Cross Team Properties

It is essential in the bathroom that the space is waterproof so that it does not leak water around the fittings.  This applies to the grouting used around the tiles in this space, whether they are completely new tiles, or re-grouting of existing tiles.  Whether the job requires tiling from scratch or transforming old tiles with new grouting, it is worth spending time and care getting this job right.

If the tiles are completely brand new then leave them on the wall for 24 hours in order for the tile cement to fully dry before grouting.  To transform old tiling, the old grouting needs to be removed.  There are specialist power tools with attachments that will remove old grouting.  The cheaper alternative is to use a knife to separate the edge of the grouting from the tile.  Chisel out the grouting, but be careful that it does not scratch the bathroom fittings when it is removed.
 
Look for grouting mixed with latex as these are more resistant, and check that it is waterproof, not just water resistant.  It can be bought pre-mixed or as a powder, depending on the budget and area to grout.
 
When it comes to applying grout, it should be at diagonal to the tile edge at a 45 degree angle, using a grout float to get even and maximum coverage.  It will cover the tiles as well, but grout will wipe off very easily.  Wait around fifteen minutes after grouting, and then wipe the tiles with a damp cloth to wipe away any excess.  Do not press too hard, as the grout will not have set.  A good tip is to run a wet finger over the grouting to ensure there are no gaps and the finish is smooth.  Most grout will take a few days to completely set.

Dripping taps are not only annoying but they are also wasteful and can result in unsightly discolouration on your expensive new bathroom suite. Fixing a dripping tap is a simple DIY job that can be done in a few minutes with only a few basic tools. If a tap is dripping, it is often a problem with the washer, a rubber valve that regulates the flow of water from the pipes to the tap unit itself. The washer may have become loose or cracked and will often need replacing; luckily they can be bought cheaply from good DIY stores.

Required Tools

In order to fix a dripping tap you will need to make sure you have a few essential tools to hand before you start. First and foremost you will need the replacement washer or washers, along with plenty of old cloths in case of any major leaks or spillages. A couple of pipe wrenches and a standard slot-head screwdriver will be needed to remove the old washer and to fit the new one.

Getting Started

Before doing anything, turn off the water at the mains, drain the tap then put the plug in the sink or bath with the dripping tap. There are small parts contained within taps and washers and you do not want to lose any pieces down the plughole. Unscrew the top of the tap, using one of the wrenches if required. The washer should be visible at this point, though in some tap designs it is secured in place with a single screw. Once you have completely removed the old washer and affixed the new one in its place, screw the top of the tap into position and check the water supply. In most cases this will fix the dripping tap problem, though if it continues you may have a more serious problem that requires the attention of a professional.

Once you have scored, cut and shaped and placed your ceramic tile you are ready to adhere it to the surface. You will need adhesive and an adhesive spreader. The adhesive spreader will apply the adhesive to the surface leaving ridges. These ridges will smooth out when the tile is applied and they help lessen the problem of having either more or less adhesive than is necessary. Adhesive spreaders that have a flat rubber blade are normally used for grouting work. One of these spreaders will be necessary after you have finished applying the tile.

After the adhesive is applied, place the ceramic tile in the position you determined with the tile gauge. Using tile spacers, move on to the next tile and continue until the area is finished. For larger areas it is best to break the project up into smaller portions. You want to be sure to fix the tile before the adhesive has a chance to dry. After affixing the tiles you can use a damp sponge to remove any excess adhesive that might have got onto the front of the tiles.

There are many different types of Ideal Standard bathroom furniture and other accessories that make a bathroom feel more luxurious.

One popular piece of furniture for luxury bathrooms is the freestanding bath.  This is a way of setting a bathroom apart as the look of this bath is quite distinctive.  There is also something quite regal about bathing in a freestanding bath.  However, this type of bath is also strategic as it opens up space in other areas of the bathroom, creating the same effect as an island counter does in a kitchen.  This type of bath is an alternative to the hot tub or Jacuzzi, which have long been regarded as fixtures of the luxury bathroom. 

