With three daughters, Samantha and Chris Faklaris knew bathrooms were bound to be an issue.
So last spring, they renovated two upstairs bathrooms — and added a third — in their Sandy Springs home. The project included new cabinets, tile floors and granite countertops in all three baths. In the master bathroom, a walk-in shower was created.
“We didn’t do anything fancy or over the top,” said Samantha, the busy mom of girls ages 7 to 10.
But recently, on a cold Atlanta morning, her daughters suggested a bathroom amenity they wish they had: heated toilet seats.
Don’t laugh. Heated toilet seats are among the growing toilet features you can choose during bathroom renovations. But there are others, including hands-free flushing and lids that open and close automatically.
Fancy features aside, “choosing the right, well-functioning toilet is one of the most important parts of your bathroom remodel,” said Fred McCurdy, showroom manager at Atlanta-based Cowan Supply.
Two-piece (separate tank and bowl) units are still the norm in Atlanta’s traditional market, he said. But other models, such as dual-flush, skirted and one-piece units that are easy to keep clean, are starting to get more attention.
“Like other appliances and features in a home, buyers are starting to consider aesthetics when choosing a toilet,” McCurdy said.
Since there is no one-size-fits-all toilet purchase anymore, consider these tips for choosing a toilet for any bathroom. They come from Kohler, Toto, houzz.com and Consumer Reports.
Before you start
Budget. Toilets can range from $150 for a basic, two-tank model to more than $6,600 for Kohler Numi, a toilet/bidet combo.
Rough-in dimensions. The clearance to the back wall needed to connect to the water line varies from model to model. Check the manufacturer's specifications and measure carefully if space is tight.
Size. For a tight space, consider a wall-hung model. If you can't afford it or don't like the look, buy a corner model or a model with a round bowl, which takes up less space than an elongated bowl.
Location. Shower doors also play a role in your toilet's location. A shower door needs to open both in and out. Plan accordingly.
Toilet styles
One piece or two? One-piece units are easier to clean as a result of their seamless tank and bowl design. They are sleek, stylish and save space, but generally they are more expensive than the traditional two-piece tanks, which are easier to install.
Elongated vs. round bowls. This pear-shaped bowl has several additional inches of bowl space in the front. It is considered more comfortable than a round bowl.
Bowl height. Consider the needs of your family. Standard bowl height is 14 or 15 inches above the floor, but taller, "comfort height" bowls (16 to 19 inches) may be comfortable, especially for seniors and those with limited mobility. Shorter models work well in a child's bathroom.
Wall-mount toilets. Wall-hung toilets, which offer a sleek and stylish look, save more than 9 inches of room space because the tank is inside the wall — and off the floor. Since the bowl is off the floor, it is also easier to clean. For retrofits, additional structural material must be added to the wall.
Features
Color. Models are available in beiges, black, gray tones, plus airy blues and greens. But 85 percent of buyers still pick white.
High-efficiency. These toilets bear a WaterSense label and use 1.28 gallons or less per flush, as compared with 1.6 gallon models.
Dual-flush technology. These water-efficient models encourage "conscious flushing" by requiring you to select a partial flush for liquid waste and a full flush for solid waste.
Bidets. The standard bidet is a side-by-side companion for the main toilet and usually matches it in style and color.
Seats. There are thermostatic controls that allow you to gently warm the seat and bidet-style seats, which offer features such as temperature-controlled washing jets, air-dryer and built-in night light. A retrofit bidet seat requires access to an electrical outlet.
Trends
- Toilets are designed as part of a collection, matching your sink and the other pieces to your room.
- One-piece toilets.
- Automatic flushing.
- Air purification systems.
- Slam-less lids that close quietly and gently.
- Increase in bidets, bidet seats and bidet/toilet combos as people from Europe, Asia and parts of South America move to the United States. Toto, the world's largest toilet manufacturer, reports that U.S. sales of its bidet seats have quadrupled in the past 10 years.
FYI
For a guide to buying toilets, visit www.consumerreports.org. Search toilets.
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