Water is a scarce resource globally and in South Africa this is no exception. With March being ‘Water saving month’ we should all actively play a part in conserving water.

“There is a huge misconception that going green is a costly exercise. This is not the case, and home owners can start by making small changes in their homes to improve their water consumption,” says Debra Retief, marketing manager at Tile Africa.

“Installing a water-saving showerhead is one of the easiest ways to improve water efficiency in your home,” says Retief. A shower can use 20 litres of water every minute, resulting in over 80 litres of water being used for a four minute shower. If you use a water-saving showerhead a four minute shower can use approximately 32 litres of water thus saving on average 48 litres of water per shower.

Here are additional tips on how to improve water consumption in your home:

  • Dripping taps can waste about 90 litres of water, check regularly for any leaks in your home and fix them.
  • Replace older, larger-use toilets with the newer higher efficiency toilets. A dual flush toilet has a split flush button that gives you a choice of pressing the smaller button for a four litre flush, ideal for liquid waste, or the larger button for more substantial waste. Four times out of five you’ll only need to use the smaller button, giving you an average saving of three litres per flush.
  • Every bath you take uses an average of 80 litres of water. Opt for a short shower which uses less water and save the baths for special occasions. Another option is to install a new bath made from acrylic and the water will stay warmer longer, this will reduce the amount of times you top up with hot water.
  • Other ways of saving water include not leaving the tap open while brushing your teeth and washing only full loads in a washing machine.

Tile Africa offers a wide range of affordable water saving and eco-friendly taps, toilets and shower heads.

For more information on these products, contact Tile Africa on 0800 002 783 or visit www.tileafrica.co.za For saving water tips and inspiring décor ideas follow Tile Africa on Facebook Twitter and Pinterest.

 

How to heat your bathroom for the winter months

Date: 09 Jun 2015

Don’t let the chilliness of the cold season keep you away from your much deserved ‘me-time’ bath or shower sessions. Also, don’t let leaving your warm bed in the middle of a cold night get you down when you have to quickly tip-toe across the cold bathroom floor to the chilly toilet seat.

Fortunately, there are a number of things people can do to heat up potentially one of the coldest rooms in the house for the winter months. “Depending on one’s budget, there are many ways for people to warm things up without having to compromise the look and feel of the room,” says Tile Africa’s marketing manager, Debra Retief.

Heated towel rails

A heated towel rail is just one of the many stylish accessories that can be used to transform a bathroom from a purely functional room into a contemporary space where you can truly relax and boost your metabolism. They are trendy, available in a wide range of styles and will complement any bathroom. Though labelled as the ultimate luxury item for your bathroom this winter, heated towel rails are not as costly as you may expect. The heated towel rails Tile Africa supplies feature Dry Element Technology (DET) which result in direct intelligent heating (the side bars are not heated, but rather the horizontal rails below the towels) thus saving electricity. “Heated towel rails don’t consume a large amount of electricity as most brands have developed solutions that use less electricity, while maximising heating efficiency” says Retief.

Heated floors

If your bathroom is undergoing a renovation, consider installing underfloor heating to heat up your bathroom. With underfloor heating, tiles become warm underfoot and the heating raises the ambient temperature in the room, making it pleasant to bath and or shower early in the morning or late in the evening when the temperature drops. “The latest underfloor heating options are energy efficient and fitted with timers, so you can be able to get your bathroom heated throughout the winter months”, says Retief.

Water efficient shower heads

Taking a longer shower doesn’t have to be bad for the environment. Water efficient shower heads reduce water consumption without affecting the water pressure and amount of water delivered. Tile Africa’s Gio Plumbing range consists of water flow regulators that maintain a predefined constant flow rate regardless of the line pressure. The regulator reacts to water pressure changes and adjusts to decrease the amount of water passing through while the flow-rate remains the same. Pressure variations are compensated for and water consumption can be reduced from 30 to 10 litres per minute. This means that one is able to take longer showers, which enables steam from your shower to heat up your bathroom. “Modern bathroom ware is developed with the scarcity of natural resources in mind and the latest products with green credentials make it easier to conserve the environment,” says Retief.

For more information and advice on available options to keep your bathroom heated, contact Tile Africa on 0800 002 783 or www.tileafrica.co.za

 

Create the perfect family bathroom

Date: 09 Jun 2015

Are you looking to create a bathroom suitable for your whole family? Bathrooms have a lot to live up to these days with homeowners keen to use them as functional spaces as well as for relaxing and spending time with the family at bath time.

There are a many things that you can do to ensure your bathroom is a safe and enjoyable environment.

