Monthly Archives: January 2012

preclude Bathroom Accidents by Using Ada Shower Seats

January 31, 2012 11:00 amLeave a Comment

Bathroom is one of the most hazardous areas in the house that cause accidents. The water and the tiles make bathroom floors very slippery. This danger is amplified in case of elderly or disabled persons. Most of them need help to move around in the bathroom, and even with help at hand, they can be prone to accidents. You can make your bathrooms safer for your house members with special needs by installing fixtures like Ada shower seats, enclosures, grab rails and faucet. You should check that all these products are Ada (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant to make your bathroom safe.

Most of the accidents in the bathroom are caused by wet floor. Elderly or disabled persons often slip or fall while showering. They find it difficult to stand in a slippery shower. To forestall them from falling, you can setup an Ada shower seat in the bathroom. Shower seat reduces the chances of slip or fall and provides the elderly and disabled enough safety and ease while showering.

Shower Seat

There are distinct types of shower seats. There are padded seats that furnish a soft face and foldable ones that can be stored in the cabinets. You also get seats that have cutouts. The foldable ones are good if the bathroom is shared by other house members also. The seats with backrest furnish added sustain as well as comfort.

You need to ensue the Ada specifications while installing the shower seat. These specifications vary with the shape of seat that you wish to install. For example:

Rectangular seats

The front edge of the seat should be 15″ to 16″ from the seat wall, and the rear 2.5″. The side edge should be 1.5″ away from the adjacent wall.

L-shaped seats

The front edge of an L-shaped seat should be 15″ to 16″ from the seat wall and the rear 2.5″. The rear edge of the L quantum of the seat should be 1.5″ and corresponding front edge 14″ to 15″ from the wall. The last quantum of the L-shape should be 22″ to 23″ from the main seat wall.

Other Ada guidelines for shower seats

The specifications for the Ada shower seats also differ based on the shower compartments. Thorough roll-in shower, transfer-type shower and alternate roll-in showers – all have distinct specifications.

Seat supporting buildings and mounting device should be able to withstand 250 pounds of force as per the Ada guidelines.

In expanding to Ada shower seats, you can heighten the safety of the bathrooms by using locks that can be opened from both sides. Panic alarms are also helpful to ensure timely help. You can also get Ada compliant shower heads, faucets, enclosure and grab rails to make bathrooms safer and comfortable for population with special needs.

Ada shower seats and other fixtures like faucets, shower heads and grab rails if installed as per the Ada guidelines will help forestall accidents in the bathroom to a large extent. These will also enable the elderly and disabled to lead a more independent life.

preclude Bathroom Accidents by Using Ada Shower Seats

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How to select a Corner, Bench Or Fold Down Shower Seat

January 30, 2012 10:00 amLeave a Comment

It may seem like shower seat choices are endless. So how do you make your selection from the jungle of options? Which type of seat will fit your budget, style, and provide the features and functions you desire? consequent these 5 ½ steps to make the right selection for your shower remodeling project:

Step 1 – decide the size of your shower base – The size of your base is a key factor in choosing a seat. Smaller showers of 10 quadrilateral feet or less will generally only have enough space for a fold down or fold and store seat. For mid-sized showers (10 to 25 quadrilateral feet) the triangular shaped corner seat works well because it is compact and functional. For larger rectangular shaped showers larger than 25 quadrilateral feet the bench seat can provide the most generous area for relaxing, shaving and showering.

Shower Seat

Step 2 – identify the type of base/seat aggregate that works best – With your funds in mind rate these options:

- (A) Fiberglass and acrylic seats built into the bases – Fiberglass is very cost effective but sizes are little and if the base cracks or fails the entire enclosure must be removed. Seats are also built into acrylic bases. These bases are generally higher quality than fiberglass but are more high-priced as well.

- (B) Wood framed base built on site – A wood framed seat buildings can be built inside a poured concrete base on site and then the buildings can be covered with either a masonry board (most frequently in the case of tiled showers) or covered over with a Pvc waterproofing membrane. The benefit of this system is the quality to build it in many shapes and sizes. The disadvantage can be the labor time involved and also the risk of leakage if this facility is not done properly (transition points between the bench and the walls can be tricky).

