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Handicap Access Bathroom Design

Posted on 22-10-2011 | By: admin

Category : Home Repair

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In this article, we will offer up a few tips and tricks to help you through a handicap access design.

Handicap Access bathroom Design

Designing a handicap access bathroom requires that a variety of guidelines be met. These guidelines suggest the height for sinks, toilets, light switches, showers and the space amount required for proper wheelchair maneuvering. A wide variety of products are available to help make these facilities handicap-accessible, making the end result functional as well as stylish. In this article, we will offer up a few tips and tricks to help you through the design process.

Step 1 – Write out a list of wants and needs. Take a look through magazines and tear out pictures that you enjoy to help you determine what to include in your facility. A trip to your local grocery store or pharmacy magazine aisle should provide you with an assortment of material to go through. Pick out items that you are interested in using in your bathroom and print out pictures of said items along with their product information sheets.

Step 2 – Purchase and create a binder to organize your pictures and ideas. Tabs can be used to separate various aspects of the project, such as vanity, flooring, shower, toilet and accessories. Add product information and pictures to your collection. This will help you keep a fresh perspective throughout the project without having to rummage through various magazines and ads looking for “that one thing” you really enjoyed. As with any design project, organization is key to success.

Step 3 – On a piece of graph paper, sketch out a bathroom floor plan. Specify the toilet, shower, vanity and sink placements. Set aside a minimum clear floor space of 48 x 30 inches for wheelchair accommodation. Wheelchairs will require a space measuring at least 60 inches in diameter to allow for a full 360-degree turn. Provide enough clear space to allow the wheelchair to maneuver freely throughout the area.

Step 4 – Your door space should be at least 32 – 36 inches wide. You may consider choosing a pocket door to allow for extra bathroom space. This will ensure that the wheelchair will be able to move through the doorway, while also providing the user with enough space to move freely.

Step 5 – You'll need to design a sink with enough space to allow a wheelchair to roll underneath it freely. Leave a space measuring between 30 and 34 inches underneath the sink to ensure that the occupant is able to reach the sink while still in their chair.

Step 6 – Add a number of bars throughout the bathroom to help the occupant maneuver around. You'll want to add a couple bars by the sink, toilet and inside the shower/bath area. Additionally, you'll want to add towel bars at a level that are reachable while in a sitting position.

Step 7 – Consider a walk-in shower or tub. This will allow the occupant to access the bathing area much easier than with a traditional tub. You may also consider adding a shower seat within the shower area.

Step 8 – Tilt the mirrors so that they can be seen while in a sitting position.

About the author

Looking for a business with Washington DC handicap access? Perhaps you can add it to your own business with the help of http://www.granting-you-access.com/.


How Easy is it to Install a Shower Enclosure?

Posted on 08-02-2010 | By: admin

Category : Home Management

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You'd probably handle more of your bathroom's renovation yourself if you thought it was easy enough, right? Well, you might be surprised at how easy certain tasks are, when designing or making improvements to your bathroom. One of the major sections of a “full” bathroom is the shower enclosure. You might be pleasantly surprised at how relatively easy it is to install one in your bathroom. Here are some tips to make the process go as smoothly as possible:

1. Select a shower tray.

Not just any shower tray will do! Verify that it fits where your shower will be located, and that it's within your budget. You'll have a wide variety of sizes, shapes, styles and materials from which to choose. Regarding the size, make sure that the tray supplies you with a sufficient amount of standing room. For safety purposes, it's also advisable that you choose a tray with a base that's skid-resistant. One of the most crucial matters to consider is the lifestyle of you and your family. This should have a significant impact on the model that you choose.

2. Choose a shower enclosure that matches up with the shower tray.

For instance, verify that the shower enclosure's measurements include the shower tray's height and provide enough clearance for the bathroom's ceiling. You could also consider an enclosure that contains frameless glass. That makes it easier to clean, as no water or lime deposits will form in tough-to-reach areas.

3. Check the shower tray's drain.

It's crucial that the drain is lower than the actual tray, to allow enough drainage. To make the installation process as smooth as possible, you may need a professional installer to make the tray's drain recessed.

4. Don't skimp on the sealant.

It's important to use the right quality and quantity, when using a sealant. Use a high-quality sealant, to prevent possible leaks, and damage to the floor and walls surrounding the shower. Also, it's crucial to use a sufficient amount of sealant around the tray.

