Money Saving Tips
Shower units
When you purchase a shower unit why not maximise the full money saving potential that comes with it. Here’s how! Your unit is free standing and thus self contained. When, like most people you are redecorating your bathroom, you tile it. Don’t tile behind the two wall facing sides, just seal the original wall if taken back to plaster with a coat of PVA sealer. In many cases you could leave the original tiles on instead. The following is an example of how much you could save:
Approx. 4 square metres of tiles at an average cost of £20.00 per sq metre = £80.00
Average cost of a tiling tradesman = £25.00 per sq metre =£100.00
Net saving = £180.00
Remove this saving off the cost of the unit and it probably comes out cheaper than your neighbour’s basic and ordinary shower yet you have all the benefits of hydro massage, body jets, great styling etc.
AND, if you already have an existing shower, here’s another, because the unit is free standing your plumbing costs are lower, no walls to cut into and no re-routing pipes. Just join the hot and cold water respectively from the old fixings to new flexi pipes!
Vanity units
Whilst you bathroom is undergoing its makeover and, like most, is having a facelift with fresh tiles. Fit the vanity unit first! Block off the back of the base unit or leave it if you are happy to see the old existing tiles (when you are on your hands and knees)! Now tile round it, it will give a better “fitted” overall look and you save around two sq metres of tiles. For example:
2 sq metres of tiles at an average cost of £20.00 per sq metre = £40.00
Tiling tradesman at a cost of £25.00 per sq metre = £50.00
Net saving = £80.00 not including border tiles if you are using them which if you are, could save an average further cost of £30.00!
Taps
When you purchase taps from anywhere and fitting them yourself, always add "Plumbers Mait" or equivalent to the waste / basin joints. We have yet to see factory seals that really "do the job". Just about all plumbers do this so take their tip!
Sealing the mable tops to the Vanity Units
Run a bead of silicone over the top surface of the unit then carefully place the marble top in the required position. With the basin, do exactly the same but a thicker bead, now slot the basin in. The splash back is also fixed the same way, against the wall and on the top of the work surface. When complete just place a very fine bead of silicone around the basin and splash back joint. Always use the correct bathroom silicone which, although dearer is much better. It doesn't discolour as the ordinary one, it's wipe clean in years to come and doesn't collect mould. Any excess you may wish to rub off either on the unit or the marble can be accomplished with the aid of a wipe. We prefer Wicks decorators wipes because they leave everything clean and dry.
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