Washroom Ideas
When placing fixtures in your bathroom layout, think about how they're used and in what order. The sink, for example, should be positioned
closest to the door, because it's the last stop in most bathroom routines. Having to squeeze by other fixtures on your way in and out the door
can be inconvenient. The toilet, tub, and/or shower can be farther from the door and enclosed in separate compartments for greater privacy, if
you wish.
How many "wet walls," or walls that contain plumbing pipes, will there be in your bathroom? The fewer wet walls you have, the less costly
your plumbing bill will be. One-wall layouts, with fixtures arranged along a single wall, are the simplest and require the fewest plumbing
fittings. Keep in mind, however, that design possibilities are limited with a one-wall layout, and floor space may not be used efficiently.
Minimum Clearances
It's tempting (and often necessary) to squeeze bathrooms into spaces not much larger than a phone booth. What can be forgotten amid all the
squeezing and creative layout planning is the human factor—the need, that is, for human elbows, knees, hips, shoulders, and heads to be able to
move freely and comfortably within the allotted space.
Based on average human measurements and needs, professional designers have developed recommendations for minimum clearances around
doors, fixtures, cabinets, and other common bathroom features. Many of these measurements are recommended by the National Kitchen and
Bath
Association. The following figures are recommended minimums; allow more space if the fit seems too tight for any of the bathroom's intended
users.
■ Doorways should be 32 inches wide, and walkways should be a minimum of 36 inches wide.
■ Plan a minimum of 15 inches from the sink's center to any side wall. To make tasks such as washing hair more comfortable, allow 18 inches
on each side.
■ If you install two sinks in the same counter, allow 30 inches, centerline to centerline, between them. Allow at least 8 inches between the edge
of a sink and the end of the counter.
■ At least 8 inches should separate the top of the vanity backsplash from the bottom of the medicine cabinet or mirror.
■ Allow at least 16 inches from the center of the toilet to any obstruction, fixture, or equipment on either side. For clearance in front of the
toilet, provide an open floor space of 48x48 inches. A good 16 inches of that floor space should extend to each side of the toilet's centerline.
Allow at least 1 inch between the back of the water tank and the wall behind it.
■ Position the toilet-paper holder 6 inches beyond the front of the seat with the roller 26 inches above the floor.
■ Minimum interior shower dimensions are 34x34 inches, but most people prefer it roomier.
■ Swinging shower doors must open into the bathroom, away from the shower's interior.
■ Standard height for vanities is 30 to 32 inches. Adjust height upward for tall users. In bathrooms with two vanities, one can be 30 to 34
inches high and the other can be 34 to 42 inches high.
■ Toilets isolated in a separate compartment should occupy a space 36 inches wide by 66 inches deep, with a swing-out or pocket door.
Dividing walls are normally about 6 inches thick (including trim at the bottom of both sides), so allow space for them.
Cabinets
The modest, single-sink vanity has given way to a host of bathroom cabinet and countertop options. Building supply and home centers stock a
variety of premade cabinets, including base units, wall units, matching medicine cabinet units, and even floor-to-ceiling storage units. Don't limit
yourself to the bathroom department when cabinet-shopping—the kitchen department may have a wider selection, and the differences between
kitchen and bath cabinet lines are steadily diminishing.
Like kitchen cabinets, bathroom cabinets are available in two basic styles. American-style cabinets have a face frame made of 1x2 boards
applied to the front of the carcasses, with door hinges often visible. European, or frameless, cabinets have no face frame. The doors cover all but
a small portion of the cabinet front, and the door hardware is invisible when the doors are closed. Choose standard, face-frame cabinets for a
traditional look.
Water Usage
Within living memory, indoor running water was a luxury. Today, we take it for granted. Yet clean, fresh water is a limited resource, and there
are easy ways to avoid wasting it.
Conservation
Toilet flushes account for as much as 40 percent of the typical family's indoor water usage. A family of four can easily flush more than 100
gallons a day down the toilet. To reduce this number to a minimum, all states now require that newly installed toilets be low-flow fixtures.
