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Selecting Bathroom Sinks For Your Bathroom Renovation

January 14th, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

If you have decided to remodel your bathroom it is often a choice between a major renovation or simply refreshing or replacing some of the existing fixtures that may be looking a bit worn out. Indeed, unless there are major problems with the bathroom in terms of the size or functionality of the room, it is a lot less hassle to simply replace some of the existing fixtures, lay new flooring and repaint the walls. This will be far cheaper than, say, extending the bathroom to have a shower or adding a toilet to the bathroom. If you go down the route of refreshing the room, one of the first things to replace that can give the bathroom a new look is the sink. This article will cover some of the options that are available and what you need to consider when getting picking out bathroom sinks.

What Type Of Sink Suits Your Bathroom

There are all sorts of differing designs in sinks nowadays but you can’t go past the vanity sink and the pedestal sink. In most bathrooms you will see one of these types of sinks being used. The sink may be different, it may be made of glass or porcelain, it may be a his and hers sink but it will still be some variation on the vanity or pedestal theme.

The vanity sink is a sink on top of a vanity unit. The unit can come as a set or you can adjust the sink or vanity unit to fit together. The vanity unit hides the plumbing from view and also gives you storage space for bathroom supplies and grooming items.

A pedestal sink is a sink that is attached to the wall by brackets and has the plumbing exposed. Many pedestal sinks have a cover that shields the plumbing from view. This is more for aesthetic reasons than anything else and some sinks make the plumbing a feature of the sink. A pedestal sink is better in a small bathroom, where space is a premium. However you will need to find additional storage space.

An Oval Or Round Shaped Sink

After deciding on the type of sink, you really have to think about the shape of the sink. You might think there is not much choice but there is a fairly large choice of sink shapes available but most people are used to an oval shape. It makes a lot of sense to be honest as it holds water well and there are no shape edges to bang into. However you can get bowl like sinks. You can also get square shaped and sinks with different patterns. Of course you want the sink to fit in with the rest of the bathroom so if you are going for an exotically shaped sink you probably have to look at changing more of the fixtures to complement this change.

Materials Cost

The cost of a sink is usually dictated by the type of material that is being used. Porcelain is the standard material for most sinks and is the most practical. It is hard wearing and doesn’t fade. Other materials will cost more. Glass and pottery sinks may be unique one off designs and can cost much more than a standard sink. More exotic materials like marble and granite may cost even more. Obviously this is a personal taste decision and depends how much money you are willing to spend.

Selecting The Best In Bathroom Sinks

November 20th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

If you are renovating or remodeling your bathroom you generally want to update some of the fixtures because they are looking a bit tired or out of date. Basically, the fixtures consist of the sink, bath, shower and toilet. Sinks are often the easiest of these fixtures to replace and can often have the most noticeable affect on the look of the bathroom. Traditional bathroom designs tend to stay with the conservative porcelain, oval shaped sink but there are many varieties to choose from these days  Let’s take a look at some of the things you should consider when picking a sink.

Installing And Mounting Your Sink

The first thing to consider is how you want your sink installed. This can narrow down your options.  Sinks that are mounted near or above a vanity cabinet are known as vanity sinks. These are probably the most common design but they are not the only choice around. For example, if you don’t need to store stuff in a vanity cabinet you might think of installing a pedestal sink. The pedestal sink is a very en vogue at the moment and can give the bathroom a modern look. Or you could consider a wall mounted sink. This will free up space in the bathroom or make a small room look bigger or less cluttered.

What About A Bowl Shaped Sink

The traditional shape of a sink is the rectangle or oval but it doesn’t have to be the only choice.  However, give some consideration to a bowl-shaped sink.  These round bathroom sinks are growing in popularity and can add something fresh to your bathroom by breaking out of the traditional look for a sink.  Some of these bathroom sinks might even have interesting ripples or shapes to the rim of the sink, adding to the choices for the look you want.

Best Material For Your Sink

Porcelain is the traditional favorite material for sinks and most bathroom fixtures. It is a great material because it is durable, easy to clean and doesn’t lose heat quickly. However, there are many other materials that bathroom sinks can be made of to give an original style to the bathroom.

