An in Depth Home Improvement Article on Everything in the Bathroom (part 1)

Article by: Neal Baker

Tips and advise when buying your bathroom , How To Buy Double Glazing In The UK suite: (part 1)

POTTERY:

Also known as sanitary ware, ceramics, porcelain and ware. There are four basic areas that affect the quality of pottery and its expected lifespan: The depth of the glaze: The glaze is the glass-like surface coating which is fired onto the pottery in the kiln when it is made. The glass , A Step By Step Guide On How to Sand Your Wood Floor enables the pot , Central Air Conditioners to be waterproof and protects it from chemicals, such as bleach etc, over its life. The thicker the glaze generally the longer the life. Once this glaze goes, wears out, the pot , Hanging Drywall becomes porous, absorbs water , Which Home Improvements Pay Off (and Which Ones Don't) and eventually cracks. The more you use and clean the pottery the faster the glaze wears out. To make the glaze thicker you have to apply it a layer at a time and each time fire , How To Buy Double Glazing In The UK it in the kiln. This process results in breakages within the kiln.

For example, if I fire , Exterior Painting - You Can Do That 100 pieces of pot , Worktops and Countertops for Kitchens - Buyers Guide to Materials once I may get 99 back in one piece, so the 99 pays for the 100. If I then fire , Decorative Touches for Your Kitchen the 99 again I may get 80 back in one piece, so now 80 have to pay for 100. If I then fire , Laminate Wood Flooring and the Benefits over Traditional Wood & Ceramic Tile the 80 I may get only 50 back in one piece, so now 50 have to pay for 100. You get the gist of this by now. If you assume that each layer of glaze lasts approximately 5 to 7 years you can soon see how the system works. If you glaze once you get a less expensive cost to manufacture but the product , Hiring Roofers – Points to Consider does not last as long in a house. , Winterizing a Vacation Home The thicker the glaze the longer the pottery lasts.

Quality of the clay:

The quality of the clay that is used to make the pottery is very important. The reason for this is that the finer the clay the smoother the finish will be on the item being made. If you use a poorer grade of clay it will have more grit in it and the surface will have a more rippled appearance. You may also find that because of the increased grit content the pottery is heavier than an item of the same size made with a finer grade of clay. The finer the clay the more tonnes of rough clay you have to use to refine down to make it. It is therefore less expensive to produce pottery with a coarse grade of clay.

The overspray or colour:

The white colour, , How to change the mood and atmosphere in your home with lighting or whatever colour , Organize The Garage Â– A Little Creativity Can Save You Money it happens to be, is applied to the pottery before the glaze. Each manufacturer , Hanging Drywall mixes their own colour , Patio Canopies: Protecting Your Patio From The Elements... to try to match it to the colour , How To Hang Your Billiard Lights of the acrylic baths. The white colour , Hiring Roofers – Points to Consider of the acrylic bath is a worldwide , Central Air Conditioners standard set by the acrylic manufacturers. , Choosing Your Air Filter: Navigating the Confusing World of Air Cleaners You need to be aware of this if you client tries to mix and match pottery from different manufacturers. , Real Estate: Points for Purchasers Its usually acceptable to have a toilet and basin from one supplier made to match the bath but if you put a basin from one supplier and a toilet from another and then the bath together it will stand out like a sore thumb. The thicker the colour , Robotic Vacuum Cleaners, Sit Back, Relax and Let Them Do the Work is applied, the less fading on the edges takes place , Mattress Selection - A Practical Approach and the colour , Learn How To Plan Your Meals To Free Up Your Time is even over the whole of the item. The colour , Decorative Touches for Your Kitchen as with the glaze is applied in layers and then has to be left to set before the next coat can be applied. The fewer coats the quicker the product , How To Buy Double Glazing In The UK can be made and the less cost is involved.

The design , Guide To Fireplace Cleaning of the item:

The more intricate the design , Robotic Vacuum Cleaners, Sit Back, Relax and Let Them Do the Work the more expensive the mould is to make and the more chance there is that you will not always remove it from the mould without damage. Plainer shapes are usually less expensive. You should also note that basins, toilets and bidets are made as matched sets. You will often find that the foot of the pedestal on the basin matches the foot of the toilet pan and that the back of the basin matches the toilet cistern lid.

