Put some style into your bathroom with a new toilet or new taps

If you would like a new bathroom but cannot justify the expense and disturbance, why not go for a tap replacement and/or a toilet replacement? Depending on the styles you go for, you can complete both jobs in a day and the benefits could be significant.

Tap replacement

A tap replacement can be very simple indeed. Tap reviver kits mean that you change the top section of the tap leaving the rest of the plumbing intact. You can choose from a range of designs including sleek and modern versions or period styles. It will cost you less than 30 dollars and take minutes to revive your taps and give the bathroom a new lease of life.

 A plumbing expert will change the taps completely but you will need to take the side off the bath and get a spanner onto the locking nut on the old tap. There will be a flexible hose connector between the tap and the inlet water pipes. Isolate the hot and cold water pipes and then unscrew the connectors and replace the valves. The plumbing expert will isolate to fit rubber or HDPE washers will be fitted on both sides of the bath where the tap thread fits through.

If you want to go a bit further with your tap replacement then waterfall taps are very popular. These are mixer taps (hot and cold water merge into one outlet) with a large open chute for the outlet from the tap.

Many mixer taps also come with shower head upgrades. If you do not have a separate walk-in shower, now is the time to get a decent shower head. Get a good screen as well to avoid soaking your bathroom every time you wash!

Wall mounted taps look very sleek and modern but will need some expertise to fit them and a kit to close off the holes in the bath that take standard taps.

Finally, if you've got a free standing bath, or plan to get one soon, you could fit a free standing tap kit.

Toilet replacement

A toilet replacement can freshen up a bathroom and make it feel like new. These days, there are quite a few different designs that provide a range of benefits:

• If space is at a premium then a close-coupled toilet will reduce the room taken up by a standard unit.
• A wall-mounted toilet is much easier to clean and looks very sharp and modern.
• A rimless toilet reduces water usage, increases the strength of the flush and is much easier to clean.
• A shower-toilet - a cross between a toilet and a bidet. This gives you a fresher experience without having to find room for a separate bidet.

 If you want to make a more significant design change, and you have the room for it, you could look at a concealed cistern. This involves creating a false wall hiding the cistern from view.

 If your budget is very tight, changing the toilet seat can make the bathroom look different for only a few dollars.

Conclusion - tap or toilet replacements

Whether you need to replace a tap or a toilet for practical reasons or if you want to freshen things up, there is a wide choice of styles available. Personal taste will determine your selection but you must also consider how much for call in a plumber for a tap replacement and toilet replacement is a little more complicated. If you are in any doubt about your abilities to do this work then call in a specialist - a leaking toilet is a nightmare.