Archive for the ‘Bath & Showers’ Category

Bathroom Ventilation and Ceiling Fans

Tuesday, January 19th, 2010

Although a traditional ceiling fan (one with exterior blades) is not generally what a homeowner considers when looking for ventilation in the bathroom. A small, half-bath or even a small full bath is usually not an appropriate place to consider installing a traditional ceiling fan, however in more modern, larger deluxe homes with large “live-in” bathrooms, a ceiling fan can add both a functional as well as a decorative touch that makes this area even more elegant and comfortable.

To avoid possible confusion, a bathroom ceiling fan is not the same creature as the bathroom exhaust ceiling fan or ventilator although the terms may often be used interchangeably. Building codes in all the areas I can think of require bathrooms to have a means for directly ventilating hot, moist air to the outside. This can be accomplished by having either a window that can be opened in the bathroom or some type of electrical ventilating device that pulls the air from the bathroom and discharges it to the outside of the home via a vent.

Each type of external ventilation has its pros and cons. A window often provides a nice decorating touch as well as providing a source of natural light and outside air ventilation. However, a window doesn’t remove bathroom odors and moist, hot air very well under most circumstances and can’t generally be used during the colder months. If the window is of wood construction, you may also run the risk of it warping with the obvious negative results. Window units are also susceptible to mold and mildew (depending on the material used in their manufacture) and require some extra attention when it comes to cleaning. A mechanical ventilation system (that runs quietly) will effectively eliminate hot, moist air and bathroom odors year round. Because of the moist air drawn through them, frequent cleaning of the blades is advisable to avoid the build-up of debris, etc.

Hanging bathroom ceiling fans serve both functional and decorative purposes. Although they don’t remove (exhaust) odors, etc. they do provide a pleasing movement of air in an area that usually doesn’t include this simple luxury. Even bathrooms with good outside ventilation can be stuffy sometimes, particularly when you are spending time on the “throne” or when drying your hair or after taking a shower. Exhaust systems, whether mechanical or an outside window, take time to remove heat and moisture from the bathroom area and most of us want more or less instant relief when stepping out of the shower or when taking a long, soothing bath. The air circulated by the addition of a ceiling fan can keep that mirror steam-free and otherwise provide the added comfort that you will enjoy.

There are several important considerations to keep in mind when deciding on the type, style and size of a fan that will be used in this area. Many on-line or brick and mortar retail sources will include a category for ceiling fans which can make the selection process easier. A primary consideration is the actual size (length) of the blades. 3-blade models are very popular in bathrooms. These ceiling fans are available with smaller motors and shorter blades that limit the intensity of the air circulation. To be on the safe side, shop for a fan with a variable speed control that will allow you to adjust the air circulation to its most comfortable level.

Take into consideration the height of the bathroom ceiling. A good rule of thumb is to maintain at least 6 ½ to 7 feet of clearance from the bottom of the fan to the bathroom floor. If you have, for example, an 8-foot ceiling, a fan with a 3-inch down rod will be just about right, etc. For lower ceilings, “hugger” type ceiling fans are available from most manufacturers.

Avoid purchasing a ceiling fan with wooden blades or blades that are made of other natural material that tend to warp in damp or moist conditions. Keeping the blades at the same weight is a major factor in preventing a ceiling fan from getting out of balance and becoming noisy.

Bathroom ceiling fans generally need to be cleaned more often than ceiling fans in other rooms because the moist conditions under which they operate causes dust, dirt and other debris to accumulate more rapidly.

While some people use the bathroom for strictly functional purposes and are in and out rather quickly after completing their “business”, others use the bathroom as a place to relax and unwind after a long day of hard work. Adding a ceiling fan to this area can truly enhance its use and make the time you spend there a pleasant experience.

LightnBreezy.com is a well-known source for bathroom ceiling fans LightnBreezy.com features hundreds of products to choose from. To order your discount bathroom ceiling fan fixtures visit us at LightnBreezy.com.

