Thomas Pretty asked:


The latest trend in the renovation and redesign of homes is to place greater emphasis upon the bathroom. Increasingly homeowners are attempting to create bathrooms with a spa like feel and luxury throughout; choosing the right shower enclosure can be considered a major element in this popular trend. In the past, a shower enclosure was simply a place to wash, nowadays a large shower enclosure is a place to relax and enjoy the experience. Benches and seats as well as multiple shower heads, body sprays and steam showers have all become common in modern bathroom design.

The shower enclosure is now believed to be the focal point of the bathroom. Trends include forgetting the dark and gloomy showers of the past for a light an airy enclosure that adds a design feature to the bathroom. Frameless shower doors and evermore luxuriant finishes are being utilised to make the shower enclosure a nice place to spend considerable amounts of time. Added to this, totally enclosed shower areas are being installed to create showers that double as steam rooms, bringing greater health benefits that just a scrub.

When considering the design of a shower enclosure there are many factors to consider, at the forefront of the homeowner’s mind should be the amount of space available in the bathroom and of course, the budget at the homeowners disposal. A framed enclosure will provide a rigid area and will require considerable amounts of materials; surprisingly however they are cheaper than their frameless counterparts in terms of instillation costs.

A framed enclosure will most likely work well if a bathroom has an uneven shape and walls. Frameless enclosures are currently becoming increasingly popular in design but due to the need for thicker glass, they are often more expensive, although this extra cost does give an incomparable luxurious look.

The type of glass you use for your shower enclosure is also important. Legislation demands that the glass used must be either laminated or tempered for safety reasons. Tempered glass is a brilliant design feature and creates elegance; the material is also remarkably easier to clean for all of those who despise housework. Clever use of glass can make a bathroom look bigger and when combined with creative etching can be a superb design feature in its own right.

The finish of the shower enclosure should also be a concern; there is a huge variety out there to choose from for the actual framework. Two of the most popular finishes for their durability are ardonised silver and gold. Design trends however have started to incorporate brushed oil finishes using metals such as bronze and nickel. The choice of finish can make or break the attractiveness of your shower enclosure, and as the predominant feature in your bathroom, the space as a whole.

A vital part of any shower enclosure design is the door, curtains are now considered passe and a detrimental design aspect. When looking at doors it is worth visiting a supplier where doors are installed in a number of mock up bathrooms, by doing this it is possible to test the hardiness of the latch mechanisms and the durability of the door more generally. The door will create balance to your shower; hence the decision should be made after careful consideration.

With today’s modern lifestyle it is often only the bathroom where we can spend private time and truly relax. Getting the choice of shower enclosure right is essential to making the bathroom as comfortable and stylish as possible. The modern homeowner demands that their bathroom be luxurious, elegant and fundamentally practical, with such a wide variety of shower options on the market all of these attributes are achievable.

garretlloyd asked:


Glass tiles, as the name suggests, are pieces of glass that have been designed in various shapes, sizes, colors and patterns. According to historical records, glass mosaics were used as early as 2,500 BC. However glass tiles were used for the first time during the 3rd Century BC, by artisans in Persia, Greece and India. Since then they have never fallen out of fashion, glass tiles have successfully adapted to the changing tastes of different ages and generations. Today they are seen as highly sophisticated decorative item that are used for residential, as well as commercial purposes.

Different forms of glass tiles:

A type of glass mosaic tiles named Smalti tiles was invented during the time of Byzantine Empire. It was made from molten glass and various metal oxides were used for coloring purposes. Smalti tiles were mostly used in mosaics. During this time Constantinople was highly advanced in mosaic crafts and used golden leaves for furnishing. Those creations are highly regarded even now. With the advent of mass manufacturing process, Smalti tiles were used for making a large number of middle class residences during the 1920s. They are still used for decorating interiors and can be seen in many European churches.

