INSTRUCTIONS FOR KNOCKING THROUGH THE TAP HOLE

You will need:

A 10mm Pin or Centre Punch

A Claw Hammer

Safety Goggles & Gloves

It is highly recommended that safety goggles and gloves are worn when knocking through the tap hole.

Position the pin punch on the surface of the sink over the centre of the part-drilled hole (please note that the red dot labels are for guidance only and do not give the exact centre of the tap hole).

Gently tap the punch with a claw hammer until a hole is punched through, and then continue tapping out the excess from around the hole, ensuring any rough or sharp edges are removed.

Forgetting about your worries while soaking in a bathtub is something many people love to do, especially on a cold winter’s day. It’s the getting out part that can be tough though. Making the adjustment from hot bath to cold air can be very uncomfortable. Something else many people love to do is to feel the warmth of a dry towel fresh out the dryer against their skin. What do these two things have to do with each other? A heated towel rail can be of use in both situations.

Heated towel rails can make the process of getting out of the bath or shower a much more pleasant experience. Those thinking of renovating their bathroom, might like the idea of having a heated towel rail in their bathroom as it is a simple change, yet one that makes a big difference and offers great luxury and comfort.

Wrapping your body with a dry, warm towel can make you feel loved and cared for instantly. It is an innovative and convenient invention that has replaced the need for radiators in the bathroom.

Heated towel rails are also cost effective. Central heating bills can be a real pain during those chilly winters and may not be enough to keep your bathroom warm. Heated bathroom features, however, like heated toilet seats and heated towel rails, can make a big difference at a more affordable price, while at the same time improving your bathroom’s overall look.

There are two types of heated towel rails – electric and radiator towel rails. They are both convenient and can be controlled to conserve energy and heat through the use of timers.

If you’re installing a radiator towel rail, you can turn it into a DIY job as long as you’re careful with the plumbing connections. Before starting any DIY, remember to protect the floors and hard surfaces. Try to find a towel rail the same size as your radiator as this will make the job a lot easier. If this is not the case, you may have to add or reduce your pipework. First, you need to drain down your central heating system. To do this, you will have to shut off the boiler, switch off the fuel supply and leave to cool down for a few hours. When the water in the heating system is cold, you can cut off the water supply at the expansion tank. You then fit one end of a garden hose over the drain cock and the other end over an external drain gully.

You then decide on the position of your towel rail. They are usually hung on the wall with the supply pipes coming through the wall to meet the valve. If the pipework is in the floor or feeding your old radiator, you can extend it up the wall to meet the valves or shape it using bends and elbows above floor level to meet the valves. Alternatively, you can take up a section of the floor to move the pipework into a position so it looks neater.

Once you know where you want to fit the rail, mark this exact position as well as the position of the valves. It is easier to use compression fittings if you decide to chase the pipes into the wall, and you need to sleeve them in bigger pipes before filling the chase so there is no contact between mortar, plastic and pipes. Remember to put tape or a stop end over the end of the pipe so nothing gets in until you are ready to connect up. Don’t forget to check the heated towel rail’s fitting instructions so that the rail is firmly in position. Make the required connections and then re-set your central heating system.

Electric towel radiators look the same as radiator towel rails but they are filled with various fluids that are heated via an electric thermostatic heating element that is user friendly and efficient, accurately controlling the temperature of the rail. This job requires a professional however.

Try adding a heated towel rail to your bathroom and enjoy experiencing luxury, convenience, and warmth while not fearing your next electric bill.

A. Using outline of the sink bowl as a template, cut out a hole in the counter in the position that you want install the sink.
B. Make evenly placed holes in the underside of the counter for the screw plugs.
C. Apply a generous line of silicone sealer (available from all hardware stores) around the underside of the edge of the counter cut out.
D. Position the sink in place and hold it there, you will need an extra pair of hands for this.
E. Insert the screws and fastening plates into the counter and tighten by hand to secure the sink in place.
Here is a link to a related article showing the use of the fixing screws

sink under installation profile

sink inset installation profile

sink inset installation profile 2

Here are diagrams showing how to use the fixing clips that we provide with our various sinks.

