Consolidated Plumbing Blog

You’ve decided that the durability of a cast iron bathtub is right for you. Now how do you go about whittling down a sea of options to find the ideal tub for your renovation?

Follow this simple 5-step guide and you’ll be washing away your worries in no time.

1. Measure Your Expectations

Unless you’re shopping for a new build or have a carte blanche budget, you’ll need to know the dimensions of your current space before heading out to showrooms to browse the wares.

Bust out your trusty tape measure and jot down the exact length, width and depth of the space available for your new tub.

Do you plan on alcove style, undermounted, drop-in or free-standing? Do you need to calculate room for a tiled ledge around the tub? Take precise measurements and consider all aspects of the installation.

2. Contemplate the ‘Who’ and ‘How’ of Usage

Are you the type to light candles and soak until the wicks end? Or is your bathtime a no-nonsense exercise in efficiency?

How you plan to use your tub plays an important role in the shopping process. The more often you plan to fill ‘er up and sip a glass of red, the more you ought to be willing to invest in the experience.

Think about which members of your household are most likely to take long baths. There’s no reason to install an extra-long tub if tall family members prefer the shower!

3. Ponder Special Considerations

From drain location to water supply and even the swing of your bathroom door, there are a plethora of special considerations that can influence your choice of tub.

Here are 3 common pitfalls to avoid:

• Not enough hot water capacity. Upgrading to an extra-large soaking tub could backfire if your water heater can’t pump out enough steamy gallons to fill the tub to 2/3.
• Not enough space for equipment. Whirlpools and jetted tubs require pumps, switches and timers for installation. Be sure to include this additional gear in your measurements.
• Not enough strength in the floor. Cast iron tubs are heavy, so talk to your contractor about weight limitations if your remodel is not on the ground floor.

4. Test Out the Tubs

Just like purchasing a new mattress, the only way to know for certain that a tub will provide the comfy soak of your dreams is to climb in.

Don’t be shy. Take off your shoes and get on in, right there in the showroom!

If you’re having trouble finding a tub that feels just right, consider the following:

• Try tubs with backrests of differing heights, shapes and slopes.
• Do you need molded armrests or a factory-installed grab bar?
• Can you extend your legs while in a relaxed, reclined position?

Remember, loving the aesthetics is important but finding a shape that helps you relax is paramount.

5. Choose a Brand You Can Trust

Cast iron tubs aren’t the cheapest on the market, but they are a decades long investment in your home. This is not the time to pinch pennies, and there is no substitute for quality craftsmanship.

Opting for a premier boutique brand such as Cheviot out of British Columbia guarantees your tub will perform for years to come. Each Cheviot tub is meticulously crafted for timeless luxury and longevity, and they are available at Consolidated Plumbing Supply.

As kitchen design evolves, homeowners are looking beyond the classic stainless steel sink for inspiration. One material making significant headway in the market is composite granite.

Durable, versatile and available in a selection of colors, composite granite sinks feature a long list of pros without any major cons. It’s truly a fabulous option if you’re on the fence regarding sink material.

Extraordinarily Durable

Manufactured with finely ground stone and a binding acrylic resin, composite granite production uses a special chemical procedure. The material produced is exceptionally scratch- and chip-resistant for years of hassle-free use.

Stainless steel must be stretched and can contain weak corners. Composite sinks come off the mold with a uniform thickness and guaranteed strength.

Quiet & Hygienic

Composite granite sinks are quieter compared to stainless steel when you’re handling dishes, pots and pans.

Boasting a nearly impermeable surface, they are easy to keep bacteria-free.

Colorful & Affordable

Compared to a natural granite sink, composites are noticeably less expensive.

Additional benefits include a broader range of colors, more uniform tone and the fact that composite sinks do not need to be sealed.

Kohler Ups the Ante

New to the composite granite market, Kohler recently unveiled their industry-shifting Neoroc line.

Side by side with similarly priced competitors, Kohler’s Neoroc is smoother with a pleasant, silky feel. Color tones are deeper and the rich matte finish is specifically engineered to complement countertops.

Neoroc’s surface is heat-resistant up to 750° F, a full 200+ degrees higher than any other brand. Heat resistance is imperative as to avoid melting the resin.

Easy to Clean

Non-porous and stain-resistant, maintaining your Neoroc sink is as simple as wiping it clean with soapy water after every use.

A periodic application of mineral oil will help your sink maintain out-of-the-box luster for years to come.

Note that steel wool and strong abrasive cleaners can dull the surface of composite granite sinks. Use only mild abrasives when dealing with stubborn messes.

Getting to Know the Cairn Line

Cairn is one of the most popular designs using Neoroc composite granite. Intended for undermount installation, Cairn sinks create a seamless transition with your countertop.

