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Sliding Shower Doors

admin — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 04:24:59 +0000

Shower doors come in a great many number of various shapes, sizes, materials, and designs. They do, however, fall into one of three basic categories, folding, hinged, and sliding doors. While folding doors are typically found on bathtub shower installations, hinged doors are most common with walk in shower enclosures. Sliding shower doors, on the other hand, can be used for both bathtub enclosures and walk in shower units, making them the more versatile of the three designs.

How Do Sliding Shower Doors Work?

A sliding shower door works in a manner similar to that of a sliding patio door. The assembly is comprised of a support frame with built in mounting tracks, one or two sliding panels, and possibly one or two fixed panels. The most common styles will have two sliding panels to allow bathers to access the shower from either side of the unit. Each panel slides either in front of or behind the other panel, allowing them to be mounted parallel to each other within the track.

Other enclosure designs will have one fixed panel and one sliding panel. While this restricts access to the shower unit to one side or another, it also reduces the potential wear and tear on the fixed panel. Most designs that incorporate a fixed panel will allow the option to choose which side of the enclosure provides the most beneficial access points.

For some larger shower enclosures, two fixed panels may be installed on the outer sides of the sliding panels in order to better bridge the gap in the opening without having to increase the width of the panels, potentially making them too large and bulky. The smaller the panels are and the less they way, the easier it will be to slide them within the track.

What Are Sliding Shower Doors Made From?

Sliding doors are typically manufactured from wither plexiglass or glass, both offering a transparent or semi-transparent appearance. The materials can also be frosted or etched with various designs and patterns. The tracks in which the doors rest are almost always made from metal. There are, however, a number of new glass sliding door styles on the market which are essentially frameless in design. The outer edges of the glass are coated in a thick silicone which not only buffers and smooths the edges, but also allows the doors to slide easily without the need for a traditional frame system. Instead of the door hardware being mounted onto the metal frame, it is mounted directly onto the glass itself.

Outdoor Showers

admin — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 02:19:19 +0000

Before the advent of indoor plumbing, it wasn’t necessarily common for people to shower indoors. While many are familiar with the idea of an outhouse, or an outdoor toilet, not many people realized that these were just as common as outdoor showers. In fact, many cultures today still rely on outdoor showers for their bathing ritual. Even if you do prefer to shower indoors, there are also several other reasons to consider an outside shower.

What Is An Outdoor Shower?

Just as the name implies, it is a shower that is installed or used outdoors. Outside showers can be either fixed and permanent installations or portable units, depending on the specific need they are designed to meet.

Fixed Outdoors Showers

The most common reason people choose a fixed outdoor shower installation is to provide a bathing area convenient to their pool or spa. Since the water used in the pool contains so many various chemicals, many people prefer a quick rinse off each time they exit the pool in order to wash the chemicals off their skin and out of their hair. These units can also be found on public beaches to allow swimmers the same chance to wash the salty ocean water from their body before leaving the beach for the day.

These types of showers also come in very handy after a long day of working outdoors, perfect for washing away at least a portion of the dirt before going back inside to finish cleaning off. This quick wash off can also help to avoid tracking excess dirt or other debris into the house.

In the Japanese cultures, the use of soaking tubs is very common. These are large bathtub like fixtures designed for bathing and relaxation. The majority of the actual bathing, however, takes place in an outdoor shower as the people of the country prefer to enter the soaking tub with their bodies already having been cleaned. The cleansing process that occurs in the soaking tub is designed more for the mind than it is for the body.

Many environmentalists are also starting to realize the benefits of showering outdoors. While most people believe that the soaps and shampoos used during the bathing process would be harmful to the environment, many products are available that have no negative effects when exposed to plants or trees. This allows consumers who wish to conserve water to use the run off shower water for other purposes, such as watering flowers and plants to caring for their lawns. The water can either be collected into a bucket or other container via a drain, or it can simply be routed into a run off drain that disperses onto the yard.