5. Look for trays with a “tile trim” lip.

Today's shower trays typically include a “tile trim” lip, located on the tray's wall edge. The function of the lip is to keep the shower's water from seeping out behind the shower and between the bathroom tiles. Water leakage can cause various problems.

6. Make the measurements before you install.

This is the utmost importance, to ensure that the tray and enclosure fit in the shower area.

7. Install the tray first.

The reason is that the shower enclosure and bathroom riles can alter the tray's size. This could become a problem if you choose to install the tray lastly.

8. Use a level to ensure that the enclosure's wall is level.

A level is a simple yet effective tool. While using it, mark three holes for drilling. This is where you'll mount the profile, which will support the doors of the shower.

So there you have it! Installing a shower enclosure can be a fairly easy task. These tips will make the entire process as automatic as taking a daily shower.

About the Author: Derek Rogers is a freelance writer who writes for a number of UK businesses. For <a href="http://www.clickbathrooms.co.uk/showerenclosures.php” rel=”nofollow”>shower enclosures and other bathroom fittings he recommends Click bathrooms.


A Guide to Choosing the Ideal Bathroom Taps For Your New Suite

Posted on 15-12-2009 | By: admin

Category : Home Management

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When you walk into a bathroom there are many things you will see that give you a first impression, but these days it is not the brand of the toilet or the color of the bathtub. No, these days it is the actual bathroom taps. These are the faucets and handles that define your entire bathroom. When you are designing a new bathroom, there are a number of different things that you will need to take into consideration.

First of all, there is the overall theme of your bathroom. Does it look Victorian? Contemporary? Modern? Naturally you can put any type of taps in that you want, but whether or not you want them to look right is up to you. Making them look right will depend on the theme, so for instance if you have a modern metal and glass theme, then you would want modern looking taps. Typically they would need to be the same color as the rest of the items in your bathroom.

If you have a stainless steel toilet, then chances are you wouldn't put a pink ceramic vase of flowers on the back of it would you? More than likely not you'd only include something that matches the contemporary aesthetic you've created, and that is the way you need to think when you are installing your taps. Making sure that everything matches is a huge part of bathroom design.

Not only do you need to be concerned with the appearance of your taps, you also need to be concerned with their quality. This being the case you will want to take every possible step to ensure that you are buying from a decent distributer. The brand would be a good place to start, as always. Higher quality brands will of course last longer and perform better, they may even offer improved warranties. That doesn't mean that some generic brands will not produce the same quality, but it is something to keep in mind when you are shopping.

Not only to do you need to be concerned about the color, the controlling handles for your taps will also be made in many different styles. You can choose to have a single handle to control both hot and cold, or you could choose to go with the more conventional dual handled design. These have designs themselves as you could choose to go with the standard cogwheel design, or you could just use a rounded handle. The important thing here is that it is something you can use with ease. You don't want to have trouble in the bathroom; there is enough trouble OUTSIDE of it.

All of that being said, it is important that you choose a tap that complements your bathroom. It's not going to be easy making a choice like this, but remember that you will be spending a lot of time in your bathroom. Make sure that you step back and take a good long look at the layout of your bathroom. You'll be glad you did when it's all over!

About the Author: Derek Rogers is a freelance writer who writes for a number of UK businesses. For a great range of <a href="http://www.clickbathrooms.co.uk/bathroom_taps.php” rel=”nofollow”>bathroom Taps, he recommends Click bathrooms


How to design and remodel your bathrooms?

Posted on 11-12-2009 | By: admin

Category : Home Repair

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bathrooms can be designed or remodeled in many ways depending on your budget. You can build a high end bathroom which are can cost tens of thousands of pounds and low end bathrooms which can fit into your budget. Basically there are four main components which should be considered in bathroom design; they are bath, showers, sink, and toilet.

bathrooms can be designed or remodeled in many ways depending on your budget. You can build a high end bathroom which are can cost tens of thousands of pounds and low end bathrooms which can fit into your budget. Basically there are four main components which should be considered in bathroom design; they are bath, showers, sink, and toilet. Other than these three main components we can also install other components like luxury showers, designer towel warmers, massaging tubs and many more. These decorative components can be endless. These type of decorative products are made from variety of different products with different prices, they can be a custom-made products depending on there costs.

