Turner Hastings basins buying guide
This page holds Turner Hastings basins in fine fireclay, ceramic and a mineral composite called MagnaCast, in under counter, above counter, wall hung and washstand forms. The ranges are the Fino, the Claremont, the Narva, the Agres and the Mayer. The guide below covers the brand and where its basins are made. It then covers the materials and how they differ, the ranges and their sizes, the overflow and waste lines that differ by material, and installation. It also answers the questions people ask, such as which brand of wash basin is best.
About the brand
People ask whether Turner Hastings is an Australian brand. It is a family business owned and operated by Australians, based in New South Wales, with a focus on fireclay sinks and basins. The company is Australian and the basins are imported, which is the usual position for the brands on this site.
Where the basins are made
The origin is Europe for most of the ranges. The Fino is made in Europe, the Agres is made in Europe to exacting standards, the Claremont is made in Italy, and the MagnaCast is handmade in Europe. People ask where Turner Hastings products are made, and the answer is Europe, with the country confirmed for some ranges. Ask us for the origin of the basin you choose.
Fine fireclay, ceramic and MagnaCast
The materials are the main thing to understand, because they change the waste you buy and the care you give. The Fino and the Claremont are fine fireclay, double glazed, with durability and impact resistance and a non-porous, stain and scratch resistant glaze. The Agres is double glazed ceramic. Fireclay and ceramic are natural products, so a minor pimple, dimple or divot can occur and should be seen as part of the material. Variations of plus or minus 2% in the specifications are common and acceptable, and a bench should never be cut out or built without the basin on site for measuring. Fine fireclay is natural refined clay and minerals fired at high temperature to give a dense, scratch-resistant, non-porous surface.
The MagnaCast basins are different. The Narva 600mm and the Claremont 600mm are a MagnaCast mineral composite, handmade in Europe. MagnaCast is an engineered stone, largely dolomite bound with resin. The MagnaCast basins come with a free-flowing waste cap, which gives a continuous look with a free-flowing waste if you prefer not to plug the waste, and otherwise they suit a universal 32mm or 40mm two piece brass pop-up waste. See ceramic, solid surface and stone basins for the materials across makers.
The Fino
The Fino is the contemporary range. The 382mm above counter basin is a thin-rimmed round of 369mm by 369mm and 115mm high, with a bowl of 10 litres and an inner depth of 92mm, in gloss white, matte white and matte grey. It takes a 32mm waste without an overflow and has no tap hole. The Fino counter top basin is 550mm by 380mm and 115mm high, holding 9 litres. The Fino under counter basin is 550mm by 410mm and 188mm high, holding 11 litres with a depth of 120mm to the overflow, in gloss white, matte white and matte black. It includes an overflow as standard, and it needs a 32mm waste with an overflow. It suits a bathroom with a stone or marble benchtop. See Turner Hastings Fino basins.
The Claremont
The Claremont is the traditional range. It is classically styled with period features that suit a traditional or country style bathroom, in double glazed fine fireclay, and made in Italy. The 580mm basin is 580mm by 450mm and holds 7 litres, and the 680mm basin is 680mm by 510mm and holds 11 litres, each available with a matching pedestal that brings the overall height to 875mm and 885mm. There is also a 580mm by 450mm wall hung basin without a tap hole. The Claremont comes with one or three tap holes (or none on the wall hung version), a 32mm waste with an overflow, and fixing kits included, and it can be mounted on a pedestal or hung from the wall. The 680mm basin has an overflow as standard. See wall hung basins and traditional basins.
The Narva and the MagnaCast basins
The Narva 600mm MagnaCast basin is an above counter basin of 600mm by 350mm and 166mm high, holding 13 litres with an inner depth of 125mm, in matte white. The Claremont 600mm MagnaCast basin is 606mm by 402mm and 143mm high, holding 17 litres with an inner depth of 102mm. Both have no tap hole, suit a bench or wall mixer, are non-overflow only, and need a waste without an overflow, which is sold separately. The Narva is also a pill-shaped under counter basin of 570mm by 390mm and 210mm high, with an inner length of 510mm, an inner width of 325mm and an inner depth of 200mm, in gloss white, matte white and matte black. It is a soft, elongated oval, a refined alternative to a round or rectangular basin, and it includes an overflow with a glazed overflow that suits large brushed brass and matte black overflow rings sold separately. See pill shape basins.
