So many toilet options - what to choose?

Once upon a time there was one toilet design, if you needed a new one or a replacement, you just went and got one.  Nowadays there are Close Coupled Toilets, Compact/Small Toilets, Back to Wall Toilets and Wall Hung Toilets, all of which are great quality, stylish and practical but how do you know which is best for you?

Essentially, they are all possibilities because nowadays nothing is impossible BUT it’s whether or not you want to go to the trouble of moving your soil pipe, re-plastering and re-tiling walls, building false walls etc, that will determine what choices are available to you.  Maybe the following guidelines might help you to make a more informed decision.

Close Coupled Toilets (WC’s)

Cruise Close Coupled WCThis is basically the traditionally style of toilet, with a pan, cistern and seat that connects to the soil pipe.  All you really need to consider, if this is your chosen design, is the situation of your soil pipe, i.e. whether it’s going straight out the wall, in to the floor, or running left or right (possibly boxed in). 

Take our best selling Cruise Close Coupled WC for example, this very attractive toilet is only suitable for a soil pipe that goes straight out the wall or goes into the floor.  Whereas, our stylish Lexi Toilet is suitable for any soil pipe situation because it has adequate gap behind the pan for the soil pipe to run left or right.

Compact Close Coupled Toilets (WC’s)

Lyric Compact ToiletAll of the same information applies to these as to standard Close Coupled Toilets except that they have a lower projection from the wall making them idea for small bathrooms and cloakrooms.  They have all of the functionality of a standard toilet; they just don’t protrude so much. 

Our best selling compact toilets are consistently the Cruise Compact WC, the Lauren Compact WC and the Lyric Compact WC.  Again, you will need to bare in mind your soil pipe situation when choosing the correct compact toilet.

Back to Wall Toilets (WC’s)

Cruise Back to Wall ToiletThis is where things get a bit different! Back to wall toilets consist of a pan and seat only. The cistern, which is a concealed cistern, is either recessed inside a wall cavity or inside a purpose built toilet cabinet, so all that you see is the toilet pan and the flush button is either mounted on the wall or on the cabinet. 

We sell a selection of top quality back to wall toilets, with the Cruise, and the Lyric models being the most popular.  Any of our back to wall toilets, coupled with our Concealed Cistern with WRAS approved fittings will make a winning combination.  For suitable back to wall toilet cabinets check out our Marcella gloss white 600mm unit, and our new Ariane wenge wood 600mm unit. 

Wall Hung Toilets (WC’s)

Edge Wall Hung ToiletThese require a bit more work in terms of preparation and installation but look fabulously minimalist and clean once fitted.  To fit a wall hung toilet you will need to either build out a box like structure, make a recess in to an existing wall, or purchase a purpose built frame cover.  The main part of a wall hung WC system is the Wall Hung Toilet Frame System; this is the mechanism that goes behind the wall or in to the box/frame, as the case may be.  This frame securely holds the toilet pan in place and also includes your concealed cistern and flush button.We have a great selection of modern wall hung toilets, all of which are exceptional quality and come with soft close quick release seats.  Our best sellers include the Cruise, the Lauren, and the Edge.

If you still can’t decide, feel free to call any of our showrooms.

Choosing the right bath - Steel or Acrylic?

Choosing the perfect bath tub can be an arduous task, especially with so many shapes and sizes on the market today.  Choosing the correct shape and size will be determined by your preference, available space, and requirements, but choosing whether to have steel or acrylic can be somewhat confusing.  Despite what you might think, or have heard, there are many benefits to both, so really it again comes down to personal preference.  Here is a summary of the pros and cons of both, hopefully these will help you to decide…….

