North Leeds Plumbing & Heating – Home Improvement and DIY Advice

Archive for the ‘Bathroom Design’ Category

A bidet is a handy piece of bathroom furniture if you have the space for it, and it is a lot easier to fit than the bath, WC or shower unit because it is usually lightweight and you can do the job on your own with a few simple tools.

A full set of instructions will come with any new unit you buy for a bathroom, and these should be read carefully before starting on any installation work. It is particularly important to get connections right in the bathroom because of possible health hygiene issues.

The first step in fitting a bidet is to assemble the tap and waste controls that come with it and lock them into place with back nuts. Then add the waste outlet and the spray rose and bed them firmly into place using plumber’s putty, scraping away any excess before continuing.

The flexible spray pipe is then connected between the control on the mixer unit and the rose that sits in the base of the bidet. Once that is done, assemble the pop-up waste control rods. Attach one of them to the mixer control and the other to the waste outlet.

A P-trap is next connected to the waste outlet on the bidet unit. This should be turned at a slight angle, so that it effectively clears the pop-up waste control rods.

As a last step, flexible copper pipes are fitted to the tap tails. This is to simplify the connections to the supply pipes when the bidet is placed in its final position.

It is not uncommon for bathroom taps to need replacing after years of use. Whether the tap is leaking or the homeowners simply want a new and polished look, this do it yourself project is pretty easy and affordable. The first thing to do when replacing the tap is to turn off the water beneath the sink. There should be water valves under the sink, but if not, turn off the main water supply.

Next, remove the handles of the existing tap. This is done by removing the cover at the top of the handle and removing the screws located in the handles. There should be a nut at the base of the tap stem, holding the entire unit in place. This will also need to be removed. Now, the entire tap can be removed.

Clean the surface before installing the new tap. The new unit should have springs included. Install the spring with the smaller side facing up and push the new unit on top of the spring. This may take a few tries to get it lined up evenly. Once it is in place, replace the stem and the bonnet nut and tighten. The original handles can be used again, or new ones installed for a completely different look. Updating the handles alone will provide for a nice and clean look.

Once the new springs are installed, the tap should not leak and the handles should work appropriately. When the repair is finished, turn the water supply back on and test for any leaks. If there are leaks around the handles, the spring may not have been positioned correctly and this will require removing the hardware and installing again. For leak prevention, use plumber’s tape around the threads of all nuts and bolts in the fixtures.

It is possible to create a new look in a bathroom without spending a lot of money. Luckily, the bathroom is usually the smallest room in the house and much cheaper to redecorate. While remodelling a bathroom can be expensive when all fixtures are being replaced, this is not a necessary route to travel. Small and subtle changes can make a huge difference and keep homeowners adhere to a budget.

The first thing to do is consider the walls. They may need a new coat of paint or a completely new look with wallpaper. No matter what is chosen, make sure the colours are light as this will help make the room appear larger.

Though taps are small fixtures, they can make a statement. Worn taps will make the room look run down. By replacing these, owners will enjoy a clean and modern look. This is a simple and very cheap fix that will really help the overall look of the room.

Seeing as this is the smallest room, replacing the floor should be affordable. Changing to tile or hardwood will add a dramatic effect, but if the budget does not allow for this, simply buying new a new bathroom matt or rug can make a big difference as well.  

There is no need to try and purchase complete bathroom suites. A bathroom makeover will rejuvenate this room. Bathrooms can be fun to redecorate and with many colours, textures and storage options available, homeowners can literally create a new look every few months without over spending.

The Egyptian Queen Cleopatra was renowned for bathing in ass’s milk in a copper bath.  Today, anyone who wishes to refit their bathroom and has a practical mind can renovate this room in any style they wish.

The huge range of baths, sinks and lavatories on the market means that any dream can be fulfilled.  Copper baths set against a dramatic colour backdrop will instantly upgrade a room.  Free standing marble sinks, gold taps and hi tech lighting are all examples of the variety of bathroom furniture that is currently on offer. 