The Agres
The Agres is a rectangular under counter basin made in Europe. The Mini Agres is 440mm by 260mm, and its small and compact size suits natural or man-made stone top vanities and ensuite or small vanities. The Standard Agres is 543mm by 340mm and 170mm high with an internal depth of 127mm, in matte white and matte black, and the bowl is a true rectangle with symmetrical, square-shouldered proportions that sit comfortably under a squared-off top. Both include an overflow and take a 32mm waste with an overflow, which is sold separately. No tap holes are pre-formed, so the mixer can go on the bench or the wall. See undermount basins and rectangular basins.
The Mayer washstand
The Mayer is a heritage-style washstand with a brass frame and a Carrara marble top. It comes in 75cm by 55cm and 90cm by 55cm tops with a ceramic basin, a 32mm waste with an overflow, and one or three tap holes. The frame comes in chrome, brushed nickel or brushed brass. The consoles page covers the washstand in detail, including the installation, which needs a two-person crew and wall blocking or heavy duty anchors. See console basins and freestanding basins.
Overflow and waste: the line that differs by material
This is the point that catches buyers, because the waste depends on the basin. The fireclay under counter basins, the Claremont and the Agres need a 32mm waste with an overflow, because they have an overflow. The Fino above counter basin needs a 32mm waste without an overflow, and so do the MagnaCast basins, which are non-overflow only. A basin with an overflow needs a waste made for one, and a basin without needs a non-overflow waste, so check the overflow of your basin and do not buy a waste by finish alone. The plug and waste are sold separately, and the range has several waste options. 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.
Installing an under counter basin
The installation for the Mini Agres is short and strict. Measure the internal basin dimensions and cut the bench to allow a 5mm overhang, and use an approved flexible water-tight adhesive to fix the basin to the bench. Do not use epoxy or any other solid adhesive, because that may crack the basin over time. An under counter basin suits a stone, engineered stone or solid timber benchtop and not laminate, and the Fino suits stone and marble. Because fireclay varies in size, have the basin on site and measure it before the bench is cut.
Tap holes and tapware
Most of the basins here have no tap hole, so the mixer sits on the bench or the wall. The Claremont and the Mayer are offered with one or three tap holes, and two or three holes allow separate hot and cold taps. The above counter basins stand 115mm to 166mm above the bench, so the spout has to clear the rim. A tall basin mixer suits an above counter basin. The Kaya tall basin mixer has a spout height of 216mm and a reach of 170mm, and the Empire Slim tall basin mixer a spout height of 244mm and a reach of 180mm. Choose the tapware before the bench is drilled. See basin mixers and above counter basins.
Care
For the ceramic and fireclay basins, clean vitreous china with a soft cloth and a mild household detergent or warm, soapy water. Vinegar removes limescale, and cream cleaners can dull the surface if overused. A scratch in glazed ceramic cannot be repaired. The matte finishes show a dulled patch more than gloss does, so use the gentlest method first. The Narva and Claremont MagnaCast matte white finish is easy to clean, so use a soft cloth and a mild detergent, and ask us for care advice. The Mayer's marble top needs the care covered on the consoles page, with pH-neutral soap and no acids.
Choosing a Turner Hastings basin
- Choose the mounting type: under counter for a clean bench, above counter for a visible bowl, wall hung or pedestal for a traditional room, or the washstand.
- Choose the material: fine fireclay, ceramic or MagnaCast, and read what it means for the waste.
- Choose the size for the bench, and have the basin on site before the bench is cut.
- Read the overflow and waste lines, and buy the waste that matches.
- Choose the mixer and the tap hole configuration, and plan them before the bench is drilled.
- Book a licensed plumber for the water connections, and check the plumbing positions against the product before it is fixed.
- Inspect the glaze and the rim for chips before the basin is fitted, since a chip is hard to repair once the basin is in place.
See bathroom vanities for the cabinets to pair with, and bathroom basins for every other maker, shape and colour. See white, matte white and black basins for the finishes.
