divapor.com

Shower Tray Shift

With the UK fast becoming a nation no longer dependent on the bath, it’s apparent that the relationship with showering is accelerating at an alarming rate with no real signs of slowing down. Whilst  numerous designs continue to flood our options, consumers are becoming aware of the economical and practical benefits of the shower and shower tray – in particular the low level shower tray.  Current designs are clear evidence of trays becoming shorter with super slimline designs replacing older chunkier options as the current must have.

According to the UK Shower Market Report 2008 – 2012 released by AMA Research, the shower tray market was worth £50m in 2007, representing a total of 18% of the entire shower market. The report also credited the development of low level and easy-plumb trays quickly becoming the best option for bathrooms, with low level trays expectant to grow considerably over the next 12 months.  In contrast, the report also showed that shower tray volume will eventually drop in the foreseeable future whilst durability and quality are increased. Rather than having to replace a tray every 3 – 5 years, consumers will hunt for the lifetime option.

Di Vapor currently offer both easy-plumb and low level tray showering options to suit all requirements. Head over to www.divapor.com today and see what options are available for you.

One man and his sauna.

Former President of the Philippines, Mr Joseph Estrada has revealed that the secret to his trouble free health has been due to his daily use of a sauna. Estrada claims that he doesn’t believe in skin care products, health supplements, surgery that defies ageing or sunblock. He states that his sauna health regime quite simply involves a 30 minute sauna session every single day, which he has kept strict to over the last 50 years.

“I don’t take vitamins, I just make sure I have my sauna once a day for 30 minutes. I’ve been doing it for 50 years and it’s the reason I don’t get sick,” said Estrada, at a television interview for THE STAR who at 72 claims that he in perfect health. After having a complete executive health check at the Cardinal Santos Hospital in San Juan City, Estrada requested that the results of the check-up be made public.

“The figures speak for themselves. You see, I’m pretty healthy” he declared with confidence. Besides from having recovered from osteoarthritis just over four years ago, where he underwent knee replacement surgery, Estrada’s records show just how well he has kept himself.

An individual instance such as this one is yet another testament to how remarkable using a sauna regularly can actually be for your health. With many different sauna options now easily accessible to the general public it seems that you can’t deny yourself this life luxury any longer.

Increase your energy levels!

With winter continuing strong and snow falling all around the UK,  it’s important to not let your energy levels dip throughout the day. By maintaining certain aspects of your day to day life, you can ensure you feel good from morning until night. Below are a few of our top tips towards feeling great;

• Drink plenty of water – Two-thirds of the body is made from water, so it makes sense to ensure you’re well hydrated throughout the day. Joints, eyes and the digestive system are the first to benefit as the body works constantly to flush out toxins and other unwanted materials. Although we receive a lot of water from the food we eat, it is important to drink plenty of water throughout the day, in many cases between 6 – 8 glasses. In you are participating in heavy exercise, sauna use, or similar you obviously need to compensate for increased water loss. If you feel that you are struggling to concentrate, thirsty or have dark coloured strong-smelling urine, there is a strong chance you may be dehydrated.
• Eat well -  The importance of what we eat and when we eat can have a huge impact on how we feel throughout the day. Supplements should not be needed if you manage to maintain a healthy balanced diet, providing you’re fit and healthy, but sometimes individuals do not get the recommended daily vitamin intake. Vitamin C is important for maintaining a strong immune system.
• Exercise – When we do exercise, our bodies release endorphins, boosting metabolic rates and increasing our overall energy levels. One of the worst things an individual can do is avoid exercise when they are feeling tired.

• Sleep – The amount of sleep required can vary from person to person, with factors such as age and activity levels coming into play. The common requirement for most is between 7 – 8 hours per day, even though many of us fail to get even this. Try to familiarise your body with a routine, by going to bed a similar time each night. A good tip is to take a bath before bed allowing your mind to switch off from work or exercise. Ensure your bedroom is at the right temperature free from light, noise and other stimulants such as TV or computers.
• Relax – Stress and anxiety can cause fatigue on our bodies without us even knowing about it. Taking as little as 10 minutes of each day to clear your mind and relax the body can have substantial benefits on your health long term. Along with relaxing in the bath, utilise other means of relaxation such as having a massage or using a personal infrared sauna. All can help contribute in giving yourself a chance to relax.

An insight into Planning Permission.

When looking to increase the value of your home the obvious solution is to look at extending your overall floor space. Although renovating the kitchen or bathroom will add appeal and value, the percentage increases are incomparable when extending your building size. Many wannabe self builders tend to fall at the first hurdle when gaining planning permission, so it’s important to know what to look for so you don’t get caught out.

Many self builders tend to view the planning officers as the bad guys – the people who prevent the homeowner from building what they want, where they want whilst spoiling plans with disputes and delays. Although in some cases this is true, there are instances where the planning officers have made poor final decisions or gone on a bit of a power trip. However, from another angle the planning offer can be viewed as the self builder’s friend – an expert who can help with useful advice and tips regarding your original plan.

