North Leeds Plumbing & Heating – Home Improvement and DIY Advice

Archive for October, 2009

Controlling the temperature of your underfloor heating system is important.  There are numerous thermostats available today that will help you accomplish this task.  It will be necessary to understand the different options that each will provide in order to ensure that you pick the right thermostat to meet your needs.

The most popular types of underfloor heating thermostats include programmable and manual models.  The cost of a programmable model will likely be more than one that is manual but many will find that the additional expense is worth it.

Most manual thermostats will include at least two basic options.  The first is an on/off switch that controls your underfloor heating system.  The section option is a dial that controls the temperature.  Because of the simple design of this type of thermostat, it is extremely easy to operate.  This makes it a great option for people who do not want to be burdened with complicated options and directions.

If you are looking for a bit of flexibility with your underfloor heating thermostat, programmable models are great options.  These can be found with a variety of different options and several are even operated with a touch screen.  Most will allow you to create a seven day programme that reflects the temperature you desire on a given day.  Some thermostats will even allow you to programme the temperature by hour as well.

Underfloor heating thermostats can include built in and remote sensors.  These are used to determine both air temperature and floor temperature as well.

If you are planning to change your bathroom it will be cheaper to design your own, as that way you will also have a more unique and personal style to your bathroom. But with such a wealth of choice when it comes to different makes of bathroom furniture, accessories and shower enclosures, it can be hard to know what will suit best.

A good place to start – whether it’s a modern or traditional-style bathroom – is with the style of furniture that you want to use. A wood finish is proving very popular for the latest bathroom designs, and oak, pine and rosewood are a common choice. Of course, Scandinavian-style bathroom suites are always highly sought after and sleek minimal bath taps and basin taps will also be a good option to complement the plain and natural setting.

Fortunately, many of the major bathroom suite showrooms are great places to see what styles will go well together. For traditional bathrooms, different designs are often categorised by the fashions of the time periods they are trying to recreate, such as Victorian and Edwardian. Winchester bathroom suites are a popular display in many showrooms and will give you a good insight into what fittings and accessories will make the right combination.

And if you thought a free-standing roll top bath was only reserved for these traditional suites, there is a range of attractive modern designs that follow the same style as their older counterparts and will be a great way of adding a central feature to your bathroom.

Although it is often not considered to be very important the bathroom mirror can be one of the most used items in any home, and the purpose of this bathroom accessory can vary dramatically from person to person.

As much as large bathroom mirrors can open up a small bathroom and create the illusion of a larger space, there are other smaller options on the market that will perform just as vital a role as any large mirror and will also come in a variety of styles to suit different bathroom designs.

The retractable magnifying mirrors are by far the most popular choice for people who want to get a close-up view for applying make-up or shaving. These handy bathroom accessories were very common fittings over the last twenty years, but are now perhaps considered a style of the past.

Probably the most common and stylish bathroom mirrors on the market today are illuminated mirrors, which come with in-built lighting that is ideal for increasing visibility and are perfect for small bathrooms with no natural light. These illuminated mirrors come in a range of sizes to suit any purpose and there is also a diverse range of styles that can add a real touch of class. Most of the designs available come with a simple light switch, much like the light on old bathroom mirrors that hung above the frame. And for people up to date with the latest trends, there are also other models that use built-in LEDs instead of normal light bulbs.

Electric underfloor heating is one of the best heating solutions for every home that provides the benefits of wood floor heating systems to bedrooms, living rooms, hallways, and conservatories or any area where laminate flooring is placed.

This system is placed directly under the wooden flooring and sends heat upwards. The effect of this type of heating is that the entire area is warmed, which gets rid of cold spots and chilly breezes. There are other types of electric underfloor heating systems that operate in a similar way and that are controlled by thermostat devices, which adjust the preferred room temperature. These are available in various sizes and fit different shapes and sizes of floorings.

The Ecofilm set contains a flexible heating component that will provide efficient underfloor heating solutions for various coverings. Carbon mats are used to heat up the floors. This product is robust, ultra thin, and is utilised as a dry lay system that heats up below laminate floors, carpets, timber floors, and vinyl floors. Ecofilm has been supplying economical heating solutions for more than 40 years. This product is efficient, silent, safe, and has the best quality in the market.

Rooms with irregular shapes can be heated by installing the Ecoflex, a loose electric underfloor heating cable, which allows the heat to reach areas such as recesses and alcoves. However, for rooms that are large and have regular shapes, the large areas can be covered with the Ecofloor Cable Mat easily. A pre-attached cable is combined with a self-adhesive mesh that will distribute heat evenly through the whole floor.

Electric underfloor heating cables can be placed in several areas of the household. Because of is versatility, it can be installed below floor coverings including Natural Stone, Ceramic, Slate, Porcelain, Quarrystone, Marble, Terracotta, and Limestone.

If you are about to put the finishing touches to your bathroom, choosing the right bathroom furniture will be vital for keeping within the style you want to achieve. Cabinets and vanity lockers often set the tone for the design of your bathroom and there is a range of colours, woods and finishes to choose from.

If you are going for a modern style, a sleek and simplistic bathroom mirror will be ideal to set above your sink. Probably the most common cupboards are the white units that surround and also enclose the lower half of the bathroom sink. If you are stuck for space, this will easily be the most practical option and will also leave a fine looking finish.

But as much as white has been a much-favoured colour for suites, wooden bathroom furniture is especially popular for more earthy designs. Beech, oak and walnut are among the most sought after for the latest styles, and will give your bathroom a pleasant and natural ambience.