There are numerous DIY guides to bathroom installation on the internet, some of which even help the novice builder plan their costs and budget.  The guides range from the simple, as in instructions on how to put up a bathroom cabinet, to the complex, for example, the ambitious DIY enthusiast can learn how to install a bathroom radiator or heated towel rail.

Most importantly, read some magazines or DIY guides, plan costs and then the bathroom of your dreams can become a reality.

The whole look of your bathroom can be influenced by your choice of bathroom cabinets.  Wall mounted, often with mirrored fronts, or positioned lower down, perhaps beneath the sink, a well-appointed cabinet can create ample storage solutions, as well as add a touch of real style to your bathroom decor.

Ideal Standard mirrored cabinets can be illuminated for an ambient feel, as well as being a very practical and focused solution when you need a clear view, in order that you can shave, cleanse or put make up on your face, particularly if there is no natural light in your bathroom.  Bathroom cabinets can also present a comprehensive designer look, and they can be fashioned from various finishes.

It can be particularly unsightly to have all of your toiletries arranged around your bath and your sink, or on open wall-hung shelving.  You can effectively tidy away bottles and jars, as well as rolls of toilet tissue behind their neat drawers and sliding doors.  Bathroom furniture definitely benefits from the addition of well-made, functional cabinets.  They are a simply a great storage choice for your bathroom.

Grouting is the name of the substance used to seal the gaps between tiles in bathrooms and kitchens that protect the wall below from moisture, and also makes the finished effect look more aesthetically pleasing. Over time, and especially in the bathroom, grouting can become affected by mould and ends up looking unattractive and dirty. Most of the time the grout is still doing its job as a sealant when it looks discoloured, but in other cases it can crack or peel away, leaving the tiles and the walls exposed to moisture. Replacing the grouting is a simple procedure that can protect your bathroom and make it look like new.

Removing old Grouting

Even if the grouting has already started to peel away, you need to ensure that it is removed properly and safely to avoid causing damage to the tiles beneath. Many people use tools they already have lying around the house to try and do this fiddly job, but you will save yourself a lot of time if you buy a special grout rake from a DIY store. Remove the grouting to a depth of about two millimetres to ensure that you have got rid of all the affected sealant before applying the new product.

Grouting Tiles

The easiest way to apply grouting safely and with the least amount of mess is to spend a little money and buy a grouting gun. Once this appliance has been filled with the sealant you can use it to pipe the grouting directly into position, rather than applying it with a trowel and having to clean the excess off the tiles. Buying ready-mixed grouting is much easier than mixing your own and is more than adequate for repairs and replacement. Experts will mix their own when grouting a whole room as it does give a better finish than the pre-mixed variety.

For all-over body hygiene quickly executed, a shower unit is an invaluable addition to your bathroom furniture.  From transparent shower enclosures in any choice of size and custom built to fit your bathroom, to shower fittings incorporated over your bath, for those without the space for a separate shower, Aqualisa shower units come in many styles and sizes.

A simple box-like structure with a shower tray can fit into all but the smallest bathroom area, but those with bathrooms that are more specious may choose to have larger walk-in shower units, or even to install a wet room.  With the choice of jet-sprays, an outsize showerhead and the addition of durable wet walls, perhaps made from a marble finish, wet rooms fitted with wet room glass panels are the height of showering luxury.

Some people choose not to have a shower in their bathroom, even if it is neatly fitted above the bath.  Complete with a bath panel or shower curtains, a shower can be a very useful addition to your daily hygiene.  Relaxing in a long bath can be an opportunity to pamper you, and to soak in the lovely smells of essential oils, bath bombs or bubble bath to wash away the aches, pains and cares of the day.  However, when you are in a rush, and especially when you want to wake up from a night’s rest ready to meet the rigours of your working day, you cannot beat a session in a thorough, exhilarating shower.

Bathroom accessories not only offer functionality but also help to add style and luxury to your bathroom.  Mirrors, cabinets, soap dishes and towel rails are just a few of the many accessories available that will help you to improve your bathroom.  With so many designs available, you are sure to find bathroom accessories that suit your bathroom perfectly.

For extra luxury, heated towel rails are a great choice for the bathroom.  Towel rails are available in wide variety of designs and are not only essential but also look stylish and will help to enhance the overall look of you bathroom.  Heated towel rails are a particularly good choice for those wishing to create a cosier atmosphere in the bathroom.

To create a unique look for your bathroom, you may wish to consider opting for accessories that offer a more unusual design.  Ordinary accessories such as toothbrushes holders, soap dishes and event toilet brushes are now available in a wide variety of designs, including brass and chrome, which will help to add something unique and stylish to your bathroom.

Bathroom accessories do not just have to add functionality to your bathroom.  You can select accessories simply for decoration to improve the look of your bathroom.  Items such as decorative glass bottles, ornaments and bathroom plaques are great choices for those wishing to add something more interesting and creative to their bathroom.

Bathroom accessories are also ideal for those wishing to create different themes for their bathroom.  Unique accessories and accessories such as fish-shaped ornaments or rubber ducks help to create a fun theme for the bathroom and you can even consider adding your own pictures or designs for any themes that you have in mind.

Whatever design you are planning for your bathroom, you are sure to find accessories that will help you to complete your theme. There are many manufactures offering bathroom accessories such as Ideal Standard and Inda, so there is no limit on what you can achieve.

Bathroom taps come in a number of different styles.  Below are a few of the most popular.

Pillar Taps

Pillar taps are suitable for two-hole basins and baths.  Pillar taps consist of a pair of taps, one for hot water and the other for cold.  Simple to fit and inexpensive, they come with lever handles or traditional cross head handles.

Mixer Taps

A mixer tap is a single body tap that mixes cold and hot water together in the body of the tap.  There are two handles – one located on each side of the tap – which control the water flow, making temperature regulation simple.  Before installing a mixer tap, it is important to check the household water pressure, as relatively high pressure is required for them to perform well.

Dual Flow

A dual flow tap is the ideal solution when a mixer tap is desired but there is unequal pressure between the hot and cold water supplies.  This type of tap produces a single flow of water like a mixer tap, but separates the hot and cold within the body of the tap, avoiding problems caused by unequal pressure.

Monobloc

Monobloc taps are very neat as there is only a single lever which operates the hot and cold water flow through one mixer tap.  Their sleek appearance makes them well-suited to minimalist bathroom suite designs but, like standard mixer taps, they require the water pressure in the hot and cold supplies to be almost equal.

Shower Mixer

Perfect for family bathrooms, the shower mixer tap set comes with a mechanism for diverting the water supply to a showerhead fitting.  You can mount the showerhead over the mixer tap, telephone style, for a period appearance, or hang it on a wall over the bath.

It can be confusing choosing the right shower enclosure for your bathroom as there are so many choices available, and so many things to consider. 

If you have a small bathroom, the amount of space available will obviously be one of the deciding factors when it comes to what type of shower enclosure you choose.  Corner shower enclosures are perfect for smaller bathrooms as they maximise the use of space.  Quadrant enclosures also work well in smaller bathrooms; they feature curved screens which trim off the corner normally filled by a square shower cabin, freeing up valuable floor space which can be used for bathroom furniture.

If space is not an issue, walk-in shower enclosures are popular, and will add a touch of contemporary elegance to any bathroom.  This more spacious and luxurious option allows room for a separate drying area which can be decked or tiled accordingly to create a contrast.  By fitting curved or angled screens, the spray from the showerhead is efficiently contained.

If the bathroom is your sanctuary and you want a luxury spa experience, a steam cabin may be the answer.  Steam cabins have been gaining in popularity in recent years as they come down in price, and smaller sizes are now available which don’t require a huge amount of space in the bathroom.  Steam offers many benefits to our wellbeing such as boosting metabolism, improving circulation, and providing relief to those suffering from allergies and asthma.  The inhalation of steam opens up the airways and reduces congestion and inflammation.  Alternatively, you could just use the steam cabin at the end of a long day as a way to relax.