These various types of permanent outdoor showers are connected to standard plumbing lines and typically have the same hot and cold water features that an indoor shower would possess. Some beach and pool showers may be limited to cold water, but after a day of being in the heat of the sun, the cold water can be quite refreshing. Home installed outdoor showers are often build with some type of enclosure that surrounds them offering a level of privacy to the bather. This may be anything from a basic shower curtain on a circular rod, to an elaborate and decorative fenced in area.

Portable Outdoor Showers

A portable outdoor shower is most often found in the possession of an avid camper. Outdoor camping showers are a perfect way to bring a small bit of the luxuries from home out into the wilderness with you. While most people use a basic outdoor camping shower that contains a water reservoir that can be filled at local streams or rivers, other prefer to bring their own water with them. Many high end camping shower can also be purchased with a built in propane water heater, allowing the campers access to hot water while out in the wilderness. The reservoir tanks are typically designed to be broken down into a flat configuration to make storage and transportation easier.

While the number of outdoor toilets has declined significantly over the years, aside from the units used for large sporting events or other public gatherings, the number of outdoors showers seems to be rising. Many consumers simply enjoy the feeling of being able to bathe outdoors, regardless of the environmental or practical benefits. Others value outdoor showers for the various conveniences they do provide. For campers outdoor showers are just another way to make their camping experiences slightly more comfortable, while still allowing them to enjoy the outdoors for all its beauty and wonder.

Stainless Steel Utility Sinks

admin — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 21:08:45 +0000

For most homeowners, one of the most convenient fixtures they can have in their homes is a utility sink. While, technically, utility sinks are typically installed indoors, they are still considered part of the overall home fixture grouping. They are designed to withstand heavy impact, have a high resistance to a variety of potentially harmful items, such as rust, stains, and chipping. Overall, utility sinks are meant to deal with some of the highest levels of use and abuse, as compared to any other fixture in the household. Because of this, the material chosen to fabricate the utility sink from must be chosen carefully. While many indoor sinks are becoming increasingly popular when made from a variety of beauty materials, such as glass, marble, and copper, utility sinks do not have the luxury of being built from these types of materials. In order to be able to withstand such a range of elements and uses, stainless steel utility sinks are the most common style found for a number of reasons.

What Is Stainless Steel?

Stainless steel is created by combining steel with chromium. By definition of the standards used to describe stainless steel, it must have at least 10% of its makeup comprised of chromium. While steel itself is an impressive metal, stainless steel offers a much wider range of benefits, particularly for household use. The addition of the chromium to the steel gives it a highly corrosive resistant quality, making it ideal for outdoor use where exposure to the elements on a regular basis can occur.

What Are Stainless Utility Sinks So Popular?

A stainless utility sink is the preferred item of choice for garages and workshops for many reasons. Stainless steel is extremely rust resistant, allowing it to be subject to rain, snow, and other moisture sources without risk of rust damage. It is also highly scratch resistant, allowing it to be subjected to a range of items that would potentially damage sinks made form other materials. If scratches do occur, the nature of stainless steel allows them to be buffed out with little effort. Since a utility sink’s likeliness of exposure to paints and other potentially stain causing items is highly likely, the stain resistant qualities possessed by stainless are also a must have feature. With regards to price, the wide availability of stainless, combined with its low effort manufacturing, allows it to be one of the most affordable metal on the market for household fixtures.

Wall Mount Utility Sinks

admin — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 19:34:24 +0000

When it comes to outdoor work around the house, everyone knows that chores tend to be much messier than those done indoors. From yard work, to painting, to car repairs, many homeowners also try their best to keep the messes associated with these chores outside as much as possible. Because of this, items such as utility sinks are widely popular, particularly for people who enjoy working outside on various household projects. Typically installed in a garage or workshop, a utility sink may not be much to look at, but it can sustain a great deal more abuse than any sink you have indoors. While it was typically common to have the sinks mounted onto a cabinet or on a four legged metal base, the newest trend involves wall mount utility sinks.

What Are Utility Sinks?

