The Daily Tubber

Installing a Toilet

2009-07-01T08:09:00.000-04:00

Toilet installation sounds like a difficult task to those of us who aren't experienced with plumbing or remodeling. However, according to the DIY Network, the toilet "is easy even for beginners to install".

In the how-to article about toilet installation, it is stated that the toilet should first be completely assembled before installation can begin. The article goes into detail describing each step necessary beginning with installing the knock-out flange which will be compressed under the toilet to create and airtight seal and keep sewer gases and debris away. Next the toilet will be attached, sealed, and bolted to a wax ring atop the flange. The process ends once water supply lines are connected and toilet seat is added.

Read step by step toilet installation instructions from the DIY network.

Bathroom Photoshop

2009-06-24T09:18:00.001-04:00

If you've ever visited Worth 1000, you've seen the many photo-altering contests. Contestants are presented with an untouched image and are to create a more interesting image using Photoshop or other software. One contest featured a simple bathroom with a toilet, pedestal sink, bathtub, and mirror.

See the new bathrooms created below.

View the rest of the contest entries at Worth 1000.

Customer Gallery - Bathroom

2009-06-22T08:00:00.001-04:00

Whether you've stumbled upon our blog or are a loyal Vintage Tub and Bath customer, you probably did not know that we have a customer bathroom gallery.

The photo below was sent to us from Rose B. who resides in Annapolis, Maryland.

Rose's bathroom includes a 60 inch classic clawfoot bathtub from the Randolph Morris collection, clawfoot tub straight supply lines, a deck mount handshower, an American Standard elongated toilet. Another fixture not pictured is a widespread lavatory faucet by Pegasus.

View other photos submitted of Rose's bathroom and browse the rest of our customer bathroom gallery. If you would like to showcase your own photos, send them to emily@vintagetub.com. Be sure to include your name, location, a description of the photos, and of course, the before and after shots.

Father's Day Gift Ideas for the Outdoor Lover

2009-06-20T08:00:00.000-04:00

Does your Dad love spending time outdoors or in his backyard? If so, this list of Father's Day gift ideas will help you choose something that your Dad can enjoy outdoors.

This bird feeder is a great gift for a Dad who enjoys bird watching or just likes to relax in the yard.

Help Dad complete his backyard by giving him this galvanized weather station. The weather station features a temperature gauge, humidity gauge, and a barometer.

Dad can spend his nights tending to the fire with this fireplace tool set. The set is made of hammered steel and can be used for an indoor fireplace as well.

Father's Day Gift Ideas for the Entertainment Lover

2009-06-19T08:00:00.002-04:00

This year, Father's Day falls on June 21st. If you are struggling to come up with an idea for a gift, you may find this series of blog posts helpful. The following gifts are great for Dads who like to be entertained, and to entertain guests.

This vintage style entertainment center is a three disc CD player, record player, turntable, AM/FM radio, and cassette player. Other similar gift ideas include other entertainment centers, radios, turntables, and this vintage style tabletop jukebox.

If your Dad would rather be the one entertaining rather than being entertained, he may like this wine cellar. The humidity and temperature controlled wine cellar fits neatly under a kitchen counter-top, and can hold 54 bottles of wine.

If you Dad enjoys having people over for a barbecue or drinks, he may enjoy a set of bar chairs to create seating for guests in the backyard.

Father's Day Gift Ideas

2009-06-18T08:00:00.000-04:00

Choosing the ideal Father's Day gift can be difficult. Finding an item that is meaningful and enjoyable for your Dad can even turn into a frustrating task. Unless your Dad has a specific hobby that can supply you with endless gift ideas, you may need some help brainstorming. Below I have compiled a list of gifts that can be enjoyed any father.

The first item is a fog free shower mirror. This mirror can be set up inside the bathroom shower so Dad can multi-task in the morning.

Next, a Towel Spa which warms towels and robes. Come fall and winter, Dad will be quite thrilled to have one of these luxurious warmers.

Another good gift idea is a vintage style clock. This desk clock will bring classic style to his office or any room in the home.
Another good gift choice is a Vintage Tub and Bath gift card, which are available in various denominations. View other gift ideas and check back for more Father's Day gift suggestions.

