Tag Archives: shower
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.
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.
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.
- Savona Steam Shower
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.
Choosing the right shower head!
There are many different types of shower head available on the market, but depending on what your specific requirements are can determine which shower design will work best for you. Different shower heads include handheld, handheld on a slider rail, fixed, ceiling mounted and shower columns complete with a series of body jets.
Temperature and pressure are commonly controlled by a thermostatic valve, which will detect changes in water pressure and temperature and respond accordingly. Some thermostatic valves even allow you to preset the temperature so that when you turn the shower on it is exactly how you want it. More state of the art models come complete with digital control panels complete with remote control so the shower can even be started without even stepping in.
Handheld should be considered, even as a secondary shower head as they handy when rinsing off the the side of the bath or shower tray etc. They can also be fitted to a slider rail, which means that height can be adjusted easily. The most important factor to bare in mind when choosing a shower head is all in its design and features – Most are available with multiple spray options. Huge shower heads, often ceiling mounted, have also become popular, designed to totally drench the shower user in seconds. Multiple jet showers are another big trend, comprising not just one shower head, but a host of side jets sprays.
To see our full range of shower enclosures on offer from Di Vapor, please visit http://www.divapor.com
Keep healthy this Christmas!
It is a well known fact that more people are ill over the winter season than any other as “cold-related” illnesses run rampage throughout the population. It’s important to remember that keeping our bodies natural defences running at maximum is key in fighting through this festive time, whilst maintaining good physical and mental well-being. Here are our top tips this Christmas!
- Eat well, Rest Well - Make sure you are taking on board your 5 portions of fruit and veg each day, whilst getting a good nights sleep each day. This will keep vital vitamin supplies high for your immune system, especially vitamin C. A nice relaxing bath before bed, accompanied with aromatherapy will help you rest better.
- Wash your hands - Regular washing of your hands with soap and warm water will help against carrying infections. Lathering for at least 30 seconds will reduce the risk of spreading infections.
- Keep Warm - It is important, and often overlooked, to keep warm when the temperature starts falling. If your body is wasting vital energy maintaining your core temperature, your body can’t use energy fighting against germs. If you lucky enough to have access to a sauna, utilise it daily to sweat out any toxins your body may have taken on board.
- Vaccinate – The flu vaccine is free if your over 65 so it is recommended that is taking advantage of. Contact your local GP surgery for more information.
- Keep Hydrated - As our homes get warmer over the cold periods, the air tends to be a lot dryer. It is important to take on board as many fluids as possible to ensure your body is well hydrated.
- Keep your distance! – When someone sneezes or coughs in your vacinity, germs tend to spread very quickly. It’s a good idea to keep a tissue handy to cover your nose and mouth whenever possible – catch it, bin it, kill it!
For more detailed information on keeping healthy this season, contact your local GP today. Remember stay healthy – stay happy!