Steel Baths

Steel baths are, as the name suggests very strong, which is why they have maintained popularity, and are also very rigid often making them an ideal family choice, or shower bath option.  They are very durable and can easily withstand the test of time, often reflected in the very lengthy guarantees that come with certain makes, e.g. Bette baths come with a 30 year quality assured guarantee.  Like everything, there are varying degrees of quality and finish, generally reflected in the price.  Here at Bathroom Heaven we carry steel baths to suit all budgets, our Roca Steel Bath is 1.6mm thick at £129, and a perfect basic bath, whereas our range of Bette baths are 3.5mm thick and prices start from £213

Roca Steel Bath 1700 x 700mm 

Pros of Steel Baths

• Highly durable and very rigid (reducing likelihood of movement)
• Conductivity is excellent – keeping water hotter for longer
• Enamel finish helps bath to retain colour and avoid discoloration
• Resistant to damage from chemical, abrasive cleaning products
• Steel is a very hygienic surface – minimising germs and bacteria
• Steel is pressed in production resulting in sharp, clean, flat lines
• High gloss bright white finish – often dazzling
• Different thicknesses available – 1.6mm or 3.5mm

Cons of Steel Baths

• Heavier than acrylic alternative and may require a sturdy base on which to rest
• Can chip if heavy items are dropped inside them (e.g. hand shower)
• Cold to the touch – although they do retain heat longer once warmed up
• Can be slippery but anti-slip is available on all of our Bette baths
• Have to be ordered with our without tap holes – reducing versatility of bath tap choice

Acrylic Baths

Generally acrylic bath tubs are more popular, and have progressed dramatically in terms of quality and durability, they certainly give steel baths a run for their money!.  The main attractions of acrylic is that it is warm and inviting to the touch, there are many more shapes and sizes available, and acrylic baths tend to be more affordable than the less run of the mill steel baths.  Acrylic baths are often mistakenly judged on the thickness of the acrylic, but whether this is 2mm, 5mm, 8mm etc it is only a measure of the surface layer.  What is important is what is underneath, all of our acrylic baths are 5mm acrylic throughout, reinforced by seven layers of resin bonded fibreglass, giving them the reinforcement required to withstand the rigor of daily use.

At bathroom heaven we carry an extensive range of top quality of acrylic baths, manufactured by Renaissance Baths UK and Pura Bathrooms UK, both offer 25 year guarantees on their models.  Our smallest acrylic bath, the Gem, is available in lengths 1200mm and 1300mm and is consistently a best seller year on year.  Then, it’s the Spoonbill, available in 1500mm, 1600mm, and 1700mm.  Due to popular demand, our square edged, ultra modern Merganser bath now comes in two lengths, 1700mm and 1800mm.  So, as you can see, the possibilities are endless.

Gem Bath Tub 1200mm

Merganser Bath 1800 x 800mm

Pros of Acrylic Baths

• Highly durable – due to reinforcement
• Warm and inviting to the touch – more comfortable
• Lightweight and easy to transport and install
• More resistant to damaged – unlikely to chip like steel
• Scratches can often be easily polished out
• UV stabilised preventing discoloration
• Most come without predrilled tap holes allowing you to choose where to put them
• Surface is non porous so doesn’t harbour germs and bacteria

Cons of Acrylic Baths

• If surface layer is rubbed off due to highly abrasive cleaning then bath surface can stain
• Less rigid than steel
• Less conductive and therefore losses heat quicker than steel
• More prone to surface scratches
• Not as brilliant a white finish as steel

Create a minimalist bath and shower in your bathroom with a thermostatic shower valve and bath filler waste.

Looking for a minimalist bathroom?  Wish you could do away with bath tap clutter on your bath?  WellWith a bath filler waste you can fill your bath by using a neat mixer located on the wall you can do just that.  By pairing a concealed shower mixer to a bath filler waste (sometimes called an extrafill), you can fill your bath through a control mounted anywhere on the wall, and use the same control to power up to two shower outlets too.

Bath Filler Waste

A bath filler waste is a bath waste with overflow which also incorporates a spout or slot through which mixed water flows into the bath.  Bathroom Heaven offers two bath filler wastes (extrafills) – a pop-up bath filler waste and a clicker bath filler waste.  Easily installed, they are simply fitted to almost any bath and connected behind the wall to one outlet of a shower mixer.

