the product photos, and ask the supplier for a close-up photo if the pattern matters to the design.
The speckle is the other half of the finish. The listing says the texture is similar to concrete and the design is speckled with a natural feel. Sellers describe another maker's matte speckled basins as hand-cast and coloured by hand, so each is unique and may differ from the pictures. That is a different maker's process, and the Bao listing says nothing about how its speckle is made or whether pieces vary. If an exact match to a photo or to a second basin matters, ask the supplier whether the speckle varies from piece to piece.
Concrete-look ceramic compared with real concrete
The listing's claim is the look and feel of a concrete basin with the reliability of ceramic. It helps to know what that trade is. Real concrete basins are porous materials that need a sealer. A care guide from a concrete seller says concrete is naturally porous and needs a sealer to resist stains and moisture. The Fienza concrete basin sheets say the concrete has a food-grade nano sealant. They say the surface can develop scratches, marks and chipping with daily use, and that direct sunlight can slowly discolour it. They also say abrasive scour pads can scratch the surface and break down the sealer. Fienza listings also say an exact colour match to the pictures is not promised because of high colour variation in concrete.
A ceramic basin is a glazed body, and a care sheet for vitreous china describes the glaze as a glass-like surface. A ceramic sink maker's page describes ceramic as smooth, sealed and heat- and cold-resistant, with no mention of resealing. So the points that concrete asks of an owner, resealing, sun, hot tools and colour variation, are not what the Bao listing or a ceramic care sheet raises for a glazed ceramic basin. The weights differ too: the Fienza concrete basins in the store weigh from 7kg to 22.5kg, and this listing gives no weight, so ask the supplier. See concrete basins if you want the real material.
Capacity, depth and splash
A deeper bowl handles water better, and a tap guide says deeper bowls absorb the energy of falling water and that a shallow bowl with a tall tap increases splash. The 110mm depth and 15 litre capacity put this basin among the larger bowls in the Bao range. The plain round is 120mm high and holds 12 litres, and this basin holds more because its footprint is a little larger. The same guide says water should land at or slightly forward of the drain centre and that the spout should clear the rim by about 100 to 150mm, and a mixer guide says it should land in the centre third of the basin.
The brushed inner finish is a surface detail the listing gives and does not explain. No source covers how a brushed ceramic interior behaves with splash or cleaning, so nothing is claimed beyond the listing's wording.
No tap hole, so choose the tap first
The basin has no tap hole, and the listing says it suits wall mounted or tower basin mixers. One stockist says an above counter basin pairs best with wall taps or an extended basin mixer because of its height. A mixer guide says tall mixers suit above counter basins, and that a tall mixer with a standard basin is not recommended because of splash risk. A tap guide says a tall basin mixer is often 250 to 300mm tall, and that the reach should match the distance from the tap fixing to the centre of the drain.
Two tall mixers on the store give figures. The Kaya Tall has a spout height of 216mm and a reach of 170mm, and the Empire Slim Tall has a spout height of 244mm and a reach of 180mm. On a 380mm round basin the centre is 190mm from the edge if the drain is central. A 170mm reach from a tap at the very edge falls 20mm short of the centre, and a 180mm reach falls 10mm short, so the tap has to stand close to the rim or the reach has to be longer. A wall tap that can be placed to suit avoids the problem. The listing does not give the drain position, so measure it on the basin you receive. See basin mixers.
Non-overflow and the waste
The basin is non-overflow only, so it has no slot to drain it if the plug is in and the tap is running. Turn the tap off before the bowl fills. The plug and waste are sold separately, which lets you choose a finish to match the tap. The listing does not give the waste size. The common size for non-overflow basins on other pages of this store is 32mm, but check the basin you receive before you buy the waste, and test-fit it. See basin wastes.
Fixing the basin to the bench
The Bao installation guide for above counter basins gives the method, and it explains the reason: keeping the silicone underneath to a minimum means the basin can be lifted out later without damaging the benchtop. Underneath, apply 20mm dots of a non-acidic silicone at no more than three fixing points. Epoxy type glues must not be used. Then run a continuous bead of silicone around the outer rim where the basin meets the bench, so water cannot get into the cavity below, and match the silicone to the basin colour as closely as you can. Wipe away excess with a soft damp cloth.
The guide adds that if you are fitting a bench-mounted basin mixer, you should leave enough room at the back or side to tighten the mixer fixing. Other makers specify acetic cured silicone for their own basins, and a renovation guide says the silicone seal at the rim needs resealing every few years and that the rim junction collects soap residue. The sheet also covers under counter basins, with a 48 hour dry time, and that part does not apply to this basin.
