We have all flushed our toilet and without a second thought, left the bathroom to the sound of the toilet bowl refilling with water and went about our daily business fully expecting the bowl to fill then miraculously shut itself off, only to find ten, fifteen or even twenty minutes later that there is still a sound coming from our bathroom when all should be silent. So you trod back to your lavatory with a quizzical look on your face only to find the tank is filled but the water is still running. This is not only annoying but could also turn out to be costly with all the water you are wasting. If this happens first check the handle and trip lever to make sure the assembly that is connected to the flush ball is not malfunctioning. Make certain the flush ball is properly seated on the ball seat. The two things that could cause this leak are: the ball seat being corroded or the float ball may be punctured and may have excessive water inside, hindering it to rise up to the correct level. Read the rest of this entry »

What could be more relaxing than soaking in a hot invigorating bath surrounded by flickering candles? How about taking a green tea bath? Green tea has a refreshing “grassy” aroma. Green tea products have been drunk for centuries by many different cultures for its detoxifying and immunity boosting assets. But recently green tea beverages has come to be known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties as well that researcher’s claim is great for your skin. So soaking in a green tea bath is beneficial for those with skin disorders and may actually mitigate the aging process by reducing skin cell damage. Whether you use green tea bags, loose green tea leaves or an off-the-shelf green tea bath product is up to you. Yet, few things in life are as enjoyable and luxurious as taking a sensual green tea bath with your favourite essential oils to invigorate your body and relax your mind. Read the rest of this entry »

One of the latest trends in bathroom design is the wet room. A wet room can be defined as a watertight room with a barrier-free floor and a shower. Wetrooms are increasingly becoming popular in high-end modern bath design and often have features such as glass screens to separate the wet and dry areas. Stylish and simple, wetrooms are the latest movement for en suites, shower rooms and can even be constructed for the main bathroom, though most prospective home buyers do expect a family bathroom so the en suite would be the best choice. With the increasing popularity of the home spa, these simplistic wet rooms are the perfect remedy to our ever-increasingly cluttered and chaotic lifestyles. Read the rest of this entry »

Plumbing pipes and fittings in modern bathrooms are predominantly made from some type of plastic material along with supply lines made of copper but it was not always so. If your home was made before 1950, you more than likely have cast-iron drainpipes with galvanized steel water supply pipe lines that sometimes even included branch drain lines too. The only problem with this material was that even though galvanized pipe is extremely strong, its shelf life was only about fifty years due to the fact that the joints frequently rusted and leaked and the build up of minerals in the pipes reduced water flow and occasionally even clogged the channel. Read the rest of this entry »

There are a couple of drain pipe materials and fittings you can use for the plumbing in your bathroom including: plastic pipe, copper piping and black ABS pipe. Installing plastic drainpipe (PVC) is cheaper and easier to install than copper piping but the trade-off is that it takes a little more planning because once the pipe is glued, it cannot be adjusted. The only way to correct the problem would be to cut out the section and start from scratch again which is why it is important to make a preliminary drawing of your drain pipes and vent assembly before attempting to put your plumbing pipes together. Read the rest of this entry »

Cement backerboard is a product made primarily as a substrate (waterproof base) for ceramic tile. It is normally installed over plywood or some other underlayment on walls, countertops or floors because it is unaffected by fluctuating temperature changes or the presence of moisture. Before you install the cement backerboad on your bathroom floor, you must first mark off the stud locations on your ceiling and joist locations on the walls because once you have troweled on the thinset, you want to be able to see the marks so you know where to fasten the backerboard screws. Also its always a good idea to protect your finished floors with a tarp of some type; this prevents your good floors from being scratched by the backerboard. Read the rest of this entry »

Installing track lighting in your bathroom gives you a variety of ways to integrate decorative mounted lights into your layout and design and is a great ceiling and lighting idea. Installing bathroom track lighting is the perfect solution for your bathroom lighting needs. From a straight line to visually interesting patterns on a mounted ceiling track such as L, H, or T shaped tracks, you can install these track lighting configurations to enhance and open up your bathroom space and complete your home lighting decor with track lighting. The nice thing about bathroom track lighting is that you can direct the beams of light in any direction. Installing track lighting in your bathroom is great because it gives you the flexibility to use track lighting for general illumination or if you choose, you can highlight a specific fixture or area in your washroom that you use for a particular task such as shaving or putting on make-up. Installing a track lighting system in your bathroom is not that difficult and can be done in an evening with two people. The parts required include a track, mounting plate, lamps and other ornamental fittings. Read the rest of this entry »

There are standard dimensions of drain and vent pipes and common plumbing codes that must be followed to make sure your bathroom plumbing is functioning safely and at optimal capacity. When a drain line is properly sized, the line will only be half full under full load which provides a sufficient water level to move and carry any solid materials that may be at hand in the waste. When the upper half of the pipe is open for the free transfer of vent air, this helps facilitate the proper velocity of the flow. If you plan on doing any major plumbing renovations in your bathroom, at the very beginning of your planning process you should get the latest information on local plumbing codes from your municipal building department. These codes were established to ensure your safety and proper installation of the plumbing materials. If you do not follow these plumbing codes, your bathroom reno project may turn out to be unhealthy and potentially dangerous as well. Read the rest of this entry »

Wood countertops in your bathroom are not only attractive, they are versatile, fairly easy to install and are available in a wide range of colors and finishes. Today’s solid wood countertops are scratch-resistant, heat-resistant and water-proofed for use in a bathroom environment. This brand new type of wooden countertop can be made to fit any specification, with each counter top artistically handcrafted according to your explicit needs. Wooden countertops offer you a beautiful warm and inviting alternative to the sometimes clinical feel of a traditional bathroom. The wood not only looks appealing, it feels warm and tempting to the touch. However, to maintain your woods natural beauty, wood countertops must be properly sealed and maintained. Whatever type of wood you choose for your bathroom countertop, it must be sealed with a marine quality polyurethane varnish or paint. One of the most important things to remember is to seal around the edges of your plumbing fixtures so that any pooled water will not seep into the surrounding areas and cause your wood to warp or even worse, create wood rot. Read the rest of this entry »

Glass countertops in your bathroom, now that is fairly new. For the majority of us, glass is known for it’s translucent, eye-catching beauty, hardly thought of as a countertop material in your bath. Traditionally the emphasis on countertops has been function but in recent years there has been a sort of design revolution, today’s bathroom design has moved towards permanent fixtures acting as ornamental as well as functional countertop pieces. And because of this trend, homeowners are looking beyond the traditional surface materials of cultured marble and porcelain. Cutting edge designers are incorporating new trendy materials into their bath designs, materials such as wood, concrete, stainless steel and glass countertops are on the forefront of this shift in radical bathroom design changes. Read the rest of this entry »