Sisterhood Home Interior & Design

Posts Tagged ‘bathroom’

Today’s modern bathrooms and contemporary showers are greatly related to each other and without showers no bathroom projects and design can be accomplished. Bathroom showers are coming with various styles and performances available from manual hot and cold water to automatic sprays that regulate the temperature of water according to your preference.

Not only showers are coming with varieties of ranges but also evolved with different functionality and you can’t add any shower that fits to your bathroom. You also should be aware of their functionality, making wrong choice will make all the decoration useless. Let us start some of the popular showers with their functionality bellow:

Electric Showers:

Electric showers are connected to your mains domestic supply, from which it draw water directly and heat it as it is used. The advantage of electric shower is that it heats the water you need to use not the whole water tank, which is safer than the tank fed system.

Electric shower is the best option for the houses where there is no hot stored water supply and well known for its versatility. They are easy to install and provide you continuous showering even if you have not stored hot water. Electric showers may not work properly in low water pressure.

Power showers:

Power showers are a combination of mixing valve with a pump in one complete unit and this integral pump helps to maximize the shower pressure by increasing the water flow from the shower head. The thermostatic valve maintains the proper temperature, even if the water flows else where within the home.

Power showers are available in both manual and thermostatic model. They are ideal for homes that have storage tank of cold water and a readily available supply of stored hot water.

Mixer showers:

If you are looking for a shower to install in your bathroom within your budget then mixer shower is the best choice for you. You can find these in various types such as: manual, thermostat, pump powered and pressure balanced types. Thermostatic mixer is the most commonly used in homes. Due to in-built thermostats it heats the water to specific degrees which is greatly depending upon the surrounding temperature.

If we make a comparison then mixer showers give high flow rate than electric showers, but power shower is much powerful than these two unless you put an additional pump to enhance the water flow.

Granite countertops are a premium option to put into many different rooms in your home. This type of stone comes in many different colors and shades, can fit any size counter, and can be completely custom tailored for any type of application. Another reason why this type of countertop is so popular is because of how strong and durable it is. It doesn’t scratch easy, it can be refinished, and it is easy to clean. If you don’t have this type of countertop in your home right now you should call your local installer immediately to see what your options are.

The most popular area you find granite countertops in is a kitchen. Kitchen counters take a lot of use and abuse and need to be strong to prevent too much wear and tear. A granite installer can come in and make all of the required measurements of your countertops and give you a free estimate as to how much it will cost to get rid of your old, dull countertops in order to have custom granite.

To match the centerpiece of your home, the kitchen, you can continue with custom granite all around your home. This will include any wet bars, bathrooms, and any countertop essentially. Your bathroom counters can be installed to match each other and to match the flow of your home instead of directly matching the kitchen. Bars around your home should match the rooms they are in, and can match what you have in your kitchen. The beauty about granite is the amount of colors it comes in.

The installation process will begin with measurement taking. Once dimensions are confirmed, a warehouse will cut large slates of granite into pieces that will fit directly on top of your counters. The installers will bring these pieces out and lay them flat on the counter. Once in position, the granite will be glued using silicon directly onto your cabinets. Silicon will also fill in any seams you might end up with your granite.

Once everything is firmly in place and dry, your granite will be polished and finished. Polishing will bring out the true color and luster of the granite, while the finishing phase involves applying a protective coat on the surface of the granite. This will keep the granite looking brand new for years to come, and will liven up any room you decide to have custom granite installed in.

Water Heaters

Water heater leaks are a common cause of basement flooding. Proper maintenance of your water heater is crucial to maximize its life expectancy. Periodically, have a plumber perform a check up on the heater. He or she should inspect the anode rod inside the tank, and replace it if needed, since this rod serves to protect the tank from corrosion. Also, make sure the tank’s glass lining, pipes, and valves are in good condition. Replace worn out parts. Finally, remove sediment from the tank every 6 months by flushing the water heater.

Washing Machines

Regularly inspect your washing machine. Be on the lookout for valves that do not work properly, as well as worn out supply hoses. Hoses tend to crack in places where they bend sharply. Replace old or worn hoses with the steel braided type for maximum durability.