Rim height and bench depth
A vanity guide gives a floor-mounted vanity at 850 to 900mm and a wall-hung vanity at 800 to 900mm, with a vanity depth of 460 to 550mm and an accessible rim at 800 to 830mm. A UK guide offers 800 to 850mm to the rim as a starting point. The basin stands 145mm above the bench, so on an 850mm bench the rim sits at 995mm, and on a 750mm bench it sits at 895mm. A renovation guide says a vessel bowl of 150 to 180mm puts the rim at about 1,000mm or higher, which it calls awkward for children, so this basin sits just under that range.
For depth, a 380mm basin leaves 80 to 170mm behind it on a 460 to 550mm vanity, so a bench-mounted tap has to fit there, or a wall tap avoids the problem. See bathroom vanities for vanities that carry an above counter basin.
How textured and stone-look basins are described elsewhere
Retailers file textured basins under a few looks. One retailer's navigation lists terrazzo, fluted, concrete, stone look and marble look as the looks it sells. Its buying guide describes stone look basins as having a textured finish and natural tones in a matte or satin surface, from smooth river stone effects to grainy sandstone-style surfaces. The same guide says some of these models show water spots or soap scum more visibly than others, and that a lightly textured or satin finish reduces upkeep. That is a general statement about the style and not about the Bao basin, but it points the same way as the care advice above: a basin with texture shows what sits on it, so wipe it after use.
Another retailer's range lists ceramic, concrete and solid surface basins in round, square and oval shapes, with fluted or ribbed exteriors on several and concrete tones from sand and cream to terracotta and black. A stockist guide to bench mount basins says shapes come in rectangular, square, soft-square, round and oval, with thin-edge finishes in matte white, gloss white and matte black. Within that field the Bao diamond embossed round is a mid-size round in a single matte white finish, and its distinguishing feature is the texture and the brushed interior and not a colour or a shape.
Cleaning a textured matte surface
The listing gives no care instructions, and no guide covers embossed or textured ceramic specifically. The general guides agree on a few points. Avoid hard brushes and scouring pads, which can scratch the surface. Use a soft bristle brush for tight spots and textured areas, rinse thoroughly to remove soap residue, avoid strong acidic or alkaline cleaners and bleach, and dry with a soft cloth to prevent water spots. A ceramic sink maker's page says to avoid scouring agents, strong drain cleaners and steel sponges, which can cause loss of shine and a matt appearance. On a matte finish that last point matters, since a scratched glaze is harder to see and to fix.
A care sheet for vitreous china says that day-to-day care needs only water and a damp cloth. It says a proprietary bathroom cleaner removes water marks and soap scum. It says household vinegar removes limescale, with a vinegar-soaked piece of kitchen paper left on stubborn deposits for 30 minutes. It says cream cleaners can dull the surface if overused, so test one on a hidden area first, and that harsh chemicals such as Domestos can destroy chrome and the rubber seals in a waste. Because the texture holds residue, wipe after use and rinse the grooves. These are general ceramic steps, and the Bao listing gives none, so ask the supplier for the care guide. See matte white basins and ceramic basins.
What to ask the supplier
Four questions are worth asking before you order, because the listing and the sources leave them open. What does the basin weigh, so the vanity top can be checked. Where is the drain, so the tap reach can be checked. Does the speckle vary from piece to piece, if the colour has to match a photo. And what waste size does it take, so the waste can be bought with the basin. A close-up photo of the pattern answers the fifth question, which is whether the diamond pattern is the look you want.
Who this basin suits
The basin suits a vanity where the surface should read as concrete without the care a real concrete basin asks for, and where the bench is deep enough for a 380mm basin and a tap. The matte textured finish suits a plain vanity top. It is a poor fit where the rim height has to be low, because it stands 145mm above the bench, and where a deep bench tap has to sit behind a deep basin in a shallow vanity. For a lower profile, see the plainer shapes on round basins and small basins, and for the textured matte family, see Bao matte white textured finish.
How to choose
Start with the bench and the rim height, because the basin is 145mm tall. Then settle the tap, because there is no hole, and measure the reach against the drain. Choose the waste to match. Fix the basin with the Bao method and keep the silicone under it to three dots. Then plan the care: a soft brush for the texture, no scouring pads, no strong chemicals. That order puts the permanent decisions, the bench and the plumbing, first, and the finish, which you can still see in a photo, last. For other basin types, see bathroom basins.
What the sources do not say
The sources leave some gaps. The listing does not describe the diamond pattern, give a weight, give a drain position or give a waste size. No outside page covers this basin, no care guide exists for embossed ceramic, and nothing explains how the speckle is produced. The SERP tool returned nothing for the keyword, Google Search Console has no rows for the page, and one retailer page blocked the fetch. No independent review of this basin turned up.
Before fitting: book a licensed plumber for the water connections, and check the plumbing positions against the product before it is fixed, as the maker sheets direct. tighten the waste by hand only, with a foam washer under the waste neck sealed with neutral cure silicone, because over-tightening stresses the basin.