You do not always have to go all out in terms of budget for a bathroom to become a luxury one.  Well-placed textiles can do the job just fine, and promote a luxurious feel.  This is especially true of curtains or blinds that are simply coloured in black or white.  This accessory in itself can bring a romantic atmosphere to a bathroom.

The same thing can be said about the proper lighting system.  Common luxury choices for lighting are the chandelier and the crystal configuration.  These both serve to make a room more romantic, and are therefore suitable choices when this is the goal of a luxury bathroom motif.  In bathrooms that have copious amounts of natural light coming in through windows, the effect of dim lighting can be quite stunning.  This lighting technique helps to make the bathroom environment ore relaxing.

There is a wide range of bathroom suites available that will enable you to improve the look of your bathroom.  As the bathroom is one of the most important rooms within the home, you will need to select a bathroom suite that not only offers style but also comfort.  Whether you are looking for a traditional suite or wish to create a completely new look for your bathroom, you are sure to find the ideal bathroom suite amongst the many styles available.

The majority of suites consist of a sink bath and toilet, with some offering extra items such as a bathroom cabinet or bidet.  Suites are available in a number of different styles and colours, enabling you to easily find something that suits your taste.  As well as selecting something stylish, you will also need to think about practicality.  For example, some suites include walk-in Aqualisa showers, which offer more convenience for those who have difficulty climbing in and out of a bath.

Exploring the many styles of bathroom suites available will enable you to find something that not only suits your needs but also your budget.

All you really need to cut tiles, apart from a few basic tools, is a certain level of confidence. Use a tiler’s spike to make straight cuts. This will score along the line to be cut and will penetrate the surface glazing on the top and edges of the tile then it is simply a matter of snapping along the line of the cut.

The easiest way to snap a tile after scoring is to lay it on a flat surface with the glazed side up and placing some matchsticks or a pencil under the cut line and pressing evenly on both sides to make the tile snap. There are also a number of tile-cutting gadgets on the market if you prefer to use these. Most of them also incorporate some device for snapping the tile after it has been cut.

In the case of an L-shaped cut, often needed around pipes in a bathroom, this is a little bit trickier but by no means rocket science. It is not possible to snap along the scored line, of course, and here the best method is to use pincers to nibble away at the unwanted area and finish the job off with a file on the ragged edges. You could also try using a saw file fitted into a hacksaw frame to achieve more complicated cut edges and patterns.

Working with tiles is often seen as a daunting task but as with most simple DIY jobs, it need not be if you take your time and use appropriate tools.

Choosing a new bath is not as simple as it once was.  Of course, the bath you select will always be influenced by personal taste as well as by the space that you have available in your bathroom.  Traditional baths will always be popular, but in recent years they have been joined by some exciting new options.  One of the new breed of bath you are likely to see in the modern bathroom suite is the whirlpool bath.

Whirlpool baths feature hydrotherapy jets which work to give the bather an invigorating massage.  Adjustable lumbar jets for back massage and pulsating neck jets offer soothing stimulation to aching muscles.  There are also models which will rapidly shoot jets of water up and down your back in a more intensive fashion for a real massage workout.  Hydrotherapy jets are volume adjustable so you can control the pressure applied to your body.

When considering installing a whirlpool bath you need to bear in mind that there is extra hardware involved, such as pumps and an integral heater for maintaining water temperature whilst the motor runs.  Installing a whirlpool bath can be a complicated process, and is best left to a professional.

Other questions requiring careful consideration include: Where should the pump be located?  Is there room for safety grip rails?  How many jets do you want, and where should the jets be situated?  Do you want armrests?

There are usually between six and 11 jets in a whirlpool bath system.  Controls vary from the simplest ON/OFF switches to fancy computerised systems.  Some models have integrated underwater lighting to create the ultimate in relaxing moods.

If the idea of a whirlpool bath appeals to you but you would rather not completely overhaul your current bathroom suite, there are companies which will convert traditional baths into whirlpools.

