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!