During the1990s, modern techniques for making glass tiles were discovered. These techniques produced elegant glass tiles and encouraged increasing numbers of people to use them. Glass tiles are now available in a huge variety of sizes, structures, textures and colors. They have become very popular and are used in a variety of places, from offices to homes, in kitchens, spas and washrooms. The best feature of using glass tiles is that they can change the look of a place radically. If you are using them in your office, they can be used to give it a no-nonsense, sleek and corporate look. If you are using them in your bedroom then glass tiles can help you create a soothing atmosphere. They are used in swimming pools and provide a glorious bright look thus helping cut down on electricity costs as well. Even children’s rooms can be furnished with glass tiles to create a dreamy magical world for them. They are also used for floor making and can provide a large variety of gorgeous looks to your floor. So if you are wondering how to about revamping the interiors of your home or office then do check out the Internet for examples of how glass tiles can be used to achieve various look and effects.

Mike L. asked:


The shower is absolutely one of the most important fixtures in every home. People most love it when their shower rooms are presentable, tidy and well designed. Moreover, there are different types of shower doors that are in use. The traditional shower door needs to be modified and improved because it usually has several problems, like water leakage. To make sure such a mess is avoided, homeowners are investing on shower door seals.

What are shower door seals? These are small structures that serve as seals to keep shower enclosures from having any leakage. Quite a number of shower door seals are made available across the market today to help homeowners remedy the water leakage problem. This way, water in the shower is stopped and kept to the shower floor until it drains instead of going anywhere else, like the floor of the bathroom itself. Developers and manufacturers have also spent considerable amount of time and effort to research and put out such products.

Sliding doors particularly need shower door seals. However, some of those doors already come with their own sealing structures. Thus, whether the sliding shower door is made of translucent, etched or obscured glass, homeowners can keep sure the shower room will be maintained mess free.

Common types of shower door seals

Out in the market there are several types of shower door seals that homeowners can choose from. As mentioned, different shower doors may require varied kinds and techniques in sealing and preventing leakage. Here are some of the most common and popular shower door seals that are currently and ordinarily found and purchased in do-it-yourself and home improvement stores.

Clear Polycarbonate jamb – This shower door seal is primarily used in glass-to-glass applications. The seals are securely snapped onto fixed panels with lips on strike sides. Some of these shower door seals are even lipped on the shower door’s hinge side. In the market, these usually are made of hard polycarbonate.

Inline panel seal – These shower door seals are available with vinyl cushion for 180-degree application. These are used ordinarily for inline installations in glass doors. For you to be able to fit the seal, there is a need to snap into a fixed panel with lip on the side. Soft vinyl facilitates and backs the enclosure of the cushion door. Homeowners rave about this seal’s ability to reduce any noise.

Vinyl and polycarbonate seal – This type helps minimize water escape during shower activities. The structure has six-inch pieces of small seals acting as wipes, which help facilitate leakage proofing. These shower door seals’ seal and sweep profile help homeowners assess and evaluate different options in sealing new frameless shower enclosures.

Dual durometer wipe – This wipe and seal is basically used for two functions. The first purpose and use is for snapping the seal on the shower door’s bottom area. It has a soft lip structure that serves as its wipe. The second use is in snapping overlapping doors with bi-folds. The soft lip still acts as a water leakage seal.

Problem involving shower door seals

Shower door seals incur several problems for homeowners. The most usual setback is that homeowners usually find it hard to find replacements should their shower door seals be ruined or destroyed. Fixing is not an option since most of the materials are made of crisp and disposable materials. The common option out is to buy a new set of shower door seal.

If you are using a shower door seal, remember to take care of it. Use it accordingly and do not abuse or misuse it. If you care about handling and using your shower door, for sure, you can also well take care of your seals.

Jake Stern asked:


You may have heard of the term bidet, or may have even seen one and wondered to yourself; “what is a bidet?” Taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bidet : “A bidet is a low-mounted plumbing fixture or type of sink intended for washing the ********* and the ****. Originally a French word, in English.”

In simple English, a bidet is a tool used to wash your **** after using the toilet. I know it might sound funny or embarrassing, but it is actually one of the best things that happened to me, and probably to anyone else who uses one.