One general point to be made is that pottery is often sold in what is known in the trade as a four-piece set. That is a basin, pedestal, pan and cistern. Unfortunately the retail customer sees the set as two pieces: the basin and the toilet. If you use the term four-piece set to a retail customer they may think you mean a basin, toilet, bath and bidet. So always explain what you mean by four pieces if you should choose to use the term.

PRODUCT TYPES:

TOILETS & WC'S:

There are five types of toilets currently available in the UK. These are Wall , Exterior Painting - You Can Do That hung, Back-to-wall, Close-coupled, Low level and High level.

Wall hung:

This type of toilet has the pan hanging on the wall , Do It Yourself? You'd Better Think It Through! and the cistern concealed in the wall , Choosing Your Air Filter: Navigating the Confusing World of Air Cleaners behind it. More common in mainland Europe, it has become increasingly popular over recent years as more people travel abroad. You do however need to ensure that the pan is supported properly when fitted either by the use of special floor , Planning Permission Tips UK - What To Show And What Not To Show On Your application Drawings mounting brackets or the use of a framework.

These frameworks, which support the pan and provide a place , Surviving Winter in Style for the cistern, are available from several suppliers. This type of WC allows ease of cleaning and as the pan is the only visible piece of pot , Learn How To Plan Your Meals To Free Up Your Time it minimises the impact of the WC on the design , Central Air Conditioners of the room. , Decorative Touches for Your Kitchen

Back to wall:

This type of toilet is normally used mainly when having fitted furniture. , Hiring Roofers – Points to Consider As with the wall , Leaking Fuel Oil Tanks - Avoiding Costly Problems With Oil Spills and Leakage hung toilet the cistern is concealed inside , Using Storage Under The Bed the furniture , Central Air Conditioners but the pan is sat on the floor. , Conveyor Belt Tracking

Close coupled:

This is the most common type of toilet in the UK. This type of toilet has the pan and cistern joined together. It is often confused with the low level toilet, so make sure you are clear that you mean a toilet with the pan and cistern physically joined together.

The advantage of this type is that the pan has a splash back built onto it where it joins the cistern, so that when men and boys stand at the toilet and miss there is not so much mess. Toilets are meant to be sat on not stood against. If you want to stand up you should buy a urinal. This toilet is easily maintained and is therefore ideal for downstairs cloakrooms and main ensuites where they are likely to get a lot of use.

Low level:

This type of toilet has a freestanding pan and the cistern sits approx 900mm or 36inches up the wall , An In-Depth Review of Popular Air Purifiers with a short flush pipe in between the two pieces.

Before the advent of the close-coupled toilet this was the most common and is still what most people with older houses , Aluminum Awnings – An Economical Way To Cool Your Home have. This is why they confuse them with the close coupled. They are now most commonly sold with traditional bathrooms , Winterizing a Vacation Home and have a chrome or gold flush pipe.

The difficulty with this type is that if men or boys use them they are apt to miss and the pipe goes green. , Discount Laminate Floors Once this happens there is nothing that can be done to repair , A Fabric Hammock is Comfortable Casual Chic it. They are generally priced at 50% to 60% higher in price than a close coupled and are bought more for their aesthetic value than practicality.

High Level:

This type was popular in the Victorian era and is associated most closely with bathrooms , Repair Your Plumbing? You Can Do That! of that period. The pan is free standing and the cistern sits on the wall , How to change the mood and atmosphere in your home with lighting approx 1800mm or 6 feet up the wall , How to Create A Tuscan Mural with a chrome or gold flush pipe and a chain pull flush. It has the same disadvantages as the Low level when used by men and boys. In terms of price, this type is normally 50% to 60% more than the Low level. Sold mainly for the aesthetic value, all toilets in the UK now have to flush using 3 and 6 litres of water. , Guide To Fireplace Cleaning It makes no difference which type you buy, they all use this amount and as a consequence the high level and low level flush no better than the close coupled.