- (C) Prefabricated expanded polystyrene – This material is made of one solid unit and can be artificial into bench or corner seats. These units are available is a wide collection of suitable and custom sizes. It is waterproof, easy to work with (it is attached to the base with modified thin set), and can be closed off with tile or a solid exterior material.

- (D) Fold down Brazilian walnut or teak – Fold down units are an excellent selection if you have a small shower (they use the least amount of room). Teak has a high level of water resistance and Brazilian walnut is nothing else but 10 X best water resistance than teak.

Step 3 – think the height and depth of your seat – The height and depth of seats can vary depending on the definite system and/or base manufacturer. generally the height of most seats varies between a minimum of 14″ high to almost 20″ high (for those with little mobility the 20″ high units will be better). The minimum depth of a shower seat is commonly 12″ and many units are 14″ to 16″ deep as well.

Step 4 – rate the waterproofing capabilities of each system – If you’re seeing for a high level of water resistance in your seat there are some systems you should put on the top of your list and others you probably want to keep off the list. The winning systems for water resistance would include acrylic base/seat combos and expanded or extruded polystyrene systems. The materials to stay away from would be the custom wood made framed buildings (this is one that can be especially problematic if you or your undertaker of a package deal does not install them correctly) or the fiberglass base/seat combos (these bases have the top failure rate).

Step 5 – Top it off – The top of your seat is what is noticed the most often and will be principal to the longevity of your shower. Here are some options to consider:

- Tile seat (over either a framed buildings or expanded or extruded polystyrene) – If you pick a tile seat make sure the buildings below is well constructed and pitched slightly towards the shower drain. For best results use either a sanded grout or for the top level of water resistance pick a urethane grout between the tiles.

- Solid exterior granite, corian, marble or cultured marble – These seats will commonly be settled on top of the framed or expanded polystyrene systems. The nice thing about these products is they have no joints to be involved about water penetration. The cultured marble will generally be the most cost effective – the genuine marble would be the most expensive.

- Teak or Brazilian walnut – The teak/Brazilian walnut seats match nicely with the earth tone color schemes being used in many showers today. While both materials are water resistant Brazilian walnut is amazingly dense and 10 times more water resistant than teak.

- Acrylic or fiberglass – With acrylic or fiberglass the seat will be built into the base – color selections will be limited.

Step 5 1/2- If the choices are too involved call a professional. Like many bathroom remodeling goods selections – the options are many and the choices can be daunting. If you’re unsure of what seat to use and where to use it call a pro bathroom remodeling contractor. Look for a excellent bathroom remodeling undertaker of a package deal through rating services like Angie’s List, the best firm Bureau and/or tap into your collective networks.

Now that you’re adequate with these 5 1/2 steps you’re ready to pick the right shower seat to unblemished your bathroom project.

How to select a Corner, Bench Or Fold Down Shower Seat

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Teak Shower Seats – Why choose Teak?

January 29, 2012 9:00 amLeave a Comment

If I may move face the locus of the shower for a moment, I would like to look for the perfect material to manufacture a shower seat, a bath mat or an accessory. These are typically used in the warm, soapy and wet environment of any shower, residential or commercial. So we ask, ‘What are the specifications we should look for in a shower seat material?’

We already have a article of some of the technical needs, so let us recognize added into the specifics. Assuming it will be used in a residential setting, the material must be not only be functional but esthetically pleasing. As there will be bare skin in feel with surfaces, it must not splinter and it must be warm and comfortable. The proposed material should not be a maintenance headache. Perhaps the most overlooked necessity, it must be strong to be safe. So now we can take a look and make valid comparisons, in no single order:

Shower Seat

The essential criteria are that it should be Rot Resistant, Esthetically Pleasing,No Splinters, Warm, Comfortable, Low Maintenance and be strong.

If it is made from Iron/steel it has some of the literal, characteristics except it is not necessarily esthetically pleasing, not warm, not comfortable and it rust so it is not low maintenance.

If it is made from Aluminum It also has some of the desirable characteristics but it is not esthetically pleasing, not warm, not comfortable and is medium strong.

If it is made from Plastic it has some of the literal, characteristics but it too is not esthetically pleasing, not warm and is medium strong, though some plastics will sag under warmth.

Of course one could always go with a Ceramic seat but though it is durable it is cold and not comfortable.

