Kitchens & bathrooms

Kitchens and bathrooms are extremely important areas.

Kitchens’ costs more to run than any other area in the home, so pay extra special attention when you are looking to make it cheaper and more efficient to run.

Kitchens and bathrooms are extremely important areas.

Kitchens’ costs more to run than any other area in the home, so pay extra special attention when you are looking to make it cheaper and more efficient to run.

New white goods, such as the cooker, microwave, fridge/freezer, washing machine and so on, carry special energy rating labels. In every case, the least expensive they are to buy the more expensive they are to run!

So your energy bill will go up and you will not be contributing significantly to your home’s carbon reductions!

One simple change you can make is to boil water in an energy efficient kettle. And by altering basic behaviours, such as using saucepan lids when cooking, will help to reduce energy costs

On average each one of us uses 150litres of water a day, mostly in the bathroom. By 2016 this must be reduced drastically to 80litres a day!

A bathroom’s water conservation performance is a vital. By installing the latest water-saving sanitaryware, baths, showers and washbasins, you can make a remarkable difference to what literally goes down the drain!

We must all be very water saving conscious so when planning a new bathroom it’s a good idea to carefully consider systems and appliances that help save the very last drop of water!

To replace your old water-guzzling toilet with new dual-flush version is a good starting point.

Also remember, modern plumbing technologies and technology, such as special pumped units, means that you can now install a bathroom and toilet in virtually any part of your home! Where there’s sufficient room, of course!

WHAT'S WHAT

Size matters, so whether it’s a kitchen or bathroom always design to fit the space! In older homes they are often smaller areas. If you can remove a wall without reducing space elsewhere or affecting structural stability, it could be a major advantage.

Make sure all surfaces are sound and will accept all new decorations and installations. Always bear in mind that kitchens and bathrooms create more moisture than any other part of the house and so walls, floors and ceilings need to be able to cope.

Ensure all basic plumbing is in top condition and that there are no old-style lead pipes or other ‘ancient’ devices. The pipework should all be copper or modern plastic and appropriate to deliver the correct water supply.

On the internet or in every local telephone book there are many kitchen and bathrooms specialists who can offer expert advice on what you can do using the very latest materials and techniques.