Shower Cubicles - 5 Things to Consider Before Purchasing

Although your overall budget will have a big effect on the choice of cubicles open to you, there are several other considerations that need to be taken into account before buying a shower cubicle to ensure your chosen shower will be suitable for your home.

Many of the points raised here are made to help you integrate the shower cubicle into your overall bathroom design.

Room Size and Cubicle Size

The cubicle needs to be of an adequate size to ensure it is useable without feeling cramped but not so large that it impinges on floor-space within the room. It should not be too visually imposing otherwise it can make the room feel smaller. Small shower cubicles (700mm square or less) should be avoided if at all possible as they offer very little space and can be restrictive for larger users.

The price of shower cubicles usually increases with the size of the unit but this is not always the case and there are usually some bargains to be had if you shop around.

Shower Cubicle Shape

The shape of the cubicle can almost be as important as the size of the cubicle when comes to the visual impact it can have in a room. If you are intending to include a large cubicle into a small room it is usually advisable to opt for a quadrant shaped unit. This shape curves away from the line of sight giving the impression of more space in the room while retaining a large showering area. Pentagon shaped cubicles can also achieve this effect but the finished result is a little more angular.

Shower Cubicle Glass

The glass used in most shower cubicles tends to be clear, toughened safety glass. Some glass has a modesty panel etched onto the surface and a few have the whole surface etched. Clear glass will help to make the room look bigger and will make the cubicle feel bigger when in use. Be aware that there have been several cases of counterfeit cubicles available on the market that were not made from safety glass so make sure you are buying from a reputable source.

Cubicle Frame

The overwhelming trend in bathroom design these days is toward a minimal, white and chrome, fuss-free look and cubicle manufacturers have followed suit. The sizes of the frames surrounding the glass of the cubicle have been reduced in size or even eliminated in some cases, to tie-in with the minimalist approach. Sometimes this has an effect on the overall adjustment available for installation which can be an issue if the cubicle needs to be fitted to out-of-true walls.

Shower Walls

Most walls are not completely square, flat or level, so the adjustment available from the cubicle needs to be sufficient to cope with any variations that might present themselves in the location you are siting the shower. Very uneven walls might need to be levelled and re-tiled prior to the installation of the cubicle.

Cat Litter Disposal - Is Cat Litter Flushable?

What is the proper method of cat litter disposal? If your cat is not litter trained, the answer is simple - clean up the poop with tissue paper and flush it, mop up the pee with more tissue paper and flush it. But what do you do after your cat does its business in the litter box? Can you still get rid of it the same way - is the cat litter flushable?

That depends on whether it is pee or feces, and what type of cat litter you are using. If you use sand for your cat's litter box, you should not flush it. Even though not much sand will stick to the cat poop, your toilet will choke up in the long run. The same goes for the other two main types of litter: clay cat litter and clumping cat litter. The plumber's bill to unclog your pipes will bankrupt you.

If you use crystal litter, which is made of silica gel, your job of cat litter disposal is slightly easier. Crystal cat litter absorbs cat urine into itself without clumping, so it is flushable in small amounts. Not much sticks to the cat poop either, so you can also flush that down the toilet. However, it is still not adviseable to do this regularly in the long run.

As for biodegradable cat litter, that depends. Some of them are made of rather large pellets which might also choke up your plumbing. Others are made of wood, or sawdust and might go through without any problems. Still, if you have a septic tank, realize that these material do not necessarily degrade immediately. We could be talking about years - which could cause your septic tank to become rather full. Somehow, the thought of used litter and cat poop coming out of my backed up drains leaves me with a cold sweat.

Some manufacturers have started to make flushable cat litter, in the face of calls for more convenience. Naturally, these flushable cat litter costs more. To make cat litter flushable, they use various biodegradable materials which are supposed to safely go through your plumbing. These newer types of cat litter will not turn into a sludge which can choke up your sewage pipes - in theory. Some plumbers beg to differ. In the course of their business, they have gone to homes where the sewage pipes and plumbing were choked up by flushable cat litter. Or so the embarrassed and distressed house occupant said. Who is lying, here? I do not know, but it is probably not adviseable to flush large amounts of litter down the toilet.

It is still better to dispose of the bulk of your cat's litter the old way - either bagged up together with the rest of your trash or carefully buried somewhere in the garden. In the garden, your cat's urine and feces would make a good fertilizer for your grass and flowers. Cat urine and feces can contain dangerous bacteria, so you should not use it to fertilize vegetables and fruit trees.

