Sometimes, a traditional hot water heater is overkill. If you need near instantaneous hot water, an electric tankless water heater may fit the bill. Works great in a small office kitchen or bathroom setting, unless you provide shower facilities. However, once you install several of them, they can cost as much as a traditional water heater. The advantage is that if you ever need to replace the tankless water heater, you don’t need a couple of plumbers to remove and haul away the heavy metal beast. Tankless water heaters are compact and convenient.

The Porcher Semplice Basin will be a stunning addition to any bathroom. However, be careful if you are relying on the dimensions stated on the Porcher website. Listed as the Semplice Rectangle Basin by Porcher, the overall dimensions provided are 15-1/4″ x 15-1/4″ x 6″. So, how can a 15-1/4″ x 15-1/4″ basin be a rectangle? It cannot.

The spec sheet repeats this error by listing the above dimensions. However, the drawing shows a 21-3/4″ x 15-1/4″ x 6″ basin, which conforms more to the traditional dimensions of a rectangle. So, if you are looking for a square basin, don’t be fooled by the square dimensions and end up buying the rectangular one (like I did).

After being immersed into the world of bathroom fixtures and tiles for a few weeks, I discovered that whenever I enter a bathroom, I immediately survey what sink basins, tiles and bathroom fixtures were used. So, when I recently stayed at a hotel, I was surprised that they would use a Grohe showerhead. I was right (in part) because the showerhead wasn’t a Grohe. But, it was close enough to fool me at first glance. Take a look at the Grohe Relaxa Plus Top 4 Shower Head and judge for yourself.

If you are shopping for natural stone tile for your kitchen or bathroom, be aware that the tile you see on the showroom display may not even resemble the tile that is boxed up in the warehouse. Naturally, the tile dealer wants to put his best foot forward, so he selects the best looking tile for the showroom. What you need to figure out is whether the showroom display represents 10%, 25%, 33%, 50%, 66% or 75% of the boxed tile. Ask them to bring out a box so that you can take a look.

In California, lighting in bathrooms must be high efficacy, or must be controlled by a manual-on occupant sensor. The 2005 Residential Compliance Manual further states, “At least one high-efficacy luminaire should be installed so that it can be left off the occupant sensor circuit to ensure that all of the luminaires don’t switch off while someone is in the bath. Even dual technology
sensors may not detect a motionless and silent occupant.”

So, if you don’t have a 4-pin fluorescent light in your bathroom, then your lights must be controlled by an occupant sensor. Persons with dimmers need not apply. However, depending on the location of the sensor and the activities of any occupant, all the lights may go off. Well, there you go. Someone taking a shower in a wet, soapy area and the lights go off. Tell me there won’t be a lawsuit if the occupant slips and falls.

Let’s say the bathroom does have a high efficacy luminaire, in addition to an incandescent or halogen light above the sink. As the compliance manual states, the occupant should never just turn on the vanity light. Instead, the occupant should turn on all the lights, just in case the vanity light goes off. Now, how exactly is energy being saved when you have to turn on all your lights?

I still don’t understand how the State can mandate the installation of an occupant sensor that may cast the unwary into darkness when the State is aware of the sensor’s shortcomings. Why exactly is California sending people to Sacramento to require us to install a defective product?

I think after the lawyers get done with this silly law, we will all need to post a sign in our bathrooms warning family members and guests that the lights may go off on them while they are in the bathroom. Furthermore, before anyone may use the facilities, we will need them to sign a disclaimer stating that they are aware the lights may go off on them and that they waive all rights against the homeowner should they slip and fall in a darkened bathroom.

What should you install on your bath / shower walls?  Don’t search for the one correct answer because it doesn’t exist.  You’ll probably get a different answer depending on who you ask. Here are some popular choices:

• Granite.  If you walk into any showroom, you’ll probably see granite installed on the shower / bathtub walls, either in slab or tile form.  Granite is a great stone to use and is very durable.
• Marble.  Marble tile is a popular choice for shower / bathtub walls.  A bit higher maintenance than granite.  Definitely needs to be sealed.  If you don’t understand why, ask for a sample and smear some lotion, toothpaste and other wonderful items commonly found in your bathroom, and watch it stain.
• Porcelain Tile.  The plus is that you don’t have to seal porcelain tile and it comes in a wide variety of colors.  The downside is that if it chips, it won’t react like natural stone.  The color of porcelain tile is only skin deep.  That’s why you also have to buy trim pieces for porcelain tile.  With granite or marble, you can cut a piece of stone and polish the edge.  Doesn’t work the same way with porcelain tile.
• Cultured Marble.  One large slab with few grout lines for mildew to grab hold.  But, the surface is not impenetrable and will deteriorate if you allow water to sit, like if you have a cultured marble soap dish.