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Wednesday, 05 November 2008 03:00 |
A bathroom floor Plan remodel project can be a daunting task --not generally a task for the do-it-yourselfer. There are some amenities that you see in the bathrooms for multi-million dollar homes that can be incorporated into your master bath for between $400 and $8,000. One of the easiest jobs to tackle is the lighting. The recessed bathroom lighting is so popular with contractors will cause shadows over your bathroom vanity unless you have some additional light source.
Remodel a bathroom floor plan by having a floor heating system installed under your bathroom floor. Imagine stepping out of the shower onto a warm custom heated floor. The floor heating will help to warm up the bath with floor to ceiling warmth. Another inexpensive element that can be included when you remodel your bathroom is an chromo-therapy system. Streams of color can be shown through either standing or running water. This helps to relax you. You can buy bath, shower, and sink systems with chromo-therapy options. Multiple shower heads with differing sprays and jets to massage and relax you can bre installed in your bathroom. The cost of this shower systems can run between $3,200 and $5,500 depending on the kinds and number of heads you choose.
Another interesting bathroom option when you are remodeling your master bath is a stream shower. This system provides a mist of steam that makes your skin feel refreshed and rejuvenated. Most of these projects require someone very knowledgeable in plumbing and laying of pipe. Before you remodel your bathroom, check to see if your local building codes allow you to make these changes.
Article Source: http://www.articledashboard.com
About the Author
Martin Smith is a successful freelance writer providing advice for home buyers and consumers on purchasing a variety of
Dream Home which includes
Cottage Plans,
Beach House Plans,
and more! His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information
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Saturday, 20 September 2008 08:01 |
WHIRLPOOLS AND AIRSPAS (Jacuzzi and Airbath):
There are two type of hydro massage bathing systems:
1. Whirlpools, more commonly known by the brand name Jacuzzi.
2. Airspas, more commonly known by the brand name Airbath.
Whirlpools are characterised by having jets on the side of the bath about half way up and a suction point (similar to a colander) in one of the bottom corners. This type of system produces hydro-massage by sucking water from the bath and pumping it out of the jets on the side under pressure. To increase the pressure of the jets most whirlpools have a control on the top of the bath which allows air to be sucked in to the jet of water.
The main difference between a whirlpool and a Jacuzzi is that the size of the jets is bigger on the Jacuzzi and the air and water mix is different. This difference produces a more powerful jet of water with the Jacuzzi (whether this amount of power is necessary with a standard domestic sized bath is a matter of opinion).
The difficulty with all whirlpools is that they hold a small amount of water in the jets and pipe work when emptied. Depending on who fits the system this amount can vary between an egg cup full and several pints.
The second difficulty with some whirlpools is that not all baths are designed to have them fitted. This can result in the jets being sited very high up the sides of the bath, with the effect that when you lay in the bath the jets of water do not hit you but spray over the top of you and only agitate the top one inch of water. This will result in a longer bathing period required to achieve the hydro-massage effect.
Baths where the jet positions are moulded into the side allows the jets to sit lower and so intensify the massage. With this type of system it is not advisable that small children or older people are left unattended whilst in the bath.
The third difficulty with whirlpools of all types is that they do not have the ability to maintain the water temperature. The result of this is that the average length of time a bath stays warm is approximately 30 minutes. That is unless you add more hot water. Dependant on the type of whirlpool system you choose it may take between 10 minutes and 25 minutes to achieve the hydro-massage effect on the body.
Airspas are characterised by having a series of jets or holes fitted/drilled into the base of the bath. They produce air through the jets under pressure to fill the bath with bubbling water. This agitation of the water is what causes the hydro-massage effect. The difficulty of this type of system is that it has a tendency to cool the water in the bath. It is possible to with this type of system to have any level of water in the bath whilst the system is in use and so makes it ideal for children and older people. However due to the reduced pressure of the air jets over the whirlpool jets it can take longer to produce the hydro-massage effect. The Airbath system has a device called a Warm Air Injection which allows a small amount of hot water to heat the air stream as the air is pumped through the jets. The result of this is that Airbath claim that the system will
maintain the bath water temperature. This then allows a person to stay in the bath for longer and so gain the full benefit of the hydro-massage.
One difficulty experienced by all massage baths to a greater or lesser extent is that of hygiene. There is a commonly held belief that this type of system is unhygienic.
This is both true and untrue! I will explain. All massage systems require cleaning from time to time. Because of the design some systems may need to be cleaned every 3 months. All good manufacturers will supply a cleaner designed for their type of system and advice on how to use it. The main problem is that people do not follow the cleaning regime and as such problems then ensue. The system is as hygienic as the user. You would never dream of not cleaning the toilet or basin so why assume that the massage bath has the ability to clean itself.
