Individual considerations

As humans, we are all unique and we have unique tastes as well. The things that will influence your choice will be your taste in either a more traditional or modern style. The style you choose should obviously be taken for the whole bathroom, otherwise it would extremely cheap and confusing.

Consider your budget

Your budget is one of the most important aspects, since it will determine what you can afford. You do not just use the cost of the tap, but all the related accessories must be brought into the equation. If you are on a tight budget, beware of the models with plastic shells or handles. The price might be attractive, but the overall durability and and resistance to scratches are likely to disappoint you. High quality bathroom taps cost a pretty penny but they can make a cost-effective upgrade in the bathroom look expensive and professional.

The bottom line is that you can overspend on other items but your taps will be of low quality, low durability and it might not be as visually pleasing as you would like.

Practicality is everything

Think about who will mainly use the bathroom and it will support your choice of bathroom taps. A popular selection for the elderly or children is a lift tap instead of the traditional screw tap, which is easier to open and close, while allowing you to choose the right water temperature without scalding yourself. Due to their design, screw taps can be a bit more difficult to open to close and they are harder to grip.

Please note that if you install any special features, they might require specific taps to be installed and some of them can be quite expensive.

Keep your ceramics in mind

You have to look at the design elements of your ceramics. If you have a round style basin, you can balance this feature by selecting bathroom taps with rounded handles and even a curved spout. If you have a geometric or angular styled are, a tap with a lot of curvature would stick out like a sore thumb and ruin the whole look.

Aesthetic tips for bathroom taps:

• See your tap as an investment and take your time to consider your personal taste, the style of your bathroom and the timelessness of your choice.
• Contemporary faucets usually have a smooth, minimalistic design and a polished finished. The levers that operate water flow are often slim and sleek.
• Traditional designs include crossbar-handle faucets that are usually available in chrome or brass.
• Ceramic-covered lever faucets have an old-fashioned appeal. It is an alternative to chrome and brass finishes, and you can give a classically-styled faucet a more contemporary look with a matte finish.
• The general theme, shapes used and design style of your bathroom ceramics need to be taken into consideration in order to create a synergistic appeal.
• If you desire a more traditional look that combines classic and modern styles, you could get a gooseneck matte-finish faucet. It might do the trick and maximize the space available for hand-washing.
• Timelessness should be one of your focus points but you should also invest in quality. When you are compiling your budget, give preference to bathroom taps because they form a fine focal point in any bathroom.

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Here are some of the bathroom sink materials and some of their characteristics:

Cast Iron

Cast iron is heavy and durable metal which is usually coated with enamel. The smooth surface is easy to clean and it is available in a variety of colours. There is a chance of chipping the enamel if it is hit hard enough with a heavy object. This leads to rust on the exposed metal.

Clay-based ceramics

Porcelain, Vitreous China and Fireclay are durable, clay-based ceramics that create durable sink with easy to clean surface. They can also be chipped or cracked but they need to be hit hard enough.

Glass

Glass is the material that a lot of vessel sinks are made out of. There are numerous colors and style options for glass sinks, which allow for endless decorative possibilities.

Tempered glass is the most widely used type of glass used for bathroom sinks. It is more durable and resistant to cracking than normal glass.

One major drawback of glass sinks, are that they get stained by hard water deposits. You cannot simply wipe them clean. The maintenance costs is high because you need to clean them more often.

Metal

There are a wide variety of metals that are used for bathroom sinks. The more common types are copper, brass and stainless steel. Please note that if you are using copper, that is must be welded because the solder will turn black over time. The “gauge” of the metal refers to its thickness. When the gauge is lower, the thicker the metal and the less likely it will dent.

Stone

Stone sinks are available is wide range of styles, including the vessel link. Polished stone has a smooth finish which has a tendency to show water spots over time.

Stone sinks normally require sealing to protect the surface from staining. Another thing to keep in mind is that different types of stone will react differently to various cleaning supplies. A polished surface is also less porous than a honed surface, which means it will be better protected from staining.