TYPES OF FLUSHING MECHANISM

There are two main types of flushing mechanisms: the syphon and the dump valve.

Syphons:

Syphons have been used for many years in the UK as the means of flushing the toilet. They work with the use of a lever or pull chain. When this is pushed a small amount of water , How To Hang Your Billiard Lights is forced over the syphon in the cistern, which creates inertia that draws the rest of the water , Organize The Garage Â– A Little Creativity Can Save You Money along with it and flushes the toilet.

They are very effective with high levels of water , Skunked - On Memorial Day in the cistern but become less efficient as the water , Ourdoor fireplaces and related products level falls. , Gas or Electric Cookers? Which Is Best? In the past toilet cisterns originally contained 12 litres of water, , Conveyor Belt Tracking then 9 litres and now 6 litres for a full flush and 3 litres for a half flush .

People who now have a 6 litre flushing syphon type toilet often complain that they have to flush the toilet twice to get it to work.

Dump valves:

In recent years dump valves were not allowed in the UK, but with the advent of new legislation they are now fitted in most new toilets. The dump valve works by means of a push button, either a single or a double one. As you press the button it lifts a valve that instantly releases all the water , Organize The Garage Â– A Little Creativity Can Save You Money down through the toilet. This makes this type of flushing mechanism very effective with low levels of water. , Using Storage Under The Bed

Overflows:

Most old types of toilet have an overflow which let the water , Mattress Selection - A Practical Approach flow outside , Using Storage Under The Bed the property , Do It Yourself? You'd Better Think It Through! if the ball valve mechanism fails. This is called a visible overflow.

Most new types of toilet have an overflow which flows back into the toilet bowl if the ball valve fails. This makes them easier to install. This is called an internal overflow.

BASINS (sinks)

Basins are often referred to as sinks. This is incorrect. Sinks are fitted in kitchens , Choose Your Own Sauna Design and basins are fitted in cloakrooms, bathrooms , Spring Clean Year Round: Home Cleaning and Organizing Tips and ensuites.

The term basin came from the use of a jug and basin in the days when these were used to wash yourself , Decorative Touches for Your Kitchen in the bedroom. There are six main type of basin available in the UK.

These are basin and full pedestal, basin and semi-pedestal, cloakroom, semi-recessed, counter top and under-slung.

Basin and full pedestal:

This where the basin sits on full size pedestal and is the most common type in the UK. Normally the waste pipe and hot , Do It Yourself? You'd Better Think It Through! and cold water , Spa Covers: Why You Need One pipes run through the pedestal and into the floor. , How to change the mood and atmosphere in your home with lighting

Basin and semi-pedestal:

This is where the basin sits on a half height pedestal which does not reach the floor. , Choosing Great Pool Table Lights They are very common in Europe and becoming increasingly popular in the UK.

When recommending this type of unit care should be taken to ensure that you have the type of pipe work arrangement necessary to install the basin. Please consult your local , Laminate Wood Flooring and the Benefits over Traditional Wood & Ceramic Tile plumber or bathrooms , Leaking Fuel Oil Tanks - Avoiding Costly Problems With Oil Spills and Leakage installer for more advice. , Plastic Laminate Countertops Explained

Cloakroom:

These are usually fitted without a pedestal, as they are normally very small basins. There are some available with pedestals but you are best to check first. Wall , Surviving Winter in Style hung basins are normally fitted with a decorative bottle trap.

Semi-recessed

This type of basin has a bow in the front but the underside has been cut away to produce a flat , Laminate Wood Flooring and the Benefits over Traditional Wood & Ceramic Tile area. This is because this type of basin is usually fitted into a worktop.

Counter top: This type of basin is either round or oval and fits into a hole cut into a worktop.

Under slung

The type of basin is fitted under the hole in the worktop. This means that the worktop has to be a solid surface material, such a marble or stone. , Using Storage Under The Bed

TAP HOLES:

Basins come with one, two or three tap holes.

