Showerhead | Shower Seat Help

Shampoo, conditioners, soap, sponges, and razors, although necessary in the bathroom, can all lead to bathroom clutter. They not only make getting in and out of the shower or tub difficult, they often block the shower curtain or are in the way of the shower doors. To clean up this mess, consider getting a shower caddy.

Everything today has more choices and options, and the shower caddy is no exception. When looking at shower shelving you will find that there are many possibilities, including corner units and over the showerhead or shower door designs. Additionally, they come in various colors, shapes, sizes and with many optional specialty features.

Considerations

One thing you should consider before purchasing a unit is who will be using the caddy. Are you the only one in the house or are you considering an entire family? The answer to this particular question is going to help you make the best choice.

The more people who will be using the caddy, the more shelves you might want to get. Not everybody wants to use the same kind of shampoo and conditioner.

Caddy units come in a number of different materials. Stainless steel, mesh, plastic and rope are just a few of the choices. When choosing a material, think about how you are going to keep the caddy clean and looking its best. Furthermore, you will also want to consider other problems that can occur like rust, corrosion and/or water spots.

Types of Caddies

An over the showerhead caddy can be quite useful when you have small children in the home. If you do not want them to have access to certain items like razors, it is perfect for keeping these items from their reach. Because it has many shelves, this option is also great if you have an existing caddy, but determine that it is not big enough.

An over the shower door caddy similarly has a number of shelves. It will have long hooks that allow it to fit over most standard shower doors. It may even have adjustable shelves.

A pole caddy can be great. They are usually installed using a suspension pole similar to the ones that are sometimes used to hold up shower curtains. They are not only solid and sturdy; they also offer a large number of shelves.

If you are looking for something more permanent, you can get a permanent type caddy that can be glued or attached with suction cups directly onto the shower tile or shower surround. These units can be used on almost any kind of surface so you can attach it anywhere in the shower. Many people select caddies that can be tucked right into the corner thereby making the most of their shower space.

One option that many people really appreciate is having a dispenser on their caddy. This option eliminates the need to have shampoo bottles within the bathing area, which are often knocked and spilled. Many of these units even provide an anti-steam mirror for men who like to shave in the shower.

Fancy and fun caddies can be found. For example, if your bathroom is used by children, you might want to think about a frog or an octopus caddy.

Bathrooms are one room in the home that everybody, including guests will use. Clean up the clutter and mess. Get yourself a caddy.

The shower valve is one of the most important parts of the shower. Even so, most people have no idea of what it actually does, or that there are many different makes and models that are available to them.

Therefore, before you begin any kind of bathroom upgrade or renovation and especially if you are changing showerheads, you should have a basic understanding of what the valve does and what options you have.

Manual Valve

The least expensive type of shower valve on the market is the regular or manual valve. These valves do not regulate the temperature of the water nor do they control the pressure. This is the type of system that is in place if you’ve ever been either frozen or scalded in the shower.

Additionally, if this were not bad enough, if someone in the house decided to run the dishwasher, you might have had your shower reduced to a steady drip.

Pressure Balanced Valve

The pressure balanced valve is the one that you will find in most homes today. This valve is probably the one that you have in your bathroom right now. It normally consists of a single handle and a single control. When you turn the handle to the left, the water gets warmer. You do not control the pressure.

With this valve, you do not have to worry about other people using the water while you are showering. The valve is set to accommodate any changes in both temperature and pressure automatically. If someone does flush the toilet, the temperature in the shower should not vary more than a couple of degrees.

These shower valves often incorporate what is known as a diverter. This small valve allows you to direct where the water comes out. In many of these systems, the diverter control is on the faucet. This changes the water from flowing out of the faucet and directs it to the showerhead.

Thermostatic valve

The other option available is known as a thermostatic valve. This permits an individual to set the temperature of the water and regulate the pressure. There are separate controls for both. This feature is great for shower safety and for anyone who plans to install a shower with multiple outlets or for performance showers.

Shut-off valve

For additional water and utility bill savings, you should consider a shut-off valve or on-off button. With this device, you simply push a button or turn a lever to turn off the water from the shower head. When you’re finished soaping up, simply turn the water back on. The water returns and you don’t even have to readjust the water temperature.

Shower Valve Installation

A shower valve is not difficult to install, depending on exactly what you intend to do. If you are doing a simple replacement job, you can most likely do the job yourself in a matter of hours.

However, if you are planning to go with an extremely elaborate shower with multiple heads and different types of valves, you are probably better off getting a plumber or contractor to do the job. If you are going to put out thousands for a custom shower with special rain atmosphere showerheads, the installation is not where you want to start pinching pennies.

There is also a matter of building codes and insurance. As with any type of remodeling, you will have to find out exactly what the codes are in your area. In many cities, you are no longer permitted to install regular valves. For shower safety reasons you must put in either a thermostatic valve or a pressure balanced shower valve. If you do have any problems or the shower leaks and causes water damage to anything in the house, you may discover that your insurance is not going to cover the costs if you did the renovation yourself. Sometimes it is simply better to get a professional.

You can purchase shower valves here:

Be Like Trump: Installing a Television in Your Bathroom Mirror

Yeah, we know: having a television in your bathroom is a tad ridiculous. No question that’s why Donald Trump has them installed in all his hotel bathrooms! Who needs to watch television while they brush their teeth? But that’s not the point. It’s a luxury, something you can do to make your bathroom truly the best room in your house. With this addition, you can make a regular, old bathroom into your personal place of relaxation!

Televisions that are installed behind mirrors use some pretty interesting technology to keep them hidden. Your mirror will need to be two-way, partially reflective and partially transparent. These mirrors allow things that are brightly lit on one side of the mirror to shine through to a darker side, like a television. By placing a flat-screen television behind a polarized mirror, you can watch your favorite show while getting ready to go out or catch the news before you leave for work in the morning. Best of all, if you don’t want the television at all, simply turn it off, you will only see a mirrored surface where its screen normally appears!

You can purchase a plasma or LCD television screen specifically for mirror placement. Companies like Mirror Media and Seura offer many different choices for these televisions, many of them custom built for your bathroom design.

This is really a project for a professional installer because of the care necessary when handling a large mirror and heavy television. Your bathroom’s lighting may need to be changed, as the polarized mirror is more sensitive to glares and direct light than normal mirrors. Make sure your installer has worked with mirror TVs before and knows how to conceal the wires in the wall properly.

Your installer will need to fit the television into a cut out in the wall behind where the mirror will go. It can be wall hung or flush mounted to ensure that it has the sleek look mirror televisions are known for. If your bathroom doesn’t have a separate circuit or cable hook up, you will probably want an electrician to come check it out. Set up a consultation with one before you purchase your television to ensure that your bathroom is compatible with a mirror television and the cost of installation is within your means. If you are thinking about installing your television in an existing wall, you will probably need a tile installer’s help, as well. It is important that you get a television specifically made for this purpose, they are fog-free and waterproof, features a normal television doesn’t need to have.

No matter what you might think about the level of luxury, bathroom televisions can certainly add elegance and enjoyment to any home spa. Although it isn’t really necessary, wouldn’t it be nice to watch a movie while relaxing in the tub, or watch the traffic report while showering for work? Have your bathroom checked out for compatibility and do some research on the best technology, and you could have your own Trump hotel at home!

About Author:
Youri Naimark was an construction engineer for 20 years (specializing in coal mine construction). After moving to US in 2002, Youri scaled down and started a Denver tile installation company.

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Be Like Trump: Installing a Television in Your Bathroom Mirror