An essential guide to planning and maintaining your bathroom

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 showerí. 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.

About the Author: D. Benjamin Castonguay is the owner of  iapsales.com LLC  - a family business specializing in HVAC products. We are distributors of Qmark Heaters, electric tankless water heaters, bathroom heaters, patio heaters, electric heaters, portable air conditioners  & electric towel warmers.  Shop on line at www.heateroutlet.com for these great home improvement products.

Iapsales.com LLC was established in 2003 and is the sister company to Innovative Air Products located in historical Exeter, NH.  We are a 2^nd generation manufacturers’ rep firm dedicated to providing residential & commercial heating, ventilation and air-conditioning equipment. We offer a great selection online at the lowest prices anywhere. We can also be found on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.