Caroma Luna II tapware buying guide
Caroma Luna II tapware is a soft, rounded range made entirely in lead free brass. This page holds Luna II basin mixers in standard, mid and tower heights, wall basin and bath mixer sets, bath and shower mixers, bath and basin spouts, a swivel bath outlet and standard sink mixers, wall and hob mounted, in brushed nickel, chrome, brass, gold and black. The guide below explains what the range looks like, how to choose between the three basin mixer heights, how the wall pieces work, why the lead free material matters, how to choose a finish, and how to look after the tap.
What the Luna II range is
Luna II is a rounded, friendly range. The bodies are smooth, the levers are soft and the outlets are gently curved, so the pieces suit a bathroom with round basins, oval mirrors and a freestanding bath. It also works in a plain modern room, where the soft shapes balance square tiles and straight lines. The whole range is lead free brass, which keeps the choice simple: you pick the shape and the finish, and the material is settled.
A range matters because the pieces fit together. A basin mixer, a wall set and a bath outlet from the same range share a lever and a finish, so the room looks planned. For the other Caroma ranges, see Caroma taps, Caroma Urbane II, Caroma Liano II and Caroma Contura II.
Standard, mid and tower basin mixers
The Luna II basin mixer comes in three heights, and the height is the most important choice on this page. The standard basin mixer is the lowest. It suits a basin that is set into the vanity, where the rim is close to the bench. The mid basin mixer is a little taller, and it suits a basin with a slightly raised rim or a shallow bowl on the bench. The tower basin mixer is the tallest, and it is made for a bowl that stands on top of the vanity, where the spout has to clear a higher rim.
Measure the height of the rim above the bench, and choose the mixer whose spout sits above it with room for a hand underneath. A mixer that is too low for the bowl drops the water on the rim, and one that is too tall throws the water a long way down and splashes. See basin mixers and tall basin mixers for the wider groups from every brand.
All three stand on the vanity through a single hole. Check the hole size, the thickness of the bench and the reach of the spout before you order. The water should land near the drain, and the lever needs space to lift without touching a mirror or a splashback.
The aerator
The Luna II basin mixer has a concealed aerator, which sits inside the spout and mixes air into the water. It makes the stream softer, so it splashes less and feels fuller at a lower flow. The direction of the stream can be adjusted, which helps to aim the water at the drain when the basin is set at an angle. The aerator can collect scale in hard water, so if the flow becomes uneven, ask the plumber to clean it or use the tool supplied.
The tower mixer on a wall
The tower basin mixer is made for a vessel bowl, and it can also be used on the wall with an in-wall body, for a bowl that is mounted on a wall or a vanity with no tap surface. That is a useful option for a floating vanity where the bench is thin. The wall version needs the body fitted in the wall before the tiles go on, so the position has to be settled early. Ask the plumber to confirm the body and the trim for the exact model.
Wall basin and bath sets
The Luna II wall basin and bath mixer is a 220mm set, with the mixer and the spout in the wall. It suits a floating vanity, a wall hung basin and a bath against a wall, and it leaves the bench clear. The reach is long enough for a bath, so check that it suits a basin before you use it there, because the water must land near the drain. The pipes are in the wall, so the position has to be settled before the tiles go on. See wall basin and bath mixer sets.
Bath and shower mixers
The Luna II bath and shower mixer controls the shower and the bath from the wall, with one lever. The mixer has a body in the wall, so the plumber fits it at rough in, before the tiles go on. Check the height of the mixer and the position of the plate. The mixer should be reachable from outside the spray, and the plate should cover the wall opening around the body. See shower mixers for the wider group, and Caroma Luna shower heads for the matching heads.
Spouts and the swivel bath outlet
The Luna II bath and basin spouts are the outlets for a wall mixer, and the 220mm swivel bath outlet turns on its base, so one outlet can serve a bath and a basin on the same wall. A swivel needs clear space on both sides, so check that it can turn without touching a tile edge or a screen. See Caroma spouts and swivel bath spouts for the choice of length and height.
Standard sink mixers
The Luna II standard sink mixer is a kitchen or laundry mixer with a shorter spout. It suits a shallow sink, a small bench or a window sill that limits the height. Check the height of the spout against the window and any cabinet above, and the hole in the sink against the mixer. See standard sink mixers and sink mixers for the wider groups.
Why lead free matters
Every Luna II tap is lead free brass. A basin tap supplies water you wash with and brush your teeth with, and a sink tap supplies water you cook with and drink. Lead free brass keeps the lead content of the metal very low, and it takes the question of what the metal adds to the water off the list. Check the compliance marks on the model you choose. For the wider groups, see Caroma low lead tapware and lead free taps.
Finishes
Brushed nickel, chrome, brass, gold and black are the five finishes, in equal numbers. Chrome is the standard finish, bright and easy to match. Brushed nickel is a soft silver that hides water marks and fingerprints better than polished chrome. Black is a bold choice against white tiles, and it needs a wipe from time to time to keep water spots off. Brass and gold are warm metals that suit timber, stone and cream tiles. See chrome taps, brushed nickel tapware, black taps, brushed brass taps and gold taps.
Match the finish to the other metal in the room: the shower rail, the towel rail, the waste and the handles. Brass and gold are close but not the same, so keep one of them across the room. If the pieces come from different ranges, place them side by side in daylight before you order.
Matching the rest of the Luna II bathroom
The Luna II is a bathroom range as well as a tapware range, so the taps can match the basin, the bath and the shower fittings. See Caroma Luna basins and Caroma Luna baths for those. Choosing the basin and the mixer together lets you check the height of the rim against the height of the mixer in one step, which is the most common fit problem.
Water flow and installation
Taps sold in Australia carry a WELS rating for water efficiency, and it differs between models, so check the rating for the exact tap. For a shower, the head sets most of the flow, so choose the mixer and the head together. Plumbing work has to be done by a licensed plumber. A hob mounted mixer is fixed through the hole with a nut under the surface and connected with flexible hoses. A wall mixer is fitted to pipes behind the wall at rough in. The installation sheet supplied with each product is the reference for the connection and the fixings. Give the plumber the model names before the work begins.
Care
Wipe the tap with a soft, damp cloth and mild soap, and dry it with a soft cloth to prevent water marks. Do not use abrasive pads, bleach or strong cleaners, because they can damage a brushed, black or coloured finish. A mixer that drips when it is shut, a lever that has become stiff or a temperature that is hard to control points to the cartridge, which a plumber can replace. Have the range name and the finish ready.
Questions to settle before you order
- Is the basin set into the vanity, or a bowl on top, and which mixer height does it need?
- Do you want the mixer on the vanity or in the wall?
- Has the plumber confirmed the rough in for the wall pieces?
- How far does the spout need to reach to land the water near the drain or the middle of the bath?
- Which finish matches the rest of the metal in the room?
- Will every piece come from the Luna II range?
Related pages
For the other Caroma ranges, see Caroma taps. For the taps from every brand, start at taps.
