Thursday, July 1, 2021

DesignRulz

DesignRulz


How To Pick The Right Toilet For Your Bathroom

Posted: 01 Jul 2021 01:37 PM PDT

When nature calls you truly want to feel comfortable. Your bathroom and toilet has to be a welcoming space. It also has to be practical. That's why the toilet selection process always combines your direct needs.

You want to be prepared too, and know what pan type you need, or how big the rough-in is. This knowledge will help you pick out the right toilet for your bathroom so you can have the job completed professionally.

Understanding Toilet Pan Trap Types

For those unfamiliar, the pipe that expels waste in a toilet is referred to as a trap. The S-trap and P-trap are the two common trap types, with each name accurately referring to the shape of the pipe.

Each design helps to prevent sewer gases from rising into a home. Both trap types also have different design elements that will influence the toilet you purchase. For example, S-traps have a vertical outbound pipe while the P-trap is initially horizontal.

Although available to purchase, S-traps are prohibited for use by the Uniform Plumbing Code. This is due to the fact that sewer gases can actually rise up the pipe as water is siphoned out unknowingly.

Therefore, if your home currently has an S-trap toilet, it must be updated to a P-trap when renovating or replacing a toilet. The P-trap is far safer as the outbound pipe travels horizontally into an adjoining drain, efficiently preventing harmful gases from entering the home.

Measure the Rough-In

One of the most important aspects of your toilet will be the rough-in distance, also known as the set out. This is the distance between the centre of your waste outlet/trap and the wall

Standard rough-ins typically sit at 12 inches. There are various rough-in measurements, though, and can vary from 10-14 inches.

The rough-in is not an easy thing to change unless you're performing a more extensive restoration or renovation. An existing measurement will likely dictate what toilet you can purchase.

However, your toilet should have a fairly uniform distance already, and there will be plenty of options to choose from.

Make Sure It's Water Efficient

Toilets account for almost 30% of a household's indoor water usage so it's always best to select the most efficient model possible.

Modern toilets can use as little as 1.28 gallons of water per flush, compared to many older toilets that use around 6 gallons.

When you are looking for a new model, look for the WaterSense label. This is an independent certification proving that a toilet meets the federal standard of 1.6 gallons per flush.

Not only could you save about 13,000 gallons of water per year with a WaterSense toilet that abides by EPA criteria, but you will save money too.

According to the EPA, and depending on the age of your current toilet, a replacement could see you save about $140 per year.

Choose Your Toilet Style

So, you know the measurements, and you know it has to be water efficient. That leaves just one critical question – what style of toilet do you want?

Close Coupled or One-Piece Toilets

Keeping your toilet clean is often an awkward challenge thanks to angled pipes and hard to reach crevices. However, the compact design of a close coupled toilet will alleviate those frustrations.

A one-piece toilet has the cistern and pan connected without any exposed pipework. That means you can easily wipe down the suite, while enjoying a sleek, modern looking bathroom.

Concealed Cistern Toilets

When space is tight, or you just want a streamlined feel, concealed cisterns are perfect. Also referred to as wall-hung or back-to-wall toilets, the cistern is located behind the wall.

That means all you see is the bowl. Don't worry, though, the cistern is still accessible for repairs and maintenance.

There are a couple of differences in the varieties available with wall-hung toilets sitting slightly higher up on the wall. Versatile installation means you can have a tailored height, if need be!

Two-Piece Toilets

The most common toilet in the USA, two-piece toilets have a separate bowl and tank. This doesn't impact performance in any way, although cleaning is trickier than close coupled and concealed toilets.

Replacement parts are always accessible as they are a standard style. However, if you're looking for something with more style and sophistication, two-piece toilet suites might not be for you.

Conclusion

It's always important to select a toilet that suits your needs. Although there will be some stricter guidelines with existing plumbing, you always want to pick a toilet that you're comfortable with.
Practicality, efficiency and comfort all have to balance out for your long term use. When you're choosing the right toilet for your bathroom, take your time.

References

  • https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/24/3280.606
  • https://www.bookaplumberonline.com.au/
  • https://www.epa.gov/watersense/residential-toilets
  • https://www.epa.gov/watersense

The post How To Pick The Right Toilet For Your Bathroom appeared first on DesignRulz.

10 Appliances Essential for Completing Your Dream Kitchen

Posted: 01 Jul 2021 01:31 PM PDT

Your dream kitchen is a highly functional, aesthetically pleasing space that makes short work of meal preparation and leaves you house proud every time you step inside its walls.

One way to make this dream kitchen a reality is by choosing the right electrical appliances. This involves more than reading product reviews. Style and color choice are essential, so is item placement. The best kitchen appliances are color matched to your walls, benchtops, and fixtures and won’t get in the way when not used.

