Most faucet shopping in Canada comes down to choosing one of five or six stocked finishes and hoping the rest of the room can match. Rubinet works the other way around. This Ontario based manufacturer builds its faucets to order, and its custom-finish program lets you choose a body finish and a contrasting accent finish from a palette far larger than the industry norm. For homeowners and designers from Vancouver to Halifax who are chasing a specific look rather than settling for the closest available chrome or nickel, that flexibility is the whole point of the brand.
Where the custom-finish program sits in Rubinet's lineup
Rubinet is not a brand with a small custom line bolted onto a mass-market catalogue. Made-to-order finishing runs through essentially everything the company produces: bathroom faucets, kitchen faucets, tub fillers, shower trim and coordinating accessories. Each collection is offered across the same broad finish palette, and most designs accept a second accent finish on handles, levers or trim details. So the custom-finish decision is less about picking a special product tier and more about how you configure whichever collection suits your room.
The design range is wide too. Traditional cross-handle patterns sit alongside minimal contemporary geometry, which means the same finish logic applies whether you are restoring a century home in Halifax or finishing a glass-walled condo in Vancouver.
Design and construction traits the range is known for
- Solid brass construction. Bodies and spouts are machined from brass rather than lightweight alloys, which is what you should expect at this tier and what gives the fixtures their weight in hand.
- Hand-finished surfaces. Because each piece is finished for a specific order, colour work is applied to your configuration rather than pulled from a warehouse bin. That is what makes the split-finish combinations possible.
- Two-finish design. The signature move: one finish on the body, a second on levers, handles or accent rings. Few brands in Canada offer this as a standard ordering option rather than a one-off special.
- Canadian manufacturing. Rubinet builds in Ontario, which matters more than sentiment: it shortens the supply chain for both orders and replacement parts.
How Rubinet compares with other brands we carry
No single faucet brand is the right answer for every project, and Rubinet is a specialist, not a generalist. Here is an honest category-level view of how it sits against other names in our bathroom faucet collection and kitchen faucet collection.
| Brand | Where it shines | What to keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Rubinet | Made-to-order custom and split finishes, Canadian build, deep coordination across bath, kitchen and shower | Longest lead times in the category, premium pricing |
| Riobel | Canadian designed, strong stocked availability, contemporary styling | Finish palette is preset, not built to order |
| Aquabrass | Canadian brand with a broad designer finish range on stocked models | Wide but fixed finish options per collection |
| ROHL and Perrin & Rowe | Heritage English and Italian design language, luxury tier | Rich finishes, but fixed per collection |
| Kohler | Widest availability and service network in Canada | Mainstream finish palette, less room for customization |
| Brizo | Design-forward fashion finishes and collaborations | Preset combinations only |
The short version: if a stocked finish works for your project, several of these brands will get a faucet to you faster. If the finish is the project, Rubinet is in a category with very little company.
Finish and sizing logic
Configuration comes first. Rubinet follows standard North American formats, so match the faucet to your sink deck before you fall in love with a colour: single-hole and centreset for smaller basins, widespread designs on roughly 20 centimetre (8 inch) centres for larger vanities, and wall-mount options where the plumbing allows. Kitchen and bar designs follow the same logic, and the range extends into tub fillers and complete shower systems so a whole bathroom can carry one finish story.
Then the finish decision, where a little discipline pays off:
- Pick one dominant finish for the large surfaces, the spout and body, and treat the accent finish as jewellery on handles and trim.
- Order every piece for the room at the same time. Hand-applied finishes can vary subtly between production runs, and a single order keeps everything from the faucet to the towel bar in the same batch.
- Ask about living finishes such as unlacquered brass before committing. They darken and patina with use, which is the appeal for some buyers and a dealbreaker for others.
Availability and parts support in Canada
Because Rubinet manufactures in Ontario, orders and spare parts ship domestically. There is no border crossing, no customs paperwork and no US warehouse in the middle, which is a genuine advantage for buyers in the Prairies, Quebec or Atlantic Canada who have waited weeks for a cartridge from an American distributor. We ship Canada-wide.
On compliance, the usual Canadian rules apply: confirm the cUPC or CSA listing on the spec sheet for the exact model you are ordering, and remember that while the National Plumbing Code of Canada sets the framework, provinces and municipalities apply their own amendments. Your plumber or local inspector has the final word, especially on shower valve requirements.
The honest trade-offs
This is where we talk you out of it if it is not the right fit.
- Lead times. Made to order means weeks, not days. If your contractor needs a faucet on site next Tuesday, this is the wrong program. Order early in the renovation, not at the finishing stage.
- Limited returns. A faucet finished to your specification is generally not something a retailer can restock. Confirm return terms before you commit, and be certain of your finish choices.
- Price. Custom finishing on solid brass sits at the premium end of the CAD pricing spectrum. You are paying for the build and the flexibility, and a stocked faucet from a volume brand will always cost less.
- Future matching. If you add a matching accessory two years from now, expect a slight batch variation in hand-applied finishes. Buying the full suite up front is the safer path.
Who this range genuinely suits
Rubinet custom-finish faucets make the most sense for renovators and designers who have a precise finish scheme and the schedule to support a made-to-order build: heritage restorations that need unlacquered or specialty metals, design-led projects where the hardware is a focal point, and whole-home builds where kitchen, bath and shower need to speak the same language. Trade professionals specifying these regularly should look at our trade program. If you are earlier in your research, our buying guides hub covers faucet formats, finishes and rough-in basics across every brand we carry.
Frequently asked questions
Is Rubinet a Canadian company?
Yes. Rubinet manufactures in Ontario, which is one of the practical reasons the brand can offer made-to-order finishing with domestic parts support rather than routing everything through a US distribution network.
How long do custom-finish Rubinet faucets take to arrive?
Each piece is finished after you order it, so plan on weeks rather than days, and confirm the current lead time when you place the order. The safe approach is to order fixtures at the start of a renovation so they arrive before the finishing trades need them.
Can I mix two finishes on one faucet?
Yes, and that is the signature of the program. Most Rubinet designs accept a main body finish plus a contrasting accent finish on handles, levers or trim details, all specified as a normal ordering option rather than a custom exception.
Are custom-finish faucets returnable?
Made-to-order products generally carry more restricted return terms than stocked items, because a faucet built in your finish combination cannot simply go back on a shelf. Confirm the current policy before ordering, and when in doubt, ask us for finish guidance first.
