| Bathroom flooring – the choice is yours |
With your mind full of images of beautiful bathroom suites, elegant porcelain and rain forest shower experiences, you could be forgiven for not thinking about the floor in your new bathroom but it’s a fact that choosing the right flooring will not only finish the ‘look’ of your new bathroom, it will also make it much easier to care for and more comfortable to use. That’s why we’ve put together this quick rundown of the choices available today to the discerning homeowner and bathroom re-modeler… The Usual SuspectsCeramic Tiles. Traditionally the most popular bathroom flooring choice. Tiles are not only durable, but also hygienic and very easy to keep clean. They’re also, most importantly, waterproof. Ceramic tiles are not without disadvantages, though – the grouting can quickly become discolored and even mouldy with damp and mildew. Ceramic tiles are available in a seemingly endless array of colours and patterns and designs can include ridged tiles to aid grip. Of course, if yiou do slip over or fall, then tiles are a pretty hard surface to land on. Vinyl. The next most popular bathroom floor covering, vinyl is both affordable and easy to maintain. Like tiles, vinyl floors are waterproof and stain resistant. They’re also easy to lay – but a vinyl floor hardly gives one a sense of luxury. The ease of laying, the wide choice of styles and colours and the low cost make Vinyl flooring a very practical choice for families. Laminate. perfect if you want to re-create that wooden floor look in an area where traditional timber might be prone to the damp and wet. The top wood grain ‘image’ is protected by a further layer making it stain and water resistant. Again, Laminate is durable and hard wearing although it’s much cheaper than the hardwood it imitates so well. And now for something completely different….If you really want to break away from the norm, then these floorings might be worth considering. Cork. soft and comfortable to walk on, cork is a great choice. As well as being warm underfoot, Cork can also help insulate and is naturally non slip and rot resistant even when wet. Sealing is recommended to stop dirt becoming engrained. Cork is also an environmentally friendly choice. Hardwood. can be used in a bathroom or high moisture setting providing it is adequately sealed. Hardwood flooring has an inherent warmth and beauty and if you’re already a fan of real wood then why not have it fitted in the bathroom too? Rubber. perhaps suited to more contemporary interiors, rubber has many redeeming qualities making it ideal for bathroom flooring use. It’s durable, insulating, water resistant and even burn resistant. It can also be patterned to prevent slipping. Stone. from marble to slate, if you can stand the price tag, then why not? Naturally resistant to wear and tear and of course waterproof. Like it’s ceramic counterpart, not the most forgiving of surfaces if you fall over – and stone certainly can be cold underfoot. Natural stone may require sealing to prevent staining. Be wary of polished stone, which will be even more slippery when wet. And finally…Carpet. Carpet is available in water stain and mildew resistant finishes now and can provide underfoot warmth and a ‘soft landing’ suitable for all the family. However if its going to be subjected to repeat heavy soaking from children, then tiles or vinyl may prove longer lasting and more appropriate choices. With many of the tile / stone options, it may be possible to include underfloor heating (consult a qualified fitter) removing at least one obstacle to having a tiled floor. Either that or wear your slippers! |
Showing posts with label new bathroom. Show all posts
Showing posts with label new bathroom. Show all posts
Monday, 22 June 2009
Bathroom flooring – the choice is yours
Monday, 8 June 2009
Put a little Feng Shui into your bathroom
Put a little Feng Shui into your bathroom...
Feng Shui wisdom teaches that problems in life can easily be identified with problems in your bathroom - cash flow blockages, drained finances etc. Similarly, the location of your bathroom in your home can also have a negative effect on your wealth, however all is not lost!
For example, bathrooms located next to (or above) a front door, bathrooms on a second floor above a kitchen, bathrooms under the stairs and even bathrooms in the center of offices are all considered locations that can have a particularly negative effect. The idea being that Chi can drain away before it's had chance to enter your home. Of course leaking plumbing (where ever the location) can have a draining effect.
So how can you encourage that good Chi stuff to hang around a bit longer when faced with a poorly positioned bathroom?
If your bathroom is in an important Feng Shui area, a full length mirror on the outside of the door can encourage wealth. A bowl of pebbles above the toilet (or on the cistern) and a black or red coloured rug at the base of the pedestal are all considered protective devices.
Smaller steps like keeping the toilet lid closed, placing plugs in sinks and showers all prevent Chi flowing away. If your bathroom is over the front door or kitchen, suggestions include hanging a faceted crystal in the center of the room, placing a round mirror on the ceiling directly above the toilet and placing earth type objects in the corners of the room will encourage positive Chi.
In general, the more faucets, sprays, water jets etc that a bathroom has, the more energy will be encouraged to travel in directions other than downwards. The larger a bathroom is, the more Feng Shui principles of colour and elements can be adopted.
