Bathroom plumbing fixtures are plentiful in terms of color, finishes, and functionality. But the decision of which fixture suits your preference or house decor best rests entirely on you.
Instead of walking right into a plumbing store and buying the first thing that catches your eye, you should be more decisive in your approach so as to get the best quality fixtures at the most reasonably affordable rates possible. If I were to find plumbing supply store near me , this is how I’d go about it.
How to Pick the Right Bathroom Plumbing Supplies
Bathroom plumbing fixtures comprise of four categories; toilet, shower, tub, and sink. The best way to decide on these categories is to go to a bathroom showroom where you can browse around, try some of these fixtures and ask questions. The designer over there will guide you through the browsing process and make suggestions, and so will a professional plumber who is especially knowledgeable about the latest technologies.
Before we get to the fixtures, here’s how you can make your approach more manageable:
- Develop a budget and stick to it.
- Use your budget to narrow down options by price point.
- Streamline your search by finish (nickel, brass, chrome, copper, black, etc)
- Narrow the search by style (traditional, modern, industrial, etc)
- Choose the two best options and compare them with other products that are appealing to you.
- Come to a final decision and ensure that what you buy works in the best way possible.
- Buy extra valves or parts if necessary, for functionality.
So without further ado, here are the main bathroom fixtures you should consider:
Toilets
When choosing toilets, decide on whether you want those that are of standard height between 14- to 15-inches or between 16 to 18 inches. The taller ones are more comfortable for homeowners and more accessible for those in wheelchairs and walkers. The only problem with the taller ones is that they’re not much accessible or comfortable for children. And the range of colors and designs doesn’t help make the choices much easier either.
Diana Schrage, senior designer for Kohler says that you could spend hundreds or thousands of dollars for one-piece toilets that are sleek-looking but require more labor when it comes to manufacturing, which can be more expensive.
Showers
Body showers are opted by those who prefer to massage their bodies or make a sauna-like mist for them to relax in. Rain showerheads, on the other hand, make it seem as if you’re standing beneath a waterfall. You can even add two showerheads so that two people can enjoy taking a shower at the same time.
Fortunately, according to Ken Perrin, president, Artistic Renovations, Cleveland, Ohio, bathroom fixture manufacturers are making plenty of cost-effective products that we can use in a standard bathroom. There are also several shower fixture platforms including hand-held units, the typical wall mount, rain showers as well as combo packs that feature a wall mount or a rain shower plus shower head.
Sinks
A vessel sink is suitable for a powder room and becomes the main highlight, but with a master or full bath, some believe this fixture to be less functional than a deeper, under-mounted sink with a good arching faucet that is simple to operate with a single handle.
Pedestal style sinks are a classic as they save up on space, and their bowls come in rectangular, oblong or traditional oval shapes.
Faucets
Besides water efficiency, faucets these days are highly functional as they feature integrated ceramic disks that grind away buildup that causes leaks. This means less sink repair expenditure and extended durability.
When it comes to style, faucets can be integrated or even mounted on the wall or fastened on a lavatory deck.