Clark basins buying guide
This page holds Clark's ceramic basins in white: square wall hung basins in three sizes, round and square inset basins, and round and square semi-recessed basins. Every basin has an integrated overflow and comes with a chrome pop-up plug and waste, and the range offers no tap hole, one or three, with a tap landing on some. The guide below covers the brand, whether Clark basins are good quality, the models and sizes, how the wall basins are fixed, and the tap hole, overflow and waste lines.
About Clark
Clark is an Australian-designed bathroom brand, and the basins are Australian designed and engineered. Where a given Clark basin is made is not published. If the country of manufacture matters, ask us to confirm it for the basin you choose.
Are Clark basins good quality
People ask whether Clark sinks are good quality, and which brand of sink is best. A brand name does not settle that, so compare the specification: the material, the size and the capacity, the overflow, the tap hole choice, the waste that is included, the fixing method and whether the maker supplies an installation sheet. Clark basins are clear on all of these, and the installation steps for the wall basins are specific, as set out below. A basin that ships with its plug and waste, an overflow and a fixing kit asks less of the buyer than one that needs each added separately.
The square wall basins
The Clark square wall basin comes in three forms. The 400mm square wall basin holds 5.1 litres to the overflow, comes with no tap hole or one, and has a landing at the rear for hand soaps. The square hand wall basin holds 3 litres to the overflow and has one tap hole. The 600mm square wall basin has a shelf, on the left or the right hand side, holds 5.8 litres to the overflow, and comes with no tap hole or one, and it gives plenty of bench space for soaps and toiletries. Each has an integrated overflow, a fixing kit for wall mounting and a chrome pop-up plug and waste, and a bottle trap is a good addition to neatly hide the plumbing under the basin. A basin with no tap hole is for wall taps, and one with a tap hole takes a mixer on the basin. See wall hung basins, small hand basins and square basins.
The capacity figures
The capacities are to the overflow, so the usable volume is the capacity figure and not the full bowl. A 350mm square inset with no tap hole is designed to pair with a tower mixer or wall-mounted tapware, with an overflow capacity of about 4.7 litres. The 400mm square inset with a tap landing holds 3 litres, because the landing takes space from the bowl. If the volume matters, ask us for the figure for the model you choose.
The inset basins
An inset basin drops into the bench and the rim sits on it. The round inset comes in 350mm and 400mm sizes and suits traditional and modern designs, holding 3.2 and 4.3 litres to the overflow. The 400mm round inset with a tap landing has one tap hole and holds 3.4 litres. The square inset is 350mm with no tap hole, holding 4.7 litres, and the 400mm square inset with a tap landing comes with one tap hole or three and holds 3 litres, with the basin sitting above the countertop. The tap landing is a flat shelf on the basin for the mixer, which is what the tap holes are for. The three tap hole version is for three piece tapware, with separate hot and cold taps and a spout. See inset basins and round basins.
Inset or semi-recessed
The two types are close, and the difference is practical. Inset basins are traditional and simple to install, suited to standard bathrooms and tighter budgets, and practical and easy to clean, which makes them popular in family bathrooms. The drawback is the lip: the rim catches debris. A semi-recessed basin projects forward while sitting partly into the benchtop, which gives the full bowl depth without a deep vanity. It suits compact or narrow vanities, and it combines the function of an inset with the space saving of a wall hung basin. The rim cleaning issue is similar. An under counter basin is the cleanest of the three and needs a stone or solid surface bench, which is not the Clark range. So the choice for a Clark basin is about the cabinet depth: a semi-recessed basin on a slim cabinet, an inset basin on a standard bench, and a wall basin where the floor has to stay clear.
The semi-recessed basins
A semi-recessed basin sits into the bench at the back with the front protruding. The round semi-recessed basin is 400mm and holds 3.4 litres to the overflow. The square semi-recessed basin holds 5.7 litres and comes with one tap hole or three. A semi-recessed basin suits small and ensuite bathrooms because the cabinet can be slimmer than the basin, which protrudes from it. Semi-recessed edges are harder to clean than some types. See semi-recessed basins.