Most current models use around 1.6 gallons per flush (older toilets generally flush about 3.5 gallons with some using up to 5 gallons). With
increasing demands on municipal water supplies and the resulting rise in water bills, buying an efficient model pays in the long run.
Showers are another heavy water user. Regulations now restrict newly installed shower-heads to an output of 2.5 gallons of water per minute.
That's 30 to 60 percent less than the average shower output before January 1994, when the new law went into effect. The technology of water-
saving showerheads has improved to the point where many of today's low-cost models
ductwork as short and straight as possible. If the exhaust duct will have to twist and turn its way over a long distance, buy a fan with a larger
capacity. It's also a good idea to wrap the exhaust duct with some insulation in order to reduce condensation inside it.
The best location for the exhaust fan's outlet is a matter of opinion. Most experts agree that the fan should be vented directly to the outdoors,
not into the attic. The best options are to go straight through an exterior wall or straight up through a cap on the roof. Venting the fan to a
downward-facing grill in a soffit under the eaves is less than ideal. Some experts say this can cause potentially serious moisture problems.
seem just as generous with water as their older, high-consuming counterparts. Flow-restricting aerators on sink faucets aid conservation still
further. Both low-flow shower-heads and faucet aerators are available in hardware stores and home centers.
Hard Water
Water that contains significant amounts of iron, sulfur, manganese, and other mineral impurities commonly is referred to as "hard." Hard water
can irritate the skin, causing itching and dryness (especially in the winter). Just as annoying, soap and shampoo refuse to lather, and unsightly
deposits form on fixtures. To test your water for hardness, draw off a pint into a bottle, add 10 drops of dishwashing liquid, cap the bottle,
and shake well. If the solution foams readily, your water is relatively soft. If you see a curdlike film instead of foam, consider investing in a
water softener. Softer water means you will need less soap for bathing and your plumbing system will work more smoothly because your water
heater, pipes, showerheads, and faucets won't collect the corrosive scale that hard water causes.
When placing fixtures in your bathroom layout, think about how they're used and in what order. The sink, for example, should be positioned
closest to the door, because it's the last stop in most bathroom routines. Having to squeeze by other fixtures on your way in and out the door
can be inconvenient. The toilet, tub, and/or shower can be farther from the door and enclosed in separate compartments for greater privacy, if
you wish.
How many "wet walls," or walls that contain plumbing pipes, will there be in your bathroom? The fewer wet walls you have, the less costly
your plumbing bill will be. One-wall layouts, with fixtures arranged along a single wall, are the simplest and require the fewest plumbing
fittings. Keep in mind, however, that design possibilities are limited with a one-wall layout, and floor space may not be used efficiently.
Minimum Clearances
It's tempting (and often necessary) to squeeze bathrooms into spaces not much larger than a phone booth. What can be forgotten amid all the
squeezing and creative layout planning is the human factor—the need, that is, for human elbows, knees, hips, shoulders, and heads to be able to
move freely and comfortably within the allotted space.
Based on average human measurements and needs, professional designers have developed recommendations for minimum clearances around
doors, fixtures, cabinets, and other common bathroom features. Many of these measurements are recommended by the National Kitchen and
Bath
Association. The following figures are recommended minimums; allow more space if the fit seems too tight for any of the bathroom's intended
users.
■ Doorways should be 32 inches wide, and walkways should be a minimum of 36 inches wide.
■ Plan a minimum of 15 inches from the sink's center to any side wall. To make tasks such as washing hair more comfortable, allow 18 inches
on each side.
■ If you install two sinks in the same counter, allow 30 inches, centerline to centerline, between them. Allow at least 8 inches between the edge
of a sink and the end of the counter.
■ At least 8 inches should separate the top of the vanity backsplash from the bottom of the medicine cabinet or mirror.
■ Allow at least 16 inches from the center of the toilet to any obstruction, fixture, or equipment on either side. For clearance in front of the
toilet, provide an open floor space of 48x48 inches. A good 16 inches of that floor space should extend to each side of the toilet's centerline.