Thermostatic Shower Valve

You can use any type of shower mixer to fill your bath (check your water pressure or water system type and ask your sales consultant if the flow rate will be high enough).  Bathroom Heaven recommend using a thermostatic shower valve, since thermostatically mixed water avoids the risk of scalding (especially for small children), and you can be sure to fill the bath with water of a consistent temperature every time.  The valve can be positioned anywhere within reason – the wall above the foot of the bath is a popular location.  If the wall is solid you will need to chase the brickwork to accommodate the shower body (around 65mm is enough for most thermostatic showers).

Shower Diverter

If you’d like to use the same shower valve to operate the shower too, choose a thermostatic shower with diverter.  Bathroom Heaven offers a range of thermostatic showers with diverter, allowing you to operate the bath plus up to two shower outlets (e.g. a fixed shower head and a shower kit).  Or cap off one of the outlets and have a single shower.

Cloakrooms: How to make the most of the smallest room in your house

The cloakroom is probably one of the most utilised rooms in the house yet up until now there has been a distinct lack of choice when it comes to cloakroom basins, toilets and storage.  Luckily that has all changed; there are now many compact, and space savings options available to give your cloakroom the facelift it deserves.

Functional, compact wall hung basins Cheri wall hung cloakroom basin 400 x 200mm

Even the smallest room can be transformed by creating an illusion of space using a compact wall hung cloakroom basin with a dazzling chrome p-trap and small mixer tap.  Bathroom Heaven have an array of best selling compact basins, and most are currently on offer!.  All of our basins are made from top grade real ceramic unlike many polymarble alternatives currently on the market, which after a while can crack and discolour.

Cloakroom vanity units

Add some useful storage space and a touch of contemporary design to your cloakroom with a handy small vanity unit, specifically designed for cloakroom use.  Now available in white gloss, gloss black and in modern wenge, you’ll be spoilt for choice.  These vanity units are made from solid, water resistant materials, and include the basin in the price, making them exceptional value for money.

Cloakroom basin taps

Finish off your compact basin with a suitable and balanced mixer tap.  We have a range of small sink taps specifically for cloakrooms, all of which operate on low and high pressure systems.  At Bathroom Heaven all of our taps are made from low lead solid brass and feature ceramic disc technology which ensures lasting performance, you only have to pick one up to feel the quality compared to lightweight cheaper alternatives.

Low projection toilets Cloude Small Close Coupled Toilet 600mm Projection

Another way to maximise on floor space and create a touch more room in your cloakroom is to install a compact (low projection) WC toilet.  These toilets have all of the functionality of a standard WC, including a normal sized pan, but through clever design take up far less space.  Bathroom Heaven offer a range of space saving toilets with projections as low as 600mm, including square and round designs, so there should be something to suit all tastes.

Make your cloakroom the envy of all your visitors without spending a fortune!

Toilets: easy cleaning with one button quick release toilet seat technology

It’s a problem we’re all familiar with: the area around the back of the toilet seat is hard to clean, thanks to all the nooks and crannies to be found Lexi close coupled toilet showing one button quick release seat and coverthere.  Well, thanks to new technology that problem is a thing of the past.

Cutting Edge Toilet Technology

Bathroom Heaven is now offering toilet seats with the very latest single button quick release technology.  Simply press the centrally located, smart chrome button on the underside of the toilet seat and hey presto – the complete seat and cover unit lifts off in an instant!  Now you can get your toilet’s ceramic surface sparkling green from front to back.  And the toilet seat is so easy to clean when it’s not fixed stubbornly to the pan.

Quality Toilet Seat Materials

Our one button quick release toilet seats also feature premium duraplast, bright white material made to last, and classy soft close as standard.  And all the hinge parts are quality metal, not cheap plastic.

Popular Toilets

One button quick release technology is now available for a number of popular toilets available from Bathroom Heaven – including Lexi, Cruise (Pura Bathrooms’ excellent Arco close toilet), Cloude (Saneux’s smart and compact I-line toilet) and Edge (Pura’s bloque toilet), plus our exciting new Laverne and Adele close coupled toilet models.

Smarten up your bathroom today, with one-button quick release toilet technology.