Flooring

Go for easy to clean wall and floor tiles. “Tiles are the perfect solution as they are hard-wearing, easy to clean and will survive splashes and spills with a quick wipe,” says Debra Retief, marketing manager at Tile Africa.

Wood-look tiles are the latest rage and can be a great choice for your bathroom. “Tiles with a wood inkjet design can now go where wood hasn’t gone before; in wet spaces. These wood-look tiles are ideal for the bathroom and provide a textured finish,” says Retief.

Another option would be to go for coloured tiles that won’t show dirt easily. “Colourful tiles are the answer for all those little dirty feet and spills and bring an element of fun and energy to the family bathroom,” continues Retief.

Choosing a bath or shower and the perfect basin

A family bathroom can be a very busy room. Every morning, families use this room to prepare themselves for the day ahead and use it at the end of the day to unwind. Having a shower in your bathroom is ideal for all family members and can save time but most families with young children tend to pick a bath.

“Opt for a bath and shower because they serve different purposes; showers are great for those quick mornings where one has to get ready quickly and baths offer a much more luxurious experience. If you have space issues, an all in one bath and shower combination is the answer,” says Retief.

With the whole family using the bathroom, a lot of water can be used in one day. Improve water efficiency and install a water saving showerhead. Modern shower roses and hand-held showers reduce water consumption without affecting the water pressure and amount of water delivered. “These products not only promote sustainability but are also aesthetically appealing, making them a good choice for the family bathroom,” continues Retief.

If you have ample space you might want to consider a double basin. “Two basins are highly practical for a big family, and very fashionable. The double basin option will also save your family time during those rush hour mornings,” says Retief.

Choose glamorous yet practical storage

Families collect a lot of toiletries and storing it all can be tricky. Large numbers of soaps and shampoos left out instantly makes a bathroom look cluttered and it loses that stylish appeal.

“A practical double-vanity unit will take care of all the clutter. Wall mounted units have also become popular, as well as a lockable cabinets or child proof cupboards where you can lock away bottles, medicines and any sharp objects,” says Retief.

Disorganised heaps of wet towels can also be the cause of consternation in family bathrooms. “Every family needs space to hang up their towels. Tile Africa offers multi-rodded towel rails as well as five and eight bar heated towel rails which can be conveniently hung vertically, out of the way of passing traffic, doors and cupboards,” she says.

Wall hung mirrors

Accessories like mirrors play an important role in the overall look and style of a bathroom. Mirrors are not only functional, but also decorative and add that special flair to your bathroom.

Choose a mirror that fits in with the rest of the bathroom layout, particularly with the vanity and other accessories to ensure a continuous flow of the design style.

Remember to also make your bathroom child friendly, you can start by replacing glass tumblers with plastic ones and also investing in a non-slip bath mat with suction cups.

Style

Styling a bathroom doesn’t have to be a daunting experience. To simplify the process, try choosing a theme to follow as this will help you select tiles, accessories and bathroom ware that work well together. This month, Tile Africa is inspiring customers with four sample themes.

The Naturally Beautiful theme could be for people who like their bathrooms to be a place of rest and harmony. The colours and designs should be nature inspired to create an atmosphere of peace, tranquillity and beauty. Natural wood-look tiles, stone mosaic accents and rustic lighting work well here and choosing a larger showerhead for the shower could even give the illusion of showering under a waterfall.

For those hopeless romantics, the Vintage Romance a theme is for you. Bring soft colours and patterns together to create a romantic ambiance. Softer lighting and old fashioned bathroom ware and accessories will finish the look off beautifully.

The Modern Metro look is suitable for people who are inspired by an urban lifestyle. Use fifty shades of grey in your tile selection – cement look tiles are very popular at the moment - and add a pop of colour to create a sleek yet sophisticated atmosphere. Modern accessories like taps and showerheads could be used as statement pieces to complete the look.

Luxe Living is great for people who desire the ultimate sophistication. Inspired by rich colours and textures like marble, the style and design in this theme give a timeless and elegant result. An exquisite mixture of shades and texture in your tile selection will bring an element of luxury to your bathroom.

Choosing the perfect theme and style for your bathroom couldn’t be easier with Tile Africa. “We have Idea Hubs in our two new look stores in Garsfontein and Alberton as well as an Inspiration Gallery you can browse through at tileafrica.co.za. Our experienced Design Advisors offer assistance and guidance to people who need advice on selecting the perfect stylish products for a bathroom build,” says Retief. “Customers can spend time mixing and matching tiles, accessories and bathroom ware in the Idea Hub so that they can be sure that they have selected the right elements for this very important room.”

For more information about Tile Africa, their range of products and stores, contact Tile Africa on 0800 002 783 or www.tileafrica.co.za