A key room requiring changes as people grow older is the bathroom.  From adding grab bars to removing slip-hazard throw rugs, there are many easy changes homeowners can tackle to make their lives easier and safer.

“People choosing to stay in their current homes as they age can make small changes to make their bathroom living space more comfortable,” says Adriana Miller, product manager with Mansfield Plumbing. “The simple task of swapping out a standard toilet for a higher SmartHeight^TM toilet allows a person to more easily access the toilet. Grab bars installed on the walls can also help someone get up and down easier from the toilet.”

Another bathroom change that can be made is to replace a standard bathtub with a walk-in tub. A low seven-inch entry threshold, a 17-inch high ADA-compliant seat and easy-to-access cable-operated drain all make the Restore^TM ACR Walk-In Tub a strong candidate for aging Baby Boomers. Available as a bathtub, whirlpool, air bath, combination whirlpool and air bath, or MicroDerm^TM Therapeutic Bath, Restore ACR has a water-tight inward swinging door, textured slip-resistant floor, and a high seat that allows the bather to remain upright while being completely submerged.

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When Colaluca received a request for a combination walk-in tub and shower that didn’t have an “institutional feel” to it, he dug in.

A second generation wholesaler and a licensed plumber, Colaluca started by researching ADA tubs available from Mansfield Plumbing. Once he identified the Restore^TM Walk-in tub as the best solution for his customer, his next task was to think outside of the box to create a unique combination shower experience.

“My client didn’t want the hospital-type feeling of an ADA-certified tub to dominate the new bathroom design,” says Colaluca. “To give the tub a ‘softer feeling’ I tried thinking outside the box and decided to take off the outer shell and rebuild the base. This allowed me to tile around the base to match the tile throughout the entire shower. Then I added a ‘sitting bench’ outside the tub.

“With that accomplished we had to make the shower fit next. The access door for the Restore combination air and whirlpool tub is now positioned across the front with the seat next to the tub. We added a hand-held shower in the tub and incorporated the full shower outside the tub area. Both of these fit perfectly in the designated space, making it more like an in-home spa.”

Coming up with creative solutions is something Colaluca specializes in on a daily basis. With five locations in New Hampshire and Rhode Island, Colaluca and his father Rico decided in 2005 to expand their company’s business by opening a state-of-the-art showroom called Your Kitchen and Bath Center. Then, in 2016 Smithfield Supply created, built and opened a hands-on interactive training room. The dedicated space offers employees and their customers the most updated training on plumbing, heating and HVAC products.

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At Mansfield Plumbing, 12 uniquely-styled lavs are available in our Affordable Style Designer Series of suites. The Brentwood Lav boasts a traditional design and is available as either a square tiered under-counter sink or a drop-in sink. The Barrett Lav also comes in a traditional design with a square pedestal sink and a drop-in sink.

For a soft, transitional style, the Essence self-rimming lav is clean and timeless. A pedestal sink with optional towel bar offers a functional and distinct appearance. The Enso Lav features a contemporary style with sleek, smooth lines. Sink options include a standing pedestal and a drop-in sink, plus an above counter oval vessel with a wood vanity.

The Montclair Lav has an eclectic personality — the perfect balance between traditional and modern elements — and comes in a pedestal style or a drop-in sink. Finally, the Waverly Lav offers clean, crisp lines in a traditional English-inspired design for both its pedestal and drop-in sinks.

To make a distinct statement in a bathroom, the Reo Vessel Lav can’t be surpassed. With arched sides and a deep oval sink, Reo Lavs have a personality all their own. If a round vessel sink is required to create a standout guest bathroom, we also offer several options: the Tempo, Luna and Monet sinks.

“There are an abundance of stylish lavatory options we create, including the Verona pedestal sink and the Razionale above counter vessel lav,” says Adriana Miller, product manager for Mansfield Plumbing. “The Verona is a smaller pedestal sink primarily used in small secondary bathrooms. The clean simple lines of the Razionale make it a favorite for homeowners looking for a minimalist contemporary shape. This sink was created to meet the growing trend in square styled vessels for the home.