Glass sinks are becoming popular now. They look good as part of a pedestal fixture that can be made of wood or another material. This arrangement can give your bathroom a unique look.

Metal can also be used for the sink and fixtures. This can give either a sleek, modern effect or a rough, rustic sort of feel to the bathroom.

Stone is another material that can be used for the sink. Of course there are a variety of stones available that can give a style to the bathroom. If you come from a region you may want to use a stone that hails from that region or you might go for a marble sink if you want an elegant look.

Stone is a highly durable material that will last a lifetime. You probably want to create or choose a classical shaped sink if you are going to use this type of material. It will also be more expensive than the other materials and be harder to install.

Ultimately, finding the right sink comes down to what feels right for you and how long you will be keeping the sink. Trendy looks will date faster even if you think they look good. If you want a trendy look don’t spend too much on it as you will probably have to update in a few years time.

Tips For Laying Bathroom Tiles

September 12th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

If you are completely remodeling or renovating your bathroom you often have to put in new tiles. Tiles, like wallpaper and carpet in other rooms, help to set the theme in the bathroom. Tiling can be quite easy, but people without experience will often turn to a professional to do the job. There is nothing wrong with this if you really hate DIY but a good idea might be to do some of the tiling to get a feel for the job. Once you have done a few you might find it is ok and carry on with the rest of the job. Doing it yourself will save you money but will take a bit of time to accomplish. This is the trade off you have to make. Having said that, here are some tips for laying bathroom tiles and some common mistakes to avoid.

Planning Ahead And Preparation

Once you’ve decided on a tile pattern that will look good in the bathroom, you need to estimate the number of tiles that you will need. It is always a good idea to over estimate the number you will need because it is almost certain that you will crack or break a few tiles. You may make a mistake and have to scrap some of the tiles. And, you may have to cut some tiles to fit into awkward parts of the bathroom. The guideline is to put an extra 20 % on the number you originally come up with. If you have any left over then they can be used as spares if one accidently cracks or comes loose and breaks.

Once you have your materials you need to prepare the surface. The surface should be smooth and free of any old tiling, grouting or adhesive. You may want to sand down the area to ensure that it is smooth. A bumpy surface will lead to a bumpy layer of tiles that can look ugly and liable to come away from the wall over time. Wash and thoroughly dry the are where you will be laying the tiles before you start laying down tiles to ensure you get a good grip.

Adhesive

When it comes to adhesive there are a lot of things that can go wrong if you aren’t careful. The first thing to do is make sure you have the right adhesive. Any bathroom tiles that are being placed around a bath or shower needs waterproof adhesive. If you use non-waterproof adhesive it will eventually decay and crumble causing your tiles to fall off the wall and break. Even if you don’t think water will reach the adhesive it will, the smallest crack can let in water and then there is also condensation.

Grouting

Like adhesive, grouting can have a lot of problems. You want to wait at least twenty-four hours after laying the bathroom tiles before grouting to allow the adhesive to fully set. Use a squeegee to evenly spread the grout and do only a small area at a time otherwise it may dry before you have it firmly in place. If you don’t remove excess grout before it dries you will have a much more difficult time removing it later. Make sure the grout is pushed firmly into each gap by running a dowel over it lightly.

Experiment with a few tiles if you are uncertain or never tiled before. You will find that you pick it up and get more confident quite quickly.

 

Choosing The Right Bathroom Cabinets

September 3rd, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

The look and feel of the bathroom is important in terms of the value it adds to your home financially and the way it can help you relax at the start and end of the day. The bathroom is part of the inner sanctum of your home, along with your kitchen and bedroom, that defines who you are. Among the things you should pick out when remodeling your bathroom, your bathroom cabinets are unique, since they usually provide the only part of the bathroom to display wood, in contrast with the ceramic materials of the sink, bathtub, and other fixtures.  Despite this difference, your bathroom cabinets can help to determine the look and space in the bathroom.  Let’s discuss some of the considerations that you should go through when deciding what you should put in for your bathroom cabinets.

