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