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Bathroom Carpets

Monday, January 18th, 2010

A bathroom carpet does make a bathroom feel warm and inviting to the people. Carpets are ideal for use in bathrooms. They keep the under side of your foot warm. So carpets are widely used in bathrooms in colder regions to escape from the biting cold. More over carpets are non-slip and are safe to use in bathrooms which are used by kids and elder persons in the home. Bath room carpets are affordable even to the common man and there is a huge selection to choose from. Although any type of carpets can be laid in the bathroom, the most commonly used is the foam backed carpets.

Before buying the carpet for the bathroom it is necessary to know about the different type of fibers used for making the carpets and which can withstand the moisture and the traffic in the bathroom area. It is better to know about advantages and disadvantages of the different fibers, as the type of fiber used determines the texture, the physical appearance, the longevity of the carpet and most important of all, the cost and its ability to resist stains. Different varieties of artificial as well as natural fibers are used for making the carpets.

Carpets made of nylon fibers are highly durable, stain resistant and make excellent choice for areas with high traffic. As it can maintain the fiber height and withstand heavy weights they are very popular and have long life. Nylon is mainly used for residential carpeting they are water resistant and are widely used in bathrooms where the carpets come in contact with water regularly. Another variety of fiber used in carpet making is the olefin or the polypropylene. This fiber is also resistant to moisture and is easy to clean and maintain. They are the least expensive of the artificial fibers. Acrylic fibers resemble the wool fibers and can give the look of wool fibers at a much lower cost. Wool fibers are natural fibers and have resistance to water. They are used in cut pile and textured carpets.

An individual buying the bathroom expect that to have long life. It should also look nice in your bathroom and should pride comfort and convenience to the user. Having knowledge of the different types of carpet piles enables one to choose the correct type of carpet for the correct usage. Cut pile carpets are the most enduring and most resistant to crushing, they are manufactured by cutting the looped fibers at the top. These cut pile carpet gives luxurious appearance to the area where it is laid. There are different types of cut-pile carpets, Saxony carpets are made by twisting two or more fibers. They have medium durability and will show all the footprints and tracks. The textured Saxony carpets are softer and have multi coloured appearance, this will hide the foot prints. Frieze carpets are used in high traffic areas. They consist of small fibers curled in all directions which hide dirt, stains and footprints.

Cut and loop pile if combined together makes a medium density carpets which can be used in bathrooms as well. Berber carpets are good for informal areas like bathrooms they limit foot

Prints and vacuum tracks. They are made of either natural or man made fibers. Level loop piles are the most durable of them all; they prevent dirt from filtering into the carpet. Different types of piles have different durability and uses, so it is always good to consult a carpet expert before you select the bathroom carpets.

Bathroom Carpets are a part of your bathroom design, learn about Bathrooms at http://bathroomscentral.com

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Innovative Bathroom Floor Tile Ideas

Sunday, January 17th, 2010

When you really want to create a rewarding project, your bathroom can be your aim. When you need to be different or just simply be stylish, you can remodel your bathroom floor tiles to your liking.

You can choose the right tiles for your project, but you also need to know their composition and notable feature. Here are some of the tiles that could bring out the best on your bathroom plan:

1. Glazed Ceramic Tile – Materials baked onto its surface. Very easy to maintain and gives an impression of looking like of a natural stone. Pick up the textured types to reduce slipping especially on the bathroom floor.

2. Decorative Tile – Consists of floral patterns along with geometrical design, they can create a nice and interesting pattern when you pick the same colored tiles. You can use them to go well with other fixtures and vanities installed.

3. Mosaic Tile – These are the ones being rectangular. They are held together with a mesh backing. As there can be many grout lines to easily add more texture to reduce slipping, as they are usually small.

4. Natural Stone Tile – This type of tile is made up of natural materials. Limestone, marble, slate, and granite are its common composition. They can easily be stained and can be a hassle when cleaning. You need to seal the limestone and slate types to keep the tile from having excessive stains. These natural-looking tiles can add up beauty to your project even if they are hard to clean.