Allow at least 1 inch between the back of the water tank and the wall behind it.
■ Position the toilet-paper holder 6 inches beyond the front of the seat with the roller 26 inches above the floor.
■ Minimum interior shower dimensions are 34x34 inches, but most people prefer it roomier.
■ Swinging shower doors must open into the bathroom, away from the shower's interior.
■ Standard height for vanities is 30 to 32 inches. Adjust height upward for tall users. In bathrooms with two vanities, one can be 30 to 34
inches high and the other can be 34 to 42 inches high.
■ Toilets isolated in a separate compartment should occupy a space 36 inches wide by 66 inches deep, with a swing-out or pocket door.
Dividing walls are normally about 6 inches thick (including trim at the bottom of both sides), so allow space for them.
Cabinets
The modest, single-sink vanity has given way to a host of bathroom cabinet and countertop options. Building supply and home centers stock a
variety of premade cabinets, including base units, wall units, matching medicine cabinet units, and even floor-to-ceiling storage units. Don't limit
yourself to the bathroom department when cabinet-shopping—the kitchen department may have a wider selection, and the differences between
kitchen and bath cabinet lines are steadily diminishing.
Like kitchen cabinets, bathroom cabinets are available in two basic styles. American-style cabinets have a face frame made of 1x2 boards
applied to the front of the carcasses, with door hinges often visible. European, or frameless, cabinets have no face frame. The doors cover all but
a small portion of the cabinet front, and the door hardware is invisible when the doors are closed. Choose standard, face-frame cabinets for a
traditional look.
Water Usage
Within living memory, indoor running water was a luxury. Today, we take it for granted. Yet clean, fresh water is a limited resource, and there
are easy ways to avoid wasting it.
Conservation
Toilet flushes account for as much as 40 percent of the typical family's indoor water usage. A family of four can easily flush more than 100
gallons a day down the toilet. To reduce this number to a minimum, all states now require that newly installed toilets be low-flow fixtures.
Most current models use around 1.6 gallons per flush (older toilets generally flush about 3.5 gallons with some using up to 5 gallons). With
increasing demands on municipal water supplies and the resulting rise in water bills, buying an efficient model pays in the long run.
Showers are another heavy water user. Regulations now restrict newly installed shower-heads to an output of 2.5 gallons of water per minute.
That's 30 to 60 percent less than the average shower output before January 1994, when the new law went into effect. The technology of water-
saving showerheads has improved to the point where many of today's low-cost models
ductwork as short and straight as possible. If the exhaust duct will have to twist and turn its way over a long distance, buy a fan with a larger
capacity. It's also a good idea to wrap the exhaust duct with some insulation in order to reduce condensation inside it.
The best location for the exhaust fan's outlet is a matter of opinion. Most experts agree that the fan should be vented directly to the outdoors,
not into the attic. The best options are to go straight through an exterior wall or straight up through a cap on the roof. Venting the fan to a
downward-facing grill in a soffit under the eaves is less than ideal. Some experts say this can cause potentially serious moisture problems.
seem just as generous with water as their older, high-consuming counterparts. Flow-restricting aerators on sink faucets aid conservation still
further. Both low-flow shower-heads and faucet aerators are available in hardware stores and home centers.
Hard Water
Water that contains significant amounts of iron, sulfur, manganese, and other mineral impurities commonly is referred to as "hard." Hard water
can irritate the skin, causing itching and dryness (especially in the winter). Just as annoying, soap and shampoo refuse to lather, and unsightly
deposits form on fixtures. To test your water for hardness, draw off a pint into a bottle, add 10 drops of dishwashing liquid, cap the bottle,
and shake well. If the solution foams readily, your water is relatively soft. If you see a curdlike film instead of foam, consider investing in a
water softener. Softer water means you will need less soap for bathing and your plumbing system will work more smoothly because your water
heater, pipes, showerheads, and faucets won't collect the corrosive scale that hard water causes.
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |