Special Top Ten Offers
| Baths | Showers | Basins, WCs and bathroom suites |
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| Radiators | Taps | Suppliers Directory |
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Baths
If you are buying a new bath, as well as finding the right look for your bathroom, you may also need to consider size, shape and material.
Size and Shape
On the whole, the longer the bath, the more comfortable it will be. But
remember that bigger baths use more water, which will cost more in the long
run, both financially and ecologically. For smaller or awkward spaces, have
a look at compact and shaped bath. Be careful that the bath you buy is not
so bulky it won't got through the bathroom door. Shaped baths are also more
expensive than standard rectangular baths. Spa and whirlpool baths are also
now popular. To reduce the expense, you can purchase kits which turn ordinary
baths into spas or whirlpools.
Material
Baths are made in three materials. Traditional roll-top baths are made of
cast iron. Cast iron baths are solid and heavy so first ensure your bathroom
floor is strong enough to support the weight of it, and that you will be
able to manoeuvre it into the bathroom. They are expensive and can also
be hard to get hold of, since few are still made in the U.K. However, some
manufacturers now make roll-top baths in modern materials. Standard baths
are made in plastic or steel.
Plastic baths are cheaper, lighter and available in more shapes and sizes. Whilst they are very popular for domestic bathrooms, they are not very robust, and can become discoloured and cracked. Enamelled, pressed steel baths are generally good quality and are less affected by wear and tear. They can be repaired should the surface become damaged.
Showers
What Shower shall I buy:
The shower you choose will depend on which hot water system you have in your home. Some showers will only work with certain hot water systems:
| Electric Shower | Power or pumped shower | Mixer (Manual or thermostatic) | |
| Gravity (i.e. supplied from a tank, often in the loft) |
a few models only | YES | YES but its power is limited by height of tank above the shower |
| Mains–fed (i.e. combi or megaflow) |
YES | NO | YES |
Mixers take hot and cold water straight from your system and can either be fitted to the wall of a shower cubicle, or feed from your bath taps. Thermostatic mixers are an advanced version which control the temperature of the water for you.
If you find you often run out of hot water, or want a shower a long way from any hot water supply in the house, then fit an electric shower which heats its own water from the mains supply. There are also electric showers available with integral pumps which can be fed from the cold-water storage cistern in your loft. Be aware that standard electric showers are not always very powerful as the amount of water they can heat up is limited.
Power showers use a pump to increase the pressure in your shower. You can either fit a pump to a shower, or buy a shower with an integral pump. They are useful if your shower is not far enough below your water store to give good pressure. If you need to fit a pump to an existing system, be aware that this may involve a lot of work running new pipes from your cold-water store and hot water cylinder. Shower towers are power showers with body jets, but only buy one if you have good pressure and plenty of stored hot water otherwise the jets will soon turn into trickles. It is illegal to fit a pump to a mains-fed (combi or pressurised) system.
Showers come with a tray inside an enclosure, at one end of the bath alongside a screen or curtain , in a walk-in wet-room or within a self-contained cubicle . The plumbing can be concealed inside the wall or exposed. Installation of exposed shower valves is generally cheaper and much easier to maintain. If you do choose a concealed version, ensure your builder leaves sufficient access for any future repairs.
Basins, WCs and bathroom suites
If you are looking for a WC and a basin, it is generally cheaper to buy them as part of a bathroom suite. It is virtually impossible to find WCs on the internet except as part of a suite.
What sort of basin to buy: Basins come with a pedestal, as part of a vanity unit or hang on the wall (which takes less room and lets you adjust the height to suit you). Corner and mini basins are available for smaller spaces.
If you want something a bit different from standard ceramic, then look out for designer basins in alternative materials, such as glass, copper, stainless steel and stone.
What sort of WC to look for: Nowadays, most WCs come as a "closely coupled suite" with the cistern attached to the back of the pan. These flush more quietly than WCs with high-level cisterns.
If you have plenty of space, then a concealed cistern can be built into the wall. One advantage of this is that you can buy a cheaper plastic cistern, since it won't be seen. You can hide even more plumbing by buying a wall-hung "corbel"-type pan. This is fixed onto a hidden frame in the wall, rather than sitting on the bathroom floor.
Many WCs now come with a European style pushbutton flush. You can save water by buying a WC with a dual flush button, which lets you choose between a short or long flush.
When you buy a WC it will often come with a matching plastic seat. If you want something more robust or a bit different, find your own seat.
Where to put what in your bathroom
Where you install your WC depends on where the drains are. If you are replacing
a WC, it is best to put the new one in the same spot as it is difficult
rerouting the waste pipe. If you want one far away from the drains, you
can buy a pump and shredder - it will even pump waste away vertically if
you want a WC in a basement. The shredder fits neatly behind the WC bowl.
