| Tips and advise when buying your bathroom | | | | are now fitted in most new toilets. |
| suite: (part 1)POTTERY:Also known as sanitary | | | | |
| ware, ceramics, porcelain and ware. | | | | The dump valve works by means of a push |
| | | | button, either a single or a double one. As |
| There are four basic areas that affect the | | | | you press the button it lifts a valve that |
| quality of pottery and its expected lifespan: | | | | instantly releases all the water down through |
| | | | the toilet. |
| | | | |
| The depth of the glaze: | | | | This makes this type of flushing mechanism |
| | | | very effective with low levels of |
| The glaze is the glass-like surface coating | | | | water.Overflows:Most old types of toilet have |
| which is fired onto the pottery in the kiln | | | | an overflow which let the water flow outside |
| when it is made. | | | | the property if the ball valve mechanism |
| | | | fails. This is called a visible overflow.Most |
| The glass enables the pot to be waterproof | | | | new types of toilet have an overflow which |
| and protects it from chemicals, such as | | | | flows back into the toilet bowl if the ball |
| bleach etc, over its life. | | | | valve fails. This makes them easier to |
| | | | install. This is called an internal |
| The thicker the glaze generally the longer | | | | overflow.BASINS (sinks)Basins are often |
| the life. Once this glaze goes, wears out, | | | | referred to as sinks. This is incorrect. |
| the pot becomes porous, absorbs water and | | | | Sinks are fitted in kitchens and basins are |
| eventually cracks. | | | | fitted in cloakrooms, bathrooms and |
| | | | ensuites.The term basin came from the use of |
| The more you use and clean the pottery the | | | | a jug and basin in the days when these were |
| faster the glaze wears out. | | | | used to wash yourself in the bedroom. There |
| | | | are six main type of basin available in the |
| To make the glaze thicker you have to apply | | | | UK.These are basin and full pedestal, basin |
| it a layer at a time and each time fire it in | | | | and semi-pedestal, cloakroom, semi-recessed, |
| the kiln. This process results in breakages | | | | counter top and under-slung.Basin and full |
| within the kiln.For example, if I fire 100 | | | | pedestal:This where the basin sits on full |
| pieces of pot once I may get 99 back in one | | | | size pedestal and is the most common type in |
| piece, so the 99 pays for the 100. | | | | the UK. Normally the waste pipe and hot and |
| | | | cold water pipes run through the pedestal and |
| If I then fire the 99 again I may get 80 | | | | into the floor.Basin and semi-pedestal:This |
| back in one piece, so now 80 have to pay for | | | | is where the basin sits on a half height |
| 100. | | | | pedestal which does not reach the floor. They |
| | | | are very common in Europe and becoming |
| If I then fire the 80 I may get only 50 back | | | | increasingly popular in the UK.When |
| in one piece, so now 50 have to pay for 100. | | | | recommending this type of unit care should be |
| You get the gist of this by now. | | | | taken to ensure that you have the type of |
| | | | pipe work arrangement necessary to install |
| If you assume that each layer of glaze lasts | | | | the basin. Please consult your local plumber |
| approximately 5 to 7 years you can soon see | | | | or bathrooms installer for more |
| how the system works. | | | | advice.Cloakroom:These are usually fitted |
| | | | without a pedestal, as they are normally very |
| If you glaze once you get a less expensive | | | | small basins. There are some available with |
| cost to manufacture but the product does not | | | | pedestals but you are best to check first. |
| last as long in a house. The thicker the | | | | Wall hung basins are normally fitted with a |
| glaze the longer the pottery lasts.Quality of | | | | decorative bottle trap.Semi-recessedThis type |
| the clay:The quality of the clay that is used | | | | of basin has a bow in the front but the |
| to make the pottery is very important. | | | | underside has been cut away to produce a flat |
| | | | area. This is because this type of basin is |
| The reason for this is that the finer the | | | | usually fitted into a worktop.Counter top: |
| clay the smoother the finish will be on the | | | | |
| item being made. | | | | |
| | | | This type of basin is either round or oval |
| If you use a poorer grade of clay it will | | | | and fits into a hole cut into a worktop.Under |
| have more grit in it and the surface will | | | | slungThe type of basin is fitted under the |
| have a more rippled appearance. | | | | hole in the worktop. This means that the |
| | | | worktop has to be a solid surface material, |
| You may also find that because of the | | | | such a marble or stone.TAP HOLES: Basins |
| increased grit content the pottery is heavier | | | | come with one, two or three tap holes.One tap |
| than an item of the same size made with a | | | | hole:This type of basin uses a mono bloc |
