Bathroom accessories

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WATER TECHNOLOGY

Bathroom accessories are often overlooked in the initial planning stages of bathroom design. However, they play an essential role in any bathroom space – both in how they make the space more usable, as well as how they add to the overall design aesthetic of the space.

When it comes to bathroom design, what sets a mediocre bathroom apart from one that really has that “wow” factor is the choice of accessories and lighting.

It is these finer aspects of the room’s finish that can bring much-needed functionality, convenience and luxury, both in a tactile and aesthetic sense, to a bathroom space. However, these fixtures are often overlooked during the planning phase, which can often lead to you going over budget. Careful consideration of what needs to be included in this department should not be disregarded, and remains a quintessential necessity in any bathroom design.

Bathroom accessories

There are the “basic eight” bathroom accessories that no bathroom can go without these include towel rails, bathroom shelves, toilet paper holders, towel rings, soap dishes, toothbrush holders, toilet brush holders and robe hooks. However, if you want to go the extra mile, there are various other accessories that can be included to take the room to the next level and transform your bathroom into a luscious and practical oasis. Some of these include shower accessories, such as shower and soap racks, free-standing towel rails to accompany free-standing baths, and foot rests for example. If your bathroom is going to accommodate elderly or disabled users, you might want to consider things such as grab rails and shower seats.

Heated towel rails are another wonderful inclusion, and although most people consider them to be a luxury provider of warm towels, that is actually not their main purpose. The fundamental use of heated towel rails is to ensure deliciously dry towels whenever they are required. This makes them a great addition for bathrooms located in very hot and humid, or very cold climates. They also add to the overall hygiene of the room, as they negate the possibility of bacteria multiplying in damp towels, as well as reducing your energy consumption as you won’t have to waste electricity washing your towels that often, or use a tumble dryer to dry them. Contrary to popular belief, heated towel rails do not have to be energy guzzlers – if you choose heated towel rails that function using Dry Element Technology (DET), they require a very meagre amount of electricity to perform. This is because DET allows for rapid heat-up times and offers the ability to control the temperature settings to suit the climate for all-year-round functionality, as well as being able to switch them off and on when required.

An important thing to consider when choosing bathroom accessories is to choose ones that have a mounting system that ensures a durable and steadfast installation. Traditionally, bathroom accessories are attached to the bathroom wall using grub screws. However, this often poses a problem – since bathroom accessories have a largely functional use, the screws holding them in place need to be regularly tightened in order to keep them firmly secured. Today, however, you can invest in bathroom accessories that boast installation systems designed to keep them securely locked in place.

Bamboo scale from Legend Housewares

Another consideration is what the accessories are made from. Chrome-plated accessories are more affordable than others, but bear in mind that if you choose these, the major drawback of chrome is that even though it offers a beautiful, highly polished aesthetic, there is always the possibility that it would eventually flake and peel. Today, the material of choice is stainless steel – it doesn’t rust, flake, peel or dull, and it is exceptionally strong and easy to maintain and clean. Stainless steel bathroom accessories come in two main finishes – polished (shiny) and brushed (matt).

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Victoria Plumb Ltd - Hull - bathrooms, including suites, showers, furniture, taps, enclosures and more. Lowest price guarantee & next day delivery available

Read article : Victoria Plumb Ltd - Hull - bathrooms, including suites, showers, furniture, taps, enclosures and more. Lowest price guarantee & next day delivery available

Bathrooms should be a haven of peace and tranquility, somewhere that you can get ready for the day ahead or relax and unwind after the one before it, with fixtures and fittings that perfectly complement each other to give a sleek, clean and comforting look.

Your bathroom deserves to have time spent on it whether you’re looking for new showers or even taps for an instant makeover, and whether you want complete bathroom suites or accessories to brighten the place up you need to come to us.

Bathroom Suites
Everyone wants to have the perfect bathroom, and often that comes down to the bathroom suites that they choose. But, what makes the perfect suite is often very personal – a sleek and contemporary look might be the style of choice for some whereas other might prefer a more classic feel – but whatever you’re looking for in bathroom sets you can be confident that you’ll find it here.

Showers
Showers are one of life’s simple pleasures, acting both as a way to wake up in the morning and to de-stress after a busy day. For many people the shower is the single most important feature of the bathroom, and with a whole range of shower systems and accessories available there’s now more choice than ever before.

Shower Enclosures
Shower enclosures take pride of place in modern bathrooms, with many people preferring the convenience and sense of luxury that comes from stepping into their very own shower unit. It’s a world away from the traditional shower-over-bath setup and can bring a contemporary feel to any bathroom, and with everything from wet rooms to frameless shower enclosures there’s something to suit all tastes.

Baths
There’s nothing better than sinking into a bath after a hard day, slipping into the warm water as you’re enveloped in bubbles and any stresses and strains simply melt away. Of course, if you really want to have the most indulgent experience possible then you need to have the perfect environment in which to enjoy it, and the right bath can go a long way to achieving that.

Bathroom Furniture
While many people believe bathrooms to be the coldest rooms in the home, this does not have to be the case. Some people may feel limited when purchasing fitted bathroom furniture in their bathroom as they believe there aren't many options available.

Heated Towel Rails
Towel rails and radiators are crucial components in any bathroom. They ensure that the room is kept comfortably warm and that your towels dry much more efficiently than if they had simply been left to hang on a traditional, unheated towel rail.

Taps
The bathroom and kitchen are perhaps the two most-used rooms of the house, as they supply the setting for preparing food and bathing - essential daily tasks. It is therefore no wonder that many people choose to decorate these rooms using design-conscious furnishings which are as attractive as they are practical.