5. Porcelain Tile – They are very resistant to staining. As they are manufactured at very high temperatures, the clay base can give out some very interesting colors. Porcelain tiles can mimic other tiles’ textures to get an impression of other types of tiles.

6. Quarry Tile – These tiles can give you a lot of options but very limited designs because of the red clay being used in the manufacturing process. A sealer will give it lesser chances to stain too much.

7. Terra Cotta Tile – The tiles that are called fired clay. They are commonly found on countries such as Mexico, Spain, and Italy. They can be machine made or by hand. Terra cotta tiles need to be sealed to reduce staining. They come in various sizes, textures and shapes to give you more options for your design project.

Tiles are commonly durable. There is also being more kinds of tiles to choose from. Bathroom tiles need to be unleveled to guide the water to the drain, so you should need tiles that can be flexible such a resilient tiles, wood parquet or laminated ones, check the type of tile and ask your supplier for extra instructions.

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4 Tips for Any Bathroom Renovation Idea

Saturday, October 17th, 2009

A bathroom is meant to be as comfortable and as relaxing a place as possible. This is where we relax after a hard day at work or where we get ready to start each day. So if your bathroom isn’t up to standards on what you need, having it renovated to meet your needs is a good idea. There are many ideas, styles, price ranges and equipment that can make your bathroom into just what you need but you may not know where to start. Hopefully these four bathroom renovation idea tips will come in handy.

Plan Your Bathroom Renovation Idea

Before you set out doing any actual work in your bathroom, sit down and take the time to figure out exactly what you want to do. This may involve rough sketching or doing research in various magazines, web sites or maybe even consulting with a professional decorator.

Budget for Your Bathroom Renovation

Once you have established what you want, next you need take a look at your budget. If the bathroom of your dreams seems out of your budget, consider going with slightly cheaper materials, doing labor yourself or considering trade offs with people you know in order to cover some of the labor this can greatly reduce expenses and allow you the ability to have what you want at a price you can afford.

Anticipate Mistakes

If you are planning to move forward with any bathroom renovation idea, it is important to plan for mistakes! For example, if you are replacing the tub and find out that the flooring beneath it or the wall behind the tile needs to be replaced you’ll want to have money in your budget to cover it.

Find Deals

Some places to check out for purchasing appliances at discount prices are discount stores, online stores or the outlet stores that sell overstock. You can usually get great deals, better than sale prices on things like tubs, sinks, and toilets to help limit some of the cost of your bathroom remodeling.

If you have the skills, doing it yourself is going to save you significantly. However, if you’re inexperienced or don’t know what to do, it’s actually cheaper to hire a professional to take care of the renovations for you or those parts you may need help with like tiling and plumbing. By making a plan, making a budget, shopping wisely and being labor smart you can have the bathroom you want at a price you can afford.

Find many more bathroom renovation idea tips at http://www.bathroomplandesigns.net

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All About Air Tubs

Friday, October 16th, 2009

An air tub is designed to create a softer, subtler, full-body relaxing experience so that you completely float away, relaxing the body as well as the mind with an effervescent kiss of a million bubbles. An air tub is a combination of air and water to produce an intense, targeted massage in a whirlpool action.

What is the difference between an air tub and a whirlpool bath?

An air tub only uses air creating effervescent bubbles for a gentle and soothing bath and a whirlpool bath combines water and air creating pressure for an invigorating directed jetting system.

What’s right for you?

* If you would prefer a gentle, full-body soothing experience to relax and meditate in soothing oils and bath salts for that effervescent and gentle bathing experience, choose an air tub that will benefit your mind for an uplifting and contented feeling after a long and stressful day.

* If you need to relax and prefer a targeted, deep-tissue massage, and suffer from joint ailments or sore and tired muscles, and also want to customize your bathing experience by using pressure and position of water with an invigorating, directed jetting system, choose a whirlpool bath to benefit your whole body to feel relaxed and revitalized.

There are many styles of jets available.

