A contemporary enclosure, freshly tiled and fully sealed.

Having read our previous entries, you should now be well on your way to having chosen your shower enclosure. Hinged, bi-fold, or quadrant…whatever your style, you now know the design most suited for you.

But before you storm ahead to install your shower enclosure, there may be some preparation that you need to undertake, to make sure that installing the final enclosure is a breeze.

Prevent Leaks

The first item that must be installed correctly is the shower tray, as this is the base upon which the shower enclosure will rest.

Have you ever known a soggy downstairs ceiling and been confused as to the cause of the problem? Well, the most common cause of such an issue is a leak originating from the shower tray. An incorrectly installed shower tray will ultimately result in leaks. Most modern stone trays feature a core stone layer which is then capped with a layer of white acrylic. These trays are significantly stronger than previous incarnations which featured a fibreglass resin core.

Wear and tear is often the reason that the once pristine seals break down or split. The easiest way to replace the sealant is to purchase a silicone sealant remover, which would be available from most DIY stores. This will take away the bulk of the old sealant, and simply leave you to replace, preferably using a single bead of sealant.

If you want further details, you can check out our shower tray installation guide, dedicated to installing BathEmpire shower trays.

Ensure the Tray is Level

Over time, the shower tray can subside and sit at an angle, so take a spirit level and check the tray. It is better to get a level tray now to ensure that the enclosure will stand straight.

Also take the opportunity to ensure that all waste fittings are correctly screwed in and fully watertight. Also check that a slight angle remains in the shower waste so the water will flow away without issue.

Check The Tiling

Once the tray is secure, feel free to tile the remaining walls; it is always advisable to tile after the installation of the tray. If you are keeping the existing tiles, then check for holes in the grout. Water and steam can penetrate these areas, and cause damp problems to the plaster wall behind. Not only would such damage warrant a large amount money to fix, but also your health will be harmed when breathing in the mould spores caused by the humid conditions. Do not hesitate to re-grout your tiles; if you need more information, see our blog post on how to re-grout your tiles.

What will you need?

• Flat head screwdriver.
• A flat head or adjustable spanner.
• New rubber washers.
• Small cloth, or toilet roll.

And finally, remember the phrase ‘lefty loosy, righty tighty,’ so you know which way to turn the valves!

Victoria Traditional Basin Mixer Tap, from BathEmpire

Stage 1
The fist step is to turn the water off, and this can be done by locating and twisting the controlling valve. Then, test to see if this has been successful; the remaining water in the tap body should drip out slowly.

Once you are sure that all connected water sources have run dry, put the plug in to avoid losing anything down the drain.

Stage 2
Next, prise open the tap handle, which will expose the valve body.

Stage 3
Take a piece of cloth or a small bit of loo roll and cover the tap spout to prevent any damage to the chrome. Then, using an adjustable spanner, twist the valve until it is loose.

This will now expose the tap washer on the bottom that we need to change.

Stage 4
Undo the small nut on the bottom, prise out the washer, and in the insert place in the new tap washer.

Make sure you always place the washer the flat side down, and screw the retaining nut back on.

Stage 5
Now, wipe the valve down with some wire wool to remove any limescale that may have built up. It may also be a good idea to do the same with the inside of the tap.

The cause of the leaks - a split rubber washer.

Stage 6
Now that the hard work has been done, reassemble the tap in reverse order, and turn the water back on.

Stage 7
Finally, test to see if the tap has stopped leaking, and grab a beer for successfully obliterating the problem!

However, if you want to make replacing washers a thing of the past, then look at any BathEmpire contemporary tap, as they feature ceramic disc technology.

Millions around the world will be celebrating the Chinese New Year, and 2012 represents the year of the dragon. What better way to get in tune with this than to add an Asian influence to your bathroom? Below, we cover some tips on how to decorate your Asian inspired bathroom.

Inspired by Nature

Getting an Asian influence ultimately depends on introducing a natural theme to your bathroom. A great way is to introduce green colours into the bathroom, and what better way to do this than via leaves? Use a stencil to paint an array of leaves onto the wall, or choose a fitting (such as a window blind or wall photo) in rich green or blue.

The year of the Dragon is inspired by elegant and mysterious black, dark blue and rich blue green tones. So don’t limit yourself, as the stencil can also be used to decorate the wall with Asian symbols. Remember, when adding symbols, dark colours are best suited, so ensure to keep all walls and tiles in pale tone.

Bamboo

Any exposed wood fittings also fit well with an Asian theme. Raw bamboo shoots can be added to any bathroom accessory. You can also get creative, and hang long bamboo from the ceiling to make a distinction between the shower area and the basin and toilet, or to cover an area of storage.
On wooden furniture, avoid any lacquered finishes and steer towards fittings which have a deep wood grain; to highlight the grain, paint all fittings with a good quality varnish.

Plants

All plants are essential to complete the theme, and a few soothing orchids perched above the basin would provide a complimentary finishing touch.

Khana Counter Top Basin, from BathEmpire

Don’t avoid the modern!

The Zen influence isn’t really conveyed through contemporary, ultra-chic units and shiny chrome – although including a few of these pieces in the final bathroom will not spoil the theme. The Khana counter top basin (left) from BathEmpire is ideal.

