5 Bathroom Remodels Considerations
Bathroom remodels can be a fun adventure, but homeowners need to integrate practicality into their designs. Wall colors, vanity choices, and fixture finishes are important, but so is all the stuff that happens behind the walls and under the floors. Keep these five things in mind during a bathroom remodel:
1. Hiding the Plumbing
Bathroom remodels often mean changes in the plumbing and even electrical, which should be tackled by a professional, like the ones at All Star Plumbing and Restoration. It can be difficult to hide plumbing depending on the fixtures installed and where they are located in the design, which, might be okay with people who want an industrial or vintage inspired bathroom. Get a plumber’s help when laying out the plumbing for fixtures for optimal functionality.
2. Usage
Is the bathroom used by multiple people? Sometimes at once? This might mean making some changes in layout such as double sinks or a toilet room. Many master bathrooms have double sinks to make it easier for multiple people to use it. Also consider a toilet room so there is privacy if two people are in the bathroom at the same time.
3. Water Consumption
For those who take a lot of baths, or like to take longer showers, consider increasing the flow speed and consistency with a 3/4 -inch supply line. It won’t do much to help conserve water though, so if water conservation is a priority this would not be a wise choice.
4. Size
Without knocking down walls and creating a larger area, there’s only so much that can be done to a space. When planning out the bathroom design, consider how close each fixture will be to others. If installed too closely together, it could make for a cramped bathroom experience.
5. Water Puddles
Stand-alone showers can produce a lot of moisture that could get onto the floor. If too much water remains on the floor, over time it could create water damage and mold. Consider how the door of the stand-alone shower will open, and if a bath mat will be sufficient or if there is a need for more slope to the flooring.
Avoid plumbing disasters by contacting All Star Plumbing and Restoration early in your bathroom remodel project. We can help make a bathroom remodel dream into a reality.
Fall Plumbing Maintenance
Getting household maintenance done before cold weather hits can prevent catastrophes during winter. This includes plumbing maintenance. This fall, be prepared with the checklist for fall plumbing maintenance. Some of it can be done by the homeowner themselves, but some should be checked by a professional plumber.
- Check for Damage
Look at fixtures throughout the house such as sinks, showers, and toilets for any concerning cracks, dents, or corrosion. Damaged fixtures can cause leaking and eventually water damage. Look for wet spots or built-up moisture on walls, floors and ceilings to see if a leak has already occurred.
- Water Heater
Nothing is worse than an ice cold shower in the middle of winter. Check the hot water heater for leaks, or any other signs it might be on its way to failing. Also, consider turning the temperature down to save on energy bills.
- Toilets
One way to see if there might be problems with a toilet is to do a flush test. If it runs continuously or seems to be flushing when it is not being used, there could be a bigger problem than the float being in the wrong spot. It’s best to call a plumber to come take a look.
- Clear Clogs
Has the sink or shower been draining slower than usual? There could be a clog building up. Clean out hair from the bathroom drains, and install a device to catch it. If the clog is more than can be handled, call All Star Plumbing and Restoration to help clear it.
- Broken or Leaky Fixtures
Most people find dripping faucets annoying, but they might not know that just one drip per second can waste over 3,000 gallons of water per year. That’s a lot of water. Check all the faucets and shower nozzles for dripping. If they are dripping, try tightening them first. If that doesn’t work it may need a new seal.
For help with fall plumbing maintenance, call the experts at All Star Plumbing and Restoration. They will make sure everything is in working order so there’s no surprises this winter.
History of the Farmhouse Style Sink
These days, farmhouse sinks are as much about aesthetics as function. When they first came about, they were all about comfort and functionality. Here’s a brief history of how they came to be:
To get water to their homes, people had to haul it up from a source such as a lake, river, or well. Homes back then did not have plumbing, solely relying on dishpans and dry sinks. From this came the farmhouse sink, or apron sink.
These sinks were design to be comfortable for those who spent many hours using them. It eliminated the need to lean so far forward by having the basin come out farther than the counter. This design eventually become popular in the 17th Century in Britain in wealthier homes of Belfast and London.
The sinks were named after the cities they became popular in, and created differences in the design. The Belfast apron sink was large enough to wash a child. To prevent water from overflowing over the side of the basin, it has a Weir overflow.
London had to conserve water due to lack of readily available clean water sources. Because of this, the London apron front sink had no overflow and was less deep than its Belfast counterpart.
At the end of the 19th Century, the French farmhouse sink gained popularity. They were made from white clay. When the trend continued to the United States, they were made of cast iron, or copper and nickel alloy. However, cooper and nickel were scarce during WWII, so this style was given up. More affordable under mount stainless steel sinks were favored instead.
Today, the kitchen is all about function mixed with design. People want larger sinks to easily wash larger pots and pans, and the farmhouse sink with its large basin is perfect. The farmhouse sinks of today can be made of many materials, have a variety of textures and are made in hundreds of different designs styles so they can fit into any kitchen aesthetic.
Want to install a farmhouse sink? All Star Plumbing and Restoration can install it to make sure the plumbing fits just right.
Teaching Children About Water Conservation
Sometimes kids don’t realize how much water they are using when brushing their teeth, or flushing the toilet just for fun. Teaching them how to conserve water will help cut down on energy bills while helping out the planet. Here are some ways kids can help save water:
- Teach them to turn the sink off during hand washing. They only need it on to wet their hands and then rinse them after soaping them up.
- The water also does not need to be running the entire time kids are brushing their teeth. Teach them to turn it off after wetting the toothbrush and then only turning it back on to rinse the toothbrush when they are done.
- Encourage children to take showers once they are old enough to do so. It uses less water than a bath. Also, try turning taking a shorter shower into a game. Tell them to turn on some music while showering. Have them trying to get completely washed and rinsed before one song is over to limited water usage.
- Start a compost pile with the kids to limit what goes down the garbage disposal. Less water is used to help debris go down, and there’s less chance of a clog. The compost can then be used to create a small garden, which could be another fun project for kids.
- Teach kids to reuse water for other things, like watering plants. Gather half-empty water bottles, or use the water from boiled eggs or pasta once cooled for watering purposes. Less water is used and wasted this way.
Children can do their part to conserve water in the home when encouraged. Explain to them how water conservation helps people, animals and the planet to get children on board. They might grow up to implement these ideas in their own home too.
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