BATHROOM UPDATE


WALL-HUNG WCS EXTEND MARKET SHARE


There’s an industry shift in favour of wall-hung lavatory pans. BMJ investigates what’s pushing the product sector.


with an increasing lack of space. Yet, when it comes to toilets, many installers are guilty of shying away from the sleek and modern attributes of the wall-hung style.” Broderick reports that many of a merchant’s installer customers will be concerned that the cost of the works will blow the bathroom budget out of the water, while there’s also concern that subsequent maintenance will be challenging or create disgruntled customers. “Often, there is an incorrect perception that the wall must be destroyed to gain access to the cistern on top of the service cost.


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t’s no secret that a small bathroom can throw up design challenges. Not only is it difficult for customers to fit everything they might need inside the space, it’s also a task for them to find practical and flexible furniture solutions that suits the design at the right price. However, with some careful research, merchants can identify those bathroom manufacturers that are combatting the growing issue of space in UK homes through unique added value in sanitary technology and bathroom ceramics.


Of course, there are endless ways to make a small bathroom more appealing, says Geberit Duofix’s Ellie Broderick, but, she asks, when it comes to the installation of new toilets, how can merchants suggest the best possible solutions for installers?


A small problem?


Broderick says that the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) reports the average size of a newly built one-bedroom home is just 46 square metres – the size of a London Underground carriage. “Yet the shrinking size of our homes is doing nothing to suppress homeowners’ ambitions of renovating their bathroom” she says. According to a recent study, bathrooms topped the list of interior refurbishments for renovation frequency in 2017, with more than a quarter of renovating homeowners tackling bathrooms (Houzz, 2017).


“All this leaves bathroom installers with a challenge on their hands: generating well- thought, inspired bathrooms, while contending


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“For this reason, the design choice has been typically reserved for homeowners favoring luxury standard ceramics, as well as those having time to tackle trickier installations. However, with recent developments made by some manufacturers, this is no longer the case.”


Budget blowout or not? Broderick says that thanks to product and system development by Geberit and Twyford, merchants can now offer installers much more affordable wall-hung toilets. “The combination of Geberit wc frames and affordable Twyford ceramics is giving installers the chance to install the sophisticated, space- saving attributes of wall-hung toilets for their customers – not to mention the added benefit of a faster installation time for their job,” she explains.”Fully-guaranteed, affordable wall hung ceramics ranges are now readily available through most merchants, bathroom specialists or online, debunking the myth of wall-hung toilets being a luxury-brand item.”


The wall-hung trend As a result, providing a space-efficient alternative to the more traditional close coupled toilet, concealed cisterns are fast becoming a popular choice for bathroom designers and homeowners across the UK. The creative flexibility afforded by wall-hung toilets and basins is incomparable, giving style-focussed homeowners the ability to create interesting, dynamic spaces that are easy to clean and enjoyable to use.


Broderick says: “Wall-hung technology conceals the toilet cistern, opening up the room, and creating the illusion of a larger space without knocking a wall down; a wall-hung toilet will also take up no floor space. “Also, by concealing the cistern, the


homeowner can achieve superior aesthetics that boast clean and minimal features. It can also bring homeowners flexibility with bathroom design and location options – for example, remote actuated flush buttons which enable the flush to be located up to 1.7m away from the cistern.”


Installation innovation Installers know that difficult installations can ramp up the cost of an overall bathroom refurbishment - another issue which manufacturers are tackling head on with versatile, quick-to-fit wc frame systems. Brodericks says that a good example of this advancement is the Duofix system from Geberit, boasting a load bearing capacity of up to 400 kilos and a variety of options for different heights or design configurations. “Specifically designed with installation and ease of maintenance in mind, systems like Geberit Duofix make concealing the cistern inside a drywall quick and neat by eliminating the need for additional, carefully positioned studding. The result is a strong, reliable and leak free finish, thanks to its one-piece blow moulded cistern, angle bracket fixings and snap connectors.”


Installing systems like this typically reduces the complex installation procedures associated with wall-hung ceramics, with cleverly concealed fixings and the inclusion and position of water inlets and waste outlets. Another clear advantage of the wall-hung toilet is down to the fact it hovers several inches off the floor Broderick adds. “This allows the user to clean around and underneath it with ease. The prospect of dust and dirt buildup is reduced compared to close coupled toilets and there is no hard to reach areas.” Wall-hung ceramics and prewall frame systems allow customers to strike a balance between their design aspirations and an achievable budget she adds.


“The combined benefits of more affordable wall-hung ceramics also give merchants the chance to introduce installers to more style-led choices, that would traditionally be unachievable for the cost-conscious refurbishment.


“With such installation efficiencies, plus the opportunity to sell affordable ceramics and installation equipment to installers, wall-hung toilets for budget bathrooms are a win-win for both the merchant and installer alike.” BMJ


www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net April 2019


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