Counter top basins feature heavily in any Asian inspired bathroom, and you should always opt for a curved design and avoid harsh edges. There is no reason why you cannot add a chrome basin mixer tap to complement this bathroom basin, as long as all the essential design principles discussed are maintained.

Photo Credit: Nikisublime, Flickr.

Given the truly diverse range of bathroom furniture and design available today, it is easier than ever to create a space which is both accessible and contemporary, in a style that is suited to your taste!

In the second part of this series, we focus on baths and shower enclosures.

For most people, bathrooms are fairly easy to navigate. However, once a user is faced with joint and muscular weakness, the perception of what is ‘easy’ changes very quickly.

Bathing can become somewhat more of an ordeal, and the hardest part of the process being actually getting in and out of the bathtub. One move would be to install a walk-in bath, level with the floor; however, given the price costs of such units, this would not be a viable option for many people.

Of course consult with the rest of your family first, but getting rid of the bath and opting for a shower enclosure instead can be an excellent solution – and a little less harsh on the wallet!

2 Way Shower Mixer by BathEmpire

No Burning

Choose a thermostatic temperature control and make scalding a distant memory. Such a feature will guarantee a steady stream of water, so those with limited mobility or motor control will not have to worry about moving out of the way of the scalding water. If someone flushes the toilet or opens a tap elsewhere in the house, the shower experience won’t be affected.

Slimline Tray

One essential feature to look out for when considering showers is slimline trays. While most quality shower trays are between close to 100 mm in height, there is growing popularity for more slender versions.

Some varieties, such as the Quadrant Shower Enclosure, include a slim 44mm tray with the purchase. The absence of the high step will certainly help accessibility, as less effort will be required to enter the shower, and hence less strain will be felt on the joints.

Wet Room, 1000mm, by BathEmpire

Ultimate Ease of Access

To fully negate the mobility concerns, it may be worth investing in a wet room. With no obstacles to consider, such as doors, steps or handles, wet rooms make life much easier for those with walking aids. It also enables those with chairs to manoeuvre under the shower. Although installation costs may be higher for concealing all plumbing under floor level, the result would allow independence for many years to come.

Today, there are a numerous options which combine style and practicality, ensuring a designer solution to everyday life. If you would like help or advice in creating your ideal bathroom, feel free to contact the BathEmpire team.

Given the truly diverse range of bathroom furniture and design available today, it is easier than ever to create a space which is both accessible and contemporary, in a style that is suited to your taste!

In the first part of this series, we focus on bathroom taps.

Keila Basin Mixer Tap by BathEmpire

Long Handle Taps

Traditionally, bathroom taps have been ornate with cross handles, requiring a clockwise turn to make the water flow. However, for those with arthritic joints, muscular weakness or inaccurate motor skills, this task would not be as easy.

Therefore, consider mixer taps with a long, single handle, such as those in the Kelia or Nachi range. These taps often require minimal effort – a simple movement to the left or right – to elicit the flow of water.

A good way to measure the resistance of the lever is to operate it with a single finger. If the task proved easy, then it is also likely that those with physical impairments will also find the task manageable.

Only ¼ Turn To Close Tap

Another feature to look out for in all taps is ceramic discs, which replace the customary rubber washer. Before, when tightening taps, rubber washers were used to prevent dripping. However, as these wore down, users would experience a stiff and perpetually dripping tap.

Now, a mere ¼ turn of the tap will stop the flow of water. No longer will frustration be caused by stiff taps, which may seem like you will need a spanner to open them! This process is illustrated in the video below:

Today, there are a numerous options which combine style and practicality, ensuring a designer solution to everyday life. If you would like help or advice in creating your ideal bathroom, feel free to contact the BathEmpire team.

It would be an understatement to say that the place now looks a million dollars, to be precise, it looks £200 million pounds. Yes, that was the eye-watering cost of the makeover.

It probably makes your plans for renovating your home seem pretty modest!

The building is still recognisably the Savoy, with its spectacular mix of Edwardian and art deco style, but nearly everything is new.

It’s upstairs, in the bedrooms and suites overlooking the Thames where the most significant structural changes have taken place – and it’s all because of the bathrooms.

That could be our slogan here at BathEmpire, couldn’t it? But I digress.

A bedroom at the Savoy, with the new river views

The reason the en-suite bathrooms have caused so much trouble at the Savoy is that they were added after the hotel was built.

When the hotel was completed in 1890 the bathrooms weren’t en-suite, but it was soon realised that upper crust guests would consider this a drawback.

The bizarre solution was to build a new facade and to put in bathrooms in between the old and new facades. It all sounds great until you realise that this means that the stunning river and city views that the Savoy was so famed for were now only available from the en-suite bathrooms.

We’re bathroom fanatics, but even we think this is a bit excessive.

The Savoy bathrooms

Part of the refurbishment has involved moving the bathrooms to the back of the suites, restoring the glorious views in the bedrooms.

Rain showers at the Savoy

And as you’d expect, the bathrooms they’ve installed are pretty swish, with claw-footed roll top baths and rain showers, as you can see from the pictures.

Now we just need to find the £350 a night it costs to stay there.

What do you think? Did you stay at the Savoy when the bathrooms were at the front of the suites and experience the views? Or have you stayed there since the hotel reopened? We’d love to hear your stories.