Taps not only come in a wide range of materials these days, but have many different styles as well. This makes it easier for homeowners to find taps that will suit their home’s décor. Choosing the right taps for your kitchen or bathroom can complete a beautiful interior design.

Traditionally, people have used separate hot and cold taps. Nowadays, it is more common to use mixer taps, where hot and cold water mix together before reaching the outlet so that water emerges at a more pleasant temperature. Mixer taps are often controlled by a single handle which moves up and down and side to side, controlling the amount of water flow and its temperature. In bathrooms, mixer taps often incorporate a pressure balancing feature so that the water’s temperature is not affected by the use of other utilities, e.g. the washing machine.

Nowadays, there is a wide range of taps available which vary in size, shape, style, material, finish and price range. Taps have become more elegant and are able to match a consumer’s style, whether it is modern, contemporary or traditional. You can find taps with styles that are classic, Victorian or rustic, among many others.

To decide what taps you want, first decide on its use, as this will affect the kind you will buy. Do you want a shower over the bath or you want to wash vegetables in the kitchen sink? Next think about who will be using them. If it’s the whole family, buy taps that are hard wearing, such as chrome taps with large heads that are easy to turn on and off. Then think about how the taps will suit your bathroom or kitchen design. For eco-friendly homeowners, you can buy smaller taps that will reduce the flow of water. You can find taps that are better for the environment which will also reduce utility bills.

Taps and the kitchen

Taps are just as important as any other accessory in the kitchen. The kitchen sink is one of its focal points and can help to highlight a kitchen’s design. Improving a kitchen’s taps can give it a whole new feel. The ideal tap should complement the style of the kitchen while providing functionality and being easy to use.

Kitchen taps come in many different materials. Stainless steel is commonly used as it is durable, easy to clean, easy to install and has a value for money. Acrylic sinks come in many different patterns and colours.

Sinks can have a number of holes for adding taps, sprayers, soap dispensers, water purifier taps and other features. They can have a single handle which allows for quick and easy water control using just one lever or dual handles which have separate controls for hot and cold water. These are still being sold but are not as sought after as taps with a single handle. High-rise taps are popular as water emerges from high above the sink, ensuring there is plenty of room to get pans and large pots beneath them. Also popular are taps with pull-out spray heads. These are handy for washing vegetables and cleaning the sink. Older spray models have been criticised for being too heavy and “drooping” out of their sockets over time but newer models have largely solved this problem. Pull-out spray heads can also be found mounted to one side although this usually means a reduced spray volume. Simply adding another hole in the sink allows for its installation.

When buying kitchen taps, think about how far you want them to reach, how high you want the spout to be (there are many styles of spouts, from low-end spouts which are nearly horizontal to arched spouts that can rise high above the countertop), what kind of style will suit your kitchen, what kind of finish you want and any convenience features you might like to add. The number of holes you will need will depend on the kind of taps you buy. Monobloc taps need only one hole while standard taps need two separate holes.

Taps and the bathroom

Like the kitchen, there is a large variety of taps that can be used in the bathroom. Hundreds of different styles come in various types of material.

A bathroom’s fittings and accessories can greatly improve its functionality. Choosing the right style of taps can complete a well-decorated bathroom. To decide on bathroom taps, consider functionality, the size of your bathroom and the theme of your décor.

Again, stainless steel is a popular material as it doesn’t corrode or tarnish and blends well with most bathroom décor. Brass is also popular but is susceptible to rust if it isn’t sealed properly and can tarnish over time. Other popular materials include chrome, nickel-plated and other plated-metals. You can also find taps in different materials or variations in material.

There are different styles of taps, such as the bath deck filler which uses a mixer for hot and cold water on a “deck” and has a single spout framed by two handles that control the hot and cold water function. Monobloc basin taps also use a mixer for hot and cold water and a single spout framed by two handles but they are attached to the base of the spout itself. A three-hole basin mixer uses a mixer but separates the spout and two handles. Two separate handles control the hot and cold water function through a single spout. A three-hole bath filler has similar characteristics but is mounted onto the bathtub.