A golden rule to remember when considering a particular plot is to speak to the local council or planning department before handing in your final application. In many cases, they can offer guidance on design approaches that are likely to be accepted, which can be interpreted by your architect to suit your needs more closely – a task which many architects should be well qualified to complete. The planning register is a priceless source of information – Find yourself an architect or designer who has been consistently successful.

By developing a good relationship with your planning officer, you should be able to gather enough information on how your proposal is likely to be viewed. With most issues seemingly straightforward to resolve, such as height restrictions imposed to prevent looking over neighbouring properties, it’s important to remember that all restrictions are open to interpretation.

Bathrooms tipped to be big in 2010!

Bathroom renovation projects have been tipped to be at the top of the pecking order for DIY projects taken up this 2010. Retail analysts at Verdict Research, Matthew Pilner, stated that during the Totally DIY show based at the Birmingham NEC last year “kitchen refurbishments were becoming increasingly popular”.

However, it seems that the focus has shifted dramatically this year when punters became more interested in what the bathroom sector had to offer. Matthew Pilner added “As we enter 2010, the big area of growth is likely to be bathrooms.”

“The bathroom sector is something that is quite under capacity at the moment.  There is opportunity in this sector to move into” he added.  With unreachable luxuries such as wet rooms, and steam sauna enclosures now affordable, homeowners can now look to create a bathroom of their dreams.

A survey completed at the exhibition showed how homeowners were planning to make home improvements in the run up to November this year, with 70% making bathroom changes.

Cashmere loo roll anyone?

Everybody dreams of having their dream bathroom one day, complete with luxury whirlpool bath, all glass shower enclosure combined with high end tiling. However, it seems that maximising comfort is the main focus for one such supplier.

Cashmere, one of the softest and most valued textile materials, has been used in many formats including fashionable suits and luxury jumpers for the cold days.

However, Waitrose has taken it to the next level by releasing a new range of cashmere toilet roll. The supermarket insists that a “significant amount” of cashmere goes into each roll, even though no cashmere fibres are involved in the manufacturing process. Instead, the paper itself is coated in the oil extracted from cashmere hairs.

Finish your luxury bathroom by heading over to your nearest Waitrose today and grabbing a pack – Cashmere rolls start from £2.99.

Bathroom Advice: Tackling Damp

Damp, a problem we have all experienced, is something that occurs most frequently in older houses. Unquestionably a common problem for home renovators, it’s important to know how to eliminate the issue and work to keep your house damp free. The most common occurrence of damp comes in the form of condensation, easily identifiable when you find water running down windows.

In some cases, water can be found running down walls creating dark mould spots, ranging from small speckles to big patches on ceilings and walls. Getting rid of this mould is vital, as not only does it look unsightly, it can release spores which individuals with respiratory problems can seriously be affected by.

So what causes this damp to occur? In short, the amount of water that is carried in the air varies dependent on the temperature of the environment. Hot air can carry more water than cold air, and with our homes being fairly warm during winter, the air contains plenty of vapour.

Condensation occurs when the warm air comes in contact with cold surfaces such as windows or walls, where the water can no longer be supported. The vapour condenses back to a liquid and remains on the surface. The main causes come down to poor cavity insulation, or insufficient ventilation.

Treating this type of damp is fairly straightforward providing you stick to certain control methods. Better ventilation is a good starting block therefore environments that create plenty of vapour or steam such as the shower room, require an automated ventilation system. Upgrading your insulation on outside walls will also create less cold surfaces for vapour to settle on.

How Much Time do You Spend in the Bathroom?

How much time do we actually spend in the bathroom?  It’s not the type  of thing one usually thinks about, but when one calculates the time the average person spends in the bathroom, it is quite an eye opener.  Not only does it show the importance of having an inviting bathroom but it also illuminates the truth that a little time here and there really does add up to a significant amount of time.  The following are statistics of the average time a person spends in the bathroom per day:

Let’s say the average is;

·         15 minutes per day for cleaning.

·         15 minutes per day for the facilities.

That’s equal to:

·         210 minutes per week, or 10,920 minutes per year, or 182 hours per year, or 7.58 days per year.

If this pattern of bathroom use is consistent and generally accurate, a person who lives to the age of 75 years old would spend a total of:

·         819,000 minutes, or 13,650 hours, or 568.75 days, or approximately 1 year 7 month.

If you are one of those who likes to spend a little more time in the bathroom, let’s say:

·         20 minutes per day for cleaning.

·         20 minutes per day for the facilities.

That’s equal to:

·         280 minutes per week, or 14,600 minutes per year, or 243 hours per year, or 10.14 days per year.

Again, with this pattern of bathroom use, a person who lives to the age of 75 years old would spend a total of:

·         1,095,000 minutes (1 million and 95,000 minutes!), or 18,225 hours, or 760.5 days, or approximately 2 year 1 month in the bathroom.