So, we’ve created a list of appliances to get you started. The below selection can look incredible in any space and help reduce your workload come meal time. Here are 10 essential items to elevate your dream kitchen:

1. Air Fryer

The air fryer is a trending appliance for good reasons. Air fryers provide a healthier alternative to the deep fryer, and they can also cook food faster. There’s also no risk of scalding from splashback. You can cook rice, vegetables, french fries, chicken and even bake a cake with these handy appliances. Air fryers are available at varying price points, so there’s a model or two to suit everyone’s dream kitchen.

2. Smart fridge

A smart fridge, which is a type of smart-eco products, goes beyond keeping food cold and serving up ice. These handy appliances keep track of important information like product expiry dates and then can alert you when you’re running low on essentials. You can even have a fridge re-order products for delivery. Talk about convenience!

3. Slow Cooker

A slow cooker removes the hassle out of meal preparation by letting you add ingredients to the pot and walk away until it’s time to eat. The 4-8 hour cooking time is also ideal for tenderizing meat and bringing out flavors. Soups, stews, casseroles and shanks are all delicious when cooked in a slow cooker. These appliances also consume less electricity than a conventional oven, saving you time and money.

4. Built in Coffee Maker

Instead of cluttering bench space with additional appliances, enhance your dream kitchen with a built in coffee maker. These fantastic appliances integrate seamlessly into your kitchen, thanks to their minimal profile and modern aesthetic. Just like freestanding models, a built in coffee maker can brew barista quality coffee with the added benefit of blending into cabinetry like an oven or dishwasher. It’s not a dream kitchen without a built in coffee maker.

5. Dishwasher

What kitchen is complete without a dishwasher? Not only does a dishwasher make light work of dirty dishes, but these helpful appliances can also save you money. An efficient dishwasher will use less water and less electricity than what’s required to wash dirty dishes in the kitchen sink. According to Energy Star, a dishwasher could use around half the energy required to fill the sink with hot water. So, less work and more money in your pocket. It’s a win-win situation.

6. Home Brewer

Craft beer is a go-to beverage for discerning adults. And the brew tends to be more rewarding when you craft it yourself. Traditional homebrew kits are messy and require a lot of work. However, innovative appliances like the BrewArt BeerDroid and iGulu make the brewing process incredibly simple without all the mess. These appliances are also sleek and presentable, worthy of a permanent place on your benchtop.

7. Electric Kettle

The electric kettle is a basic yet essential appliance that can help improve your kitchen’s design. All it takes is selecting a suitable model. For modern kitchens, go with something sleek – black, white or stainless.

For classic kitchen design or country-styled kitchens, go with a light appliance color that matches your decor. Matching appliances look the part, and you won’t need to store them away when not in use.

8. 4 Slice Toaster

Like the kettle, the 4 slice toaster is an essential item that can elevate the design of your kitchen. Match it with your toaster’s color and brand, and the two appliances will look great besides one another. Of course, you don’t need to purchase a 4 slice toaster, but everyone can enjoy eating together this way.

9. Small Wine Fridge

A small wine fridge is a must have for every connoisseur. Having one built into the cabinetry will occupy little space, and you can conceal the fridge or opt in for a glass door to show off your aging, expensive drops.

Most importantly, a small wine fridge can be set to the ideal temperature for the wine. Room temperature can be too hot, while the traditional fridge can make the wine too cold. A small wine fridge will keep the bottles just right!

10. Smart speaker

Every connected home needs a smart speaker. In the kitchen, a speaker can guide you through recipes, set and manage timers or play your favorite songs while you take care of the cooking and cleaning. Pair a smart speaker with other smart appliances, and you can control light, heating, cooling and more all by voice.

Start using these life-changing appliances and you are well on your way to making that dream kitchen a reality.

The post 10 Appliances Essential for Completing Your Dream Kitchen appeared first on DesignRulz.

5 Rules of Good Bathroom Design

Posted: 01 Jul 2021 01:28 PM PDT

There’s a lot to consider when it comes to your bathroom’s design. As one of the most used rooms in your house, it’s important you ace the design of it to maximise efficiency and aesthetics.

We’ve listed five of the most important bathroom design rules that will set you up for success. Whether you’re a novice bathroom designer or a seasoned expert, these rules will help ensure your bathroom is perfectly designed to meet all your needs and aesthetics.

1. Consider the Layout

When it comes to your bathroom layout, you need to do your own cost-benefit analysis. Do you want all your fixtures on a single wall and save on the plumbing installation costs? Or does your ideal floor plan have the bath on one wall, the taps on another and the toilet on a different wall again?

If you want to spread out your bathroom fixtures across two or more walls, you’ll need to pay more to run pipes here. This means you can have a more versatile and flexible floor plan for your bathroom.

