You can replace a single-handle faucet with a two-handle faucet, but confirm the fit before you buy. Start with the proposed faucet’s installation drawing and compare its mounting requirements with your sink or countertop. Do not assume that changing the handles will be a simple swap.
Mr. Rooter Plumbing’s faucet installation FAQ says this change is possible, but another mounting hole may be needed for an additional handle. That is a reason to check the layout—not a reason to start drilling.
Check mounting requirements, not just handle count
The useful buying question is: “Will this exact faucet fit my existing setup?” A product photo alone does not settle that question.
Before ordering, find the model number and installation instructions for the faucet you want. Use them to ask:
- How many mounting holes does this model require?
- What hole sizes and spacing does it specify?
- What mounting-surface thickness does it allow?
- Does the proposed installation require any changes to the sink or countertop?
Ask the seller or installer to confirm those details for the exact model. Avoid buying based only on a label such as “two-handle bathroom faucet” or “kitchen faucet.” Keep the installation drawing with your planning notes so everyone is checking the same requirements.
Gather what you can without taking anything apart
Take a clear photo of the current faucet from above. If the cabinet area is dry and safely accessible, take another photo showing the underside of the faucet mounting area. Leave supply lines and mounting parts connected.
Record the existing faucet’s brand and model if you can find them without disassembly. Also note whether the faucet mounts through the sink or through the countertop. If you do not know the surface material or cannot see the full mounting area, mark that as a question rather than guessing.
You do not need to remove a working faucet just to collect information for a purchase decision. If the layout remains unclear, request an assessment before ordering or disconnecting anything.
If another hole is needed, pause the purchase
The FAQ’s statement that an additional hole may be needed does not establish that your particular sink or countertop can accept one. Nor does it establish the right number or position of holes for every replacement model.
Before approving a change to the mounting surface, ask the installer to confirm:
- Whether the proposed model can be installed in the current surface.
- Whether any new opening is needed and who would make it.
- Whether the finished layout will accommodate the faucet and its handles.
- Whether choosing a different model would avoid altering the surface.
Make surface changes a separate, clear decision. If compatibility has not been confirmed, hold off on both drilling and buying a nonreturnable faucet.
Separate fit planning from installation
Once the layout is confirmed, decide who will install the faucet. Our guide to whether you need a plumber to install a new faucet covers that broader decision.
Before anyone disconnects the existing faucet, the water supply must be shut off, as Mr. Rooter’s FAQ explains. If you cannot confirm how to shut it off, leave the connections intact and arrange help.
Confirm your proposed replacement locally
Rooter Experts Drain Cleaning serves Northern New Jersey communities including Moonachie, Hackensack and Clifton. Visit our faucet and leak repair service page for service information.
When requesting an assessment, share the photos and model details you gathered, give your town, and ask Rooter Experts to confirm the proposed installation and availability there. The goal is to settle compatibility before you commit to the replacement—not after the old faucet is removed.
Talk with Rooter Experts
Call Rooter Experts at (201) 583-4778 for plumbing or drain service in Northern New Jersey.