Tap holes and tapware
The range has basins with no tap hole, one or three. A basin with no tap hole takes a wall mixer or a mixer on the bench, a basin with one tap hole takes a single mixer, and a basin with three takes a three piece set. For the tap landing insets, a basin mixer sits on the landing, and an inset basin works with basin mixers and wall taps. The basins stand low on the bench, so a standard basin mixer has the clearance. For a wall basin with no tap hole, plan wall tap positions at rough-in to avoid costly plumbing mistakes. A wall-mounted mixer needs in-wall plumbing planned early, with the spout set precisely in height and alignment with the basin. Choose the tapware before the basin is fixed. See basin mixers.
Overflow, plug and waste
Every Clark basin on this page has an integrated overflow, and the capacity is given to the overflow. Each comes with a chrome pop-up plug and waste, which means there is nothing to add for the waste unless you want a different finish. A waste for a basin with an overflow is made for an overflow, so if you change the waste, choose one that suits an overflow. The wall basins use a 40mm trap layout, and a bottle trap hides the plumbing. A waste is tightened by hand only, with a foam washer, sealed with neutral cure silicone, and water connections need a licensed plumber. See basin wastes.
Choosing between round and square
The round range is versatile, suiting traditional and modern bathroom designs, and the square range is a bold design for the modern bathroom. Round basins suit most layouts and soften a room with many straight lines, while rectangular and square basins suit streamlined, uniform decor. The square range has the larger sizes and the shelf basins, and the round range has the smaller insets, so the choice is about the bench as well as the look. Wall-hung basins free floor space and simplify cleaning under the vanity, which is the case for the wall basins here.
Square basins in the room
A square basin suits a room with straight lines. Rectangular or square basins give sharp definition, and the shape that suits depends on the vanity size, the bathroom layout and the style. The Clark square basins have a landing at the rear or a shelf for hand soaps, which turns the basin into a small bench, so on a wall basin the 600mm shelf version replaces a small vanity top. The Clark ranges are all white, so the shape and the mounting are the choices, and the finish comes from the tapware and the waste. See square basins for the wider range.
Installing an inset or semi-recessed basin
The inset and semi-recessed basins are fixed to the bench. Use the template where one is supplied, seal the underside of the rim with the silicone the instructions name, and do not use epoxy. Makers use different silicones: one names acetic cured silicone, another non-acidic silicone in dots at no more than three points plus a bead round the rim, and a third neutral cure silicone. Follow the instructions for your basin, and check the actual product dimensions before the bench is cut. A semi-recessed basin also needs the bench depth and the apron to suit the basin. Most countertop basins need at least 400mm to 500mm of vanity depth to sit comfortably and clear the splashback.
Care
Clean vitreous china basins with a soft cloth and a mild household detergent or warm, soapy water. Vinegar removes limescale, and cream cleaners can dull the surface of ceramic if overused. Harsh chemicals such as Domestos destroy chrome and can damage the rubber seals in wastes, which applies to the chrome pop-up waste that comes with each basin. A scratch in glazed ceramic cannot be repaired. Wipe a basin with an integrated overflow with attention to the overflow slot, where soap scum collects, and keep the sealant joint clean and unbroken. Dry the bowl after use in a hard water area, and rinse vinegar off the surface and the waste seals afterwards.
Choosing a Clark basin
- Choose the mounting type: wall hung to free the floor, inset for a flat bench, semi-recessed for a slim cabinet.
- Choose round or square, and the size for the bench or the wall, remembering that the capacity is to the overflow.
- Choose the tap hole configuration: none for wall taps, one for a single mixer, three for a three piece set.
- For a wall basin, plan the reinforcement behind the wall and book a qualified plumber.
- Check the actual product dimensions before the bench or the wall is drilled, and keep the installation sheet and the spec sheet with the plumber's papers so the waste, the overflow and the tap hole lines are on hand at the site.
See small basins for the compact sizes, white basins and ceramic basins for the finish and material across makers, Caroma basins for the neighbouring group, bathroom vanities for the cabinets to pair with, and bathroom basins for every maker, shape and colour.
