Home Improvements

Press, 11 June 1987, Page 31

Home Improvements

Tips for easier bathroom changes

The decision to upgrade a bathroom takes a combination of capital, consideration and a juggling of priorities.

Consumer observation suggests that the truly difficult decision-making still lies ahead, the Plumbing Information Bureau suggests.

In the time since your bathroom was built or last improved there has been an amazing change in the image and marketing of bathroomware. The word “decor” is applied as happily to bathrooms as to living-

rooms. Pages are devoted to it in home improvement magazines. A visit to your retail plumbers’ merchant, particularly a decor bathroom centre, will demonstrate this too. You will -be amazed, bewildered, confused at the choices you have in furniture (baths, bidets, basins, toilet pans and cisterns), fittings, and accessories.

You are likely to alter your ideas after seeing what is available.

Doing-up the bathroom is going to cost you money: how much will depend on the extent of your plans. A facelift is the cheapest option followed by a change of furniture and layout, or you can go all the way and undertake structural alterations.

Whatever plan is yours you will still need to visit a bathroom showroom.

For a simple, facelift

the alternatives are many. Before you decide on the new colour scheme look first at the range of colour co-ordinated fit tings and accessories which include taps, shower roses, towel rails, soap trays, toothbrush holders, toilet seats, toilet roll holders, brush caddies, shelves, mirrors, door knobs etc. Then there’s the shower curtain or door to consider as well as new linen. All these items are available at your retail plumbers’ merchant and you haven’t looked at “traditional” plumbing items yet. If your budget is more generous you’ll be planning to transform the bathroom by replacing your furniture. The decision making will need to take careful consideration of materials used in manufacture, size, styling and shape, attachments and colour as well as price -s> '

The extent of your deliberations can be gauged from the fact that there are several major New Zealand manufacturers of spa baths, and one company alone produces 13 bath shapes. A similar ’ equation applies to taps and faucets. Plumbers’ merchants are in the business of selling goods to tradespeople and now the public also. Some have established bathroom decor centres where their job is to present new fixtures and fittings to the public. They are specialists whose knowledge of the market is yours for the asking. Advice on materials alone will be appreciated when you look at the choice in everyday bathroom ware — acrylic sheeting, fibreglass, simulated marble, perspex, vitreous china, porcelain enamel, stainless steel and enamelpressed steel. Also freely given will

be advice on modern trends, availability of models and styles, maintenance, extras, matching or complementary fittings and accessories, feedback, and prices. In addition, your plumbers’ merchant can arrange installation by a member of the Master Plumbers Association if you have not yet made such arrangements. A final tip is to be prepared when you visit a showroom, taking with you a list of your requirements, a note pad to jot down product specifictions, as well as a floor plan with metric measurements and also . colour samples if necessary.

Plumbers’ merchants deal with more than bathroom products. You can expect the same service when it comes to kitchen and laundry water services, water heating, (gas arid electric), gas space heating, rainwater systems, and roofing.