Toilets

The simplest way to prevent toilet-related water damage is to simply stay in the bathroom until the toilet has finished refilling. Beyond that, take note if your toilet starts to run between uses, a sign that components are beginning to fail. Also, inspect your toilet a couple of times per year. Make sure the valves inside the tank work properly and the supply line is connected securely.

Basement Flooding

Make sure you have a reliable primary sump pump installed in your sump pit, as well as a backup sump pump system that can protect your basement during periods when a storm knocks out your power. Additionally, ensure that each of the pumps have sufficient capacity to handle the water volume that could potentially flow into your basement.

Plumbing System

Keep an eye out for signs of potential leaks in your plumbing system. Are your water bills higher than they should be? Do you see signs of moisture on your walls or floors? Make sure your water shutoff valve works properly – test it regularly! If you live in a cold weather region, take measures to prevent frozen pipes. For example, during extremely cold periods, open your faucets slightly to reduce pressure in your pipes. Also, keep the temperature in your home above 60 degrees, even if no one is home.

Water Leak Detection

Utilize leak detection and automatic water shutoff systems to keep small leaks from turning into extensive water damage. If you can detect a leak early on, you will be left with only a small mess to clean up, instead of a large scale disaster.

Through regular preventive maintenance and by monitoring potential trouble spots in your home, you can stop many types of water damage before they occur.

Taking the time to learn how to clean tile grout is well worth the investment. This is because knowing the proper way to clean grout will allow you to clean your grout faster and prolong the life of your tile and grout. This will also save you money.

If you are like most people who have more months after the end of their money, here are a few tips to help you do the job faster:
When cleaning the kitchen and bathrooms, start by picking up everything on the floor and off the counters. This will give a clean place to work and you can start on the tile and grout cleaning. Then you will want to wet the grout either by using a damp sponge, a spray bottle, or cup of water. For light cleaning you make find that only using water will be good enough to get the job done. For deeper clean you will also want to use a mild disinfectant to clean the tile and you may even need to scrub the grout out with a hard bristled brush. For an even deeper clean, which should be done at least once every six months, you should use an all purpose grout cleaner. Most of these will also lighter the grout and remove stains. They will also disinfect the grout and kill mold mildew and bacteria.

After cleaning the grout thoroughly dry it with a damp cloth or a rag. This may be a great time to also add a grout sealer. A grout sealer seals the porous surface of the grout and repels dirt and bacteria. In addition, it also keeps the grout stain from changing color and even serves to keep out germs and bacteria. A grout sealer also makes clean up easier next time and helps the grout and tile to last longer.

In today’s bathroom remodeling projects, there are several (sometimes competing) trends. Some homeowners see the bathroom as a mini-spa where they can relax and be pampered. Others are concerned about the practicalities of living in a house after retirement. Yet others see the design of the room as paramount and seek out fixtures to create a certain “look.”

If you’re remodeling, it’s good to keep in mind which renovations will appeal to future home buyers. Here is a peek at today’s shower and bath trends.

Showers

* Today’s homeowners are often considering spending their retirement at home, so they are remodeling the bathroom with universal design in mind. Showers often have walk-in stalls, as well as seats, easy-to-use controls, and grab bars. In addition, stand-alone shower stalls are getting larger.

* Spa-like elements are common, such as multiple shower heads on one fixture for an all-over body experience. Other options are his and hers shower heads with stalls big enough to accommodate dual bathers, and large shower heads that simulate rainwater by dowsing you from above rather than at an angle like regular shower heads.

* Steam rooms have experienced a surge in popularity. Most are simply enclosed shower stalls with an added steam fixture. Some shower stalls can be retrofitted to provide a steam room experience.

Bathtubs

* Corner tubs can still be large enough for soaking and jets and yet small enough to make the most of underused space.

* Whirlpool baths are no longer the must-have item, although homeowners who opt for whirlpool baths often go for ones that have holes blowing air bubbles rather than the motorized swirling action of past models.

* Bathtubs are less likely to be built-in and covered with tile. Today they can be free-standing decorative elements, like a claw-footed tub, for a vintage look.