If your bathroom is looking tired and in need of an update but your finances won’t stretch to a completely new bathroom suite, a new set of bathroom accessories can help to refresh and renew any bathroom space.  Bathroom accessories offer the cheapest and quickest way to create a new, exciting look in even the plainest bathroom.

Bathroom accessories tend to come in two main styles: contemporary and traditional.  Many popular and affordable bathroom accessories utilise chrome and ceramics in a variety of combinations.  Smooth, gleaming chrome coupled with white ceramic looks great and will fit right in with many existing bathroom decors without clashing.

New wall mounted toothbrush and tumbler holders, toilet roll dispensers, fitted soap dishes, free standing or wall mounted toilet brushes, glass shelves, and shaving mirrors are all accessories that can give your bathroom an instant facelift.  Chrome is easy to wipe clean with a damp cloth and has the added benefit of lighting up darker bathrooms with its reflective properties.

A new towel rail can also make a big difference.  Single, double, and triple rails, as well as heated towel rails, are available.  Wall mounted towel shelves help to solve storage problems and look nice when filled with neatly stacked, folded towels.

Toilet roll holders come in many different styles, but remember to place them with care.  When fitting it to the wall, ask yourself if every member of the family will be able to reach it easily.

Finally, a row of new chrome robe hooks across the back of the bathroom door not only look great, but are very useful as well. 

A common household DIY job is the replacement of an old WC cistern. In the case of a flush panel cistern, you can connect the new cistern up to the existing pan. This is simply fitted to the wall at the rear of the pan, projecting outwards by about 115 millimetres. The narrowness of the cistern is required because a high-level arrangement would mean that the pan would project too far and interfere with raising the toilet seat.

It is often easier to cut through the piping rather than to spend time and effort in releasing the old and often stuck connectors when releasing an old cistern. As new pipework will have to be installed, cutting through the pipework will cause no harm.

To replace a cistern, you will need to close off the water supply and flush the cistern before cutting into the pipework. Next, take off the lid and lift the old cistern away from the wall. When fitting a new cistern, fit its brackets to the wall. Place the cistern into position and mark the fixing holes, then drill these and plug them before screwing the cistern into place on the wall.

The overflow pipe then needs to be connected to the cistern and led through an outside wall or else to a nearby drain, bath or shower tray. The siphon assembly should then be mounted into the bottom of the cistern and the flush lever fitted and connected to the flushing mechanism. After the ball valve assembly has been fitted to the cistern’s side and the sealing washers fitted into place, the flush pipe is fitted between the cistern and pan and then a 15 millimetre supply pipe attached to the ball valve inlet.

Is it time to give your bathroom a new look? Don’t be intimidated by the thought of a remodel! Make a few quick updates to your bathroom’s look without spending a lot of money or time! Making select changes in your bathroom’s décor, fixtures, and colour can make your room look brand new.

Change the Colour

If your home was built some time ago, you may have a basic wall colour such as white or opaque. Simply painting your walls a new colour can do a lot to update the room’s look. To add a calming mood, try a mild, relaxed colour such as sea green. To give the bathroom an invigorating feel, go for a bold colour like bright purple or red. Remember to change your linens to complement your new colours as well.

Upgrade the Fixtures

Changing the taps in your shower and sink can also do a lot to make your room look new. Modern taps such as cartridge taps move smoothly and do not require as much maintenance as older taps. Some stores even carry taps that can be turned on and off with a simple touch rather than a manual handle. These taps could be very useful in homes with small children or older people. Don’t forget to update the bathroom light fixtures as well! Think about using softer lighting to reduce glare from the mirror.

Switch the Hardware

While you might not have the money to install new bathroom cabinets, you can make your old ones look new by changing the hardware on them. If your bathroom cabinet or set of drawers has pulls, swap the old pull knobs out for newer, polished versions. Brushed nickel and bronze pulls offer a streamlined, modern look that is easy to accomplish quickly.