Team Cladwise
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09 Oct
Bathroom Cladding, News

Making a splash with two years in business!

We’re delighted to be celebrating two years in business! Here’s the story.

North East bathroom installation firm announces growth plans marking its two-year anniversary in business.
Gateshead-based Cladwise Bathrooms is celebrating two years in business with the opening of its stylish new showroom and plans to increase its workforce.

The family-owned company was established in 2017 and has enjoyed confident growth in a fast-changing and demanding marketplace over the past two years, doubling its turnover in this time.

The company supply and install a wide range of high-quality bathroom furniture, fixtures and cladding and, due to demand, now also offer their own range of tiles.

Cladwise Bathrooms is run by siblings Tim and Emma Hutley, along with Tim’s partner Kelly. Tim and Kelly were already working in bathroom fitting industry and decided to go into business together when Emma returned from travels abroad.

Tim said: “Kelly and I were spending a lot of time trouble-shooting problems with badly-installed bathrooms and knew we could offer a much better service. When Emma came home from travelling in Australia, we invited Emma to join our team.

“We’ve since become synonymous with outstanding customer service and it’s this reputation for quality that has driven our success. We’ve enjoyed steady growth throughout the North of England and are now looking to recruit an apprentice to help us with the increasing demand and our plans for growth.”

The company has also revamped its shop floor and showroom at its premises on the Team Valley Trading Estate as part of its ongoing mission to provide an outstanding service providing and fitting full bathroom suites and cladding.

Tim explained: “The new-look showroom will support our growth and serve even more customers. The investment demonstrates our commitment to delivering an exceptional service, from design through to installation for domestic and commercial customers across the North of England and beyond.”

The company has achieved its success to date without funding or private investment, instead relying on referrals and building its excellent reputation.

Tim concluded: “Our immediate plans are to keep growing, and ultimately our vision is to continue building and retaining our reputation as an outstandingly brilliant bathroom retailer and installer.

“I’m very proud of our achievements to date and look forward to many more years ahead as we help our customers realise their dreams.”

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24 Sep
Lifestyle

Just for fun: what do you do in the bathroom?

The bathroom is a room we all have in common. No matter where we are or what we’re doing we need a bathroom to maintain a clean and healthy lifestyle. Whether we’re bathing, showering or answering nature’s call, the bathroom is a place we all visit every day.

In fact, it’s been found that the average Brit spends 22 minutes in the bathroom every day, which equates to nearly 450 days across the average lifetime. So, we reckon more is happening in the bathroom that meets the eye!

We’ve collected some fun ideas on activities that can occur in the bathroom. Let us know your thoughts!

Binge watch. With streaming platform such as Netflix regularly making seasons of awesome programmes, it’s dead easy to binge watch while in the bath using your phone or tablet.

Tune in. Keeping the tunes going while you wash or listening to your favourite radio station or sports coverage couldn’t be easier with bathroom-friendly radio sets. Hang them in the shower, perch it on the side of the bath, they’re widely available and some can even be built into your bathroom walls.

Sing. An oldie but definitely a goodie! Belt out your favourite tunes in the shower and enjoy your own bathroom karaoke music.

Treat someone. Nothing says ‘welcome home’ more than a bubble bath, candles and a glass of wine or a cup of tea. Woo your other half or just be nice to your parents!

Be cool. Fill the bathtub with ice and beverages to keep your party or barbecue guests going. And the age-old Halloween tradition of bobbing for apples works perfectly in the bathroom. Set up the bobbing station in the bath and award points to whoever fishes out the most apples in under 60 seconds.

Help yourself. Taking time out and relaxing in the bath is an excellent opportunity to indulge in a spot of reading that can teach you a huge range of skills and techniques; or escape in the pages of a really good story.

Get creative. It’s well-known that many of us come up with new ideas in the shower or bath. Take the opportunity and have a long soak or shower and dedicate some uninterrupted thinking time to whatever needs your attention.

Spa away. Create your own spa in the comfort of your own home. Get the steam going, use some essential oils and indulge in some therapeutic treatments.

Do it for charity! Bathing in beans or slime is a popular way to raise funds for a good cause; although you may want to think about doing it in a paddling pool instead!

Upcycle. Upcycling is all the rage, and by turning your old bathtub into an awesome armchair or a funky, rustic tub for flowers in your garden, you could save a ton on furniture and give your home a facelift too. Using old materials from your bathroom, such as shower curtains, you could also craft vintage or retro bags. Get more upcycling ideas here.

