Latest Designer Bathroom Ideas and How To Guides for your Home

Having loose floorboards is a common, and depending on the noise they generate, an annoying aspect of domestic space. However, this type of remedial DIY work is normally straightforward in terms of skill required, as well as the money and time to be spent.

The simplest method of all is to fit material such as folded plastic, paper, or specially cut pieces of wood between or underneath the offending floorboards. Although it may sound like a temporary measure, it may do the trick sufficiently well, and last for long enough, to not require anything more.

An additional option is to tighten the screws, or perhaps to replace any faulty or missing screws or nails which are holding down the floorboards. It may be that the screws or nails have loosened over time. A word of warning here, though – inserting new screws or nails where there were none before may be hazardous if there are electrical cables or water pipes directly below the floor.

In cases where one or more floorboards have become damaged beyond repair, it may be necessary to replace them altogether. Clearly this will work only if a replacement can be found that matches the rest of the floor. If no matching replacement can be found, one option is to replace it regardless and then paint or colour the entire floor in a different colour. Another option is to replace the entire floor using new floorboards, or to use the empty space for something else, such as placing furniture over it.

Fixing a loose floorboard can potentially lead to a larger DIY project, such as installing underfloor heating.

When you are contemplating installing an underfloor heating system, you have a few decisions to make including whether you want it professionally installed or if you want to take on a DIY underfloor heating project.  Additionally, you will need to decide on the heating technology you want to use.  Here are some considerations if you are thinking about installing an electric underfloor heating system.

If there is a smaller area to heat (one to three rooms), an electric underfloor heating system costs less and is easier to install.  Additionally, they have a lower start-up cost than other types of heating systems.  However, you should be aware of the fact that the efficiency factor involved with the use of fossil fuels to generate electricity is considerably lower.

If you want to handle the installation as a DIY underfloor heating project rather than having it done by professional contractors, electric systems are relatively easy to install.  In addition to this, they are still more energy-efficient than conventional forced-air heating systems.  You can “zone” individual rooms and install an underfloor heating thermostat so that one room can be heated independently of the others.  This will save you money on your monthly utility bills.

Another advantage of electric underfloor heating systems is that the floor height build-up can be as thin as 1 mm.  The electric cables required for the system are usually placed on an installation board, or they can be installed directly onto the carpet padding or on top of the sub flooring.

When we think about shower trays we usually immediately picture the basic small square ones. However, there are other shower trays available and if you have a bathroom that is big enough to fit them in, you might want to go for a larger one.

There is a range of different shaped shower trays on the market, which makes it easy for you to select one that will suit your own particular bathroom. You can choose from the traditional square shaped models all the way up to large rectangular models that give you much more space to move in.

If space is at a premium in your bathroom you will probably be restricted to a square model, but you might also consider getting one with one corner angled off. This makes a huge difference to the look and feel of the bathroom, while not affecting the actual size of the shower in any fundamental way. You can also buy walk in shower trays that are really at the top end of what’s available. They tend to be of a P shaped design to ensure that you can get in easily and have plenty of room to move around in. 

As you can see, the shower trays you can choose from are many and varied and of course you have different materials to consider. Whatever design you ultimately choose, the most important thing is to decide what will work best in your own bathroom.

In recent years underfloor heating, also known as UFH, has become quite popular throughout the United Kingdom, Europe, and the United States.  Underfloor heating systems are easily installed in both existing homes and new builds.  Of course, there are various things to consider when installing an underfloor heating system that will affect which method of installation and heating will work best for your home.

In the case of a good underfloor heating system, your floor will become an integral part of that system.  In fact, the floor will actually become part of the insulation and heat emitting process.  Heating from the floor up will allow for a more uniform temperature throughout a room and a more evenly heated home.

There are two main types of underfloor heating systems – electric and water based.  The way they work is almost identical except in where they get their heat from.  Obviously, wet underfloor heating systems work with warmed water whereas electric underfloor heating draws warmth from electric heating cables.

The water-based underfloor heating system is ideal for homes equipped with high-efficiency condensing boilers.  It is also suitable for use with heat pumps and solar water heaters.  Heat is generated by mixing the water in the underfloor heating system’s pipes with hot water from the boiler.  Electric underfloor heating systems draw warmth from the heating elements, mats, and cables.

Just remember, different underfloor heating kits are manufactured for different installation methods.  Always be sure that you read each system’s instructions carefully before actually tearing up your floor or making any plans.

An easy DIY job is laying laminate flooring. If the longest wall in the room you are working in is straight and true you can start immediately with the first row along that wall. Lay the first line with the grooved edge facing the wall and a plastic spacer in place every two feet. If the wall is uneven, lay out a line of laminate flooring and, touching the most prominent area, mark the line of the rest of the wall on the boards.

Get a scrap of wood the same width from the wall as the widest point, and use this as a guide to make a pencil mark along the length of the laminates. You should then cut the pieces with an electric jigsaw for ease.

As before, lay out the first length, separated from the wall by the spacer. Each piece of laminate will either snap together or be held in place with a little glue. Make sure you stagger the successive rows by about a foot so as to give them the appropriate look. You can now proceed to lay the rest of the flooring making sure to pack them firmly against each other.

Cutting around doorframes can be tricky, so either make a template of the section you need to cut out or saw a section off the architrave to the thickness of the board and push it underneath.  Once the floor is completely fitted you can then reattach the skirting boards or fill in the remaining gap with a half rounded moulding to hide the expansion space.

Installing an underfloor heating system makes for an excellent DIY project if you are skilled at performing home improvements.  However, there are a few aspects of this endeavour that you should be aware of before jumping into the project.  The following is some advice to follow if you are planning on installing an electric underfloor heating system in your home.

