When comes to giving your bathroom a bit of an update, rather than rather than replacing the whole suite a simple and inexpensive ‘life hack’ is to replace your bathroom taps to give it instant fresh new look.
From basin taps and shower heads to bath taps, mixers and fillers; the UK’s leading bathroom manufacturer, Ideal Standard, offers its expert advice on everything you need to know when it comes to bathroom brassware.
A NEW LOOK WITH MINIMAL FUSS
Updating your bathroom can often seem expensive and stressful, especially if you think it means replacing the entire suite.
Increasingly however, top interior designers say that this is an unnecessary process – and actually you will be amazed at the huge difference that simply replacing your bathroom fittings will have, giving it a whole new look.
Swapping your taps, alongside a couple of other small yet impactful tweaks, such as buying new towels or painting a feature wall in a bold colour, means there’s no need to rip out a perfectly good bathroom suite – but will definitely have the desired effect adding a real personal touch and probably prompt people to ask: “have you had your bathroom done?”.
INVEST IN QUALITY
When you're choosing a tap or a mixer, the most important thing to know is that it's the right one for your and your home.
The choices are almost endless, so there will be a size, shape, look and feel for everyone and every bathroom.
However, as well as choosing a style that you like, it’s also well worth investing a little more money in high quality taps and mixers that perform brilliantly, than opting for budget versions - it will save you money and hassle in the long run.
The average family bathroom tap is switched on and off as many as 50 times per day, so durability is key and while they may look similar in terms of design, cheap fittings quite simply won't offer the same performance as those which cost a little more from high quality brand.
'Cheapie taps' might seem like a way to save money, but they are cheaper for a reason and have much lower quality and therefore you may end up paying a plumber just 12-18 months down the line to come fix or replace when it fails.
Spend on quality because you are investing in a product that benefits not only from leading design, but has been developed with years of expertise, extensive testing and leading edge manufacturing techniques.
TIME TO GO CHROME
In the same way that white is the atypical safe and popular colour option for bathroom suite ceramics, chrome is the metal of choice for bathroom fittings and accessories, with everything from taps to soap dishes available in the metal.
Chrome is a highly durable material and gives the impression of cleanliness thanks to its shiny finish, meaning it usually always look gleaming and fantastic.
It’s easy to clean too, as you can simply wipe away any marks or smears with a damp cloth before polishing it with a dry towel.
SAVING WATER CAN MEAN SAVING MONEY TOO
We use more water in the bathroom than anywhere else, so to save water here will have a dramatic effect.
Upgrading your bathroom brassware with a small eco-friendly detail, and you’ll see it makes a big difference.
Keep an eye out for products that have the European Water Label, which clearly shows the volume of water that the tap or shower head will consume per minute.
For example, taps and mixers with Ideal Standard’s IdealBlue Technology, which are engineered to reduce water consumption by 50% – with innovative features such as a flow limiter and a Click Cartridge – helping you cut your household bills without compromising on your comfort.
The technology also means that the amount of water held in the tap when it’s switched-off is reduced by 80%, meaning less water is wasted. The low water content reduces the time taken to achieve the selected hot water temperature by seven seconds, saving both water and the energy required to heat it.
In fact, the resulting savings made on your utilities bills, thanks to IdealBlue technology, means these fittings actually pay for themselves typically within 14 months of use.
All Ideal Standard basin mixers come with removable flow restrictors and are registered on the European Water Label ran by the Bathroom Manufacturers Association www.water-efficiencylabel.org.uk
GO WITH THE FLOW
You can also replace your shower head with an eco-friendly model such as Ideal Standard's Idealrain shower head – and reduce the amount of time you leave the shower running, especially when you’re not in it, shaving or brushing your hair!
Think of a bath as a luxurious treat while you shower daily. Baths easily use more than double the amount of water than a shower
Idealrain shower heads are cleverly designed and precision manufactured to help you reduce water consumption without compromising on comfort, enjoyment or reliability. Its precision-designed flow engine delivers optimal spray performance, which in plain English means the super clever technology inside the shower uses much less water than the typical shower, but doesn’t feel any different when you use it.
MAKE A STATEMENT
If you want to make change that adds a real wow-factor, or will be beautiful focal point in your bathroom, then consider either a wall-mounted tap or even a freestanding bath tap or shower mixer.
Although a little more costly than a standard bath tap, freestanding bath taps are designed not only to look great, but add practicality and functionality to your bathroom.
Much like their deck mounted cousins; the free standing and wall mounted taps are increasingly available in a wide variety of modern and traditional designs, so whether you have a crisp, clean contemporary bathroom, or a lovely, warm period style bathroom, there will be one just for you.
UNDER PRESSURE
The majority of taps work fine with standard water pressure, but shower mixer taps require a higher pressure.
So, you need to find out what your water pressure is as this determines the flow of water from the tap. Chances are you might not be sure, so ask your plumber or even your water utilities provider. Otherwise, you may unwittingly select unsuitable taps that aren’t compatible with your home.
HOT WATER BURNS
Scalding from taps and other bathroom products without temperature control can lead to serious and even deadly consequences, with hot water having the potential to cause as much damage to the skin as a flame.
Working closely with the Bathroom Manufacturers Association Hot Water Burns Like Fire campaign. www.hotwaterburns.org Ideal Standard have bath taps and shower options, fitted with a clever thermostatic valve, which offer a stable hot water temperature, so there’s no risk of scalding when in use.
ADVICE ON FITTING TAPS
Ask an experienced plumber to do it!