Single bowl, double-equal and large/medium double-bowl options are available. Each design comes with a sink rack for dishwashing convenience and additional protection from scratches.

Cairn’s transitional style feels right at home in both traditional and modern kitchen themes.

Are you a homeowner who loves to say “The party’s at my place!”? Would you rather stay in and have friends over than go out on the town? Do you dream of a kitchen that’s built for entertaining?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, this is the post for you.

Piecing together a kitchen optimized for hosting isn’t difficult, but it does require a specific mindset. Let’s look at how the unique design process when planning a kitchen fit for a get-together.

See Past the Walls

Knocking out a wall is generally considered a luxury or last-resort when planning a full-scale renovation, but there’s no way around a genuine need for room to move.

A multi-functional kitchen where guests can mingle and socialize and the chef can finish cooking the meal requires a lot of space. If you don’t have the square feet, you’ll need to make them.

Open Up the Space

An open-plan layout incorporates the workstation and family room into a single living space. A large island will serve as the focal point of this ‘extended’ room and seamlessly meld the areas together.

Including an island provides a bevy of benefits. Guests can interact with the host without impeding on the cook’s mise-en-place. Additional cabinetry space allows for luxurious add-ons such as a warming drawer, icemaker, wine cooler or even second dishwasher to accommodate extra plates.

Doubling down on the potential need for expansion, if your home’s not currently set up for an open-plan layout, contemplate saying farewell to a wall or two to make it happen.

Reconsider Cooktop Placement

Conventionally, the #1 advantage of a kitchen island is added real estate for food prep – but when entertaining, you may want the extra space to play a different role.

Consider installing your oven in the island and filling the former location with additional countertop.

By the time guests arrive, most of your prep is already complete. Place the cooktop directly in front of the dining surface for easy conversation and a fun “chef’s table” experience for your visitors.

Pro Tip: If you move your oven, don’t forego an intelligent work triangle. Adjust sink and refrigerator locations accordingly.

Modernize Design Aesthetics

A more contemporary kitchen theme is more likely to dazzle guests than traditional or old-fashioned motifs. That’s not to say a homey feel won’t be an inviting atmosphere for your visitors, but modern spaces tend to reflect a more festive environment.

Consider breaking a formerly iron-clad design faux pas: hang a flat screen television to incorporate sporting events, awards shows or other important happenings into the party.

A well-functioning garbage disposal is a cook’s best friend, grinding up and whisking away food scraps in a jiffy. While purchasing a disposal unit may not be the most exciting facet of your kitchen renovation, the decision can have long-lasting effects on the functionality of the most important room in your home.

In this guide, we’ll cover vital features to look for in a garbage disposal and help you make the smart choice.

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America is home to some of the purest municipal water supplies on the planet – but even in the cleanest of pipes, contaminants are present.

Whether you’re considering filtration for drinking water or a whole-house decontamination system, this post will shed light on the types of pollutants entering your home and the benefits of toxin removal.

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It’s no secret that a full-scale kitchen renovation is a huge fiscal and logistic undertaking. If you’re not in the position to pony up, no worries – creative tricks will let you start piecing together the kitchen of your dreams for less.

Installing boutique quality knobs, handles, pulls and latches for your cabinets is an easy workaround that produces fabulous results. You’ll be amazed at the aesthetic upgrade achieved with a fresh coat of paint and top-grade cabinetry hardware featuring sleek, modern designs.

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Transforming your plain old bath into a luxurious home spa is slated to be a popular design choice for 2017. As people put in more hours and energy at work, there’s a real need for space to unwind and revitalize at home.

Enter Steamist steambaths.

Today’s residential steam rooms are more advanced than ever. An underappreciated indulgence, the benefits of steam extend well beyond healthy pores.

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A well-rounded plumbing supply showroom features not only cutting edge technologies from the industry’s biggest players, but also unique products crafted by talented artisans at a smaller scale. The inimitable, passionate styles of boutique vendors can quickly transform your space.

Lovers of the outdoors and natural building products would be wise to consider Stone Forest when shopping kitchen and bath materials.

Stone Forest’s founder and owner, Michael Zimber, cites his intimate relationship with stone and water as the inspiration for the company’s design vision. A passion for bringing nature’s grace into the home led him to leave his career as a rock-climbing/river-rafting guide to venture into the world of kitchen and bath supply.

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It used to be true that an extravagant kitchen makeover necessitated a natural stone finish, but no more. Today’s composite countertops are more luxurious than ever, and quartz can hold its own in even the most affluent of homes. Here are six reasons to consider quartz for your kitchen renovation.

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Online shopping has revolutionized the way we buy consumer goods. Instead of driving down the road to our local brick and mortar, we crack open our laptop and head straight to Amazon.

But not all products are well-suited for internet shopping. Here’s why it’s a good idea to visit a plumbing supply showroom before your bathroom or kitchen remodel.

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