I must admit that a true flushable cat litter would be awfully convenient when it is snowing or raining heavily. It would really simplify cat litter disposal.

Marble Floor Tiles As The Decorative Choice For Bathrooms

One of the natural stone materials that is best for homes, is marble. Marble is famous for standing out as an elegant decorative element and flooring solution, that cannot easily be matched aesthetically by others.

This natural stone has been sought after for centuries, by architects, builders, artists and artisans, is deeply rooted in the annals of architecture, art, and in the development of modern civilizations. Marble was used to create lasting and famous monumental landmarks,and stands as a material with built-in reputations of artistry, durability and uniqueness, for use with any exterior or interior application.

Marble Is Well-Suited For Bathrooms

Seeing marble tiles on the bathroom floor is quite common these days,and is seen as a necessity if your goal is to create an elegant bath. These tiles are available either honed or polished.

Honed tiles are designed to provide more traction, while polished tiles provide a more elegant look, although they can be very slippery when wet, so bath mats need to be installed at critical points in a bathroom.Most modern-day home interior experts and decorators know the key to a truly tasteful bathroom is to utilize marble around the walls and the tub. Roman and Jacuzzi tubs look truly more elegant when wrapped in this type of stone.

This stone material is also popular on shower walls and in steam showers, however again, traction is an aspect that must be taken into full consideration. Marble mosaic tiles are often utilized in shower floors, and the grout lines are there to help provide the adequate footing to prevent slipping. Hand-carved marble trim pieces are available for use as frame bath mirrors, and a lot of marble accent designs will help to create your ultimate dream bathroom.

Marble Is a Versatile Material

Marble floor tiles are historically famous for their versatility. This type of natural stone is ideal for structures, and sculptures, and it can be easily used as wall tiles. The sculptures made up of marble look extremely beautiful. When you plan to use marble flooring and wall tiles for your interiors, particularly for your bathrooms, you need to consider asking for professional advice. You also need to take some effort in maintaining the beauty and shine of this natural stone.

Taking good care of this material, will help in keeping it shiny and elegant for years. You should never ever leave spills for a longer period of time. You require cleaning it right away in order to prevent it from staining. If you want to enhance the artistic value to your home, you need to use these tiles. The elegance and durability provided by these materials help for as worthy application.

However, you can enjoy the elegance only if you take some time out to care for this stone. Marble tiles for the bathroom can be created to provide a unique shine to this part of the house. This enhances the overall appearance of a particular room where it is installed. If you make extra effort towards installing this stone in the proper manner, you need to pay only little attention to maintaining the beauty of this stone.

To find a natural stone dealer in your area, check out the local yellow pages under Marble -- Natural stone, or you could also see Marble -- Cultured. You should see the stone descriptions first, because different manufacturers and dealers use many terms for essentially the same stone. Even if the marble comes from the same quarry or source or dealer, the colors and markings may vary.

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Bathroom Mirrors - Things to Consider When Buying

When you are decorating your house, it's easy to get excited about the theme of your living room, or the way that your bed spread will match the drapes in your bedroom - but you can't forget to pay close attention to another important room in your home, the bathroom. Too often do homeowners overlook the importance of one of the most basic bathroom elements which is their bathroom mirror.

When you're shopping for your bathroom mirror, there are a number of things that you need to consider. First and foremost, you need to consider if there are any practical limitations. For instance, is there a certain shape or size that your new mirror needs to fit into? Perhaps the type of wall that it will be one requires that it be mounted by hanging with screws. This is common with certain types of wall finishes that are difficult to use adhesives on.

Next, you need to make sure that your new bathroom mirror fits in with the major shapes of your bathroom. If you have a lot accessories of a certain shape, then you can narrow down your new purchase to the same shape. You can also consider how fancy your current theme is. This will help you narrow down what style your new mirror should be. If you have a very fanciful bathroom, you have a multitude of choices available to you. If your current theme is quite basic, you should have a very wide range of options.

There are many choices of designs that you can consider as well. Some bathroom mirrors look like they are set in an old picture frame, while others have no border at all. Just take some time to consider what you have available to you. Not enough people consider the importance of the look and feel of your bathroom. After all, there is no doubt that almost all of your visitors will visit this room sooner or later.