If cost is a concern, you can still have an aesthetic and efficient bathroom layout using a single wall. This will save you from running more pipes than is necessary for your bathroom to function.

2. Don’t Clutter Your Space

While it might be tempting to include a bath, shower toilet and double vanity in your renovation, you don’t want to cram too many things into this space. Is it really worth sacrificing that extra space to have that separate shower and bathtub?

When planning your bathroom design, make sure you set aside enough space for someone to stretch out and turn around when getting out of the tub or shower. There’s nothing worse than trying to dry off in a space you can barely stretch your arms out in.

If you’ve got a smaller bathroom and you’re looking for ways to save space, consider installing a shower-bath combo or a concealed cistern toilet. In small spaces, every bit of space you can save adds up!

3. Plan the Lighting

To ensure your bathroom is both functional and aesthetic, you really need to ace the lighting. To successfully light a room, you need task lighting to illuminate a task and ambient lighting to set the mood.

Task lighting is important for when you’re shaving in front of the mirror, plucking out a very specific eyebrow hair or putting makeup on for a big night out. Typically, you’ll find task lighting as downlights situated just behind where’d you’d stand in front of the vanity or wall-mounted lights on either side of your mirror.

When it comes time to have a relaxing bath, however, the last thing you want is bright lights to ruin the mood. Here’s where ambient lighting steps in. Whether it’s simply dimming your task lights to give a softer, dimmer glow, or having separate lights installed that give a warm and relaxing light, you need some kind of ambient light to complete your bathroom’s lighting.

If you’re completely remodeling your bathroom, now’s your chance to maximise the amount of natural light in here with some great windows. Few things beat the way natural light can make your bathroom look.

4. Make Sure There’s Plenty of Storage

One thing that many people tend to overlook in their bathroom designs ensuring there’s enough storage. As nice as your skincare and towels might look, if they’re sitting out unnecessarily it’ll only make your space look cluttered.

Cabinets, wall hooks, floating vanity drawers, recessed shower shelves – it all goes a long way in making sure there’s a spot for everything in your bathroom. There are so many bathroom storage options now, you’ll be able to find something that will perfectly fit your space, budget, and look great too.

5. Keep it Functional

No matter how beautiful your bathroom is, at the end of the day, it needs to be functional. Make sure you cover all the basics in your design – keep it well ventilated, space-efficient well lit and with plenty of storage.

Once you’ve done this, it’s time to start looking at the extras, like a fancy pendant light or a state-of-the-art bidet toilet seat. Great bathrooms are built on a strong and functional foundation.

With these 5 tips in mind, you can go forth and draw up the blueprints for a bathroom that meets all your family’s needs. Whether you have a small bathroom or a much bigger room, these rules apply in every setting.

The post 5 Rules of Good Bathroom Design appeared first on DesignRulz.

5 Common Bathroom Design Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Posted: 01 Jul 2021 01:24 PM PDT

When it’s time for home renovations, you might consider yourself the budding designer, one with a growing Pintrest board of ideas ready to exploit. And that’s great! Choosing your dream tiles and color scheme can help push that dated bathroom into the 21st century.

However, certain aspects of bathroom design warrant input from a professional plumber, regardless of your confidence and steadfast commitment to style.

There’s likely a series of water flow and drainage factors that haven’t been considered, all of which could cause you severe problems down the line. So it’s advised that you have a chat with your local plumber before purchasing new toilets, faucets, shower heads and fixtures.

Here’s how you can avoid 5 common bathroom design mistakes by consulting a professional plumber:

1. Wrong Walk in Shower Dimensions

A walk in shower is ideal for bringing those luxurious resort vibes into the everyday bathroom. That is if you have the space to pull it off. A walk in shower is defined by its openness and lack of doors and curtains. To achieve this design, you’re going to need a fair amount of free bathroom space.

Walk in shower dimensions can vary but should be no smaller than 42 to 60 inches square. A reasonable amount of space between the shower and other amenities is also required to avoid splashback and a wet floor. If you can’t accommodate the appropriate walk in shower dimensions then a plumber will likely advise against having one installed.

2. Low Pressure Shower Head Horrors

Taps, faucets and shower heads are all critical components of bathroom design, but a common mistake is when homeowners favor design and price over performance. A low pressure shower head may meet design requirements, but it will fail to do anything beneficial beyond reducing water usage.

Your typical lower pressure shower head could provide weak water flow, delay the hot water and generally provide a less pleasant showering experience. The reduced pressure can also result in longer showers being required to achieve the desired results.

It’s worth having a chat with a plumber who can advise on a lower pressure shower head alternative and take care of the installation.

