VITAL ARTERIES OF THE HOUSE

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 99, 20 January 1933, Page 5

VITAL ARTERIES OF THE HOUSE

Adequate Plumbing is a Modern Necessity

WAYS AND MEANS OF IMPROVING. IT

Modern plumbing is not a fad but an essential factor in our way of living to-day. Therefore, if you wish to keep your houses liveable, modern, and saleable, look to the plumbing.

The kitchen sink is most important as a work centre. In considering changes of plumbing, this is a good place to begin. Is the present sink a good height from the floor? For years sinks 'were installed with the rim about 32 inches from the floor, making dish-tvashing and other work with its back-breaking experiences. This may be remedied by raising the sink to 36 or 38 inches height, according to the demands of comfort.

TZTTOHEN sinks as well as other -*- V plumbing fixtures are no^. a ?' a 7‘ able in porcelain enamel which is stain-resisting and very easily m clean and sweet. If such fittings as taps, shower fixtures, and the like require replacement, the choice or chromium-plated fittings should be considered. Many laborious hours formerly spent in the daily polishing of the old type fittings may be saved by the use of chromium-finished one*, which require only the use of soap and water.

Most of the bathrooms of houses built previous to’four or five years ago, require attention and renovation to bring them into the modern class. More and more it has become the rule to install the closet in a small, wellventilated room apart from the bathroom. Perhaps you have a small space near or adjacent which would serve this purpose —you would find the usefulness of the bathroom almost doubled by this one improvement. Of late years bathroom equipment has improved astonishingly, both in finish and design. Even when it is desired to spend only a comparatively small amount on modernising the bathroom, it is possible to select very attractive fittings, although when strict economy is not a consideration much money can be spent in achieving an ideal bathroom. Wall and Floor Treatment. The treatment of walls and floor demand first consideration. Suitable floor coverings are lino, cork tiling, rubber, or magnesite composition, all of which make permanent floor covers of great beauty which make the work of maintaining absolute cleanliness an easy matter. As for the walls, undoubtedly the most permanent and lasting wall treatment is tiling. The most inexpensive wall tiles are white; coloured tiles of good quality cost more, an extra process in the course of manufacture making this inevitable, but if the higher price can be paid, tiles of the most attractive colouring and finish are now available.

When for reasons of expense it is decided not to tile the complete wall area, the lower half may be tiled and the upper half painted or enamelled. Provided a good washable make is selected, the latter gives a very durable surface little affected by steam, and for this purpose is altogether preferable to a papered or calsomined Wall.

Of the equipment itself, the bath is naturally the most important. Enamelled iron baths are fitted into the majority of houses, but all porcelain baths are popular where the purse is not too constricted. Both the enamelled iron baths and the porcelain may be had in a wide range of handsome colours and in glossy black, with basins to match.

Built-in Baths Popular,

Built-in baths nre gaining in popularity, but are very different from the unhygienic old-fashioned type with a

wooden rim which was so much in vogue 25 or 30 years ago. In some cases the whole bath and moulded sides are made in one piece. In others the bath is built-in with sides tiled to match the wall finish.

The lavatory basin next merits attention. All possible shapes and sizes are now available. As a rule they are of glazed earthenware, although both glazed fireclay and enamelled iron models are also obtainable. Tinted, as well as white, basins can be bought. The tinted are naturally the more expensive, but they appeal to many, especially perhaps where they are fitted into bedrooms, as the basin can then be chosen to fit in with the particular colour scheme.

When fitting a lavatory basin into a‘ bedroom, one with a splash back and side wings of plate glass proves especially suitable. The glass protects the walls, but allows the paper to show through, and makes the whole setting less obtrusive than when an opal or tiled backing is fitted.

Those Extra Accessories.

Part of the remodelling operation may well be the installation of extra accessories that contribute to the usefulness and convenience of the room, such as a dressing table fitment, plate, or opal glass shelves, heated towel rails, and the like. A mirror is of course a necessity, and this may be used above the basin to disguise a medicine cupboard built into a recess behind it. Provision for a hot water supply of some kind is essential, whether the type selected is the modern gas or elec-trically-heated kind or the slow combustion fuel burner, for a continuous supply or a gas or wood geyser for hot water for baths only. The electric wiring of the bathroom should be brought up to date and individual lights installed for the mirror. The installation of a second bathroom can usually be contrived with the assistance of an expert, who will plan the position of the new one with regard to drain and waste pipe extension costs as well as general usefulness and conservation of space. ,