Benjamin Franklin and the Bathtub

2009-06-17T11:00:00.001-04:00

Among the invention of Bifocals, the Odometer, and the Armonica, Benjamin Franklin is also credited for bringing the first bathtub to America. The bathtub he brought from France is said to have been constructed of copper. The tub, which was shaped like a shoe, did not have a faucet but filled by hand with water from another source. Since he is an inventor, Ben Franklin studied the tub and then made his own improvements. It is also said that he spent much time reading and writing while in the bathtub.

The oldest bathtub is said to have existed in the Minoan city of Greece. The five-foot bathtub may have belonged to the Queen and also had no faucet or drain.

Sources: Professional Bathtub Refinishers Association
The Plumber
The Bath Tub
NYU

Classic Bathroom Trends

2009-06-12T10:00:00.000-04:00

I was recently reading an article called Kitchen and Bath: A Longing for the Past which was featured in This Old House. The author of the article stated that homeowners who are remodeling their kitchens and bathrooms are "choosing traditional and classic styles over the trendy or unproven". Also discussed in the article were some older trends that are being made new. Below are some products with similar characteristics of those listed in the article.

Cast Iron Bathtub

Handcrafted Copper Sink

Semi-Vessel Vanity Sink

Vintage Inspired Hot Water Dispenser

Read Kitchen and Bath: A Longing for the Past at This Old House

Aga Saga

2009-06-09T10:55:00.005-04:00

You may already know how an Aga appliance works, but what you may not know is the meaning of Aga Saga. The term is used to describe a certain type of novels about middle class families living in rural areas of the United Kingdom. These Aga Sagas are written about characters that are likely to own an Aga oven, a popular luxury appliance in Europe.

The name was introduced by Terrence Blacker in an article in Publishing News specifically targeting author, Joanna Trollope. Though only two of her twelve books could be described by this term, she is still the main Aga Saga target. She has been quoted saying "I am fairly tired of such an inaccurate and patronising tag" and "I will be queen of the Aga Saga to my dying day. Its jolly annoying".

Browse Aga products including ranges, refrigerators, and dishwashers and wine bottle cellars.

Energy Selling Bathrooms

2009-06-08T11:12:00.001-04:00

In efforts to save money and energy, a small town in the United Kingdom recently shut down its public restrooms for renovation. The new bathrooms were equipped with two solar panels, one to power the water system, and the other to convert sunlight into electricity.

What is interesting about this improvement, is that it produced above and beyond the amount of energy needed to power the restrooms. So much, in fact, that the excess amount of energy was sold to the National Grid. As a result, the company who commissioned the project was able to not only save money on those specific restrooms, but on other operations as well.

Source: BBC News

Toilet Prank

2009-06-05T12:00:00.002-04:00

Using a portable toilet is usually not a pleasant experience. The only thing worse than having to use one is being stuck in one. Check out the portable toilet prank below. In the video, people enter a portable restroom and upon exiting, they find themselves interrupting a business meeting.

Historic Bathrooms - The Eisenhower's

2009-06-03T11:01:00.001-04:00

Our 34th president, Dwight D. Eisenhower and his wife, Mamie Eisenhower lived in the White House longer than any other house. However, they called their farmhouse in Gettysburg home. Purchased in 1950 and completed in 1955, the preserved house, has eight bedrooms and nine bathrooms.

Below is Mamie Eisenhower's bathroom featuring a one piece toilet and bathtub, showcasing her iconic love of the color pink. View a larger photo.

Ike's bathroom was green but he couldn't escape Mamie's love of pink as you can see below. Take a look at a larger photo including a different view of his console sink and one piece toilet.

View more photos and floor plans of the Eisenhower's Gettysburg home.

Sources: Eisenhower National Historic Site
National Register of Historical Places

Recycling a Clawfoot Bathtub

2009-05-29T12:23:00.008-04:00

Choosing a new bathtub to replace your old clawfoot tub is a difficult choice.
Once you have made your decision, you are suddenly faced with another. What will you do with your old clawfoot bathtub? Some good suggestions on how to reuse clawfoot tubs include:

Make room in the backyard for a pond. Seal the drain hole and fill the tub with water, plant life, and fish.
Give plants and flowers a new home by using the bathtub as a giant planter in your garden.
Remove one side of the clawfoot tub and add cushions to create a small couch or chair.
Convert the bathtub into a racing machine and enter a clawfoot bathtub competition. Or, create a clawfoot tub kayak, motorcycle, or automobile.
Donate it to a local thrift store or make a profit at a local furniture consignment shop.

