The toilet is a necessary part of modern day life whether we like it or not and that applies to our places of work, places of leisure and our homes. Nevertheless, the toilet does not have to be a mere necessity and all toilets are not the same. There is actually such a thing as an attractive toilet.
Practical
I would certainly agree that a separate toilet and bathroom is best in practical terms, but this is down to personal preference. Some people don’t like the idea of “letting go” in the bathtub nor do they appreciate running across the landing to reach a separate toilet. In this case the best option would be to have two toilets – one part of the bathroom and the other separate.
As with anything, this option means additional expense and requires more floor space, but the possibility of a completely undisturbed and well-deserved soak may make any additional cost well every penny.
If timesaving is an issue high on your agenda, opt for a toilet that has fewer crevices and contours to make cleaning easier. The usual vitreous china products are clean in appearance, extremely durable and are easy to physically wash and wipe down. White looks clean in itself – it is the symbolic colour of purity and is also the most common and popular colour available in terms of sanitaryware.
Fortunately, due to mass production, white is not the most expensive of colours for bathroom wares, rather it is the long established standard and more recent “bathroom fashion” has shown no signs of casting off this traditional colour.
Cisterns & Flushing
The newer “low flow” toilets will save you money as far as water bills, but be aware that cheaper or unbranded models present an immediate risk of insufficient flushing. This will cause unnecessary stress, so for what it is worth go for a recognised brand. For examples see Ideal Standard, Rak, Armitage Shanks, Duravit or Twyfords. All of these brands are well established and recognised manufacturers of sanitaryware.
Notes On Drainage
Check for available or existing means of drainage. If bathroom renovation means that the only available soil stack is located away from the toilet itself, natural gravity powered falls may not be possible. If this is the case then a pumped or powered waste may be your only option. For examples see Saniflo (manufacturer).
Be aware that most toilets require approximately 30cm (1 foot) of space between the back and the wall. Even wall-hung toilets (toilets supported by the wall not the floor) in commercial installations are hung on reinforced IPS-type panels. The frame upon which these panels are hung creates this space between the panel and the wall behind, so even though such toilets appear to be literally wall hung, there is a void behind the apparent wall surface. Less common approaches make use of a large wall chasings to house the drainage pipework and others externally mount the drainage pipework. This, however, may be too unsightly for some to bear.
For advice in choosing the right toilet for you, see choosing the right toilet.
Title:
Toilets
In
General
Author:
A.Jeffers
Date Written:
28 Aug 07
Updated:
24 Oct 07
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