Taps can either be wall mounted or mounted from the floor on standpipes. For wall mounted basin taps or wall mounted bath taps, you can have taps that fit into one hole, which forms a minimalist, elegant look, or taps can be fitted into two holes, which is suitable for large, wall-mounted basins. In traditional style roll top baths, taps that are mounted from the floor on standpipes generally need a cranked leg tap which has an additional piece fitted at the bottom of each leg with an extra wiggle in it that pushes the tap upwards and forwards, giving that extra reach to get it over the edge of the bath.

These different styles of taps are then further categorised into various design styles. You can have contemporary, modern or traditional taps. You can have taps with long spouts or with short spouts. The choices are never-ending.

Kitchen mixer tap 56187

Most kitchen taps and some bathroom taps feature convenient swivel spouts.
These taps usually have rubber orings and a nylon bush in the spout for water seal and swivel action. To maintain good spout swivel action try the following:
- Turn off the water supply to the tap
- remove the spout (normally held in place by a grub screw at the back)
- clean the exposed part of the spout and the open hole where it came out of
- apply some vaseline to the orings and nylon bush.
- Replace the spout

Bath tap 6103a

When we turn on the kitchen tap or run a bath we may not be thinking how the water is coming out, unless it is dripping or not coming out at all! But, water pressure is something that we should all be familiar with.

Most households receive water from a municipal water system where the water is usually extracted from groundwater sources and then treated for human consumption. Then it is pumped to water towers and from there gravity takes over to provide the pressure that forces the water through pipes and into our homes.

The pressure of water in each home will vary according to their elevation to the water source, as well as with the system that is delivering the water in. A plumbing company website says, “A cubic foot of water weighs 62.4 lb. and exerts .4333 lbs of pressure per square inch on the bottom of its container at a depth of one foot. Therefore, the discharge pressure of a water storage tower 100 ft. tall will be 43.33 psi. If your house is in a valley 50 ft. below the bottom of the tower, the theoretical water pressure at your house will be approximately 65 psi, reduced by the friction in the pipes.”
Click here for a handy pressure conversion tool: http://www.sensorsone.co.uk/pressure-units-conversion.html

Typical residential water systems are designed to function under a pressure of 40-70 psi. If the water pressure exceeds 100 psi a pressure regulator may need to be installed in the line to reduce the pressure to an acceptable range. This protects the equipment in your home from damage caused by excess force exerted by the water. The opposite can occur too, if pressure is below 40 psi a pressure-booster could be needed to bring it up to acceptable levels. Note also that hard water can reduce pressure.

It is also important to note that water flow is not the same thing as water pressure. Water flow is the result of your water pressure on the amount of water available for delivery (volume). Low water flow could be a result of an obstruction on the water line. An old pipe can contain mineral build-up or corrosion that reduces the pipe’s internal diameter. So if a water pressure gauge is reading at an acceptable level but the pressure seems off, it may be a flow problem.

If you are unsure of the water pressure at your home you can easily test it with a simple water pressure gauge available from your local plumbing merchant, or you can ask your plumber/DIY friend to check it for you…

Here are our instructions on how to install our pull out kitchen mixer tap item reference 56055.
These instructions are also adequate for many other kitchen and basin pull out mixer taps.
This item has a 1.5 meter weighted pull out hose that provides 40cm to 50cm of pull out reach.
Click here to Download Installation instructions from the product page

Bar Keepers Friend, available from DIY/Hardware stores is what the manufacturer of a very popular brand of composite quartz sinks normally uses to remove stains etc from Composite sinks

1- unscrew the ‘H/C’ disc on top of the tap. This will expose a screw (some discs might pop off)
2- remove the screw
3- lift off the tap lever head. This exposes the brass nut on top of the ceramic cartridge
4- remove the nut which is part of the cartridge and so the cartridge will simply lift out
5- wipe the seating and seal with a clean cloth, smear the surfaces with vaseline and replace the cartridge
6- See this post for more on cartridges and maintenance: http://blog.grandtaps.co.uk/how-to-clean-ceramic-disc-cartridges-in-taps/