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Friday, February 15, 2008

Bathroom Decoration - Wall Panels

Creating a bathroom style that is modern-day yet practical tin often turn out difficult, especially where wall natural coverings are concerned. Many families choose for tiles because there is low consciousness of option solutions. Tiles are available in ever more than differing styles but they make necessitate a certain amount of in progress care to maintain the grout clean and over clip the visual aspect of the grout will diminish. However rainproof wall panels are becoming increasingly popular as an option to bathroom tiles. In improver to being attractive and easy to maintain, they also offer many other advantages to the installer and end user alike.

Wall panels are manufactured in different formattings and sizes to lawsuit lavish enclosures, domestic steam suite and full bathrooms. They can often be supplied as complete kits that include all needed profiles, sealers and accessories.

Wall panels are quicker and easier to put in than wall tiles, which can be tricky. It can take respective years for the adhesive material and grout to dry out with tiles, wall panel installing is much simpler and can be under taken by most competent Diy-ers. As panels are dry the possible for messiness is minimised, no grouting agency that once the installing is complete, a room can be used immediately, this also halts the development of bathroom wall mold that is often establish in between tiles and is a existent nuisance and soon destroy the expression of a bathroom. Normal woodworking tools can be used to put in the wall panels doing away with the demand to purchase specializer tools to be used for one job. To guarantee that wall tiles are fitted consecutive a optical maser degree is usually needed, with wall panels a criterion spirit degree is sufficient.

Wall panels are made by soldering a cosmetic high-performance laminate to plyboard to give a surface that is 100 per cent waterproof, because of the stuff that they are constructed you should have got no jobs to repair mirrors or other bathroom adjustments unlike tiles which necessitate the usage of a particular electric drill spot and more than often than not consequences in harm to the tile. Some panels also have a water-resistant WBP plyboard substrate and a balancer laminate to the contrary to halt wet from penetrating through the dorsum of the board.

Due to the size of the merchandise big countries of wall can be covered in a fraction of the clip it would take to tile. A single 2,400mm by 900mm panel covers the same country as 216 (100mm) tiles.

Panels can be fitted to most types of bathroom wall, including brick, concrete, plasterboard, studwork and even over the top of existing ceramic tiles Whatever the surface, it is of import that the walls are even and supply a suitable fixing for screws, stoppers and adhesive.

The internal and external profiles of panels usually necessitate no sealant. Some panels have an advanced two-part 'Click-Seal' profile system which guarantees that the wall panels are correctly fitted together.

The designing integrates a polyvinyl chloride subdivision on the dorsum and a polyvinyl chloride coloring material co-ordinated Oregon polished chrome aluminum face. The two parts simply chink the two panels together and a self-adhesive barrier tape makes a watertight joint. When fitted together lingua and grooved borders cut down the demand for joining strips and intend that ingredient can be neatly concealed. The outer border of the panels is fitted with an edging profile to make a neat and co-ordinated finish. Conventional tile installings often ensue in leaks as the sealing wax between the bath or lavish tray and wall interruptions down over time, the underside sealing wax system on wall panels accommodates the enlargement and muscular contraction of the panel and guarantees that this doesn't happen.

Panels are very easy to make clean and just necessitate wiping with a dampish fabric to maintain them looking as good as new. Unlike wallpaper or paint, that tin skin or flake, and tiles that tin cleft and chip, panels are lasting and are improbable to endure any harm - even after a figure of years.

So before you hotfoot down to your local tile superstore see using wall panels as an economical, difficult wearing, low care and attractive alternative.

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Friday, May 11, 2007

Bathtub Bliss- Making Your Bathtub The Most Relaxing Place In Your Home

A luxury bathroom allows the bathtub to be the best place in your home for times of relaxation. How does a luxury bathroom promote this relaxing bathtub atmosphere? There are some simple ways to achieve this luxury mood that can be applied to any bathtub.

Bath products go a long way in creating a luxury bathroom atmosphere. Bath salts, bubble baths, and other aromatherapy products help give bathtubs a relaxing mood. Choose products that have scents promoted for relaxation such as lavender, or choose bath products that have scents that you personally find relaxing. For example, the place I am most relaxed is the beach so I choose products that have the smells of the ocean such as seaside breeze.