Utility sinks, in general, are outdoor sinks meant to accommodate heavy duty tasks, as well as other duties that many people would consider too much of a mess to bring indoors. They can be used for a variety of purposes, from washing up after a do it yourself oil change on the car, to cleaning supplies after a painting project, to bathing the family dog. Because of the nature of the duties the sink is designed to perform, they are built extremely durable, with more emphasis but on function and construction than visual appearance. They are, by no means, unattractive fixtures, however, they are typically very simple and plain in design, unlike many popular styles of sinks for kitchen and bathroom use.

What Is A Wall Mounted Utility Sink?

The majority of utility sinks were designed to be mounted of four legged steel bases. This offered a stable base for the large sink to rest on. Others were designed to be supported by wooden cabinet fixtures, though this option tended to be reserved for sinks being used in indoor environments, such as laundry rooms. Wall mounted utility sinks, on the other hand, offer the same sturdy support structure as a steel base sink, but tend to present a slightly more appealing visual design. The sink itself is attached to the wall by a series of brackets. It is supported by a variety of rods and other support structures that are attached to the weight bearing studs within the wall itself. This mounting option allows full support for the weight of the sink, as well as any items it may contain. On a practical note, it also frees up the underside of the sink for storage of nearly any items, with the size restrictions presented by the other two types of support bases having been eliminated.

Utility Sink Faucets

admin — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 18:12:13 +0000

The overall trend behind home design ha evolved over the years from strictly functional in nature, to more convenient in nature, where possible. Because of this, many fixtures are now essential parts of our household that may not have been around in the past. Some items, such as laundry utility sinks, have been replaced by modern washing machines. The utility sink itself, however, is still a regular staple in many homes because of the convenience it can offer in the laundry room, as well as several other areas of the home. If you are on the market for a new utility sink, the one decision that many people take for granted is selecting appropriate utility sink faucets. This purchase, however, is just as crucial as buying the right sink itself.

What Is A Utility Sink?

Known by many names, including a laundry sink, a garage sink, or a garden sink, a utility sink is a large fixture designed to work in the same basic fashion as our kitchen and bathroom sinks. They are, however, created much larger than standard sinks in order to accommodate significantly larger volumes of water. They are also designed to handle tasks that are much more heavy duty in nature than those we tend to use our standard sinks for.

They are most commonly made from metal or thick acrylic, a more durable form of plastic. While this may seem like a limited selection, it is primarily due to the fact that the sink needs to be able to withstand exposure to the outdoor elements on top of handling tasks that potentially involve high impacts, heavy weights, and exposure to corrosive materials. They are almost always square or rectangular in shape and can measure several feet wide as well as deep. The base for a utility sink is typically either created in a four legged design or as a sturdy cabinet base. The four legged option is the most common as it allows access to the underside of the sink for maintenance and storage.

Why Are Utility Sink Faucets Different?

Upon first glance, utility faucets do resemble certain styles of indoor faucets commonly found in kitchens and bathrooms. For the most part, this is correct. The major difference lies in the fact that, while many styles of faucets are suited for indoor use, only one design is best suited for use as a utility faucet. This design is often a three stemmed unit, comprised of two water control levers or knobs and a central water spout. The water controls are typically very plain in design, created for function and ease of accessibility and use. The central water spout is much taller than a standard water spout, typically raised off the sink’s rear lip by a foot or more. The added height built into the water spout further increases the sink’s ability to accommodate larger items. Tall or bulky objects can slip under the spout with ease, further increasing the size limit of items the sink can handle. This is especially useful in garages and gardens, when items such as large planters, paint buckets, and long tools need to be cleaned and washed within the utility sink. Utility sink faucets are almost always made from stainless steel, the most durable material available when it comes to being able to tolerate heavy use as well as outdoor exposure.

Utility Sinks: A Definitive Guide

admin — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 16:05:49 +0000

When most people think of sinks, they immediately think of the bathroom and kitchen in a home. After all, these are the two rooms in a home that will always contain at least one sink. Some homes are also equipped with indoor or outdoor entertaining areas, complete with built in bar sinks. There are, however, several other areas of the home that may be making use of the conveniences a sink can provide. Utility sinks, in particular, are designed to meet the majority of sink needs that those in the bathroom or kitchen are unequipped to handle.

What Is A Utility Sink?