One tap hole:

This type of basin uses a mono bloc mixer, which normally incorporates a pop-up waste. The water , Laminate Flooring is Built for the Twenty First Century is controlled either by a lever on the tap or a separate hot , Sauna Accessories for an Even Better Sauna Bath and cold , Leaking Fuel Oil Tanks - Avoiding Costly Problems With Oil Spills and Leakage handle on either side of the spout.

Two tap hole:

The most common type of tap configuration has a separate hot , Chairs, Rocking Chairs and Other Comfortable Places To Park It! and cold , Septic Tank Maintenance Secrets tap with a plug and chain waste. The hot , Gas or Electric Cookers? Which Is Best? tap is normally fitted on the left hand side of the basin.

Three tap hole:

There are two type of tap arrangement that can be fitted to this type of tap-hole arrangement. Either a three-hole mixer which is a hot , Winterizing a Vacation Home and cold , Robotic Vacuum Cleaners, Sit Back, Relax and Let Them Do the Work valve head and a separate spout, usually fitted with a pop up waste. Or you could fit a pair of basin taps and what is known as a chain stay waste. A chain stay waste uses a plug and chain but the chain is held in place , Conveyor Belt Tracking by a disc, which is fitted into the middle of the three holes

BIDETS:

Bidets are not that common in the UK as we are not normally raised to use them. However for those that do have and use them there are a few points to consider.

For a bidet to work effectively they have to be fitted next to a toilet-not at the other side of the room , Winterizing a Vacation Home or several feet away.

A UK bidet now come with the tap fitted on the top and is usually a mono bloc mixer. There used to be bidets in the UK, which came with an up-spray or fountain spray as it was known. This type of bidet is no longer available.

BATHS:

There are four main types of material used to manufacture baths in the UK. These are cast iron, pressed-steel, glass , Choosing Your Air Filter: Navigating the Confusing World of Air Cleaners reinforced plastic , Planning Permission Tips UK - What To Show And What Not To Show On Your application Drawings (GRP) and acrylic.

Cast Iron:

This is the material from which most baths used to be made and is now most commonly used for free standing baths. There are two commonly held misconceptions concerning cast iron baths.

The first is that they are too heavy. The weight of a standard cast iron bath filled with water , Air Conditioners is in the region of 25 stones. , Hanging Drywall The bath is usually fitted with four legs which means that the weight on each leg on the floor , How To Hang Your Billiard Lights is approximately 6.25 stones. , Decorative Touches for Your Kitchen

As we walk across the floor , Hanging Drywall foot to foot we actually weight more that this. The second misconception is that they are cold. , Guide To Fireplace Cleaning This is because years ago when we all used cast iron baths the houses , How To Buy Double Glazing In The UK did not have central heating. The bath can only reflect the temperature , Choosing Great Pool Table Lights of the room , Ourdoor fireplaces and related products that it is in. If the room , Aluminum Awnings – An Economical Way To Cool Your Home is warm the bath is therefore warm. There is, however, one possible exception. If the bath is fitted in with a panel as apposed to free standing it may be that the air , Skunked - On Memorial Day temperature under the bath is cooler due to the holes left by the plumber. If this is the case, insulation under the bath will solve the problem.

Pressed Steel:

This is where a layer of steel several millimetres thick is coated with a stove-enamelled surface. They are most commonly used in hotels and commercial premises.

As the material of the bath is very thin they tend to cool down very quickly. They also tend to be very plain in shape due to the manufacturing restrictions of the material.

Glass Reinforced Plastic , How To Buy Double Glazing In The UK (GRP) :

This was the first type of plastic , Air Conditioners material used to produce baths and was used by almost everyone until the invention of Acrylic. It has very good insulation properties , An In-Depth Review of Popular Air Purifiers and enables baths of many shapes and styles to be easily produced.

The two main difficulties with this material are as follows:

1. As the colour , Winterizing a Vacation Home for the bath is produced in batches there can sometimes be problems with the match to the pottery.

2. If the bath is fitted in direct sunlight they are prone to the plasticiser leaking out of the surface and crazing of the surface texture occurring.