Concrete

Concrete sinks can be bought custom made or pre-made. Depending on their size and shape, they are usually heavier than other types of sinks. You do need sufficient support to install this sink. Concrete is also a porous surface, which means it should also be sealed to protect it from staining. They are available in a wide variety of colours to fit just about any bathroom decor.

Solid Surface

A solid surface sink is an extension of the countertop. This particular type of sink is easy to clean and it has a renewable surface. This makes it a good choice and a durable sink that children can frequently use.

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Different types of bathroom types

Whether you want a new basin or bathtub, you need to know a little more about taps because you simply cannot slap any tap on there.

Pillar tap

The traditional pillar style bathroom taps are available in both classic and contemporary designs. These are manufactured for baths and basins with two tap holes. It has a pair of separate pillars comprises of one hot and one cold tap. It features a traditional cross head or a more modern lever handle. Pillar taps tend to be fairly cheap and easy to install.

Mixer tap

Mixer taps have two handles on either side of a single pout. They mix hot and cold water in the body of the tap. The water flow and temperature are controlled by the separate handles. When you plan on getting mixer bathroom taps, it is important to check your water pressure because some mixers may require a relatively high pressure to function properly.

Mono tap

These bathroom taps are controlled by a single lever. They mix hot and cold water through a single spout. Mono taps offer easy of control and a minimalist, clean design that go really well with modern bathrooms.

If you do want to install a mono tap, you need to remember that they do require an equal amount of pressure in your hot and cold water supplies to work effectively. If your water pressure is unequal, you can have a dual flow mono mixer which.

Shower mixer tap

A shower mixer tap has a diverter which directs water from the bath filler to a shower fitting. It offers a cost effective alternative to a separate shower, without the need for additional plumbing or a shower pump. It also helps parents with bathing their children. Depending on the style of your bathroom, the showerhead can be placed telephone-style over the tap for a traditional look or hung over the bath with a wall bracket.

Freestanding tap

This tap is believed to be a great partner to a roll-top bath, and countertop basins. They rise up from the worktop or floor. It features a variety of styles from mixers to monoblocs. Freestanding bathroom taps are an eye-catching feature that can be used to bring a traditional twist to any bathroom or a bit of contemporary appeal to minimalist and modern bathroom designs.

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Your bathroom water system controls how and when your water is heated and distributed. All of us want our water to be heated immediately, at just the right temperature. The reality is that many of us end up disappointed. Our showers produce a small trickle that becomes too hot, too cold or completely disappears when another tap is opened. This can be changed or improved; by looking at how your bathroom water system functions or which would be better for you.

Three well-known bathroom water systems:

Gravity Systems

These are extremely common in older homes. There is a hot and cold water feed, with a cold water tank installed. The tank is usually located in the roof, with a hot water cylinder found in another location. The contents of the hot water cylinder can be heated either by an external heat source like a boiler, or an internal heat source like an immersion heater. The pressure of the shower connected to this system, depends on the distance from the bottom of the cold water storage tank to the shower head. he greater the distance, the higher the pressure. It is recommended that there should be between 3 to 4m of distance to get adequate pressure. For those households that struggle with this bathroom water system, you can install booster pumps to increase the water pressure.

Mains Pressure System

The mains pressure bathroom water system is one of the mostly-used systems today. Instead of using a cold water storage tank with a hot water cylinder, this is one unit. The pressure in the wains water supply connected to your home, is used to pressurize the hot and cold water. A minimum pressure of 1.5bar is necessary but 3bar is ideal. The cold water can be heated directly on demand by a combination boiler or a thermal store. The cylinder has to be specially designed to store hot water under pressure. A pressurized system with a sealed cylinder will provide a powerful shower, without the need for a booster pump. The balanced hot and cold water pressure can eliminate the need for thermostatic mixer valves.

Combination Boiler Bathroom Water System

Pressurized cold water is heated on demand, and in theory should not run out. A powerful shower with a combination boiler will need a water flow rate of at least between 12 and 15 liters a minute. The larger the shower head, or number of nozzles, the more pressure you require. It is best to choose a thermostatic shower mixer valve, so that you can even out temperature fluctuations. These fluctuations occur when other taps are opened or when the toilet is flushed.