This only goes to illustrate how a seemingly insignificant amount of time adds up, and how much time we actually spend in the bathroom.  If we’re spending this amount of time in the bathroom, it makes sense to create it into a nice place to spend your time!  Consider making it your goal this year to improve your bathroom.

Choosing a Shower

In this months February issue of Homebuilding & Renovating Di Vapor featured in the magazines article: All About Choosing Showers.  A modern, drenching shower experience is the perfect way to start off the day while adding desirability and value to your home.  Here are a few pointers to get you started.

The first consideration when choosing a new shower is understanding your existing water system as this will dictate the kind pressure you can get in your home:

Older homes often utilise a gravity fed system with a cold water tank typically located in the loft and a hot water cylinder in the airing cupboard.  The larger the vertical distance between the tank in the loft and the shower head, the greater the water pressure received.  If you still get a lower pressure in your shower a water pump can be added to this system.

Combination (Combi) Boiler Systems will heat hot water on demand from a pressurised cold water supply.  This leads to an unlimited supply of hot water as long as the combi-boiler can cope with the demand.  Typically, a boiler that can output between 12-15 litres per minute is ideal.  With a combi-boiler system a thermostatic valve is beneficial to help maintain a constant hot water supply to the shower .

Finally, a mains pressure system, pressurised, unvented or sealed system uses the pressure in the mains water supply to drive the hot and cold water pressure to your shower.  A pressure reducing valve may be necessary .  Water can be heated using a combi-boiler, thermal store or using a cylinder that can store hot water under pressure – a common example being the Megaflo system.  It is unlikely that a pump or thermostatic valve would be required for this system.

Choosing a tray – You should pay careful attention to the strength, durability and reinforcement of the tray.  Equally important is understanding  how easily the shower tray waste can be accessed for maintenance.

Size of Shower head – Options include an overhead shower, handheld shower on slide rail, fixed or ceiling mounted, along with body jets.  This comes down to your water system (as discussed above) along with your personal preferences.  Many steam showers come with an overhead rainfall shower, handheld shower and body jets giving the best of all worlds in one pre-fabricated cabin.

Shower Floor Size – Although many bathrooms are limited in space a small shower can feel claustrophobic, cramped and the walls may feel like they are on top of you.  Therefore, you are advised not to fit an enclosure smaller than 900mm x 900mm.

All-in-One Steam Cabins – These cabins offer a huge number of showering features (overhead, handheld and body jets) and often come with a built in radio or CD system – making it difficult to leave those added showering comforts.  With the added benefits of a steam shower and aromatherapy in your own bathroom you really will have a luxury home spa.

Di Vapor Helping You to Keep Your New Years Resolution

Taming the bulge and losing weight is at the top of many people’s New Year’s resolutions. After a Christmas season of snacking, eating and drinking you may feel like you need to lose a few pounds; and you’re probably right! The most effective ways to lose that weight is to eat sensibly sized portions of healthy foods and to exercise. Healthy foods include fruits, vegetables, nuts & seeds, grains, seafood, beans & legumes, spice & herbs, eggs & low fat dairy, poultry and lean meats. Integrating foods that have rich portions of necessary vitamins and minerals is important and should become part of a healthy diet. Please see the food pyramid below, recommended by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Even though the obvious ways to lose weight are to eat healthily and to exercise, some people may still find it hard to lose weight. This could potentially be because there are chemicals, toxins or heavy metals trapped in the fat cells in your body, which need to be excreted to continue with weight loss.

Even though the obvious ways to lose weight is to eat healthily and to exercise, some people may still find it hard to lose weight. This could potentially be because there are chemicals, toxins or heavy metals trapped in the fat cells in your body, which are actually hindering the boy’s natural weight loss process. These chemicals may need to be excreted to continue with weight loss.

Case Story: The following story has been shared by one of Di Vapor’s customers. A woman was severely overweight which was causing many health problems. As a result she went to the Doctor and subsequently the Doctor placed the woman on a weight loss plan. After a period of time the woman had lost a significant amount of fat and weight but she found her weight loss plateauing and found it very difficult to lose any further weight. She went back to the Doctor and shared the frustrating problem. The Doctor said the reason the woman was finding it difficult to lose any further weight was because there were chemicals, toxins and heavy metals inside her body which were hindering the natural weight loss process, and recommended the woman use an infrared sauna to rid her body of these free radicals.

It’s likely that the weight loss problem this woman had is also an undiagnosed problem of many other people who are trying to lose weight but can’t understand why they are finding it so difficult.

On top of the detoxification benefits, sitting in a Di Vapor Solare infrared sauna can burn up to 600 calories in 30 minutes. The heat inside the sauna causes the circulatory system to work harder, which burns calories.

Consider a Di Vapor infrared sauna to help aid in your weight loss and to keep you on track with your New Year’s resolutions.