If you think about it, we do spend a great deal of our lives in the bathroom. A bidet really makes the experience much more comfortable. Wiping just doesn’t do it! No matter how much you wipe, you’re still not as clean as you would be with water. The bidet was obviously intended for that purpose. Instead of having to sit on a sink, or take a shower every time after going to the bathroom someone decided it would be a good idea to have a dedicated piece of furniture that washes your ****. Its great; you just sit back, relax and press a button while water sprays do the work.

This reminds me of a nice saying I read somewhere that goes something like this: “If you get dog **** on your finger you won’t just wipe it off with a tissue. You will wash it off with water and maybe even some soap. Why not do the same to your even more sensitive body parts after going to the bathroom?” I could not agrees more!

I know what you’re thinking…”Bidets are for rich people, bidets take up too much space, how do you even use a bidet?”

Not all bidets are the traditional ceramic bidets that look like mini bath tubs or sinks. Bidets come in all shapes, sizes, and colors, round toilet and elongated toilet, and warm water and cold water. The new trend of modern bidets is changing the way we look at personal hygiene. Popular modern bidet fixtures that fit right on your toilet in your bathroom even have convenient functions that warm the seat, warm the water, and even clean itself! Prices range anywhere from $50-$1800

For those of you that are like me and don’t want to dive in right into the most expensive bidet then there are some lower budget bidets that are just as effective. They don’t have electrical functions but they still get the job done just as well.

I was very happy with this buy: Royal Fresh Bidet- Easy toilet attachment . It is compact, easy to use and fits right on my toilet. Besides the face of it being low cost, it was also not that hard to install. I thought I would have to call a plumber, but it was pretty straight forward and easy enough to do on my own.

Don’t comprise on your hygiene. Save trees, and stay clean with water. Believe me; you won’t regret using a bidet. Go search the web for bidets and you will eventually find the right one for you, I did!

Groshan Fabiola asked:


Bathroom is such a corner of the house that is considered the most visited of the house. Therefore, it is very important to make it attractive to the visitors and to make your bathroom cozy and comfortable for the family members. You may use different types of bathroom tiles to make your bathroom look stylish and decorative. People concentrate more on availing different types of bathroom accessories but they forget the importance of choosing appropriate floor tiles for the bathroom. If you are creating a thematic bathroom, the tiles that you are choosing determine the success of the designing along with the bathroom accessories.

Bathroom tiles are of many types and they vary according to the shape and designing. The price of the bathroom tiles also depends on the quality of the tiles and sometimes on the reputation of the store from where you are availing of the bathroom tiles. There are certain considerations as you are buying bathroom tiles. You must remember the style that you have planned for your bathroom and the shape of your bathroom. Spacious bathrooms can afford to use dark colored tiles, but smaller bathrooms require the residents to use a light colored bathroom tiles. Not only the wall tiles, the floor tiles also play an important part in the decoration of the bathroom. The type of floor tiles that you are choosing should be compatible with the bathroom tiles that you are using on the walls.

Many people use the bathroom tiles in different innovative ways. Some people prefer to use bathroom tiles that contain some designs, patterns or even sceneries on them. You must make sure that as you are using special themes in bathroom tiles, you must buy the floor tiles that would match well with the wall tiles. Some people also want to mix and match the bathroom tiles. They buy differently colored tiles and put them innovatively on the walls. Marbles also sometimes replaces the floor tiles. Some people also use colored tiles to create different effect with the floor tiles.

Besides using different types of floor tiles and bathroom tiles, decorative items like green indoor plants and an aquarium sometimes adorn the bathroom. You may also run your imagination wild and make your bathroom an interesting corner of the house. While creating a bathroom, you not only spend huge in decorating the bathroom with floor tiles and accessories, you must also make sure that you bathroom also has all the necessary bath items like soaps, shampoos and a scrub etc.

While you are designing a bathroom or renovating your old one, you must remember that you make a plan so that you do not end up spending a lot on the bathroom. Your aim should be to create a bathroom at a nominal price that would look just the perfect for your use. Choose the bathroom tiles yourself and get the floor tiles accordingly. Get the accessories like showers, taps and towels by matching the colors of your bathroom floor and walls.