Latest Designer Bathroom Ideas and How To Guides for your Home

Bathrooms have long been underrepresented by interior designers, that is until now. Finally, one of the most critical rooms of the house is getting a makeover and the one item most people ignore, the bathroom radiator, is standing out with style.

Designer radiators are making their way into homes everywhere. People are finding that a designer radiator is an inexpensive way to quickly add dash and style to a room, while increasing comfort and energy efficiency. Old radiators can be horribly inefficient, wasting your hard-earned money on inefficient heating. Today’s new designer radiators can heat your bathroom for much less money, in fact, many of them are programmable or can be installed with a programmable thermostat, which only turns on when you want it to.

Radiators by Reina, Lazzarini and others are so sleek and slim that you’ll gain floor space as well as warmth and comfort. In fact, many of the designer radiators can be mounted on the wall or in a corner and also hold towels. Imagine nice warm towels after your bath and a designer radiator to update the room.

Today’s designer radiators are much more reasonably priced than you might think. Compare the cost of an old, stodgy radiator to the sleek chrome or brushed metal designer models and you’ll see that for just a little more money you can purchase a radiator that has had attention to style incorporated into the design. 

When friends and relatives visit, they invariably use your bathroom, so why not treat them to a room that reflects you and your unique style? Take that old, inefficient radiator out and install a sleek, efficient designer radiator. You’ll wish you had done it sooner.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Underfloor heating installation is normally more or less the same regardless of the system chosen, being water pipe, electric cable or mesh based. Water or wet underfloor heating installation places a system of underfloor water pipes in a solid floor environment. The installation can be done professionally or by using underfloor heating kits on a DIY basis. Unless the DIY individual knows how to use concrete mixers and is also confident with laying concrete or stone/tile cutting, then perhaps the installation is better undertaken by a professional.

Water pipe underfloor installation is among the oldest forms of underfloor heating. It was popularised in the West by the American architect Frank Lloyd Wright in the early twentieth century. Wright had seen a Korean underfloor heating system in Japan, known as ondol.

Modern systems consist of water pipes installed in concrete foundations or in a relatively thin layer of concrete – known as gypsum – or on wooden foundations on the sub floor. Floor support may have to be added when water underfloor heating is used as the weight of the installation may be considerable. When done on a DIY basis, it is advisable to check the weight restrictions of the water underfloor heating system with a professional.

The benefit of using concrete as a support and surrounding for water underfloor heating is that it stores heat effectively. Underfloor heating via a concrete floor is thereby one of the most cost-efficient means of heating spaces as it requires comparatively much lower levels of energy. It is also long lasting heat: takes more time to heat but is slow to cool when compared with other systems.

One of the best things about underfloor heating is the simple fact that it delivers an almost perfect temperature balance between the floor and ceiling of a room.  This is due to the combination of radiant and confected heat. This is far superior to the traditional way of heating houses that has been used over the years, where a central heat point such as a fireplace, or central heating radiators, have pushed hot air into the space that then circulates up to the top of the room.  This rising air creates draughts as it intermingles with the cool air. This is called convected air, or warm air that rises (as does all warm air) making the ceiling the warmest place in the room. But with heat from underfloor heating systems an estimated 50% of the warmth of the entire room comes from the floor itself, and since the heated floor area releases heat evenly it is therefore more efficiently distributed throughout the whole room.

This is quite possibly one of the most ideal heating situations for any room in the house: warm feet, cool head, and a perfect atmosphere for relaxation. Considering the fact that every individual wants their home to be the ultimate relaxation zone, underfloor heating systems are the most efficient way to create the ultimate in comfortable home environments.

Underfloor heating systems come in a variety of types, ranging from wet underfloor heating systems to underfloor electric heating systems, and they can be used in conjunction with a variety of floor finishes. 

Consumers need to take care when choosing wooden floors suitable for use over underfloor heating.  There are several suppliers of oak flooring, as well as other types, that are designed for this purpose. 

These types of floorings can withstand the high temperatures that they will be in contact with from the heating but will help to regulate the heat flowing into the room.

As wood is a natural substance it will expand and contract according to the heating conditions in the room and the moisture levels that it is exposed to.  During the colder months the wooden boards may contract slightly as the air in the room is likely to be drier, thanks to the heating.  Summer months are when the heating is switched off and there is more likely to be moisture in the air so the boards will expand slightly.  The use of underfloor heating makes this process more pronounced as the boards are exposed to the higher temperatures. 

The use of Tectonic engineered boards which are specially designed to resist this movement is advised.  These boards are put together in layers for a stronger result.  It is also advised to use boards that have a maximum width of 13 cm, as wider boards will have a more pronounced movement and gaps can be kept to a minimum with this width. 

When using the underfloor heating it is a good idea to acclimatise the floor gradually, keeping the heat low at first and slowly increasing the temperature over a period of a couple of months.