Boost your property value. Replacing old, tired and unfashionable bathroom furniture with modern suites will boost the value of your home and, if you’re looking to sell, will also appeal to prospective buyers.

Whatever your preferences, why not get in touch? Visit our showroom at 12 Perth Court, 11th Avenue, Team Valley Trading Estate in Gateshead.

 

Cladwise
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12 Aug
Bathroom Cladding, Fashion, Lifestyle

Four reasons to wise up to cladding!

You’ve decided that your bathroom needs an overhaul and have chosen the furniture, fittings and colour scheme; but what about the walls?

The days of covering the bathroom walls with a lick of paint or wallpaper are over. And luckily, there’s an alternative to ceramic tiles that can give you the style you’re looking for while reducing time and cost.

What is this alternative? Cladding.

Bathroom cladding is a type of waterproof wall panel system, usually made from PVC or acrylic, and is tongue and grooved so that each panel slots into the next. It looks fantastic and will continue to look good indefinitely as it requires zero maintenance.

Here are four great reasons why you should seriously consider cladding over the more traditional decorating methods for your bathroom.

Quick and easy to install. Unlike tiles, cladding is very easy to install and there’s no messing around with grout, which we all know can be a messy and lengthy job. And while tiling creates an impressive effect, you can still achieve a tiled effect with cladding for a polished finish.

In addition, cladding can be placed in many areas throughout the bathroom including on existing wall coverings, ceilings and inside showers, which makes it easy to completely overhaul the look of your bathroom quickly.  Also, we have many styles designed to be used within the other areas of the house, for example, kitchen, dining room, study and even bedrooms.

Waterproof and insulated. Cladding is very durable and waterproof so is perfect for bathrooms, showers, cloakrooms, utility rooms and even kitchens.

It also acts as a superb insulation and sound-proofing barrier, so your bathroom will retain temperature and will keep it a lovely quiet sanctuary for you to enjoy. It helps to reduce condensation, which can be an issue in these areas of the home, reducing the risk of damp and mould; the enemy of the bathroom!

Easy clean. Bathroom cladding is exceptionally easy to clean, which is why it’s such a popular option for busy family or public bathrooms. Just wipe it down with a cloth, water and a suitable cleaning product and you’re done.

Stylish. Cladding is available in an extensive array of stunning styles, a variety of different colours that will transform your bathroom into a stylish haven that can’t be matched.

We want you to relax and enjoy your bathroom with the peace of mind that you have invested well. If you need support in selecting the right cladding, please do get in touch! 

Here are our top three reasons we think the bathroom is THE most important room in the home.
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10 Jul
Bathroom Cladding, Lifestyle

Why is the bathroom so important?

The bathroom is among the most used rooms in your home. Aside than the bedroom, it’s where we essentially begin and end each day, and is often used as a retreat from the outside world. In fact, did you know that the average person spends one and a half years of their lifetime in the bathroom?

It’s easy to forget how important the bathroom is until you really need to use it and it’s occupied or if there’s a plumbing issue!

Here are our top three reasons we think the bathroom is THE most important room in the home.

It’s one of the most valuable rooms in the house. A bathroom makeover, if done right, can add significantly to your property’s value. TV property expert, Phil Spencer, has suggested that a new bathroom can add as much as three percent to the value of our homes if the space is practical and well-planned.

Value can be added through something as simple as covering up ceiling imperfections with some fantastic, and affordable, cladding and using quality tiles with good grouting. It may be simple but it’s effective.

It sets the tone for your entire home. Both guests and family will use your bathroom, so the appearance and atmosphere of this room is one of the most important things to consider. The bathroom suite, furniture and accessories such as candles, artwork, plants and towels can all play a major role in setting the tone for the rest of your home.

It’s the perfect place to retreat. The bathroom is pretty much the only place in the home where you can escape and not be disturbed. If the door’s shut, generally others won’t enter! The bathroom can offer a space of solitude and, if designed well, can be a great place to unwind and escape from the stresses of the day.

We take the bathroom for granted a lot more than we would like to admit so the questions are what’s the state of your bathroom and is it time to give this room a little TLC?

Find out how we can help you create your dream haven that’s tailored to suit your requirements. Read our tips here and pop in and visit us in our new showroom at 12 Perth Court, 11th Avenue, Team Valley Trading Estate, Gateshead, England NE11 0NJ.