Accessories
As specialists in bathroom suites, at Victoria Plumb we stock a wide range of bathroom mirrors with lights and without, essential accessories, waste fittings and fixing kits; offering everything any new bathroom needs to be fully-functional and stylish.

Converting a Victorian school

Read article : Converting a Victorian school

en suite bathroom to your home" />

If you’ve got a big master bedroom that could potentially be partitioned, or a little used adjacent room, then adding or creating an en suite could be a great way to add a sense of luxury to your bedroom. It is also a great way of adding to the value of your home, especially if you currently have only has one bathroom.

There are several things you need to think about before you go ahead and add a new en suite to your house, from the cost of adding the bathroom, to relocating plumbing, wiring the space and deciding exactly what sanitary ware to invest in.

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How much will an en suite bathroom cost?

The most quoted, average cost of adding a new bathroom to a house is £3000. This is inclusive of labour, fixtures, fittings and finishes like flooring, tiling and painting. However, adding a new bathroom to your house can vary in cost, depending on where your proposed bathroom is going to be. Ideally, you want to add your en-suite directly next to an existing bathroom on the same floor, or above a bathroom on the lower floor.

The issue is, it gets more expensive to add a bathroom if you have to redirect plumbing, especially soil stacks and waste pipes. It is possible to install a small bore pipe with a macerator, but this isn’t an ideal solution. You will have to factor in the day rates of a plumber, but again, it is difficult to predict how long this job is likely to take.

It is far easier to estimate how much fixtures and fittings are going to cost once plumbing has already been sorted.

Bath

A new bath will cost from £70 for a low end, acrylic model, but expect to pay from £300 – £500 for a good quality steel example. When you start looking at cast iron, stone and composite baths, expect to pay north of £1000.

Shower

Your basic electric shower is cost effective, both to buy and to run. They can cost a little as £50, but look at paying between £100 and £200 for a stylish and functional unit. Power showers start at around £200, and feature a pump that increases the force of the water. Digital showers, shower towers, shower columns and shower cabins will cost £500 and up if you want quality, and advanced models can even cost as much as £2000

Shower enclosure

Your shower enclosure is an important decision, because this will create the overall look of the shower. A shower tray and enclosure combo will probably cost you around £150, but could cost you up to £600if you want higher quality.

Wet room enclosure

A wet room will cost upwards of £500depending on the structural work required, this includes waterproofing, plumbing, the shower and a screen, if you’ve chosen one. The cost of a wet room shower can vary depending on your fixtures and fittings, and tiling it afterwards will need to be factored in.

Basin

A simple ceramic basin is an inexpensive choice and will cost upwards of £50. Basins made for vanity units are more expensive, and the cost of the unit is usually separate. These can cost around £100 for a basic unit, but on average you will pay £200 – £300.

Toilet

Toilets are much the same as basins, with ceramic, wall-mounted examples costing around £50.Expect to pay between £150 and £300 for a good quality toilet, and quite often, savings can be made by buying it in a bundle with a matching basin.

Taps and hardware

Bathroom taps often come as an afterthought when your bathroom fixtures, but they are an important addition. A statement tap is usually enough to make even the cheapest basin look high end. You can pay as little as £20 for a basic mixer, and an average of £100 for a good quality one. To get something luxurious, you can easily pay upwards of £400,but this isn’t as extravagant as it seems if you have made a saving on your sanitary ware.

Planning permission for an en suite bathroom

Adding an en suite bathroom rarely requires planning permission if the work is happening in an existing house. If you plan on adding a bathroom to a listed building, then planning permission is essential, as you will be altering the internal fabric of the building.

Building new walls for your en suite

If you are creating a complete new room or partitioning an existing room, then you will need to build extra walls. These will usually be stud walls constructed with a timber frame with plasterboard over the top. Choose water resistant plasterboard when creating a new bathroom to avoid damp.

In the case of a bathroom, you can get structural metal components that will support the weight of wall-mounted basins. The cavity in this type of wall is also perfect for concealing pipework, cisterns, wiring and additional storage

Having a stud wall built will cost you around £15 per m², not including any internal works, like plumbing and wiring, which will need to be planned out in advance.

En suite bathroom heating and plumbing

If you have a combi boiler, which provides hot water on demand rather than requiring a cylinder, you need to ensure that it has sufficient hot water flow to supply an extra bathroom. You should also check your water pressure and choose appropriate mixer taps and shower fittings.

Most people choose heated towel rails for bathrooms, rather than radiators ad these basically offer a solution to both, drying your towels, and the need to heat the room. These can cost as little as £30 for wall mounted options, and can cost as much as £500, not including installation.

Choosing lighting for your en suite bathroom

The most important factor you need to consider when you’re choosing bathroom lighting is safety. There are strict regulations on what lighting can be used in a potentially wet environment. A lights IP rating depends on its distance to the water source, and that determines the type of light you can use. The higher the rating, the better protected the light.

The bathroom is then broken up into zones that correspond with the IP ratings of certain lights.

• Zone 0 is inside the bath or shower, so the light needs an rating of at least IP67.
• Zone 1 is the area directly above the bath or shower to a height of 2.25m. IP45 is recommended, but it is always safer to go higher when this close to water.
• Zone 2 is the area stretching 0.6m from the perimeter of the bath or shower where a minimum IP rating of 44 is required.
• The outside zone is any area where water isn’t likely to go. However, if this is still within the bathroom, it’s a good idea to choose a light with a IP44, just incase.

Featured image: This en suite bathroom was created as part of a whole-house renovation. Read more about this en suite bathroom.

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