Specification guide

The numbers that decide whether a fitting installs or goes back on the truck. Bookmark this — it is the reference we use ourselves when checking an order before it ships.

Toilets

Set-outs

The set-out is the distance from a fixed reference to the centre of the waste. Which reference depends on the trap type — and this is where most wrong orders start.

S-trap — waste through the floor
Set-out	Measured from	Typical use
140 mm	Finished wall face to waste centre	Common in newer builds
160 mm		The most widespread size
180 mm		Older housing stock
Adjustable		Pans that cover a range — the safe choice when the set-out can't be confirmed

P-trap — waste through the wall
Set-out	Measured from	Typical use
100 mm	Finished floor to waste centre	Low-level, often apartments
140 mm		Common mid-height
150 mm		Common mid-height
185 mm		Higher outlets, suspended floors

Measure to the finished surface, not the frame. Tiles and render move the reference. A set-out taken off bare blockwork before tiling will be out by the thickness of the tile and the bed — enough to leave a visible gap behind the pan.

Kitchen sinks

Bowl size to cabinet width

A sink needs more cabinet than its bowl. The carcass sides, the clearance for the clips and the waste all take room. These are working minimums, not tight limits.

Minimum cabinet width by bowl configuration
Configuration	Typical bowl width	Minimum cabinet	Notes
Single bowl, compact	380 – 450 mm	600 mm	Bar and butler's pantry use
Single bowl, standard	500 – 550 mm	700 mm	The default in most kitchens with a dishwasher
Single bowl, large	600 – 650 mm	800 mm	Fits a full oven tray flat
One and a half bowl	700 – 800 mm	900 mm	Half bowl for rinsing and draining
Double bowl	800 – 900 mm	1000 mm	Rarely worth the bench space if you have a dishwasher

Undermount and flush-mount need a stone or solid surface top. Laminate exposes its particleboard core at the cut edge, so it takes a topmount sink whose rim covers the cut. Decide the mounting before the benchtop is templated, not after.

Water efficiency

WELS star ratings

Registration and labelling is mandatory in Australia under the Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards Act 2005. Some developments and councils set a minimum rating, so check the requirement before choosing on looks.

Showers — flow rate
Rating	Flow
3 star	Over 7.5 up to 9.0 L/min
4 star	Over 6.0 up to 7.5 L/min
5 star	Over 4.5 up to 6.0 L/min

Basin taps — flow rate
Rating	Flow
4 star	Over 6.0 up to 7.5 L/min
5 star	Over 4.5 up to 6.0 L/min
6 star	Up to 4.5 L/min

Toilets — average flush
Rating	Average volume
4 star	Over 3.5 up to 4.0 L
5 star	Over 3.0 up to 3.5 L
6 star	Up to 3.0 L

Waste outlet sizes
Fixture	Outlet
Basin	32 mm or 40 mm
Kitchen sink	90 mm basket waste
Floor waste	80 mm or 100 mm

Bands above follow the current WELS scheme. Always read the rating on the specific product label — a model can be re-registered, and the label on the box is what a certifier will look at.

Door hardware

Backsets and door thickness

What to measure before ordering handles
Measurement	Typical	Why it matters
Backset	60 mm or 70 mm	Door edge to the centre of the bore. If it doesn't match, the door has to be re-bored.
Bore diameter	54 mm common	A small modern rose may not cover the hole left by old backplate hardware.
Door thickness	35 mm interior 40 mm+ entry	Determines spindle length. Solid-core and fire doors are thicker.
Latch face	Radius or square	Has to match the existing mortice in the door edge, or it needs re-cutting.

Finishes

Which finish suits which room

Finish is not only a look. Some show every water mark, some don't belong within a kilometre of salt air.

Finish characteristics
Finish	Shows marks	Coastal	Notes
Chrome	Water spots	Good	The default. Easiest to source a match for years later.
Matte black	Fingerprints, limescale	Good	Looks best in soft-water areas; hard water leaves visible white marks.
Brushed nickel	Very little	Good	The forgiving choice for a family bathroom.
Brushed brass	Very little	Ask for PVD	PVD-coated holds colour; unlacquered brass is meant to patina.
Gunmetal	Fingerprints	Ask for PVD	Reads darker in low light than it does in a showroom.

Within about a kilometre of the coast, specify 316 stainless for wastes and grates. 304 will show rust spotting within a couple of years in salt air. It costs more up front and it is far cheaper than replacing tiled-in wastes.

Not sure what you've got?

Send photos and the measurements you can take. Confirming what fits an existing rough-in is part of the job.

Ask us to check Browse the range