| finer grade of clay. | | | | mixer, which normally incorporates a pop-up |
| | | | waste. The water is controlled either by a |
| The finer the clay the more tonnes of rough | | | | lever on the tap or a separate hot and cold |
| clay you have to use to refine down to make | | | | handle on either side of the spout.Two tap |
| it. | | | | hole:The most common type of tap |
| | | | configuration has a separate hot and cold tap |
| It is therefore less expensive to produce | | | | with a plug and chain waste. The hot tap is |
| pottery with a coarse grade of clay.The | | | | normally fitted on the left hand side of the |
| overspray or colour: The white colour, or | | | | basin.Three tap hole:There are two type of |
| whatever colour it happens to be, is applied | | | | tap arrangement that can be fitted to this |
| to the pottery before the glaze. | | | | type of tap-hole arrangement. Either a |
| | | | three-hole mixer which is a hot and cold |
| Each manufacturer mixes their own colour to | | | | valve head and a separate spout, usually |
| try to match it to the colour of the acrylic | | | | fitted with a pop up waste. |
| baths. | | | | |
| | | | Or you could fit a pair of basin taps and |
| The white colour of the acrylic bath is a | | | | what is known as a chain stay waste. A chain |
| worldwide standard set by the acrylic | | | | stay waste uses a plug and chain but the |
| manufacturers. | | | | chain is held in place by a disc, which is |
| | | | fitted into the middle of the three |
| You need to be aware of this if you client | | | | holesBIDETS:Bidets are not that common in the |
| tries to mix and match pottery from different | | | | UK as we are not normally raised to use them. |
| manufacturers. | | | | However for those that do have and use them |
| | | | there are a few points to consider.For a |
| Its usually acceptable to have a toilet and | | | | bidet to work effectively they have to be |
| basin from one supplier made to match the | | | | fitted next to a toilet-not at the other side |
| bath but if you put a basin | | | | of the room or several feet away.A UK bidet |
| | | | now come with the tap fitted on the top and |
| from one supplier and a toilet from another | | | | is usually a mono bloc mixer. There used to |
| and then the bath together it will stand out | | | | be bidets in the UK, which came with an |
| like a sore thumb. | | | | up-spray or fountain spray as it was known. |
| | | | |
| The thicker the colour is applied, the less | | | | This type of bidet is no longer |
| fading on the edges takes place and the | | | | available.BATHS:There are four main types of |
| colour is even over the whole of the item. | | | | material used to manufacture baths in the UK. |
| | | | These are cast iron, pressed-steel, glass |
| The colour as with the glaze is applied in | | | | reinforced plastic (GRP) and acrylic.Cast |
| layers and then has to be left to set before | | | | Iron:This is the material from which most |
| the next coat can be applied. | | | | baths used to be made and is now most |
| | | | commonly used for free standing baths. There |
| The fewer coats the quicker the product can | | | | are two commonly held misconceptions |
| be made and the less cost is involved.The | | | | concerning cast iron baths.The first is that |
| design of the item:The more intricate the | | | | they are too heavy. The weight of a standard |
| design the more expensive the mould is to | | | | cast iron bath filled with water is in the |
| make and the more chance there is that you | | | | region of 25 stones. The bath is usually |
| will not always remove it from the mould | | | | fitted with four legs which means that the |
| without damage. | | | | weight on each leg on the floor is |
| | | | approximately 6.25 stones.As we walk across |
| Plainer shapes are usually less expensive. | | | | the floor foot to foot we actually weight |
| You should also note that basins, toilets and | | | | more that this. |
| bidets are made as matched sets. | | | | |
| | | | The second misconception is that they are |
| You will often find that the foot of the | | | | cold. This is because years ago when we all |
| pedestal on the basin matches the foot of the | | | | used cast iron baths the houses did not have |
| toilet pan and that the back of the basin | | | | central heating. The bath can only reflect |
| matches the toilet cistern lid.One general | | | | the temperature of the room that it is in. |
| point to be made is that pottery is often | | | | |
| sold in what is known in the trade as a | | | | If the room is warm the bath is therefore |
| four-piece set. | | | | warm. There is, however, one possible |
| | | | exception. If the bath is fitted in with a |
| That is a basin, pedestal, pan and cistern. | | | | panel as apposed to free standing it may be |
| Unfortunately the retail customer sees the | | | | that the air temperature under the bath is |
| set as two pieces: the basin and the toilet. | | | | cooler due to the holes left by the plumber. |
| | | | If this is the case, insulation under the |
