Toilets, Sinks, Showers, Tubs and Disposals - Replace roman tub trim with different brand?

I have a roman tub with a cheap-looking faucet which no longer matches the color scheme of the rest of the bathroom. The faucet is made by Sterling (model 13623, I think) who no longer manufactures faucets.

I cannot access the valves or anything beneath the deck of the tub without a major amount of demolition, so I would like to just replace the trim.

I can easily remove the spout and handles, but I am not sure what I can replace them with. I see nice trim kits available for sale, but I do not know if I have to have a trim kit to a certain specification in order to match the existing valves.

Will any trim kit do, or do I have to match exact specifications? And if the latter, how do I match a Sterling if they are no longer making faucets?

Thanks!

To my knowledge, The only trim for roman tub faucets come from the manufacturer. I have not seen any after market brands for that type of faucet. Have you tried to find sterling faucets on-line?

http://www.sterlingplumbing.com/

BTW Sterling is made by Kohler.

Thanks. I called Sterling today, and they said that there is no other trim that would fit that model, and that that model was only available in chrome, so no chance of getting service parts in nickel.

Is there any chance I could replace just the spout? Sterling didn't think so, but it looks like a standard fitting. Just a 1" pipe. Is there no standard in threads or pipe lengths or anything? No chance I can get another brand on that pipe? (Sorry, I'm kind of a newbie to faucets.)

Sterling suggested I look into refinishing the spout. I was under the impression that something that is chrome-plated cannot be further finished, no?

Any further suggestions would be greatly appreciated. At this point, the best I can come up with is to put in some other trim (towel bars) that are both chrome and brushed nickel... make it look like the two colors both belong in there. Not really ideal.

Here is my honest "opinion"

If you plan on living in this home for a long time, bite the bullet and get an access panel put in to repair or replace the plumbing items under the deck. It is inevitable that you will need to at some point

Thanks. Even that is somewhat difficult... It is a fiberglass tub which abuts into a knee-wall which forms part of the shower stall. I don't think I want to put the panel inside the shower stall. So that leaves... in the fiberglass wall making up the front of the tub.

I think I could saw into that fiberglass(?), but then... I would have to build a tile wall in front of it to hide the cut. I could put a panel in that tile wall then, I guess, though it would be a prominent feature of the bathroom.

I'm still open to other suggestions... This is still sounding like a lot of work (and more importantly money!) to fix one little color mismatch. :rolleyes: