Plastic fixtures, shower screens, hangers and tubs, it seems there’s no end to the possibilities when it comes to plastic one of the most polluting and pervasive materials invented by man. They are tough and non-reactive to acids and base chemicals but they do have one very nasty trait, scratches would most surely result in ugly, stained and quite unappealing. Plastic scrubbing pads only that tends to glide over the surface but any solvents that gets into it, would also result in ugly melted plastics so keep lacquer and other strong solvents away. Want a nifty way to make them water-proof (like a windshield), use the same stuff you use on your car applying two times to ensure proper coverage. Just be sure to read the label and warnings so you don’t end up making an ugly plastic enclosure well uglier? Read the rest of this entry » »
A boring bathroom bugging you? Then why not consider getting it re-tiled, nope, you do not need to get the old tile chipped off that is dusty and messy for specialty tile adhesives that work over the existing tiles are now available. There is however a side-effect to this easy way, the bathroom will be a bit smaller for the re-tiling would take up a bit more space. Concrete walls are the best candidates for over-tiling, but other materials can easily be ripped off or scraped off as desired, though they can also be re-tiled if needed. Grout Read the rest of this entry » »
Bathtubs are some of the most durable bath fixtures around and they seldom fail except for the newer fiberglass ones which tends to crack easily if not installed properly. These tubs can come in many materials such as marble, ceramic cast iron, fiberglass and many more. Many modern ones are cheap for they are made of man-made materials such as plastic and fiberglass, vintage ones last longer and have a certain nostalgia and beauty of their own. Ceramic tubs have been around for a long time and having been around for that said time, they can suffer from wear and tear. From deep scratches and nicks, Read the rest of this entry » »
The bathroom is the smallest part of the house, so you need to use the space economically. Bathrooms are not hard to design, as their use is pretty straightforward.
The most basic design is to use white. You can hardly go wrong with that. White is a very neutral color and choosing the fixtures are easier. You should also have plenty of storage space for towels, medicine, tissue paper, soap, and other stocks of toiletries you will be storing in the bathroom. You should also have some scents in the bathroom - but nothing to strong. A subtle scent from potpourri or scented candles will do the trick - avoid air freshener smells, since they’re too artificial. You may also opt to use older styles, but be sure that you maintain a balance between old (antique) fixtures and new ones.
Newer and more efficient dual flush fixtures for toilets are now commonly available for most types and models allowing you to transform your water guzzling toilet into a nature loving low consumption chair. Normal flushing takes the whole contents of a tank which is normally at two gallons, sending it down the drain may it be for pee or poop. Having a dual-flush fixture allows you to flush at half capacity for liquid waste and full capacity for solids making your toilet green.
The human digestive tract takes 12 hours to fully digest food, liquid waste passes through the system faster resulting in more liquid waste that the once or two for solid waste for a day which means more wasted water. Installing a dual-flush toilet or upgrading an existing one saves you by as much as half your normal consumption of water used for flushing help save one of our most precious natural resources, water. Other toilets that use water from the sink for flushing are available for extreme recycling needs plus more environmentally friendly products that are in the process of development for the toilet users of tomorrow.
Picture this, you install an all glass shower enclosure because your kids flood the place when bathing leaving you to clean up. Then after a couple of weeks you end up with a shower door that looks like your car windshield, full of hard water stains and many such other gunk, what to do… what to do.
First, you can try using commercial glass cleaners though they may be caustic and poisonous, but they do work. Next, you can get hold of the stuff your husband uses for the car windshield, and apply (be sure the enclosure is glass for plastic might stain due to some alcohol in some products) on as if it were your windshield which is normally twice over to ensure all areas get an equal coating. Buff to a shine with a moist cloth and there you have it, a stain free bathroom enclosure that repels water. Magical!
Image Source: jwlasvegasresort.com
Water closets, popularly known as bathrooms, nowadays are not only functional but luxurious as well. The “spa atmosphere” can be achieved without denting your budget too much. It can be done through the use of cost-effective fixtures, shelves and strategic use of light. Built-in cabinets surrounding the bath tub can be used to keep towels and candles (for aromatherapy) or maybe a television set to help you unwind at the end of a weary day. You can also build a modest separate bathing area with a wide ledge to perch a book or maybe a glass of wine. Instead of putting the usual cavernous cabinets with no shelves, try a cabinet with various shelves and drawers to provide storage for the cleansers, moisturizers and assorted beauty products women typically use.
Image Source:nwtiling.net
If you are renovating your bathroom for the first time, some tips:
1. You need to know exactly how much room you have. Take complete measurements of everything you will use to know if it fits in your bathroom. Rule of thumb, it is better to leave more space empty than crowding your bathroom.
2. Make sure everything is dry ! dry! dry! If you are remodelling an old bathroom, it is best to tear out the old fixtures unless you know that they have not gotten wet. If you are uncertain that not everything is dry underneath, then the new fixtures you install will probably be taken out the next day.
3. Know the kind of walls and flooring to put in and be sure that they are really sealed, because it not, it would mean even more work for you.
4. Shop for fixtures that blend well together. You can take pictures of all the things you want to use in your bathroom and imagine them in all their proper places. If what you see in your mind’s eye is awesome, then go for it. If it’s awful, forget it!
5. Good lighting does wonders for a bathroom. But first make sure that you like the size and shape of the lights to be used in your bathroom. Remember, if your bathroom is dimly lit, it would be hard to use that area. Sometimes bathrooms are also called comfort rooms. As the name implies, it should be comfortable.
The world is changing and people are becoming more environmentally responsible. You can do your share at saving the environment, while at the same time fixing up your home. One way is to replace your old toilet with a water-saving model. Most older homes have toilets that use as much as 5 gallons or 19 liters per flush. That means an average daily water use of twenty-four gallons of water in a normal house, a lot of water that is being wasted! Most new toilets now require only 6 liters to flush, some newer toilets even require just 4 liters. An ultra-low volume (ULV) 6 liter flush model means a 70% savings in water flushed, and will cut indoor water use by about 30%. You can save an average of a hundred dollars a year. There are also toilets like the one above from Toto, that uses a dual-flush system. You can choose the amount of water you’ll use (1.6 GPF or 0.9 GPF), depending on what bodily function you did. This translates to less water used and higher savings!
Image source: www.servicemagic.com
Before starting out to renovate you bathroom you must bear these two things in your mind. First is that you are not permitted to do any electrical or plumbing work yourself and that you will need to check with your local coucil before doing any structural work yourself. Next is that you need to ask yourself these questions: How big is the job? How long will it take? Do I have the time and skills to do it myself? Have I got the necessary tools to do the job? Some of these questions will be easy to answer by hiring the necessary tools. However, when it comes to skills and time, think carefully. It may pay to break down the job into smaller jobs. Reaching a compromise where you complete the finishing touches yourself maybe the most economical and most personal satisfying method. With that out of the way, if you are still keen to do it yourself, you should plan your workflow so that you do things in the right order.