Acrylic:

This is the most common material now used to produce baths in the UK and Europe. It has the same characteristics as GRP in that it insulates well and can produce great shapes.

However, as it is produced to internationally agreed standards of colour , Exterior Painting - You Can Do That it is now what every pottery supplier uses to obtain their colour , Surviving Winter in Style match. Acrylic comes in several thicknesses most commonly 3mm, 5mm, 8mm and 10mm. There is a common misconception that the thicker the acrylic the stronger the bath.

This is not so. The acrylic is there only to hold the colour , Exterior Painting - You Can Do That and maintain a waterproof barrier. You will normally find that the thicker the acrylic the plainer the style of the bath.

The strength of the bath comes from the glass-reinforced plastic, , An In-Depth Review of Popular Air Purifiers which is sprayed on the underside of the bath. You should always look for a full encapsulated baseboard.

This is where the chipboard base that supports the bottom of the bath is fully enclosed to prevent it from coming away after a few years of use. The sides of the bath should also be reinforced to prevent them from bowing out when the bath is filled with water. , Ourdoor fireplaces and related products

If the bath does bow out in the middle the result is often that the top ledge will drop producing a gap between the tiles , Learn How To Plan Your Meals To Free Up Your Time and the bath.

BATH SIZES AND SHAPES:

There are a multitude of bath shapes and sizes available in the UK at present but they break down into several groups.

Rectangular baths - Single Ended:

This is the most common style of bath with the taps at one end and is ideal for one person to bathe in on there own as it usually has a gentle back slope which offers good back support when relaxing.

The most common size is 1700 x 700. They are however produced in sizes ranging from 1200 x 750 to 2000 x 1200. When a client comes in saying that there bath is 1680 x 680 this is usually because they do not realize that the bath is fitted into the plaster work when installed so that a bath that is 1700 x 700 straight out of the box is often small when fitted.

Rectangular baths - Double Ended:

This type of bath is common with people who prefer to bathe with a partner as the taps are mounted in the middle of the bath. They are becoming a lot more popular in the UK. However to make extra room , Learn How To Plan Your Meals To Free Up Your Time for the two people the two back slopes on the bath can often be at quite a severe angle and therefore make the bath less comfortable for one person to lie out. Once again they come in a multitude of sizes, from 1700 x 750 to 2000 x 1200.

Corner baths:

There are two mains types of corner bath: equal sided and offset, where one side is longer than the other. Two equal sided corner baths are usually available 1100 x 1100, 1200 x 1200, 1300 x 1300, 1400 x 1400 and 1500 x 1500.

The first three sizes are more commonly used as shower , Patio Canopies: Protecting Your Patio From The Elements... baths as the bathing area is too small for most people to use effectively. The 1400 and 1500 are big enough to use by most people for bathing. The offset corner baths are usually available in two sizes 1500 x 900 and 1500 x 1000. They are not very effective as a bath for most people less than 5 feet 4 inches tall due to the internal length. They are available with or without a seat in the corner.

Shower Baths (Ophelia, Ianthe):

These baths have a larger area at one end to allow for more room , Metal Shingles for showering. They are usually supplied with a bath screen made especially for the shape of the bath.

Space Saver baths:

These baths are made to a special shape usually thinner at one end to allow for more room , Robotic Vacuum Cleaners, Sit Back, Relax and Let Them Do the Work to fit furniture , Mattress Selection - A Practical Approach or make more room , Patio Canopies: Protecting Your Patio From The Elements... for pottery or even a shower , Choosing Your Air Filter: Navigating the Confusing World of Air Cleaners cubicle.

Written by Neal Baker on behalf of http://www.bathroomsensuite.com and http://www.bathroom-furnitureuk.co.uk, online , Laminate Flooring is Built for the Twenty First Century retailers of bathroom furniture, , Learn How To Plan Your Meals To Free Up Your Time bathroom , Central Air Conditioners suites and bathroom accessories , An In-Depth Review of Popular Air Purifiers in the UK.

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