Candles are another way to add luxury to your bathtub area. If you have sensitive skin and are not able to use scented bath products, you can still have an aromatherapy experience by using scented candles around the bathtub area. Candles also look extremely decorative by the bathtub, especially when you choose to place them in candle holders that are complimentary to the bathroom design, color, and style.

Purchase a bath pillow for your bathtub. Bath pillows are made of soft, quick drying material, often soft foam covered in terry cloth. They are made for being used in a bathtub, so no need to worry about them getting wet.

Add jets to your existing bathtub for a relaxing whirlpool Jacuzzi experience. Jets do not have to be permanently installed in a bathtub for you to gain this luxury. Portable whirlpool jet unit systems are available to put into a bathtub while you are relaxing, and then they can be removed when your bath is over.

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Tuesday, April 03, 2007

Seven Mistakes Homeowners Make When Redesigning a Bathroom

Redesigning a bathroom can bring comfort and luxury into your home—and could also add considerable value if you decide to sell. But a bathroom redesign can be complicated. If you're considering giving your bathroom a makeover, here are a few pitfalls to avoid.

Choosing a plan that doesn't suit your space. The amount of space you have makes a big difference in your redesign options. If you have a very small space, you'll know you can't add a Jacuzzi tub. If your space is large, you'll know have a little more flexibility. But with a medium-area bathroom, you could assume a certain feature will fit—but you'll never know unless you measure everything carefully and work out a realistic floor plan for your new bathroom.

Choosing a style that doesn't match your home. A sleek, modern bathroom will look a bit out of place in a historic home. A style mismatch might not matter so much to you while you're living in the house, but if you ever try to sell, it could seriously decrease the value of your home. Buyers look for a consistent look throughout a house, and if they're drawn to an older home with a lot of character, chances are they won't appreciate your minimalist bathroom design. Make sure the fixtures you choose don't clash with the rest of your house.

Thinking you can do it yourself—if you don't have the experience. Redesigning a bathroom is a major task—often more complicated than redesigning other sections of the home. To do it right, you need to be a competent plumber, electrician, tile installer, carpenter, and more. Some intrepid homeowners believe they can do it all themselves. But even experienced contractors who don't specialize in bathrooms can make serious missteps. Unless you have experience in bathroom redesign work, save yourself the hassle—hire a pro.

Hiring the wrong person. The success of your redesign project hinges on the contractor you hire. Look for one who specializes in bathrooms. Don't just ask for references—check them. And ask to see an example of finished work. Only hire someone whose work you love, who has a strong list of references, and who has lots of experience. Many homeowners decide to hire a friend or family member, whether to save on cash or to do a favor. But unless your friend or family member is a professional with plenty of experience redesigning bathrooms, this is a bad idea.

Keeping a tight budget. Beware of the assumption that you'll stay within budget. The average redesign project costs about 20% to 30% more than homeowners planned. Work some extra cash into your redesign budget, and you won't get a nasty shock if you find out that your project will cost more than planned.

Not ensuring easy access to piping. If you do find that water leaks out of your newly-tiled walls when you turn on your brand-new shower, the plumber will likely need to break through the walls in order to reach the faulty pipes. This can be costly and time-consuming. To avoid this pitfall, request access panels to be installed so that plumbers can reach the pipes easily and quickly in case of a problem.

Not keeping a close eye on your contractor. If you've gone to a lot of trouble to hire the right contractor, you should be able to trust that the job will get done right—right? In a perfect world, maybe so. But in reality, you often need to hover like a hawk to get the best results. And it's best to know what to look for while you do it.

Water leaks can be a big problem with bathroom redesign projects. To keep an eye on things, check out the new plumbing your contractors are installing. The simpler it is, the better—you'll want the shortest pipe lengths and smallest amount of joints possible, because water leaks are most likely to occur at joints and bends in the piping. Take pictures of the piping as it's being installed, so you can find potential problem areas before they cause trouble.

You'll want your tiling hung the right way, as well. Watch to see that your contractor spreads the adhesive evenly over the wall with a notched spreader, instead of simply putting a blob on the back of each tile. You want your adhesive spread evenly because when it's done right, it acts as a second layer of waterproofing. Over time, movement in your tub can cause cracking in the grout between the tiles. If the adhesive isn't evenly applied, water can seep straight between the tiles.

Redesigning a bathroom can be a big project—but it can be worth it, too. Be prepared, choose the right person, supervise closely, and have a plan that works for your bathroom space and for your home, and you should be delighted with your finished bathroom.

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