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Self-Rimming Sinks

This style is the easiest to install and it can be fitted into an existing counter. A rim encircling the bowl sits on the countertop to support the weight of the sink.

• Also known as drop-in sinks
• Most popular style
• Easiest to install, approximately one hour
• Can be easily be installed into an existing counter

Vessel Sinks

These are typically bowl-shaped units that sit on top of the counter surface. They do not require undermount installation.

• Also known as countertop sinks
• They are generally higher, which makes them more comfortable
• A bold design choice
• Vessel sinks require a pop-up drain

Wall-Mounted Sinks

These are perfect for bathrooms that could use extra floor space. This sink is supported by the wall and does not require a vanity base, countertop, or legs.

• They often include a shroud to hide any piping
• Do not use any floor space
• Good choice for small bathrooms
• Can be installed at different heights

Pedestal Sinks

It is a stand-alone style sink that takes up floor space. You can install this ina small bathroom where storage isn’t a priority.

• Not installed into a vanity
• Features a wide basin and a narrow base
• Similar to a birdbath shape
• Take up relatively little floorspace

Undermount Sinks

This sink is installed below a solid countertop. It maximizes counter space and it is easy to clean.

• Must be used with solid-surface counters
• Gives a smooth look that’s a rising trend
• You can wipe directly into the sink
• Easy to clean

Console Sinks

These are a cross between wall-mounted and pedestal links. The exposed base offers a less bulky option for small spaces.

• Wall hung sink with two or four legs
• Acts as both a basin and the counter
• Saves space
• Compact and offers storage

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The following bathroom safety tips for kids may help you but you might already have an idea of how to protect them. Just like the elderly, they are vulnerable to injuries and it will affect them later on in life.

The simplest way to avoid injuries in the bathroom is to make it inaccessible unless your child is accompanied by an adult. You may install a latch on the door at adult height so that your child can’t get into the bathroom when you aren’t around. Make sure you have a lock on the door that can be unlocked from the outside just in case your child gets locked in from the inside.

The following bathroom safety tips for kids will help you to prevent any injuries while your child is using the bathroom.

Bathroom safety tips for kids:

Bath safety

Children can drown in only a few inches of water, so you should never leave your child unattended, even if it’s just a few seconds. If you really have to answer the door or the phone, wrap your child in a towel and take him or her along with you. Bath seats and rings are basically only bathing aids and they aren’t meant to be used unattended either. Please note that you should also drain the bathtub when you are done.

Water safety

Scalding is a real threat when you bath your child. The hottest temperature coming from your tap, should be no more than 48.9 degrees Celsius. In some cases, you can adjust your hot water heater. Another great thing to get is a mixer tap. This helps you to correct the temperature while you are filling the bathtub. When your child is old enough to use the taps, teach him or her that its better to turn on the cold water first.

Slipping

Who knows of someone who never slipped in the bathroom? Your child might be small but hey, injuries can become fatal. Install non-slip strips or mats on the bottom of the bathtub. Put a cushioned or soft cover over the taps so that your child doesn’t get injured when accidentally bumping into the taps. Always close your toilet lid and try to get a toilet lid lock. A curious toddler who tries to play with the water can lose his or her balance and fall in. You could also close the bathroom door at all times but make sure it is ventilated.

Medicine

Make sure you keep your medicine in containers with safety caps. These caps are merely child-resistant and not childproof. It is always best to store your medicine and cosmetics in a space too high for your child to reach. Do not keep your frequently used items in the same cabinet. Rather have a second cabinet that’s also hard to reach with a safety latch or lock. This prevents your child from accessing the items even when they do reach it.

Electrical appliances

This might not be the case with most households but there are some who use electrical appliances in the bathroom. If you use any appliances such as hair dryers or razors, make sure you unplug them and store them in a cabinet with a safety lock. The safest option is to use them in a room where there is no water. An electrician can install special bathroom wall sockets that can lessen the likelihood of electrical injury when an appliance falls into the sink or bathwater. The problem is that these specialised plugs do not always work an fatal electrocution might take place.

Please consider the above bathroom safety tips for kids so that your child is safe and out of any danger. As you may already know, children are very curious and they tend to let their curiosity get the better of them.

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