| | | | bath will solve the problem.Pressed |
| If you use the term four-piece set to a | | | | Steel:This is where a layer of steel several |
| retail customer they may think you mean a | | | | millimetres thick is coated with a |
| basin, toilet, bath and bidet. | | | | stove-enamelled surface. They are most |
| | | | commonly used in hotels and commercial |
| So always explain what you mean by four | | | | premises.As the material of the bath is very |
| pieces if you should choose to use the | | | | thin they tend to cool down very quickly. |
| term.PRODUCT TYPES:TOILETS & WC'S:There are | | | | They also tend to be very plain in shape due |
| five types of toilets currently available in | | | | to the manufacturing restrictions of the |
| the UK. | | | | material.Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) :This |
| | | | was the first type of plastic material used |
| These are Wall hung, Back-to-wall, | | | | to produce baths and was used by almost |
| Close-coupled, Low level and High level.Wall | | | | everyone until the invention of Acrylic. |
| hung:This type of toilet has the pan hanging | | | | |
| on the wall and the cistern concealed in the | | | | It has very good insulation properties and |
| wall behind it. | | | | enables baths of many shapes and styles to be |
| | | | easily produced.The two main difficulties |
| More common in mainland Europe, it has | | | | with this material are as follows:1. As the |
| become increasingly popular over recent years | | | | colour for the bath is produced in batches |
| as more people travel abroad. | | | | there can sometimes be problems with the |
| | | | match to the pottery.2. If the bath is fitted |
| You do however need to ensure that the pan | | | | in direct sunlight they are prone to the |
| is supported properly when fitted either by | | | | plasticiser leaking out of the surface and |
| the use of special floor mounting brackets or | | | | crazing of the surface texture |
| the use of a framework.These frameworks, | | | | occurring.Acrylic:This is the most common |
| which support the pan and provide a place for | | | | material now used to produce baths in the UK |
| the cistern, are available from several | | | | and Europe. It has the same characteristics |
| suppliers. | | | | as GRP in that it insulates well and can |
| | | | produce great shapes.However, as it is |
| This type of WC allows ease of cleaning and | | | | produced to internationally agreed standards |
| as the pan is the only visible piece of pot | | | | of colour it is now what every pottery |
| it minimises the impact of the WC on the | | | | supplier uses to obtain their colour match. |
| design of the room.Back to wall:This type of | | | | |
| toilet is normally used mainly when having | | | | Acrylic comes in several thicknesses most |
| fitted furniture. As with the wall hung | | | | commonly 3mm, 5mm, 8mm and 10mm. There is a |
| toilet the cistern is concealed inside the | | | | common misconception that the thicker the |
| furniture but the pan is sat on the | | | | acrylic the stronger the bath.This is not so. |
| floor.Close coupled:This is the most common | | | | The acrylic is there only to hold the colour |
| type of toilet in the UK. This type of toilet | | | | and maintain a waterproof barrier. You will |
| has the pan and cistern joined together. | | | | normally find that the thicker the acrylic |
| | | | the plainer the style of the bath.The |
| It is often confused with the low level | | | | strength of the bath comes from the |
| toilet, so make sure you are clear that you | | | | glass-reinforced plastic, which is sprayed on |
| mean a toilet with the pan and cistern | | | | the underside of the bath. You should always |
| physically joined together.The advantage of | | | | look for a full encapsulated baseboard.This |
| this type is that the pan has a splash back | | | | is where the chipboard base that supports the |
| built onto it where it joins the cistern, so | | | | bottom of the bath is fully enclosed to |
| that when men and boys stand at the toilet | | | | prevent it from coming away after a few years |
| and miss there is not so much mess. | | | | of use. |
| | | | |
| Toilets are meant to be sat on not stood | | | | The sides of the bath should also be |
| against. If you want to stand up you should | | | | reinforced to prevent them from bowing out |
| buy a urinal. This toilet is easily | | | | when the bath is filled with water.If the |
| maintained and is therefore ideal for | | | | bath does bow out in the middle the result is |
| downstairs cloakrooms and main ensuites where | | | | often that the top ledge will drop producing |
| they are likely to get a lot of use.Low | | | | a gap between the tiles and the bath.BATH |
| level:This type of toilet has a freestanding | | | | SIZES AND SHAPES:There are a multitude of |
| pan and the cistern sits approx 900mm or | | | | bath shapes and sizes available in the UK at |
| 36inches up the wall with a short flush pipe | | | | present but they break down into several |