* Some jets merely produce high pressure

* Whirlpool tub jets massage with high volumes of water evenly mixed with air creating an extra wide, circular flow for a gentler, more effective hydromassage

* Adjustable jets allow you to change the direction and flow so you can pinpoint their massage. They’ve been used for centuries to promote health and vitality.

An air tub has other health benefits:

* Hot water relaxes the body, soothing muscle tension. It is the ultimate form of therapy. It calms your nerves while renewing your vibrancy and energy.

* Contrast hydrotherapy uses both hot and cold treatments that dilate and contract blood vessels to keep them in shape. This method also improves organ function and digestion, increases circulation and reduces congestion and inflammation.

* Neutral hydrotherapy uses water temperatures between 92 to 98 degrees F to mimic the body’s own temperature. It is used to treat insomnia and to calm the nervous system.

* Chromatherapy is simply the use of the seven colors of the rainbow to promote balance and healing in the mind and body. Each individual color has a particular wavelength and energy that when absorbed, has an effect on the release of hormones and other organic substances within the human body. This in turn reshapes one’s feelings, moods, and emotions.

Air bath tub options:

Options include heaters, sculpted and straight armrests, contoured backrests, on/off control systems, recirculating water spouts, translucent fiber optic lights that radiate from the jets and LED lights that emit ambience from the arch. Sound systems, built-in tile flanges, vanity mirrors, hot and cold valves, hand-held showers, air induction systems, self-leveling base systems, removable skirts and trims and more.

A wide selection of stylish air tubs can be found at http://www.faucet.com. Call and speak with one of our product specialists to find the right accessories for your bathroom.

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Seven Easy Bathroom Accessories To Give You The Look You Want

Thursday, October 15th, 2009

Anyone with a designer eye or the desire to have one knows there is a whole lot more to bathroom accessories than just towels and washcloths. Choosing just the right accessories can make or break a design theme.

Beyond the fixtures, the wall coloring and the floors, the bathroom accessories are necessary to tie a design scheme together. When every detail is “just right,” the bathroom can turn out to be the best-dressed room in a home.

The types of bathroom accessories that can add to or take away from the look of the room include:

* Throw rugs. These are standard accessories in most bathroom designs. Protecting other carpeting or feet on the way out of the shower or providing comfort for those using the commode, these rugs are vital for tying a look together. Try to choose them carefully to match the design that has been chosen. A modern scheme for a child’s bathroom, for example, might call for very bright and bold throw rugs.

* Soap and toothbrush holders. These are pretty small touches in the grand scheme of things, but they can carry on the theme. A nautical bathroom, for example, might have a beautifully hand painted soap holder on the vanity top and a similar design for the toothbrush holder.

* Shower curtains. Unless a glass door is in use, this is a major accessory to consider. The shower curtain is often one of the biggest accessories that goes into a bathroom. Find the right materials, color or design to match the chosen look. Pay attention to the curtain chosen when picking out other appointments such as rugs and towels.

* Trash receptacle. This can be a huge addition in a bathroom design. The options here range from those that are meant to sort of blend into the background to those that standout all on their own.

* Magazine holders. These can also be fantastic bathroom accessories. When they are attractive and match the design theme, they can really help complete a look.

* Mirrors. Anyone can have a plain, unframed mirror on the bathroom wall, but when these accessories are designed to make a statement they can do so in a big way. Some people opt to find designer mirrors that accent their theme and have them altered to serve as medicine cabinets. Others opt for funky-framed mirrors to hang on the wall as they are.

* Pictures. These should be chosen to add to the look desired. A country-themed bathroom, for example, might have pictures of flowers, crops, hearts, barnyard scenes or more. Pay very close attention when choosing these accessories for the bathroom. Beyond the shower curtains, these might be the single most important accessories for bringing a look together.

Some people choose to have a plain old bathroom. Others want a look that follows a theme and turns the room into more of a retreat. This can be accomplished quite well when the bathroom accessories are carefully chosen to build up and build on the theme.

For more information on bathrooms, try visiting http://www.bathroomdetails.com – a website that specializes in providing bathroom related tips, advice and resources including information on bathroom accessory.

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