1. W
henitcomestobuyingandsellinghousesthe
bathroomisamajorconsideration.
Housebuildersshouldworkcloselywith
manufacturerstofindthebestchoiceoffixturesandfittings
thatwillmakebathroomsbothaestheticallypleasingand
functional.Bathroomscanbemulti-purposeandmulti-
functional,anoasisofescapismandrelaxationinspiredby
luxuryhotels,aplaceforreinvigorationorrelaxation.Or
whererequiredslightlymoreaestheticallysimplebutwith
addedfunctionalityforolder,orlessable,users.
modern lifestyles
“Extrawidebathledgesthatarecapableofbalancinga
wineglass(orbottle)onisagreatexampleof‘DIY’
versionsofmainstreamopulenceandrelaxationthat
correlatewithourmodernlifestyles,”saysRobinLevien,
internationaldesigneratIdealStandard.“Other
examplesofhowourmodernlifestyleshaveplayeda
partinbathroomdesignisbluetoothenabledmusical
mirrors,self-switchinglightingorshowers,tapsand
bathsthatcanbecontrolledviasmarttechnology.”All
ofwhichleaveshousebuilderswiththedifficulttaskof
incorporatingnewtechnologiesintotheirhouses.
Yetaddintotheequationanageingpopulationand
housebuildersarealsotaskedwiththerequirementto
ensurethatbathroomsarecomfortableandaccessiblefor
allusers.“Wall-hungsanitarywareisonesolution,
enablingtheWCandbasintobeinstalledata
comfortableheightfortheuser.Thewetroom,oropen-
planshoweringarea,isalsogaininginpopularityasit
removesthetrippinghazardofashowertraymeaninga
completere-designwon’tbenecessaryastheneedsof
thehouseholdchange,”saysMarkLarden,mdatGeberit.
IndeedthetrendforwetroomsisgrowingwithAMA
Researchpredictingfurthergrowthinthisareaof34%
by2019.“Multi-generationallivingandourageing
populationmeansthatconsumersarekeento
futureprooftheirbathrooms,”saysLarden.Withthesize
42 housebuilder february 2016
Kevin Stanleyreportson
theissuesandtrendsthatwill
setthetoneinnewbuild
bathroomsoverthecoming
year.Technologyandwater
savingcontinuetobekey,but
whatelseshouldhousebuilders
beawareofwhencreatingthe
perfectbathroomspace?
Comfort in mind
Roca has launched Malaga, a bathtub available in
seven different versions for design flexibility. If
space is at a premium and the aim is to save
water, Malaga could be the solution, the
bathroom manufacturer says.
Made from high-quality acrylic for durability
and ease of cleaning, the standard version has a
total capacity of 160 litres, while an ECO option
holds up to 131 litres, to encourage water-saving
without compromising on user comfort, Roca
claims. Both baths measure 1700mm x 700mm
and feature an integrated headrest.
The baths can also be specified with or without
grips and can be for a top or bottom fixing.
A lowered overflow is available on ECO models,
while the range features a wide ledge to enable
a shower screen to be fitted,“perfect for a space-
saving over-bath showering option in the smaller
bathroom”.
Roca’s Malaga
baths are space
and water saving
Top tubs
ofthe
042-44_HB_FEB16.qxp 25/01/2016 09:13 Page 42

2. oftheaveragebathroomlittlemorethanthatofaking
sizebedhousebuildersreallyarebeingpushedtofind
theverybestuseofspacetomeetallrequirements,so
cleversolutionsthatmakebestuseofthisspaceand
helptocreatethefeelingofspaciousnessarekey.”Trends
aresteeringtowardsminimaldesign,withfeaturessuch
ashigh-techfixturesandfittings,open-planshower
areasandwall-mountedsanitaryware,headds.
Housebuildersshouldalsobeawareoftheneedto
specifybathroomfittingsthatcomplywithwater
regulationsandwhichhavetheappropriate
certification.Thisisacostlyprocedureformanufacturers
andsomanychosenottosubmittheirproductsto
independenttesthouses,saysPaulCaneparo,contracts
salesdirectoratCrosswater.Buthewarns:“Failureto
specifyapprovedproductcanresultinthelocalwater
undertakerrefusingtoturnonthewatersupply.The
CrosswaterSpecBookisregularlyupdatedtoadvise
housebuildersofcompliantproduct.Thebathroomisa
keypartofthehomebuyer’sdecisionmakingsoitis
vitaltoensureabeautifullythoughtoutspace.”
As home owners spend more time and money on
improving their bathrooms and technology improves,
shower usage increases and creates greater demands
on shower tray and bath seals meaning that adequate
maintenance is important.“The first line of defence
against leaking shower trays and baths is the
ledge/tile sealant joint,”says Gerard Robinson at Seal.
“It should be remembered that the ledge/tile joint is a
‘maintained’joint meaning it is not regarded as a
permanent seal and must be monitored and
periodically replaced,”he counsels.The mechanical
failure of ledge/tile joints under tension due to joint
expansion is very often a result of the installer’s desire
to minimise the exposed sealant face, he explains.
“HydroHALT combines a revolutionary upstand strip
with a sealant and backer cord which provides an
innovative and superior solution to other sealants.”
shower control
There is also a growing need for thermostatic shower
control to ensure precise and safe user comfort.