Sources: Green Daily
Recycle This
Geekware

House Eight Feet Wide

2009-05-27T14:16:00.009-04:00

Two Belgian architects created a four story, eight foot wide, livable space between two buildings in Antwerp, Belgium. Each floor was designed for a different activity. From bottom to top, each floor was designed for a different activity: working, eating, living, and sleeping.

Less than eight feet wide, the bedroom is equipped with not only a bed and closet, but a wall- hung toilet as well.

A drop-in bathtub is located on the rooftop!

Source: Archinect

Solid Gold Toilet

2009-05-20T09:10:00.002-04:00

One of the most expensive toilets in the world can be found in Hong Kong in the Hang Fung Gold Technology showroom. The 24 carat gold toilet is on display in the company's Hall of Gold. While the price of gold has been quickly on the rise, jewelry tycoon and entrepreneur Lam Sai-wing refuses to melt the solid gold toilet. He has stated "I don't care if gold hits $10,000 an ounce". Lam Sai-wing made a smart investment when gold was only $200 per ounce. Other items in the hall of gold, including a gold sink, gold chandelier, and gold horse-drawn chariot, are all being melted down. The toilet is also listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as "The Most Expensive Toilet in the World".

Sources: Wall Street Journal Article, MetalMiner, How Stuff Works

Extreme Restroom

2009-05-18T13:51:00.004-04:00

Believe it or not, this scenic bathroom stall is actually an advertisement for Coca-Cola's Japanese product: Georgia Max Coffee. Featured in a bathroom stall in Japan, visitors are presented an uncommon bathroom experience of preparing to ski down a mountain. The bathroom stall artwork was conceived by Tugboat Advertising of Tokyo.

Test your WaterSense

2009-05-11T10:44:00.003-04:00

If your water and energy bills have been too high for your liking, it might be time to test your WaterSense. The Enviromental Protection Agency sponsors a program called WaterSense which aims to cut back on the use of natural water resources. The program recommends and certifies fixtures that utilize less water than necessary and that help save energy. If you are especially unhappy with your water bills, you may want to look into a more efficient faucet or water saving toilet. Click the Play Now button below to play the EPA WaterSense game at their website. This arcade style game may help you assess how much you really know about the water your household is using.

Source: EPA WaterSense

WaterSense Toilets

2009-05-08T11:00:00.005-04:00

According the the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), toilet use accounts for 30% of all water used in the home. WaterSense, an EPA sponsored program, certifies toilets that can save 20% of household water use. To become certified, the toilets must go through meticulous laboratory testing and meet all WaterSense standards.

The EPA discusses the many ways to benefit from a WaterSense toilet, which include...

saving 4,000 gallons of water per year
using 20% less water per year
reducing water utility bills
rebates and vouchers for discounts on purchasing a WaterSense approved toilet

WaterSense toilets perform just as well, and many times, even better than regular toilets. There are also many options to chose from. Take a look at a few below.

See more water saving toilets and read more about the Environmental Protection Agency's WaterSense program.

WaterSense Faucets

2009-05-06T11:04:00.001-04:00

WaterSense, a program sponsored by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), has set standards for a variety of different bathroom fixtures to mainly help save water and energy. Replacing your current bathroom parts with these water saving alternatives will also benefit you in the form of a smaller water bill.

According to the EPA, a WaterSense approved faucet can...

save at least 500 gallons of water per household in one year
decrease demands on water heaters
save energy

The WaterSense approved faucets are available in different colors and styles to match your bathroom, and they help save money! Learn more about the WaterSense certification and check out a few certified faucets below.

View more water-saving faucets and other WaterSense products. Also check back for more information on other WaterSense fixtures and tips on how to save energy and money.

Comfortable Patio Furniture

2009-05-04T12:17:00.001-04:00

With summer quickly approaching, like me, you probably can't wait to spend more time outside. After the winter we just had in Pennsylvania, I look forward to getting into my car without spending 20 minutes clearing snow off of it.