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28 Jun
Lifestyle

Out with the old bathroom? Don’t chuck it, reuse it!

Are you looking to upgrade or renovate your bathroom and not sure what to do with your old suite and furniture?

It’s your responsibility to ensure that waste is disposed of responsibly, if you fail to do so, you could face financial penalties. But have you thought about the alternatives rather than a trip to the tip?

Upcycling, recycling, repurposing and salvaging are all fantastic alternatives to simply sending stuff to landfill. Here are just a few ideas to get you going.

Take it outside. This is especially great if you’re a keen gardener and looking for interesting places to grow your flowers or vegetables; your old toilet, sink or bath can be the ideal place. Baths are the perfect depth to grow vegetables or could be used as a small pond. Sinks or toilets can be used for trailing flowers, and you could even turn a sink into a water feature with the addition of a pump.

Give it away. Often, the reason we want to replace the bathroom is because we fancy a change, rather than because it’s broken. Websites like Freecycle and Gumtree will let you advertise your old bathroom suite for free, and it’s the responsibility of the person collecting the items to pay and organise for collection.

Make a bathtub sofa. One of the most fashionable ways of reusing an old bath is turning it into a sofa or a chair. Baths turned into sofas are often sold in upmarket interiors shops for thousands of pounds, but if you want to do something similar you can either take on the job yourself or ask a local craftsman to help you out. Metal baths tend to work better than plastic ones, but whatever the sort of bath you have, you’ll have to cut it in half length-wise, put on feet for support, smooth off any rough edges and add lots of comfy cushions.

Remember, most items are recyclable! Almost anything can be recycled from your bathroom. Porcelain and ceramics are excellent candidates for recycling as they can be crushed ready for use again. Taps, radiators and copper pipes are often welcomed by recyclers and put to work again in some capacity.

It’s exciting to think about how your new bathroom will look when it’s installed, but it’s also definitely worth considering where your old fixtures and materials will end up so that you can do some good with them rather than just sending them to landfill.

Get advice and create your new dream bathroom with our expert installation service. Visit our new showroom today at 12 Perth Court, 11th Avenue, Team Valley Trading Estate in Gateshead.

 

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14 Jun
Fashion, Lifestyle

Five top tips when choosing your next bathroom

Your bathroom is one of the most important rooms in the house. As we increasingly seek to make the most of precious downtime, its status has been elevated and we often now renovate our bathrooms with relaxation and pampering in mind.

Here are our five tips to help you plan your next bathroom, whatever the size or budget, that makes a splash for all the right reasons.

Assess your needs. The most important thing to work out your key priorities. Think carefully about who will be using the bathroom, how often, and your likes and dislikes.

If it’s a family bathroom you may wish to factor in ample storage space or if you’re a busy couple, it may be worth considering having two basins to make getting ready less chaotic. If you use your bathroom to relax in, a freestanding bath and somewhere close by to store candles and magazines would work a treat.

Plan the layout. Don’t change the layout just for the sake of it. If it works for you, leave it.

If you do want to change the layout, it’s important that you measure your bathroom carefully and note positions of pipes, doors and windows. Do drop in to see us for advice to ensure that you maximise your space and avoid costly mistakes.

Remember storage. Storage is the key to keeping your bathroom neat and conducive for a relaxed environment. Toiletries and cleaning products rarely display well, so cupboards, recessed shelving, vanity units and cabinets should all be considered to keep clutter at bay.

Get inspired. Selecting your style will help you decide from the huge range of fittings available, as well as colour schemes, lighting, flooring, cladding and tiles are all good ways to refresh the room. Gather inspiration from interiors magazines and collate a checklist of what appeals to you, whether that’s a classic, period or a contemporary look.

Talk to friends and colleagues who’ve completed similar projects and ask them about their experience and any pitfalls they may have encountered.

Finalise your budget. Whether you have a small or large bathroom, you’ll want to get the best for your money. Deciding on a budget means you can prioritise where to spend and where to save. For example, to achieve a luxurious spa environment investing in just one beautiful piece, such as a freestanding roll top bath, and showing it off against a budget-conscious backdrop would work very well.

Following these tips will go a long way to help you refine the changes and elements to incorporate that will make a lot of difference to your bathroom and your enjoyment of it.

For more advice and guidance when choosing your next bathroom, please do  get in touch!