In any type of bathroom designs we must consider some basic requirements which apply no matter what material and cost you consider. The basic design requirements are line, form, scale, pattern, texture and colour. The direction of the lines of the bathroom help create the sense of the room that is desired. Horizontal lines emphasize serenity and give a more contemporary feel to a room. Strong vertical lines emphasize formality and a traditional style. The principle of form relates to the shape and structure of the components in the design, and this includes not only shape but size. Scape is an issue of relative size among the various elements in the room. Pattern refers to repeated shapes and regularity. Texture refers to the visual and tactile surface of all the materials used. Color is a powerful design element that can transform a space and give it much of its character

Bathtubs are must in any type of bathrooms our country. Generally bathtubs come in many shapes and sizes depending on your budget. The basic types of bathroom tubs are conventional tubs, receptor tubs, drop-in tubs, conventional tubes with integral & surrounds and the hydromassage tubs. Basic conventional tub comes with different sizes, the common size in 4-1/2 and 5-1/2 foot length, 28 to 32 inches wide and 14-16 inches in height.

bathroom toilets are available in huge range, varieties & and colours. In the toilet installation there are four basic operating system and four basic construction types to be considered; they are wall-hung model, floor-mount model, round front model and elongated model. Toilets with a tank mounted directly on the back of the bowl, free of the wall, is a close-coupled toilet, with the water connection between the two parts in the shape of a cone-shaped gasket. One-piece toilets are made with tank and bowl in one unit. These are usually more expensive because of a greater complexity in operating process. The flush-valve design is used primarily for commercial installations but can be installed in the home. They have no tanks but use direct water pressure for their flushing action.

Basins or sinks or lavatories are the other common names for bathroom basins. Basically bathroom sinks come in two popular construction types; they are wall-hung basins and pedestal basins. They come in different sizes, colours, designs and they are built using different materials like molded plastic, marble, glass etc.

The fourth most important component in any bathroom is the showers. Without any shower the bathroom can't be completed. There are huge ranges of showers depending on your requirements. The most popular one is the electric shower; it heats up the water instantly when the cold water flows into the shower. These types of showers are useful for the houses which don't have bigger heating boilers. The second popular showers are mixer showers. Mixer showers use both hot water and cold water from the separate tanks and mixes them and produces the warm water according to your requirements. And the other popular shower types are shower towers; they are built up using the combination of body jet showers and shower heads. They are basically a mixture of types of showers.

The above send products cost in different prices depending on sizes, quality and types. They can be purchased in any physical stores near by your house or you can buy them online. There are many websites which sell the complete range of bathroom products. One such website is plumbtraders.co.uk. Plumb Traders supplies huge range of bathroom products ranging from electric showers, mixer showers, shower towers, bath screens, shower trays, shower doors and shower enclosures. To know more about the their prices please visit plumbtraders.co.uk

About the author

I am Rahul, I write articles related to home improvements and articles related to central heating and plumbing services. My articles are related to electric showers, triton showers, mira showers & many more


How Long Should My New Bathroom Take to Fit?

Posted on 04-12-2009 | By: admin

Category : Home Management

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Are you planning to fit your bathroom? If so, then you may be wondering how long the process will take. While the total time can vary considerably, the key is to break down the task into more manageable chunks. Here are some of the most important ones that you'll need to complete in order to fit the entire bathroom:

1. The tiles

When fitting a bathroom, you might well be looking to fit tiles to either the floor or walls, perhaps even both. First, clean the bare walls or floor thoroughly to remove any particles. Next, “dry fit” the tiles. Starting at the wall's or floor's centre, add the tile adhesive. Then add the tiles atop the adhesive on the walls and floor. Allow the tiles to dry overnight. Next, remove the tile spaces and apply the grout. Finally, use caulk to seal the tiles' borders.

2. The bathtub

While this can be a somewhat complex task, doing enough planning can make it easier. Before you start, get all your tools together and perform any measurements that you need to make. Use a pencil to make any necessary marks clearly on the wall, so you can reference them. It may be necessary to install new supply pipes before installing the bathtub.

Here are the guidelines for installing the bathtub. As always, ensure that you have all the tools that you'll need for the job. First attach the feet to the tub. Then you'll need to fit the taps. The next step is to fit the unit for waste and overflow. Afterwards, position pencil marks on the wall, to verify that the bathtub is level. Then support the bathtub by bolstering the floor. Finally, place a waterproof seal between the bathtub and the adjoining walls.

