|
By: Tammy Crosby
When designing your bathroom, the easiest product to pick
out should be your toilet, because it's style is simply
one of personal preference because all of them work in the
same way. The first style point will be deciding whether
you want a round or elongated model, a one or two piece,
how high you want it to sit and whether you want a pressure-assisted
or gravity feed. Beyond that you will have a choice of colors
and ornamental trim, and several style options. Always sit
down on your new throne before buying it to make sure the
height and size are comfortable. An average toilet bowl
will start around $200, but a royal throne could run you
around $1000.
Styles and Types
One-piece or two-piece
Most toilets have separate tanks and bowls, making them
two-piece, but some higher-priced toilets are one-piece,
and they are generally more stylish. The benefit of a one
piece is that you won't have leaks between the bowl and
tank and they tend to be quieter.
Round bowl or elongated bowl
The most common toilet bowl used to be round, because it
conserved space, but now as bathrooms continue to grow in
size, the trend is towards elongated bowls (two inches longer
than a round bowl). The standard height of a toilet is 15
inches.
Gravity or Pressure
These are the two ways by which the toilet flushes. Standard
gravity-fed toilets use the weight of the water to force
everything from the tank into the bowl and through the S-shaped
trapway, where a siphoning action finishes the flush. The
first pressure-assisted [flush] toilet was intoduced in
the U.S. in 1984 by Mansfeld. Crane followed shortly thereafter
and by 1986, virtually every North American manufacturer
offered at least one PA model. In 1992 the government passed
a law that restricted toilets to no more than 1.6 gallons
per flush, as opposed to the old 3.5 gallons. These systems
use trapped air to initiate the flushing mechanism.
Concealed Tank
Concealed toilet tanks are insulated and installed between
the wall studs with the toilet mounted to the wall instead
of the floor, making it easier to clean your toilet.
Materials
Toilets are generally made of vitreous china, which is
clay fired at high temperature to form a high gloss, stain-resistant
surface. They are durable but can be chipped, cracked, or
broken if abused. Under normal use, however, they can last
a lifetime.
A bit about Bidets
The word bidet (pronounced: bee day) is French for pony,
a reference to sitting astride as if on a saddle. It is
not a bathtub, shower stall or different kind of toilet
(though it is placed next to the toilet) - it is hands-free,
sit-down water washing unit or basin that used in place
of wiping with toilet paper. Most Americans have never seen
a bidet, unless they frequent upscale hotels in the U.S.
and/or Europe. European's consider the bidet to be an essential
part of their bathroom, in fact, no well equipped home is
without one. Bidets are offered in a host of styles, from
the traditional to the contemporary and usually match the
toilet.
About The Author
Tammy Crosby - Editor, Dream Designs
http://www.thehousedesigners.com are independent architects
and designers who joined together to provide you the best
home plans at the best price.
|