However, should you care for a more vintage touch choosing the right furniture will prove to be more difficult. The main rule to follow here is to ensure that the furniture you choose matches the style of the time period that you are trying to create. For bathroom cabinets and vanities, a darker finish is more common in traditional bathroom suites, but Satin Biscuit, Gloss Biscuit, Pearl White and Ebony can also be considered and will also prove to be a somewhat cheaper option.

When faced with the decision of what fittings to install in your bathroom, you will find that there are a wide range of different styles available. If you are looking for a particular design for your bathroom it will be vital to know which styles will be able to complement each other. Basin taps, bath taps and even showers will come in a large variety of different designs.

Modern minimalist bathrooms are becoming increasingly popular and are now a common sight in bathroom showrooms. Chrome bath taps and basin taps will be the obvious choice and will come in a wealth of different shapes and sizes. More ergonomic designs will undoubtedly prove to be more popular in the long run, but there have been plenty of more rigid and cubic-influenced taps brought on to the market that will perfectly accentuate any modern bathroom suite. Also not to be overlooked is the wall-mounted range of bath and basin taps that will definitely add a sleek and stylish dimension. Rosewood or oak finishes are a fairly common sight for cupboards and panel features in modern bathrooms.

But for the traditionalists among us, having a more authentic style to your bathroom will be easier – and cheaper – than you may think. Romsey-style fittings are especially popular for older-looking styles and when it comes to bathroom furniture there will be plenty of options able to complement an authentic design. A vintage style toilet roll holder, Victorian-style clothes hooks and, of course, a gold coloured frame around a bathroom mirror will always fit in nicely.

For anyone who has decided to install their own authentic traditional bathroom suite, it will still be possible to install a shower cubicle without detracting from the style of your bathroom. Of course, shower enclosures are rarely seen in traditional bathrooms, especially in older Victorian and Edwardian-type designs. However, choosing a simple and tasteful shower cubicle will allow you to combine the best of both worlds.

Easily the most popular choice when it comes to shower enclosures for traditional bathrooms is a basic, square open-door design. White ceramic shower trays are also highly recommended for keeping in character with the rest of the bathroom furniture, while gold coloured or brass-plated showerheads also won’t spoil an older style.

The other option for showers in traditional bathrooms is to install a showerhead in your bath, and even if you have a roll top bath it will still be possible to install a shower. A popular choice for people faced with installing a shower in a free-standing bath is to fit a circular shower-curtain and rail, which can hang above the end of the bath.

Showerheads come in an array of traditional styles to suit your bathroom design. Among the most popular are the brass-plated options that have a wider, flatter head compared to the modern counterparts. Special risers, which can reach a length of over six feet, are used to hang the head and are easily the best way to fit a shower in your bathroom without taking away from the authentic feel.

Designing your own bathroom may be a dream for many of us, and will seem a lot easier than it actually is, but there are a wide range of factors that need to be taken into consideration when you are planning your bathroom, and there will be far more to worry about than just size and layout.

Perhaps the determining factor when you decide to design your own bathroom is where the pipe work is to be fitted. If you are fitting a bathroom into a standard semi-detached home, it will prove easier and far more economical to place all the drainage points on the external wall. The bathroom sink, shower, bath and toilet will ideally be placed on this side of the room so that the drainage outlets are conveniently placed.

Of course, this limits your options greatly when it comes to layout and design, so it is worth noting what sort of bathroom fittings will be best suited for each corner of the room. The toilet is probably the most likely for allowing easy access to the outside wall as it will use the largest drainage pipe, and also to be considered are building regulations, which require that there is at least a clear space of 20” around the seat.

However, it is probably best is to start with the bath, as this will be the largest fitting to install in your room. Shower enclosures are easier to place and will require smaller drainage outlets, while the location of the bathroom sink will also be less of a consideration. Where bathroom mirrors are in relation to the light in the room will be another important factor.

With the vast array of different bath taps, bathroom accessories and showers on the market there will be a wide range of ways you can find a design and colour scheme for your new bathroom. However, there are certain themes that come up regularly and are good guidelines to follow for any modern bathroom.

Of course, what tiles you choose or what colour you paint the walls will have a big effect on how your bathroom will look, but again this must match your bathroom furniture. Simple and neutral colours tend to complement more sleek and contemporary styles better than others; for instance a black or cream background with white ceramic bathroom furniture.

However, another major factor when it comes to the designing of a bathroom is what basin taps and bath taps you decide to use. Brass-finish taps will never look good in a modern, minimalistic bathroom that has, for example, red or blue tiles with stylish fittings. Chrome is by far the most adaptable finish when it comes to complementing the bathroom furniture and other components, and is therefore the most widely used.

If you are designing your bathroom from scratch, it is important that you know which colours will work together and, perhaps more importantly, which won’t. It is highly recommended to make a trip to your local bathroom showroom and see what colour combinations they have chosen. It can also sometimes be better to choose your bathroom furniture and accessories first, and then match them up with the tiles.

The cost of some good quality basin taps can put a lot of people off when it comes to choosing the fittings for their bathroom suite, but fortunately there is a wealth of styles that will be able to fit any budget. If you are installing a completely new bathroom, and want to keep the cost relatively low, it will be well worth your while sticking to modern-style basin taps, as there is far more choice in this category. Traditional styles of basin taps can also be bought at a cheap price, but quite often these will not be up to a good standard of quality.

Also highly recommended is sticking to a chrome finish, as again there will be far more choice in comparison to other finishes, such as brass. Currently in trend and a common sight in modern bathroom displays are single-bloc mixer basin taps, which not only save space but also make it a lot easier to mix hot and cold water for the user.

However, if you are paying a professional to install your bathroom suite and are intending to use the same washbasin, it will be necessary to stick to a similar overall design to that which was previously installed if you wish to save on costs, as there will be more expense with fitting a single-bloc mixer tap as of course the basin itself will have to be replaced.