A utility sink, sometimes referred to as a laundry sink, is a fixture typically designed more for function than form. Unlike bathroom and kitchen sinks, which appeal to consumers based on their appearance as well as their functionality, they are intended to be able to handle heavy use in typically less than attractive environments. They are usually very large in size, often measuring several feet wide, as well as several feet deep. Utility sinks are designed to handle a wide range of duties, hence the various names that many people know them by.

Utility sinks are typically made from metal or a heavy duty plastic. They are designed to be able withstand much heavier use than standard sinks. Because of their larger size, they are often mounted on sturdy legs or pedestals, as opposed to a cabinet or vanity like base. Utility sinks are made to be functional, not beautiful. While those designed for indoor use, such as the ones found in laundry rooms, are made to be visually appealing, they are still very simple in design. Those designed for outdoor use, such as those found in garden sheds or garages, are typically very industrial looking. Unlike bathroom or kitchen sinks, utility sinks can handle heavy impact, as well as potential prolonged exposure to the elements.

Laundry Utility Sink

One of the original uses for utility sinks was as an addition to a home’s laundry room. Before automatic washers and dryers became a standard in many homes, laundry was often done by hand. The large laundry utility sinks provided a sizable area for dirty clothes to be soaked, washed, and rinsed, before being hung outside to dry. The added size that laundry sinks possessed also made them ideal for washing large loads of laundry at one time, cutting the overall time for laundry duties substantially. When not in use for washing purposes, the sink could be used to store dirty clothes, let soiled clothes soak to help remove stains, or even dye fabric on occasion. In some cases, the utility sink in laundry rooms were also used in place of mop buckets when the floors in the house were being cleaned. Instead of having to deal with dumping dirty mop water out, all the homeowner had to do was open the sink drain to wash away the dirty mop water.

Garden Utility Sink

For homes equipped with gardening sheds, utility sinks were a common fixture as well. They were perfect for holding pots while they were being filled with soil and planted with seeds or plants.

They could also be used for washing pots as various plants were being changed out. If vegetables were being grown, the utility sink could be used for washing the produce after it had been picked before taking it inside the house. The sink could be used for easily filling watering cans, a chore that could often prove difficult in a standard size sink. They were also handy for washing off garden tools after they had been used. Last, but not least, the sink offered a place to wash up after a long day gardening, avoiding the need to try and enter a house and find your way to a sink with heavily soiled hands.

Garage Utility Sink

One of the most common locations for a utility sink was in the garage. These heavy duty sinks were ideal for a variety of outdoor needs. If you were painting your home, a utility sink provided an ideal area for cleaning paintbrushes and other tools, eliminating the concern you would normally have of damaging an inside sink with the cleaning task. The sinks were commonly used for cleaning tools in the garage after they had been used, allowing them to be put away clean, thereby extending their potential lifespan. Utility sinks also offered an ideal spot for washing outside pets. Indoor pets could be washed in a garage sink as well, or in a laundry room utility sink if one was available. For the most part, a large percentage of work conducted outdoors involved larger messes. From changing the oil in the car to pulling weeds from the yard, any outside chore could be easily cleaned up after with the use of a utility sink in the garage. Smaller detached garages were also often equipped with small utility sinks. These served the same purpose as the larger garage versions but took up less space. A small utility sink was perfect for light duty use, but was still able to withstand the heavy duty functions it was sometimes called upon to do.

Utility Sink Cabinets

With nearly any variety of utility sink, a cabinet feature was also a handy additional feature to have installed. Often nothing more than a two door storage cabinet, these spaces offered the perfect companion accessory to a utility sink. In laundry rooms, a utility sink cabinet was often sued to store laundry soap, fabric softener, stain remover, fabric dyes, and any other laundry related products. For garden areas, the cabinets typically held an array of gardening tools, extra pots, fertilizer, pesticides, and other items that were needed on hand when working in the garden. Utility sink cabinets in the garage were often used to store items for the car, such as motor oil or transmission fluid. They could be used for keeping painting items localized in one area, such as brushes, paint thinner, and touch up paint. Overall, a utility sink cabinet makes the perfect companion to a utility sink in any room.