If you plan on spending time in your backyard this summer, you may want to have the appropriate outdoor furniture. A traditional picnic table is always nice, but if you are looking to spend more time in the yard, you may want more comfortable patio furniture.

Below, I chose some outdoor furnishings that are comfortable and look great.

A curved bench with seat cushion.

A woven, folding chair.

An outdoor chaise lounge, which also has an optional indoor or outdoor cushion.

Snake Bath

2009-05-01T10:50:00.003-04:00

A woman in Florida claimed that a snake made its way out of the faucet and crept into her bathtub, while she was bathing. The woman's boyfriend heard her screaming and came to the rescue by removing the first snake from the tub. Later, a similar snake appeared, identified by a Palm Beach Zoo employee as a possible rat snake.

According to experts, it is likely that the snakes entered through the drain or outflow as opposed to the faucet since snakes are drawn toward cave-like environments.

Since the incident, the couple decided to purchase an aquarium and keep the snakes as pets.

Source: WBIR News

Replacing an Old Bathtub with a Clawfoot Tub

2009-04-27T13:00:00.002-04:00

Thanks to television On Demand, I was recently introduced to short home renovation video clips from the DIY network. I checked out the DIY network website and found several other informative videos and step by step instructions on how to complete various household projects.

I came across instructions on how to replace an old bathtub and install a new clawfoot tub. The site discusses the difficulty level (a 3 on a scale of 1-5), the necessary materials, and exactly what to do. The site also displays a photo for each step of the way.

Before the new clawfoot tub was installed. (Above)

The finished product and new focal point of the bathroom.

To complete the installation of a new clawfoot bathtub from beginning to end you will need to:

Earth Day

2009-04-22T13:13:00.008-04:00

Happy Earth Day to everyone! If you don't have time to plant a tree or to donate money to a worthy cause, there are still ways you can help the earth. Here are several things you can do around the house today that take little effort but help in a big way.

Switch from regular lightbulbs to energy saving, compact flourescent lamps (CFLs). If you don't have time to make the switch today, you can still take action by pledging to make the switch at the Earth Day Network.
Take part in the Environmental Protection Agency's Pick Five for the Environment pledge.
Utilize a reusable water bottle more often. Another alternative is to attach a water filter to your kitchen faucet.
Clean your toilet with a natural cleaner as opposed to harmful chemicals. Sprinkle baking soda inside the toilet bowl, let it sit, then pour vinegar inside. It may sound like a science project, but the interaction will actually clean your toilet. Find more natural cleaning ideas.

If you are looking to make an even bigger change, check out some faucets and toilets with a WaterSense label. These products adhere to the Environmental Protection Agency's standards as well as cut back on water and energy bills. Check back for more information on the WaterSense program and our WaterSense certified products.

The Proper Way to Hang Toilet Paper

2009-04-20T15:23:00.000-04:00

Toilet paper may not be a popular topic of conversation but I know that I have had multiple conversations about the correct way it should be hung on a toilet paper holder. There are those who like the sheet to hang from the bottom, and those who like to easily access it from the top of the roll. It is especially frustrating when you visit someone's home or use a public restroom and you have to take time to figure out where the toilet paper begins. Thankfully, someone created a series of photos with discussions on what they believe is the correct way to hang toilet paper and the problems that may arise from not hanging it properly.

View all five photos and the full lesson in hanging toilet paper.

Source and Photos: Toilet Paper Article from Current Configuration

Customized Showering

2009-04-17T15:26:00.003-04:00

If you've never seen it before, this is the Kohler WaterHaven custom shower. Equipped with seven different sprayers, you can customize your showering experience by adjusting the various knobs and ports. This shower is not only a great way to get clean, but you can adjust the direction and intensity of the sprayers for a massaging effect, or keep your hair dry while cleaning only the rest of your body. Additionally, the WaterHaven includes a handshower.

Another great thing about this deluxe shower is that it only requires one single connection. The WaterHaven can be hooked up through the wall or floor. For this reason, the shower can be flexibly located to your location of choice.Everything about this shower is customizable. You can even manipulate the water flow, using as much or as little water as you choose.Learn more about the WaterHaven custom shower or view more photos and and instructional video by Kohler.