If you're thinking of re-modeling your bathroom then why not visit Bathroom Quoter where you can enter your own measurements and details and get an instant online quote without having to put up with loads of visiting salesmen.
photo credit: axeldeviaje
Smaller steps like keeping the toilet lid closed, placing plugs in sinks and showers all prevent Chi flowing away. If your bathroom is over the front door or kitchen, suggestions include hanging a faceted crystal in the center of the room, placing a round mirror on the ceiling directly above the toilet and placing earth type objects in the corners of the room will encourage positive Chi.
In general, the more faucets, sprays, water jets etc that a bathroom has, the more energy will be encouraged to travel in directions other than downwards. The larger a bathroom is, the more Feng Shui principles of colour and elements can be adopted.
If you're thinking of re-modeling your bathroom then why not visit Bathroom Quoter where you can enter your own measurements and details and get an instant online quote without having to put up with loads of visiting salesmen.
photo credit: axeldeviaje
Tuesday, 5 February 2008
Bathrooms are sanctuaries - escape in our photo feature
Photo Feature Bathrooms are sanctuaries where you are able to unwind and forget about the stresses and strains of the day. For others, the ideal fixtures and fittings are installed in a bid to make every day life flow smoothly.
This month’s featured company is A & A Kitchens and Bathroom Ltd, a manufacturer of tailor-made kitchens and bathrooms. The company is based in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales, but also work throughout mainland UK.
Click here to see the full photo feature.
Click here to get an instant online quote for a bathroom.
Thursday, 6 September 2007
Remodelling your bathroom
Remodelling your bathroom
As well as creating a luxurious place for you to unwind after a hard day, a new bathroom is also an investment. According to estate agents, new bathrooms and kitchens add the most long-term value to your home. So think carefully – it often doesn’t cost much more to give your bathroom that real touch of luxury. Remember, you probably won’t be looking to do it again in a couple of year’s time. Here are the essential stages to making your investment work:
Stage 1 – Make the best use of your space
Planning is critical to ensure your new bathroom is money well spent. The first thing to think about is what you want from your new space. Are you going to install anything new such as a separate shower unit or whirlpool bath? And what shape of bath would you ideally like? Are you going to need to move any fixtures or fittings? If so, how easy will this be with regard to plumbing and electrics? Do you need to install extra storage, or practicalities such as extractor fans and radiators for the towels? Once you have made your decisions, set a budget - and then add on a 20 per cent margin to cover the inevitable hidden costs! And remember, you can save money by starting some of the preparation work yourself – for example, stripping the wallpaper and removing the old tiles.
Stage 2 – Have a look around
It’s a good idea to familiarise yourself with the types of fixtures on offer before you approach a contractor – this way you have an idea of exactly what you want and how much it costs, and you can’t be railroaded into something you don’t need. There are many different bathroom designs for you to choose from and it should be easy to find one that matches the style of your home. Each fixture design – from ultra modern to simple and classical – can be fully or partially fitted. This means you can either have your fixtures fitted into built-in units or free standing with detachable panels to hide pipes. These panels are useful when it comes to carrying out future plumbing work, as they allow easier access to the pipes. With fitted units it’s more difficult to access the workings of the fixture and the entire unit may have to be taken out. There are even different types of toilet fittings to consider – high-level, where the cistern is mounted high on the wall, low-level, where the cistern is directly behind the toilet, or close-coupled, where the toilet and cistern are attached directly together as one unit. A close-coupled unit is easier to install and takes up far less space.
Stage 3 – Select the fittings
Once you have decided on the basic style of your suite, there are still loads of individual types of fittings for you to choose from. Consider what you would like and what would best suit your needs – a standard bathtub, a corner bath or perhaps a roll-top? Separate shower or over-bath? Does the shower need to be height adjustable to accommodate different family members? Do you need special adaptations such as non-slip surfaces or handrails on the bath or shower? It may be cheaper to buy the fixtures yourself and just pay for professional installation. If so, hold off getting a quote until you have purchased the fixtures so you can tell the contractor exactly what you need installing. If you would prefer the bathroom company to both supply and fit the suite, look into quotes at this point.
Stage 4 – Measuring up
Luckily most fixtures come in standard sizes, but it’s still important to measure the space you have so you know what will fit where. Some bathroom companies offer online services whereby you enter your room measurements and can experiment slotting in different kinds of fixtures. Remember to not only consider whether the units fit into the room, but also to leave space in front and next to them. As a rough guide it is advisable to leave at least 700mm in front of a toilet and basin, and 1000mm in front of a bath. If you are installing a separate shower cubicle, make sure you leave enough space for the door to open easily, and for you to get dry! If you have decided to purchase your bathroom suite directly from the installer or allowed them to purchase it for you, they will probably come and measure up for you as part of the service.