3. The basin

Before you begin switch off the water supplies that lead to the taps for hot and cold water. If you're installing a pedestal, place the basin evenly onto the pedestal first. Next, you'll need to drill the holes and put the plugs in. Afterwards, position the washers atop the sink's screw holes, and then screw the basin to the wall. Next, link the bottle trap to the pipe for wastes. Afterwards, attach the flexible connectors to the water supply pipes. Finally, add a waterproof sealant surrounding the joint between the sink and the floor or wall.

4. The toilet

The first step is to carefully remove the old toilet. This process will differ whether you're removing a pan containing a down or horizontal waste outlet – so it's crucial to review the steps carefully before starting. Likewise, you'll need to review how to install the new toilet to either a down or horizontal waste outlet. However, regardless of which type of waste pipe you'll be using, experts suggest that you first attach the pan to the cistern. Finally, you'll need to fit the toilet seat.

The bottom line is that the time needed to fix an entire bathroom will likely take a maximum of one month. Some of the most important steps include designing the bathroom, ordering the materials, removing all materials and appliances, adding the new materials and appliances, and cleaning up. However, keep in mind that any hang-ups could lengthen the time needed to perform any of those tasks.

About the Author: Derek Rogers is a freelance writer who writes for a number of UK businesses. For bathroom Suites and Shower Enclosures, he recommends Click bathrooms, a leading <a href="http://www.clickbathrooms.co.uk/” rel=”nofollow”>bathrooms supplier.


How to Decide Between an Electric, Mixer, Thermostatic or Power Shower

Posted on 15-10-2009 | By: admin

Category : Home Management

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A nice, relaxing shower with the perfect amount of water pressure and temperature is a great comfort to be thoroughly enjoyed. But to experience this luxury you will need just the right type of shower unit and if you've never bought one before, you may be a bit confused by the different types available and the pros and cons of each.

Here's the information you need to know first to best decide between an electric, mixer, thermostatic, or power shower for your bathroom.

- Electric Shower: With an electric shower, as you might expect, the more elaborate the unit, the more expensive it will be; however, with this type of shower, the more features it offers the better it will perform regardless of the outdoor temperature. With this choice, water pressure coming from the main must be at a certain level (at least 0.7kilogram per square centimetre or 10lb per square inch) for the unit to work correctly.

An electric shower with a temperature stabiliser is a better choice as it won't affect the shower's water when other taps in the house are being used. But the downside of the electric shower is that their control knobs only allow for a high water temperature with lower water pressure, or alternately, lower temperature with more pressure, which can quite problematic in the winter months when the water coming from the main is colder. Some models of electric showers are equipped with a setting for either winter or summer as a solution to this problem.

- Mixer Shower: With a mixer shower, both the spray and the hose are combined together with a bath mixer tap. The bath/shower mixer is perhaps the least expensive of all the shower head options as no extra type of plumbing is involved. However, there are some drawbacks to this choice as its temperature control option can be inconvenient since water temperature is adjusted through the bath's tap.

- Thermostatic Mixer Shower: Perhaps the most attractive feature of the thermostatic mixer shower is its convenient temperature controls, which adds to the price as this type is one of the most expensive of all the mixer unit options. With this particular type of shower, the spray and hose are both a part of the shower's wall unit with the cold and hot water supplies being connected with one single valve. A stabiliser then completes the unit that contains a self-adjuster to keep the water's temperature from becoming too hot or too cold.

- Power Shower: This type of shower is one single unit comprised of an electric pump whose purpose is to regulate both the water's temperature and pressure. But, note that the convenience of dual capability for adjusting both temperature and pressure is unsuitable for water supplies that are heated by a boiler or by the shower itself and instead must be used with a water supply coming from a hot water cylinder and cold water cistern.

Whichever option you ultimately decide upon for your bathroom, first make absolutely certain that your water supply is the right kind for the unit to avoid returning to the store or shipping your purchase back for another type.

About the Author: Derek Rogers is a freelance writer who writes for a number of UK businesses. For electric and <a href="http://www.clickbathrooms.co.uk/power_showers.php” rel=”nofollow”>power showers, he recommends Click bathrooms.