| in between the two pieces.Before the advent | | | | groups.Rectangular baths - Single Ended:This |
| of the close-coupled toilet this was the most | | | | is the most common style of bath with the |
| common and is still what most people with | | | | taps at one end and is ideal for one person |
| older houses have. | | | | to bathe in on there own as it usually has a |
| | | | gentle back slope which offers good back |
| This is why they confuse them with the close | | | | support when relaxing.The most common size is |
| coupled. They are now most commonly sold with | | | | 1700 x 700. They are however produced in |
| traditional bathrooms and have a chrome or | | | | sizes ranging from 1200 x 750 to 2000 x 1200. |
| gold flush pipe.The difficulty with this type | | | | When a client comes in saying that there bath |
| is that if men or boys use them they are apt | | | | is 1680 x 680 this is usually because they do |
| to miss and the pipe goes green. | | | | not realize that the bath is fitted into the |
| | | | plaster work when installed so that a bath |
| Once this happens there is nothing that can | | | | that is 1700 x 700 straight out of the box is |
| be done to repair it. They are generally | | | | often small when fitted.Rectangular baths - |
| priced at 50% to 60% higher in price than a | | | | Double Ended:This type of bath is common with |
| close coupled and are bought more for their | | | | people who prefer to bathe with a partner as |
| aesthetic value than practicality.High | | | | the taps are mounted in the middle of the |
| Level:This type was popular in the Victorian | | | | bath. They are becoming a lot more popular in |
| era and is associated most closely with | | | | the UK. |
| bathrooms of that period. | | | | |
| | | | However to make extra room for the two |
| The pan is free standing and the cistern | | | | people the two back slopes on the bath can |
| sits on the wall approx 1800mm or 6 feet up | | | | often be at quite a severe angle and |
| the wall with a chrome or gold flush pipe and | | | | therefore make the bath less comfortable for |
| a chain pull flush. | | | | one person to lie out. |
| | | | |
| It has the same disadvantages as the Low | | | | Once again they come in a multitude of |
| level when used by men and boys. | | | | sizes, from 1700 x 750 to 2000 x 1200.Corner |
| | | | baths:There are two mains types of corner |
| In terms of price, this type is normally 50% | | | | bath: equal sided and offset, where one side |
| to 60% more than the Low level. Sold mainly | | | | is longer than the other. Two equal sided |
| for the aesthetic value, all toilets in the | | | | corner baths are usually available 1100 x |
| UK now have to flush using 3 and 6 litres of | | | | 1100, 1200 x 1200, 1300 x 1300, 1400 x 1400 |
| water. | | | | and 1500 x 1500.The first three sizes are |
| | | | more commonly used as shower baths as the |
| It makes no difference which type you buy, | | | | bathing area is too small for most people to |
| they all use this amount and as a consequence | | | | use effectively. The 1400 and 1500 are big |
| the high level and low level flush no better | | | | enough to use by most people for bathing. |
| than the close coupled.TYPES OF FLUSHING | | | | |
| MECHANISMThere are two main types of flushing | | | | The offset corner baths are usually |
| mechanisms: the syphon and the dump | | | | available in two sizes 1500 x 900 and 1500 x |
| valve.Syphons:Syphons have been used for many | | | | 1000. They are not very effective as a bath |
| years in the UK as the means of flushing the | | | | for most people less than 5 feet 4 inches |
| toilet. They work with the use of a lever or | | | | tall due to the internal length. |
| pull chain. | | | | |
| | | | They are available with or without a seat in |
| When this is pushed a small amount of water | | | | the corner.Shower Baths (Ophelia, |
| is forced over the syphon in the cistern, | | | | Ianthe):These baths have a larger area at one |
| which creates inertia that draws the rest of | | | | end to allow for more room for showering. |
| the water along with it and flushes the | | | | They are usually supplied with a bath screen |
| toilet.They are very effective with high | | | | made especially for the shape of the |
| levels of water in the cistern but become | | | | bath.Space Saver baths:These baths are made |
| less efficient as the water level falls. | | | | to a special shape usually thinner at one end |
| | | | to allow for more room to fit furniture or |
| In the past toilet cisterns originally | | | | make more room for pottery or even a shower |
| contained 12 litres of water, then 9 litres | | | | cubicle.Written by Neal Baker on behalf of |
| and now 6 litres for a full flush and 3 | | | | and |
| 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 | | | | online retailers of bathroom furniture, |
| years dump valves were not allowed in the UK, | | | | bathroom suites and bathroom accessories in |
| but with the advent of new legislation they | | | | the UK. |