First check with your local water supplier that the system you choose is
approved by them.
When choosing where to put a new WC, allow 21" (530mm) in front and 30" (760mm) across for comfort. For smaller bathrooms, look for a compact cistern - normally made out of plastic.
Radiators
TIP, Before you Buy: Don't forget the radiator valves! Most towel rail radiators do not have valves supplied, but there are many styles of radiator valve available to match your bathroom. Heated towel rails can be an alternative to a standard bathroom radiator so you may not need to buy both.
Taps
Taps can be as expensive as the bath or basin you are buying them for and it is definitely true that you pay for what you get. Chromium-plated brass taps are the best quality - plastic ones will not last so long.
Some modern taps only need ¼ turn to go from off to full on which is much easier for the elderly and the young. These taps are also easier to maintain as they have hard-wearing ceramic discs instead of washers. Traditional capstan head taps are still made for period style bathrooms.
Whilst the aesthetics of your taps may seem important, make sure you buy the best taps for your plumbing system. Non-British taps are mostly designed for mains pressure and may not work properly if your water comes via a cistern (normally in your loft). You can still install foreign taps but you will have to accept that they may trickle rather than gush. Otherwise you can pay to fit a pump or to change your system to work straight off the mains.
Plumbing Suppliers Directory
Bathroom Appliances
www.aegeanspas.co.uk
www.americanstandard-us.com
www.annsacks.com
www.aqata.co.uk
www.avalon-bathrooms.co.uk
www.avantebathrooms.com
www.axola.co.uk
www.bachfaucet.com
www.baileyshomeandgarden.com
www.batesandbates.com
www.bathroomdiscount.co.uk
www.bathroomexpress.co.uk
www.bathroomsatsource.co.uk
www.bathsfromthepast.com
www.bathstore.com
www.boundarybathrooms.co.uk
www.cabuchon.com
www.cecosinks.com
www.colourwash.co.uk
www.diamondbathrooms.com
www.edwinsbathrooms.co.uk
www.grohe.co.uk
www.hansgrohe.co.uk
www.hotspring.co.uk
www.ibsa.uk.com
www.jacuzzi.co.uk
www.kaldewei.com
www.kosuk.co.uk
www.majesticshowers.com
www.manhattanshowers.co.uk
www.mantaleda.fsnet.co.uk
www.matki.co.uk
www.moltengold.com
www.pipedreams.co.uk
www.plumb-warehouse.co.uk
www.plumbworld.co.uk
www.porcelanosa.co.uk
www.qxbathrooms.co.uk
www.saniflo.co.uk
www.takeabath.com
www.techflow.co.uk
www.teuco.co.uk
www.thomas-crapper.com
www.tritonshowers.co.uk
www.tylo.co.uk
www.utopiagroup.com
www.victorianbathrooms.co.uk
www.victorianbathrooms.com
www.victoriaplumb.com
www.villeroyboch.com
www.watermonopoly.com
www.whirlpool.co.uk
www.johngoslett.co.uk
Bathroom Accessories
www.alnoinc.com
www.bombayduck.co.uk
www.containerstore.com
www.general-trading.co.uk
www.grahamandgreen.co.uk
www.indiajane.co.uk
www.margarethowell.co.uk
www.melintregwynt.co.uk
www.modelsown.co.uk
www.ninacampbell.com
www.oldfrenchmirrors.com
www.shaker.co.uk
www.skandium.com
www.theholdingcompany.co.uk
www.therugcompany.co.uk
Fabrics
www.borderlinefabrics.com
www.brunschwig.com
www.cathkidston.co.uk
www.crowsonfabrics.com
www.donghia.com
www.lauraashley.com
www.lelievre-tissus.com
www.macculloch-wallis.co.uk
www.monkwell.com
www.nicholashaslam.com
www.ninacampbell.com
www.vanessaarbuthnott.co.uk
Flooring
www.amtico.com
www.crucial-trading.com
www.idsurfaces.co.uk
www.kersaintcobb.co.uk
www.leejofa.com
Lighting
www.basicsourcelighting.com
www.cooperlighting.com
www.nicholashaslam.com
Painting and Decorating
www.benjaminmoore.com
www.cathkidston.co.uk
www.dulux.co.uk
www.farrow-ball.com
www.knowles-christou.com
www.leejofa.com
www.paintlibrary.co.uk
www.pierrefrey.fr
www.sanderson-online.co.uk
www.zimmer-rohde.com
Taps and Fittings
www.altmansfnf.com
www.bristan.com
www.calfaucets.com
www.chicagofaucets.com
www.czechspeake.com
www.moltengold.com
Tiles and Stone
www.bourgetbros.com
www.buddyrhodes.com
www.coboacs.com
www.idsurfaces.co.uk
www.limestonegallery.com
www.porcelanosa.co.uk