3. Wall Mounted Toilet Troubles

The wall mounted toilet is a modern, aesthetically pleasing system ideal for smaller bathrooms. These space saving options take up little floor space and can really help boost bathroom design. Although they can also carry complex installations and frustrating fixes should problems arise. The cistern and all pipes of a wall mounted toilet are concealed in the wall or floor, meaning costly construction work can be required when installing or repairing a system.

The wall mounted toilet also carries a weight limit that differs from model to model. So before purchasing a wall mounted toilet, it’s worth speaking with experts, like the team at Metropolitan Plumbing.

4. Forgot the Exhaust Fan

Plumbers will tell you that ventilation is often an afterthought when improving bathroom design. But it’s crucial for beating black mold. Mold can grow in any environment with condensation or humidity, so the bathroom is the ideal breeding ground.

Exposure can lead to black mold symptoms, including coughing, sore throat, red and itchy eyes, rashes, and mold is a known contributor to asthma attacks and breathing difficulties.

The best way to beat black mold is to run an exhaust fan every time you shower or bathe. Installing bathroom lighting with a built-in exhaust fan or having a separate fan installed can go a long way to improving your family’s health, so don’t forget to add one to your bathroom design.

5. Failed to Fit a Floor Drain

Another aspect of bathroom design that tends to be overlooked is the floor drain. We’re not talking about the shower drain or the sink drain. But the drain within the bathroom floor that’s essential for removing spillage from the shower, bath and vanity sink.

A bathroom floor drain will take care of spillage and flooding and help prevent permanent water damage and fall hazards.

The floor drain should generally be fitted in a central location between all sources of running water. Speak with a local technician who will advise on the optimal placement for a floor drain and take care of the installation. Don’t worry; you can still select a drain grate or cover that matches the floor and stylings of your new bathroom.

And by following the above advice of chatting to your plumber, you will be well on your way to avoiding problematic bathroom design mistakes without sacrificing your dream decor.

The post 5 Common Bathroom Design Mistakes and How to Avoid Them appeared first on DesignRulz.

Excellent Ideas for a DIY Inflatable Pool for Your Backyard

Posted: 01 Jul 2021 01:13 PM PDT

DIY inflatable pools are excellent tools for chilling out during the hot season. Both adults and children can have a smashing time in their own backyards. However, do remember to –

  • Purchase an electric air pump, for DIY inflatable pool sets generally exclude this equipment. Ensure to buy diverse nozzle attachments that can help in inflating multiple items.
  • Place the pool on a level/flat surface. It must have all-round support to sustain weights
  • Drain the pool after every use. Stagnant patches of water, however small, breed ticks and mosquitoes. Even if there is a drain plug in place, make doubly sure. You might allow the inflatable pool to dry in the sun, before you deflate it.
  • Supervise your kids while they are using the pool. Regardless of whether the level of water is shallow or deep, be there!

Good-Quality Sets

Several companies are into manufacturing highly satisfactory DIY inflatable pool sets. This might lead to some amount of confusion, about which one is best to buy. Outlined below are a few of these sets, with their respective features. Nonetheless, for all DIY projects and home requirements, it is best to check top 10 reviews, before making an informed decision for your project.

Taiker

The material is PVC, showing up in a marvelous design. The floor is soft, yet solid. It is suitable for both, adults, and kids. The space (130 x 72 inches) stretches to accommodate four people at a time. An air pump forms part of the set.

Bestway

The 10 x 30 feet inflatable pool suffices to let adults lounge at the edges, while their kids frolic in the middle. It should be easy to remove the water via the flow control drain, which is in-built. A filter pump and cartridge provide additional cleanliness. However, you will have to use your own air pump.

Sable

Measuring 117 x 72.5 inches, this brand is highly popular. The rectangular-shaped pool is easy to set it up, although you will have to purchase an air pump separately. Since there are three air chambers in place, you need not fear leakage of either air, or water. Sable comprises of sturdy and strong PVC material.

Homech

It has a unique inclusion – a detachable canopy. You may use it to fend off the harsh UV rays, whenever the sun seems too hot to bear. The 118 x 72 inches pool can hold an entire family within it. Additionally, the PVC material is strong enough to withstand sunlight and high temperatures. This is because BPA-free plastic is the main ingredient. The package does not include an air pump.

Minnidip

The appearance itself, is fascinating! You should see banana leaves, gingham, etc., as prints! The walls of this DIY inflatable pool touch 1.5 feet, each. The 66 x 66 inches space is suitable for three adults. Inflate it with your own air pump whenever you want.

Apart from the above-mentioned, you might also explore other DIY inflatable pools – Crystal Blue, Intex, Aquamarine, and Swim Center Family Round Inflatable Pool.

The post Excellent Ideas for a DIY Inflatable Pool for Your Backyard appeared first on DesignRulz.

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