STEAM AND SAUNAS (Turkish and Swedish):
Turkish steam sauna"s and Swedish dry heat sauna"s are both types of hydro-massage system. The difference is in the way they achieve the effect.
Swedish dry saunas use dry air to heat the body to high temperatures causing you to perspire heavily. They are supplied in the form of a wooden box inside of which is sited an oven upon which sit hot coals. These coals produce more heat when a small amount of water is splashed on them and the humidity increases. As people we can stand quite high temperatures of dry heat but only relatively smaller amounts of heat in high humidity. The average temperature within a Swedish sauna can be over 100 degrees.
Turkish steam saunas produce steam in large amounts to cause the hydro-massage effect and, like the Swedish type, also make you perspire heavily. This is wet heat and as such achieves the desired effect at much lower temperatures. This can be as little as 40 degrees and is seldom higher than 50 degrees. The main difference between the two systems is that the steam system appears to be less of an irritant to the breathing and as such is better in general for those suffering from respiratory conditions where a moist atmosphere is beneficial. You may have experienced this as a child if, when suffering from a cold, you were told to put your head over a bowl of steaming water and than had a towel placed over you.
HYDRO-MASSAGE EFFECT:
The Hydro-massage effect has never been proved to be a scientific fact. This effect cannot make the blind see, the lame walk, cure aids or prevent cancer. It is claimed by many however to provide relief from the effects of many debilitating conditions.
The Hydro-massage effect is the action of the heat and or movement of the water on the body. The result of this is two fold. The first is that it causes the muscles around the arteries and heart to relax. This in turn allows the heart to pump more blood with each beat, without pumping any harder. The result of this is increased and improved circulation. Improved circulation is of benefit in many conditions. It reduces inflammation around the joint of those suffering from arthritis and rheumatism and allows for the removal of stress causing toxins from the blood stream by improving kidney function.
The second effect is that when fully relaxed the body produces its own chemical relaxants such as noradrenalin. These natural relaxants have none of the side effects of the manufactured kind and enable you to totally chill out.
Article Source: http://www.articledashboard.com
Written by Neal Baker on behalf of www.bathroomsensuite.com an online retailer of bathroom suites, bathroom furniture and accessories in the UK.
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Friday, 19 September 2008 06:01 |
Cleaning:
There are many so called suitable bathroom cleaners on the market today. In our experience the best by far is good old soap and water. Simply wash down your various fittings after use with warm soapy water, and polish dry with a soft dry cloth where applicable. Naturally vitreous china is totally impervious to bleaches and other acidic based cleaners and can be safely cleansed accordingly, but more care and attention must be taken when cleaning Cast Iron Baths, Gold or Chrome plated items such as taps and accessories.
Future Access:
Part of your planning process for your new bathroom should encompass sensible thought and allowance for future access to the various plumbing fittings. It is advisable to always allow a suitable access point to make exchange of a plumbing fitting a fairly straight forward process in the future if necessary.
The Power Shower:
Always make sure that the cubicle or over bath screen that you are purchasing is suitable for use with a ëpower showerÃ. The effect created by a shower supported by a pump, can in some instances be pushed open by the force of a power shower. Of course if you are purchasing both items you can be assured that you shall be advise if your choice is a suitable compliment.
Wooden Bathroom Products:
All wooden bathroom products must be treated with the utmost of care within the bathroom. Whilst wooden products are coated with a specially finished lacquer which is specifically designed to withstand splashes and condensation, it is important to ensure that water is not in prolonged contact with these surfaces as this will over time lead to surface damage.
Bathroom Mirrors:
Always ensure that a mirror to be used within your bathroom is suitable for such use. Proper bathroom mirrors are specifically coated on the rear to withstand continually subjection to steam and condensation.
Acrylic Baths:
An acrylic bath fitted properly will give rigidity and longevity on par with a steel or cast iron equivalent. Each bath comes with a supporting, height adjustable cradle. However a highly recommended and in many cases tacit practice is to fit a supporting timber batten along the underside of the length and depth of the bath. This not only gives a much sturdier weight support for the product but will stop the bath "moving" when fitted and help prevent the sealant between tiles and bath from breaking and needing replacing.
Wastes & Sealing:
Always use a good silicon sealant to ensure a water tight seal between the metal waste and porcelain. Never fit a waste Dry.
Caution! - An over-tightened waste can cause undue stress to the pottery and in some instances crack the porcelain.
Spacing your cistern:
Be sure to space the cistern slightly away from the wall. If fitted to an outside wall this will prevent thermal shock (caused by changes in temperature between the cistern and the wall) and help reduce the condensation that forms on the pottery surface.
Article Source: http://www.articledashboard.com
Written by Neal Baker on behalf of www.bathroomsensuite.com an online retailer of bathroom suites, bathroom furniture and accessories related products in the UK.
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