You may never have given a lot of thought to your toilet until you need to buy one. Then the immense choice can be overwhelming. Your Home picked the brains of two experts – Kohler’s Nicole Steyne and Beaumont’s David Richardson – to make the process easier.
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Where to start
Both Nicole and David agree that the place to start is to think about the space. Is it an ensuite or the kids’ bathroom (you might choose something more luxurious for an ensuite)? Are you moving the plumbing, and will you need an S-trap (pipework connects to the floor or a P-trap (pipework connects to the wall), or an in-wall cistern? And how much space do you have?
“Nowadays there is a range of space-saving models, including wall hung toilet suites or back-to-wall suites with a shorter projection that are perfect for townhouses and powder rooms,” Nicole said.
Making a choice
Toilets can range from $150 to $1500. They all perform the same function, so what’s the difference?
“Lower priced entry models will typically be the traditional shape that sit away from the wall,” David said. “They take up more space and their shape can make cleaning awkward, especially when trying to clean behind them. Entry price models may also not be manufactured with good quality raw materials which mean they can discolour quicker, from UV for example – leaving you with an unsightly toilet that will never quite look glistening white.”
Nicole said a more expensive toilet reflects the desire to enhance the bathroom space, “resulting in toilets that come with myriad of fabulous inclusions”.
“These include rimless toilet pans featuring an anti-bacterial coating like the recently released Kohler ModernLife suite – this makes the toilet more hygienic and easier to clean,” she said. “Vertical quick release seats mean you can completely remove the seat to clean the suite – no hidden nooks and crannies for bacteria and germs to build up. Electronic bidet seats are becoming far more popular and can be added to your existing toilet suite.”
Also check the WELS rating. “WELS ratings are one way that we can keep track of how ‘water friendly’ the toilet you’re purchasing is. The higher the rating, the better the water conservation rate – which is not only good for the environment but also your wallet,” David said.
After considering all that, you will still have a lot to choose from.
“There’s different shapes, sizes, some with remote controls and touchless flushing – it’s exciting to put some seriously interesting and advanced technology to the test to bring better bathroom products to Australian homes,” Nicole said.