The Medicine Cabinet

Practically every bathroom has a medicine cabinet that often doubles as a mirror over the sink.  The irony of the medicine cabinet is that it isn’t a very good place to store any types of medicine because it often comes in contact with high temperatures and condensation. Despite this apparent misnomer, the medicine cabinet is a useful storage cabinet for things like grooming materials such as soap and shaving cream. Medicine cabinets vary in size and how they are fitted to the bathroom. They can either hang off the wall or be installed into the wall to give a flush finish. The flush fitting looks better and provides more space in the bathroom but is harder to install than the off wall fitting.

The Vanity

Vanities are also common bathroom cabinets, existing to give storage underneath your bathroom sink, but they’re also less necessary than you think.  For storing grooming items, a good-sized medicine cabinet works best, and often closet space is better for towels.  Still, should you look for a vanity for your bathroom, seek out one with sturdy construction and one that fits the size you’re looking for.  Just as with kitchen cabinets, custom jobs will fit your bathroom better.

Other Cabinets

Other bathroom cabinets, such as a wall cabinet to replace a vanity, should you choose to do without, can be used in the bathroom, but often other options will work better.  For instance, some bathrooms may have a cabinet located above the toilet to store their towels if they’re not using the vanity.  However, these bathroom cabinets tend to be big and bulky, and it’s more often that a simple set of shelves will look better without overwhelming your bathroom. 

Possibly the first consideration when you are deciding on bathroom cabinets is the look and feel of the bathroom. How much space do you need in the bathroom ? Do you want your bathroom to be opulent and luxurious or functional. Your choice of cabinet will be determined by these considerations. For example, bathroom items can be stored in a cupboard outside of the bathroom to give it extra space or you might want access to them without leaving the bathroom. In this case you will want some form of bathroom cabinet or storage.

Choosing New Bathroom Designs

September 3rd, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

Bathrooms and kitchens are often considered to be the most important rooms when renovating a house for adding value onto a house price. Indeed they often go a long way to selling the house too. This underlines the fact that people spend a lot of time in these rooms or have an emotional attachment to them. In the case of the bathroom, the choice seems to be a functional room or a place to indulge yourself at the end of a long day or week. Depending on your viewpoint, the design of your bathroom will vary  Over the last few years, bathroom designs have started to branch out and develop into new looks for bathrooms that are sure to impress you or anyone interested in visiting your home.  Let’s take a close look some of the things you must consider when looking at new bathroom designs.

Sinks

Sinks have undergone a bit of a revolution in the home over the past ten years. Now you can get all types of varieties from double his and hers sinks to pedestal sinks. Pedestal sinks have become increasingly popularity over the past few years.  As the name suggests, rather than resting on a vanity, pedestal sinks rest on a decorative pedestal that hides the pipes and allow the artistic looks of the sink itself to add to the décor of your bathroom.  Still, the tradeoff for this great look is a loss of cabinet space if you’re getting rid of a vanity, which may mean you need to add a set of wall shelves to store your towels if needed.

Pedestal sinks might be the latest trend in bathroom décor but will they always be. Again this is a consideration that most people overlook. If you want your bathroom design to last go for classic looks which may often seem conservative. 

The Bathtub

Another area where the options have increased for bathroom designs is with your bathtub.  One thing to consider is that designs have moved beyond the standard rectangular tub, instead going with tubs that display a wide range of shapes and sizes, allowing you to be more comfortable than taking baths; even if you don’t currently take many, you might with a more comfortable bathtub, so that’s something you should consider.

Alternately, those who don’t feel any need to soak in the bathtub might choose to save a little space in their bathroom and instead install a shower stall.  A shower stall can save space and can make a small bathroom seem roomier than a bathtub will, but you do, of course, trade off some functionality.

Flooring

The floors of your bathrooms should also be given consideration when designing bathrooms.  Not only are materials such as ceramic or stone floor tiles more affordable and more popular, but little luxuries, such as a installing heated flooring, can make a big difference in ensuring that you have a comfortable bathroom.  Little touches like the heated floor can make a big difference in turning your bathroom designs from merely okay to stunning. 

Again, if you plan to remodel your bathroom you have to decide whether you want a functional area or a place to relax. This will dictate your budget too. If you decide on a luxurious room then the variety of designs and fixtures is diverse and allow you to create the bathroom of your dreams.

 

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Credits: Make Money Online | Matteo Turchetto | Andreas Viklund