Stage 5 – Installation
This stage will vary depending on how you have decided to purchase your new bathroom. If you didn’t select a bathroom company when you bought your suite, now is the time to search for installers and get a quote. Whenever you’re searching for quotes, the advice is always to get at least three to compare and check when they’re available to do the work. Delivery times on bathroom suites are usually quite long, so it should be easy to give the installer plenty of notice and co-ordinate the times. Remember that having a new bathroom installed will inevitably cause disruption to your household when the water is switched off. Most companies will try and keep your time without water to a minimum, but it may still be useful to contact neighbours or relatives to see if you can borrow the kettle or use the shower!
All that’s left now is for you to put the finishing touches to your bathroom and decorate it as you like. Consider suitable tiling, flooring and colour schemes which will complement your beautiful new suite. Enjoy!
www.bathroomquoter.co.uk can help you choose your supplier.
As well as creating a luxurious place for you to unwind after a hard day, a new bathroom is also an investment. According to estate agents, new bathrooms and kitchens add the most long-term value to your home. So think carefully – it often doesn’t cost much more to give your bathroom that real touch of luxury. Remember, you probably won’t be looking to do it again in a couple of year’s time. Here are the essential stages to making your investment work:
Stage 1 – Make the best use of your space
Planning is critical to ensure your new bathroom is money well spent. The first thing to think about is what you want from your new space. Are you going to install anything new such as a separate shower unit or whirlpool bath? And what shape of bath would you ideally like? Are you going to need to move any fixtures or fittings? If so, how easy will this be with regard to plumbing and electrics? Do you need to install extra storage, or practicalities such as extractor fans and radiators for the towels? Once you have made your decisions, set a budget - and then add on a 20 per cent margin to cover the inevitable hidden costs! And remember, you can save money by starting some of the preparation work yourself – for example, stripping the wallpaper and removing the old tiles.
Stage 2 – Have a look around
It’s a good idea to familiarise yourself with the types of fixtures on offer before you approach a contractor – this way you have an idea of exactly what you want and how much it costs, and you can’t be railroaded into something you don’t need. There are many different bathroom designs for you to choose from and it should be easy to find one that matches the style of your home. Each fixture design – from ultra modern to simple and classical – can be fully or partially fitted. This means you can either have your fixtures fitted into built-in units or free standing with detachable panels to hide pipes. These panels are useful when it comes to carrying out future plumbing work, as they allow easier access to the pipes. With fitted units it’s more difficult to access the workings of the fixture and the entire unit may have to be taken out. There are even different types of toilet fittings to consider – high-level, where the cistern is mounted high on the wall, low-level, where the cistern is directly behind the toilet, or close-coupled, where the toilet and cistern are attached directly together as one unit. A close-coupled unit is easier to install and takes up far less space.
Stage 3 – Select the fittings
Once you have decided on the basic style of your suite, there are still loads of individual types of fittings for you to choose from. Consider what you would like and what would best suit your needs – a standard bathtub, a corner bath or perhaps a roll-top? Separate shower or over-bath? Does the shower need to be height adjustable to accommodate different family members? Do you need special adaptations such as non-slip surfaces or handrails on the bath or shower? It may be cheaper to buy the fixtures yourself and just pay for professional installation. If so, hold off getting a quote until you have purchased the fixtures so you can tell the contractor exactly what you need installing. If you would prefer the bathroom company to both supply and fit the suite, look into quotes at this point.
Stage 4 – Measuring up
Luckily most fixtures come in standard sizes, but it’s still important to measure the space you have so you know what will fit where. Some bathroom companies offer online services whereby you enter your room measurements and can experiment slotting in different kinds of fixtures. Remember to not only consider whether the units fit into the room, but also to leave space in front and next to them. As a rough guide it is advisable to leave at least 700mm in front of a toilet and basin, and 1000mm in front of a bath. If you are installing a separate shower cubicle, make sure you leave enough space for the door to open easily, and for you to get dry! If you have decided to purchase your bathroom suite directly from the installer or allowed them to purchase it for you, they will probably come and measure up for you as part of the service.
Stage 5 – Installation
This stage will vary depending on how you have decided to purchase your new bathroom. If you didn’t select a bathroom company when you bought your suite, now is the time to search for installers and get a quote. Whenever you’re searching for quotes, the advice is always to get at least three to compare and check when they’re available to do the work. Delivery times on bathroom suites are usually quite long, so it should be easy to give the installer plenty of notice and co-ordinate the times. Remember that having a new bathroom installed will inevitably cause disruption to your household when the water is switched off. Most companies will try and keep your time without water to a minimum, but it may still be useful to contact neighbours or relatives to see if you can borrow the kettle or use the shower!
All that’s left now is for you to put the finishing touches to your bathroom and decorate it as you like. Consider suitable tiling, flooring and colour schemes which will complement your beautiful new suite. Enjoy!
www.bathroomquoter.co.uk can help you choose your supplier.
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