In the past the bathroom was solely associated with cleanliness and hygiene, and so had a tendency to become very clinical looking.
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Philosophy - Steel
These days though the bathroom is becoming a retreat where you can lock yourself away after a long day and relax – a pleasure zone – so careful consideration needs to be given to the materials chosen to contribute to the room's atmosphere.
Here we look into the material options available including their suitability for a moist environment to help you achieve the thoroughly modern bathroom of your dreams!
Plaster and Concrete
For centuries buildings have been weatherproofed with plaster and
concrete, so this makes it a desirable material to use in the
bathroom. It is highly pliable and can be moulded into sculptural
forms. It can also be coloured, textured, made to look like stone,
or made glassy smooth when waxed or polished. Both plaster and
concrete can be moulded into a worktop which can incorporate a
basin, giving smooth clean lines. It can also be moulded into a
dividing wall, shower enclosure or one of its most popular uses a
floor. The beauty of casting of one item, such as a basin, is that
it can be constructed to fit into a narrow or awkward space.
However when using concrete or plaster, the weight should always be considered, as it can be extremely heavy. The floor must be checked to see whether it is structurally sound enough to support the weight and we would recommend that you seek the advice of an engineer or architect. A highly textured finish should be avoided in areas where moisture could stand in the grooves as this could encourage mould and create a damp smell.
When used in a bathroom cement must be sealed to prevent it from being stained by oils, water and toiletries, and to prevent it from absorbing water and eventually powdering.
Glass
Glass is associated with highly chic modern bathrooms and the
natural transparency has an affinity with water. Glass is available
in a variety of different colours, finishes, textures and levels of
translucency; and a recent innovation means that at the flick of a
switch an electronic current can change a clear glass window to
opaque!
Glass can be used in the bathroom to create extra light, by adding windows, walls, or even a section of floor. In particular the use of glass blocks are very popular at the moment. They come in a variety of colours, patterns and opacity and can be used to build a wall, shower enclosure or partition.
They are extremely useful to use when light needs to be borrowed from another room, however they do need to be installed by a professional.
Glass basins give the illusion of taking up less space than the traditional ceramic ones, whilst shelves made of glass give the illusion of space and create a clean uncluttered look. They are light, easy to clean and will work in almost any scheme as they have a timeless quality. A glass splash back has the advantage of showing the pattern or design that appears on the wall behind. If glass sheets are to be used in this instance, or inside a shower once in place and secured all the edges and joins will need to be carefully sealed to prevent water leakage. Glass itself is not an expensive material, but the process of having it cut, polished and fitted can increase the cost.
Also available are glass tiles which come in a variety of sizes and colours. These are applied in the same way as ceramic tiles and are grouted between. However they can be expensive, especially if there is a large area to cover, so are often used sparingly.
Special safety glass, laminated glass or tempered glass should be used in th ebathroom as it is four times stronger than ordinary glass and, if it breaks, disintegrates into harmless fragments rather than sharp shards.
Metal
The industrial look is very fashionable at the moment but
it can be quite harsh, however mixing it with natural materials can
help to soften the look. Sheets of steel are quite lightweight, so
they make good splash backs behind basins and baths. Sheet steel
has water resistant properties and is very hygienic because
bacteria cannot get trapped in the seams and so is popular in
hospitals, restaurants and factories. Steel can have either a
highly polished or brushed finish, however a polished surface can
be easily scratched or marked. It should be cleaned with care using
a soft cloth and abrasive free cream or specialist cleaner. The
philosophy range by Sottini uses stainless steel to great effect by
enveloping individual pieces to create a reflective, luxurious
bathroom suite.
Sheet metal can also be laid as flooring. Aluminium, stainless and galvanised steel made resilient flooring materials and can be polished with a sander, or pressed with a diamond or chevron design which leaves a raised pattern that reflects light and helps to give the floor non slip properties.
Metal sheets should be welded and fixed to a level timber, fibreboard or plywood base, to stop them clattering when they are walked upon. Sheets used for splash backs will need to be cut and drilled by specialists, and secured in place with mirror screws. Metal tiles are available, but like the glass tiles are quite expensive if there is a large expanse of wall to cover. Ceramic tiles with a metallic paint finish are available in a variety of patterns and are slightly cheaper than metal tiles.
By Caroline Bezemer
