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Posts Tagged ‘bathtub’

Many people spend a considerable amount of time in the bathroom. Some people feel that spending time in the tub rejuvenates their energy and revitalizes the spirit. Whatever the reason for spending some time in the bathroom, one thing is certain, the bathtub is one of the most important aspects of the bathroom.

If you are building a house, or if you are renovating or remodeling your home or bathroom should not only choose any bathtub. Besides looking at the color that goes well with the color of the bathroom, or the latest design, or manufacturer, there are other things that should be considered. Read the rest of this entry »

People who own their own homes know that there’s a lot of work that has to be done to keep it functioning properly. Keeping up on maintenance tasks can help eliminate more work and expense later on. One of these jobs is replacing the dry, cracked caulking around the bathtub. Once this seal is damaged, water can seep into joints and cause tile to become loose or allow mold to grow. Unfortunately, there are a lot of people who overlook this maintenance job and then much more serious damage will occur. Caulking is used as a flexible sealant and a glue that holds tiles in place and works to keep water from getting underneath them. When caulk gets old, however, it becomes either dry and brittle or soft, mushy, and moldy from being exposed to varied temperatures and moisture in a bathroom environment. Once this happens, it’s no longer an effective sealant, and damage can occur. In order to remedy this problem, you have to completely remove the old caulking before replacing it with new. If you don’t, it won’t seal properly.

Before you begin removing the old caulking, clean the area with a regular bathroom cleaner, then try to determine the kind of caulking that was used. If it’s silicone it will be soft and rubbery; if it was latex or acrylic, it will be hard. You can remove silicone caulk quite easily with a sharp knife. Acrylic and latex caulk are more difficult to remove. Tricks you might try are scraping it out with a screwdriver or softening it with a heat gun or a product designed specifically to do so. Once it’s all been removed, wipe the area down again. You may even want to put on a coating of a product that will resist mildew.

Once you’ve removed the old caulk and cleaned the area, it’s time to start applying the new caulking you’ve chosen. When selecting your new caulk, you need to consider the fact that hybrid, siliconized caulking will work best. It’s easy to use and remove as well as pliable like silicone and has the mildew-resistance of latex and acrylic. Whatever kind of caulking you choose, however, make sure that it says that it’s meant to be used in a bathroom.

If there’s only a small area that needs to be caulked, you’ll be able to get by with a squeeze tube of caulking instead of having to use a caulking gun. Snip a small hole in the end of the tube so that you’ll have control of the amount of caulking being dispensed. Work slowly and carefully to avoid unsightly squiggles and blobs. Although you may be tempted to buy roll caulking thinking that it will be easier to apply, you’ll find that it’s actually very difficult to get on straight. Place a roll of paper towels and a damp sponge where you can get at them in case of spills. Work in small areas at a time, and as you finish each area smooth the caulk with a damp finger.

It’s better to do an entire caulking job at one time, so make sure you have plenty of time to finish the project before you ever begin it. No one will be able to use the bathtub until the caulk cures which usually will mean the tub is out of commission at least overnight. Taking the time and enduring a little inconvenience now will save you a ton of headaches and expense later on.

Many people spend a considerable amount of time in the bathroom.

Some people feel that spending time in the tub rejuvenates their energy and revitalizes their spirit.

Whatever the reason for spending some time in the bathroom, one thing is certain, the bathtub is one of the most important aspects of the bathroom.

If you are building a house, or if you are renovating or redesigning your house or bathroom, you shouldn’t just choose any bathtub. Apart from considering the color that will go well with the color of the bathroom, or the latest design, or the manufacturer, there are other things that should be considered.

* Size of the tub

Aside from the obvious point, that this is important in checking how the bathtub will fit the designated space, this also needs to be considered for other reasons. Should you go for a one-person or two-person bathtub? Remember that if you choose a two-person tub, this will consume more water than a one-person tub.

The bathtub size is also interdependent with the capacity of the water heater. A bathtub usually requires 65% hot water. For some bathtubs, the hot water content may require up to 40 gallons. Consider then if after dispensing 40 gallons of hot water, will your water heater still have sufficient hot water for the rest of the household, or will it have enough time to reheat some water for consumption.

In this case, you may have to choose a smaller bathtub or upgrade your water heater so it will be able to supply enough water for a bigger bathtub. Another option is to install an instant water heater to the water source leading to the bathtub.

Also make sure that, with the bathtub’s size, you get enough support for your head, neck and back.

* Material

Choosing the material for your bathtub depends on several factors: on how often you will use the tub, durability, ease of maintenance and budget.

Fiberglass is a cost-effective material, however, it doesn’t have the durability of acrylic or porcelain bathtubs. Wooden and marble tubs are good-looking but these require much maintenance and may not last long. Cast iron tubs are the most durable, although these cost a little more than other materials.

* Depth

The bathtub’s depth is important if you are considering using the bathtub for therapeutics. Many people enjoy soaking in a warm bath to rejuvenate the lost energy and to ease the pain in tired muscles. Soaking in a tub even reduces the stress levels that most people resort to a warm bath before going to bed.

However, few people know that there are special tubs designed for this purpose. Soaking tubs are designed to allow a person to immerse the whole body with comfort unlike that with a standard tub that is only designed to soak the lower part of the body.

* Functionality

Tubs with jets, such as whirlpool tubs, look very enticing, but will you be using the jets often? Consider the importance of the additional features and how will these features impact your power and water consumption.

* Features for the handicap and the elderly

People with handicap and the elderly rarely use the standard bathtub due to risks for additional injury. Check bathtubs that have features that allow easy entry and exit from the tub. These tubs also have grab rails and grab bars to prevent accidents while soaking in the bathtub. Check for ADA compliance if you want these features for your bathtub.

* Design

Most bathtubs come in cream and white, but are also available in other colors such as brown, maroon, pink, green and blue. Shapes are usually rectangle, oval, and round, but heart-shaped designs and corner styles are also offered.

These are important so the bathtub will match the color and the design of the bathroom. It also makes the bathtub inviting and makes soaking a comfortable experience.

With these tips, you can surely choose the bathtub that fits you.