Phoenix Tapware Vask Collection

Phoenix Vask: mid-century mixers and SwitchMix wall pieces

Phoenix Vask is a tapware range with a sleek, clean line and an organic shape, drawn from mid-century furniture. The body is lead free brass and the range is SwitchMix compatible, so the visible part of a wall mixer can be changed later without touching the plumbing in the wall. It covers basin and vessel mixers, sink mixers, SwitchMix wall basin and bath sets, shower and diverter mixers and a wall outlet, in chrome, brushed nickel, brushed gold, brushed carbon and brushed bronze.

People search for it as Phoenix Vask and Vask taps. This page sets out each piece with the rating and sizes that decide fit, and how the SwitchMix system works. For other Phoenix tapware, see Phoenix basin mixers and Phoenix kitchen mixer taps.

What is in the range

Finishes

Vask is made in chrome, brushed nickel, brushed gold, brushed carbon and brushed bronze. Chrome is the plainest and the brightest. Brushed nickel is a soft silver, brushed gold is warm, brushed bronze is a deeper warm metal, and brushed carbon is a dark brushed finish between nickel and black. The brushed finishes are PVD, a hard coating bonded to the metal in a vacuum chamber. Keep one finish across the mixer, the wall set and the outlet so the pieces agree.

Taps

The table sets out every Vask piece with its WELS rating, flow and key sizes, taken from the specification of each product. The basin and vessel mixers are rated WELS 6 star and the wall sets and outlets 5 star. The shower and wall mixers and the diverter carry no rating of their own, because a wall mixer does not require one.

Choose the height from the basin. The Vask basin mixer stands 175mm high with a 132mm height to the spout, which suits an inset or undermount basin, and the vessel mixer stands 247mm high with a 203mm height to the spout for an above counter bowl. The sink mixers are taller, at 361mm for the 190mm sink mixer and 464mm for the flexible hose mixer, so check the height against the window or the cupboard above the sink.

The mid-century line

Vask takes its shape from mid-century furniture, with smooth, ergonomic forms in place of hard edges. The spout and the handle read as one continuous piece, which suits a bathroom with plain surfaces, timber, terrazzo or soft curves. The shape is organic, so it sits against round basins and oval mirrors better than against sharp, square fittings, and it gives a bathroom a calm, considered look without ornament.

SwitchMix wall sets and mixers

The SwitchMix wall pieces are supplied in two ways. A complete kit includes the in-wall body and the fit-off trim, and a trim-only set includes just the visible parts, for a wall where the in-wall body is already installed. The SwitchMix system uses a patented cartridge, so the visible fit-off can be swapped later for a different design or finish without disturbing the plumbing behind the wall. Check which kit you are buying before you order, because a trim-only set cannot be fitted to a wall that has no in-wall body.

The wall basin and bath set has a 200mm spout reach and is rated WELS 5 star at 5 litres a minute, and the 200mm wall outlet reaches 197mm. The Pin Up version of the shower and wall mixer has a different lever line, 111mm high and 108mm deep, against 125mm high and 100mm deep for the standard shower and wall mixer. The diverter mixer is 154.5mm high and switches the water between two outlets.

Sink mixers

Vask has two sink mixers. The 190mm sink mixer is rated WELS 4 star at 7 litres a minute and stands 361mm high, with a 235mm height to the spout. The flexible hose sink mixer is rated 5 star at 5.5 litres a minute and stands 464mm high, and the hose lets you reach the corners of the sink. A kitchen mixer takes a larger flow than a basin mixer, which is why the ratings are lower than the 6 star basin mixers. Check the overall height against the window and any cupboard above the sink.

Fitting a basin or vessel mixer

The basin and vessel mixers need one tap hole and connect to the isolating taps with flexible hoses, so check that the hoses reach from the mixer to the isolating taps inside the vanity. A plumber can fit the mixer from underneath without touching the wall. Compare the height of the vessel mixer with the height of the basin above the bench before you order, because the spout must sit above the bowl wall to work, and clear any shelf, mirror or window above the basin.

Planning the wall

Wall mixers, wall taps and spouts go into the wall before the tiles, so settle the position, the spout reach and the finish while the wall is open. Measure from the finished tile surface to the centre of the drain to choose the reach, so the water lands in the middle of the basin or the bath outlet and clears the rim. Check what sits behind the wall, and fix the body to a nogging or a bracket so it holds. Waterproofing behind the body matters, because a missed seal is a leak inside the wall that cannot be fixed without opening the tiles.

Reading the WELS rating

WELS is the Australian water efficiency label, and more stars means the fitting uses less water. A basin mixer can reach 6 star because a basin needs little water. A kitchen mixer sits at 4 or 5 star because a sink needs a larger flow to fill a pot, and a shower sits at 3 or 4 star because the flow has to be large enough to rinse. Wall mixers and shower taps do not require a rating of their own. Read the rating on the exact piece you are buying, and use a licensed plumber to fit it.

Caring for the tapware

Clean the tap with a soft cloth and mild soapy water, then rinse and dry. Avoid cream cleaners, citrus based cleaners and abrasive pads, because they scratch the finish. Dry the tap after use in a hard water area. Unscrew the aerator now and then and rinse it, since scale builds up there first and shows as an uneven spray.

One tap hole or three

A one hole basin takes a single mixer on the bowl. A three hole basin takes a spout in the middle with the hot and cold controls on either side, which is the traditional layout. A basin with no tap hole takes a wall mixer or a bench tap behind the bowl. Hole spacing varies by manufacturer, so check the tap against the basin before you buy, especially if you already own a tap set you want to keep.

Before you order

Choose the finish across the room first. Match the mixer height to the basin and the spout reach to the wall. For SwitchMix pieces, decide if you need the complete kit with the in-wall body or only the fit-off trim, and settle the rough-in before the tiles go on. Read the rating on the exact piece, because the flow differs between a basin mixer, a sink mixer and a wall set.