- Remember the old adage “failing to plan means that you are planning to fail”.  This is especially true when you consider installing an underfloor heating system, whether it is a dry (electric) or wet (water) heating system.  Consider what electricity costs where you live in the UK because some areas are more expensive than others.  If the electricity is too costly, then you should consider going with a wet underfloor heating system.

- Depending on the quality of insulation that you have and the number of rooms that you are planning to heat, your usage will vary compared to other homes in your area.

- You can control the amount of energy that is consumed by installing an independent underfloor heating thermostat in each room that is going to be heated.  This is a very cost-effective measure as it will allow a lower temperature to be set in unoccupied rooms.

- Remember that as you are installing the underfloor heating system, the room that you are working in cannot be occupied and must be cleared of furniture.  You should install the underfloor heating system in the rooms that are used most often before those that are rarely used.

Shower enclosures or shower cubicles are the areas (usually small) in which people take showers. The purpose of the shower enclosure or shower cubicle is twofold – both to provide a place of privacy while so exposed, and also to prevent the water used whilst taking the shower from covering the whole of the bathroom floor.

Obviously, the first thing that needs to be considered before choosing a form of shower enclosure for your bathroom is the size of the bathroom in question. There are numerous kinds of shower enclosures, available in almost any size, so it is vital to choose one which will both fit nicely into your bathroom – while still leaving plenty of space – and which suits the plumbing in your bathroom.

Another thing to consider is the length of time you can expect the shower enclosure you choose to last for. Shower enclosures are generally quite expensive, so durability is a very important consideration – with a life span of at least ten years being the usual expectation for such an investment.

 The shower door needs to be assessed for the same consideration, as well as its efficiency in preventing water leakage; a rubber seal on shower doors is considered to be the best way to prevent water leaving shower enclosures and spilling out into the bathroom itself, while a metal door handle is always going to be more durable and long lasting than one made out of plastic. Thick frosted glass for the doors is the best option, for both durability and safety reasons.

Many people are now opting for underfloor heating rather than standard central heating as it has several benefits for the consumer. 

Operating an underfloor heating system can often work out to be a cost efficient alternative to other types of heating.  Using water underfloor heating can be a cheaper alternative as the water is heated to a lower temperature than in a system that uses wall mounted radiators.  This system also runs more quietly than conventional central heating. 

Underfloor heating is often installed as standard in newly built homes, particularly in small buildings.  It allows maximum use of space without radiators taking up wall space.  This also means that radiators are not gathering dust and are not causing problems when it comes to decorating a room. 

This also offers health and safety benefits, as there are no hot pipes or radiators for people to burn themselves on and the fixtures will not harbour dust mites which may be irritating for those who have allergies.  Having to cover radiators defeated the object of having heating as it meant that the heat was restricted. 

When floor heating is used in rooms such as kitchens and bathrooms which are prone to wet floors and condensation, the user will find that they will dry out much more quickly and damp will be less of a problem. 

Having underfloor heating is an advantage to home owners as potential buyers will often see it as an unusual feature that adds value to a property and will offer long term benefits.

Living in the cold climate of the United Kingdom, central heating radiators are an essential part of any household. Bathroom radiator designs, however, have come a long way from their bland, cold, purely functional origins. In recent years, however, radiator designers have realised that there is a large consumer demand for radiators that do more than just warm the house, but also compliment the interior decoration of it in surprising, colourful and tasteful ways.

The old fashioned white rectangle radiator has slowly but surely disappeared from the majority of British households, replaced by an almost unending choice of radiators in all colours and many sizes and shapes, including some truly bizarre and memorable ones such as spirals and whorls, and even some that resemble kinds of abstract works of art! This newfound wide variation of designer radiators also means that not only can you have a more aesthetically pleasing and imaginative kind of radiator, but that you can have radiators in different shapes, styles and colours in every room of the house if you so wish, for example children’s rooms can be adorned with designer radiators built in the shape of animals etc.

A bathroom radiator is essential and bathroom radiators come in many styles and colours. The variety of shapes and sizes has enough impact above and beyond mere style, of course – it also means that they can fit into almost any area of the room you wish to have one in. Modern radiators also heat up a lot quicker than the old fashioned models due to their use of materials such as aluminium and stainless steel as heat conductors. Searching through a radiator suppliers website such as UK Bathrooms will give a good idea of what designer radiators are out there and help you to make the perfect choice for your home.

Designer radiators have truly taken the radiator into the 21st century; a designer radiator can add an element of class and sophistication to any room.

Underfloor heating system insulation boards and tile backer boards are under-flooring boards specially designed for use with underfloor heating systems.

Why use underfloor heating insulation boards?

An installed underfloor heating system produces heat that travels in two directions – upwards into your floor and room, and downwards into the sub-flooring and screeds. While the former is exactly what is desired, the latter results in the loss of precious heat and energy. Using underfloor heating insulation boards prevents that unwanted loss of heat and energy, ensuring that your underfloor heating system is operating as efficiently as possible. The result is a room that is not only warms up more quickly, but also retains that warmth for longer. The rule of thumb is: the thicker the insulation board, the more effective it is.

Are there different types of underfloor heating insulation boards?

The first type is the tile backer boards for wooden sub-flooring. Tile backer boards are made from a lightweight type of insulated board that is designed to be fixed to prepared wooden sub-floors. Their high compressive strength makes them suitable for use with under tile heating, while their waterproof, rot-resistant design makes them perfect for use in wet areas like bathrooms.

The second type is the thermal insulation boards for concrete sub-flooring. These are designed for use over solid concrete sub-floors and cement screeds. Like tile-backer boards, they are designed to support extensive and long-term static loads. They are also lightweight, waterproof, and rot-resistant.

While installing underfloor heating insulation boards is not always mandatory, doing so will always improve the performance of your underfloor heating system.