So we can recognize more organic materials such as Cedar/redwood. They are definitely esthetically pleasing but in a show/ bath space are branch to splinters and inherent rot as well as branch to stains and of medium strength.

The next organic selection is Teak. It is rot resistant, esthetically pleasing, does not splinter, is warm, comfortable, low maintenance and strong.

As we can see from the above comparison, teak is by far the best selection for use in the wet environment of a shower and bathroom.

How did teak get in the mix for furniture and accessories in the shower? Teak has been used for boat construction in India since back to the Third Millennium Bc (1). Harappan times saw the beginning of boat construction in India and as a hereditary profession, father would pass the skills on to son(s) using what would today be deemed crude measuring of hand, fingers and feet to resolve all things from the superstructure of the boat to the final finishes. Of course teak was the adored wood for construction of ships, being highly suitable due to the inherent nature, stability and impel of the slow growing wood.

Boats are constantly in a wet environment, branch to the whims of storm and the heat of calm, the battering of waves and the dragging onto the rocks and beach. So the material they were built from had to be suitable for the proposed use (2,3)

1. Rot Resistant,

2. Workable by hand,

3. Low maintenance,

4. Strong (2,3) and it had to float.

These are all perfect reasons to use teak for shower seats, bath mats and bathing accessories. The added benefits of teak furniture are

5. Esthetically pleasing,

6. Does not form splinters,

7. Is warm to the eye as well as to the skin,

8. Comfortable and comes in a multitude of shapes only minute by the imagination of the designer and the joinery of the wood.

So much for the engineering approach. In my next article we will delve into more reasons your best selection would be a quality built teak shower seat, teak bath mat, teak shower organizer and teak accessories.

(1) antique Ship-Building & maritime Trade by D. P. Agrawal & Lalit Tiwari

(2) Van Nostrand’s eclectic engineering magazine, Volume 9, 1873

(3) How to books -wood suitability – Mechanic’s Own Book

Teak Shower Seats – Why choose Teak?

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Teak Shower Benches – the exquisite Wood For the Shower

January 28, 2012 8:00 amLeave a Comment

Do you want or need a bench or seat for your shower or bath? Plastic is cold and uncomfortable as is metal. Wood is a great material, but will fall about under constant use in a shower due to the moisture and steam. The best material is teak wood. Teak shower benches are the way to go if seeing to add a bench or seat to your shower.

Teak is a classic wood to use in a moist area. Due to its natural oils, it can withstand constant humidity. Teak is also defiant to mold. This makes it perhaps the best material to use in a shower.

Shower Seat

Using a shower bench or seat can add ease and stability to your bath area. Think about how much easier it is to shave your legs sitting in on a shower seat. It is much more comfortable to sit than to try and equilibrium on one foot, leaning against a wall in a wet environment with a sharp razor in your hand. Plus it is much safer.

There are several different types of teak seats for your shower and bath. They can range from a straightforward bench that is supported by both sides of a bathtub to a folding seat in the shower. Depending on how much you want to spend, you can find the right bench for your bath and shower.

As stated above, you can get a teak bench that fits over the sides of your tub. This is your basic bench and the least expensive. Some citizen will use this to sit on while in the shower/bath, or use it as a stand for their shampoos, conditioners, soaps and razors. Make sure this style has a piece under the bench on both sides so the bench doesn’t slip into the tub.

Another favorite seat is the corner seat. This takes up very miniature room in a shower since it can conveniently fit into a corner. This type will generally be triangular in shape so it takes up miniature room. You can find these seats with a miniature rack underneath he sitting area to hold bath supplies. Look for seats with no-mar or non-slip rubber footpads so the seat doesn’t slip or scratch the shower.

Teak Shower Benches – the exquisite Wood For the Shower

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The Lightweight portable Shower Chair

January 27, 2012 6:02 amLeave a Comment

The lightweight transported shower chair is one of the most useful pieces of furniture you can buy for your bathroom. These chairs allow you to take a shower rather than a bath without any third party assistance. This means that you can enjoy a shower in peace and privacy and can mean that far from being an ordeal bathing can come to be a pleasure once more.

Probably the cheapest type of shower chair is the simple rigid seat that is lightweight and portable. The chair is most often made from tough resin that is strong, resilient and very light. This lightness means that the chair is also very maneuverable and portable. Continue Reading →

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