Housebuilders should consider brands that offer
thermostatic technology to deliver maximum safety
levels.“This can include technology that balances out
fluctuations in water temperature and pressure, and
technology that ensures the outer surface of the
shower remains cool to eliminate the risk of scalding,”
says Michael Gray, training manager at Grohe.
‘It’s also important to maximise limited space,”he
continues.“If there’s enough space behind the wall, a
continuedonpage44
bathrooms
housebuilder february 2016 43
Bathrooms should be aesthetically pleasing and
functional. Pictured: Ideal Standard
The love affair with the traditional ladder towel rail remains strong. Pictured: Stelrad’s Decorative collection, part of its Aqua series
“Failure to specify approved product
can result in the local water undertaker
refusing to turn on the water supply”
Paul Caneparo, contracts sales director, Crosswater
042-44_HB_FEB16.qxp 25/01/2016 09:14 Page 43

3. continued from page 43
concealedshowercanprovideasleekoptionandincrease
spaceintheshoweringarea.Ifnot,ashowersystemmight
provideasolutionasthisoffersafixedshowerheadand
handheldshower,greatfordeliveringflexibilitytotheuser.
Withintheshowerarea,asquaredesignheadshower
isbecomingmorepopularandcanaddan“on-trend”
looktotheroom,Grayadvises.“Lozengeshapedshower
headsareanothergreatoptionandaredesignedwith
thehumanbodyinmind.Thelozengeshapemirrorsan
individual,shouldertoshoulder,toprovideoptimum
coverageofwater,forusersatisfaction,andadda
moderntwisttoabathroomspace.”
Whenitcomestoheatingthebathroomthereare
severaloptionsbuttheloveaffairwiththetraditional
laddertowelrailremainsstrong.Thetwistonthisisthat
housebuildersarenowlookingtointegrateadesigner
towelrailintothebathroom,showerroomorwetroom,
tonotonlywarmtowelsbutalsoheattheroomtoan
acceptabletemperature.“Stelrad’snewAquarangeof
designeranddecorativetowelrailsensurejustthat–
correctsizingisessential,aswithanyradiator,toensure
thattheradiatorwillprovidethelevelofheatneeded
fortheroominquestion,”saysChrisHarvey,marketing
manageratStelradRadiators.“Buttheinclusionofa
decorativeordesignertowelrailiscertainlyatrendthat
seemsdestinedtogrowinthemonthsahead.”hb
44 housebuilder february 2016
Time well saved
Mira Showers’Flight ModularWall panels have
helped contractors shave 12 months off a five-
year programme of refurbishment at a 250-home
estate whilst boosting tenant satisfaction.
“Thetenantslovethewallboardsbecausetheyare
somucheasiertokeepcleanandlookingsmartthan
tiles,”claimsGeorgeHarvey,contractadministrator
fortheFlagshipGroup,whichoperatesand
maintainsthehousesonbehalfoftheowners,
Brookgate.“There’sneveranymouldgrowthandthe
groutingalwayslooksniceandtidy.”Theestatein
Hadleigh,Suffolk,isaPFIprojectprovidinghomes
forMoDpersonnelatthenearbyRAFbase.
Designed for showering, bathing and hand basin
areas, the Flight ModularWall panels are a range
of tiled, waterproof wall panels which Mira
Showers says achieve high quality professional
installations, with greater ease and speed of
fixing than traditional tiling.This is a point
appreciated byTom Humphries, project manager
for Cocksedge Building Contractors.
“Time is a big concern on a job like this so this
product is ideal because we can do in one day
what would have taken us three,”he says,
explaining that otherwise they would have had to
rip out the existing tiles, make good the walls,
put on new tiles and then return to grout them.
Wall-hung sanitaryware enables theWC and basin to be installed at a comfortable height for the
user. Pictured: Geberit’s AquaClean 8000 showerWC
KEY CONTACTS
Crosswater www.crosswater-contracts.co.uk
Geberit www.geberit.co.uk
Grohe www.grohe.com
Hydrohalt www.hydrohalt.com
Ideal Standard www.ideal-standard.co.uk
Mira Showers www.mirashowers.co.uk
Roca www.uk.roca.com
Stelrad www.stelrad.com
Utopia www.utopiagroup.com
The importance of
storage space in the bathroom
Foramodernbathroom,thetraditionalmirrorcabinet
nolongerfitsthebill,accordingtoSamBall,marketing
manageratUtopiaFurnitureGroup.“Theonething
everyoneneedsregardlessofageandlifestyleis
plentyofpracticalstoragespaceinthebathroomand
potentialbuyersnowexpecttoseeatleastadequate
provisionofthis.No-onewantstospendwhatisoften
thelargestfinancialoutlayoftheirlifeonahouseonly
tofindtheyarefacedwithadditionalspendoncethey
havemovedintoaddvitalstorage.”
“Particularly popular”in Utopia’s range for the
developer and housebuilder at the moment is the
large mirror or large mirror cabinet –“a practical
addition to the bathroom that has the added
benefit of making the room seem more spacious”.
Currentprojectsoftenhavetheselargemirror
cabinets,whichalsoprovidegenerousamountsof
storage,teamedwithastylishwall-hungwashbasin
unitandWC,allpositionedonastudwall,saysGray.
Regardless of age and lifestyle, home owners
need plenty of storage space in the bathroom,
says Utopia
042-44_HB_FEB16.qxp 25/01/2016 09:14 Page 44