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