“No matter which ‘lavish lav’ is selected, homeowners have options with Mansfield for quality-crafted lavatories that can be found in drop-in, under counter, above counter, vanity tops and pedestal styles.”

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“My boyfriend and his father took out an old toilet and replaced it with a Summit Dual-Flush toilet in less than an hour,” says Misty Davis with Everything Changes blog site. “We selected this toilet specifically because of the dual flush option. We had problems getting toilet paper and waste down with our other toilet. This new toilet saves water by using just 1.1/1.6 Gpf and efficiently removes solid waste when the second flush button is chosen.”

 In Oregon, Laurie Adams reports that installing a Denali toilet was “super easy and quick.”  

“On a scale of 1 being difficult and 5 being super easy, I would give this project a 4,” says Adams, with Emily Reviews blog site. “I actually had to ask my husband to slow down so I could take pictures. The entire process took less than 30 minutes.”

 For Adams, who has two young daughters at home, selecting the Denali Power Flush toilet was important because of the powerful flushing capabilities. Providing single flush confidence, Denali features superior flushing performance that’s more than 20 percent greater than the highest MaP rating, moving 1,200 grams of waste with 1.6 Gpf. 

Both Davis and Adams have written reviews of their Mansfield toilet installation experiences. To see the step-by-step blog postings, go to http://mistymorgan.blogspot.com/2016/11/mansfield-plumbing-summit-dual-flush.html and http://www.emilyreviews.com/2016/10/mansfield-plumbing-denali-toilet-review-giveaway-us-canada-1103.html.

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For Anne Marie, her small change was replacing an old worn out toilet with a Summit 1.28 Gpf toilet. She chose a SmartHeight toilet with elongated front and a slow-close toilet seat (to prevent her four-year old daughter Madison from slamming the seat down).

Anne Marie was able to make a big impact on her home’s water bills by selecting a 1.28 Gpf toilet. Her older toilet used about 5 gallons with each flush, and with five people in the family, that was adding up to money headed down the drain.

Read about Anne Marie’s replacement toilet project and other household water saving tips by clicking HERE to see the Growing Up Madison blog.

The post Saying Farewell to a 5 Gpf Toilet appeared first on Mansfield Plumbing.

Mansfield Plumbing to the rescue.

When Kim contacted us we jumped at the chance to show how a bathroom renovation can uplift her spirits and make life easier. After careful consideration she chose a Pro-Fit Whirlpool with an inline heater and brushed nickel metal trim. For her toilet replacement she loved the sleek look of the Montclair HET.

Read all about Kim’s upgrade and bathroom transformation by clicking HERE.

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“For homeowners with a small bathroom a one-piece toilet can be a space-saving advantage,” says Adriana Miller with Mansfield Plumbing. “And, you don’t sacrifice style with a one-piece toilet. Because the tank and toilet bowl are molded as one piece, there’s almost a sleek, modern aspect to the style of many one-piece toilets.”

According to Miller, the seamless transition between the base and the tank has another advantage: easy cleaning.

“There are no nooks or joint areas where dirt can hide on a one-piece toilet,” says Miller. “This makes exterior cleaning quicker and easier for homeowners. Another advantage is that installation generally goes faster for a one-piece toilet, since a plumber does not have to maneuver and secure the toilet bowl and then do the same for the toilet tank.”

Mansfield Plumbing offers one-piece toilets in the Aegean style featuring an elongated front toilet bowl and a color-match SmartClose toilet seat. The Aegean model 705NS features a 1.6Gpf/6.0 lpf low water consumption while the Aegean ADA  model 708 has 1.28 Gpf /4.86 lpf low water consumption. The Aegean ADA also has a 16-5/8 inches high SmartHeight bowl for easy access and maximum comfort.

“These one-piece toilets include high-performance MagnaFlush flushing technology and a two-inch glazed trapway,” says Miller. “The toilets feature a three-inch flush valve and pilot-operated anti-siphon fill valve. A side-mount, chrome-plated metal trip lever handle complements the sleek design of the toilet. And, the toilet comes in white, biscuit and bone to accent any bathroom setting.”

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            Placing a striking mirror in the bathroom … or several mirrors … can open up the feeling of the space and change a ho-hum bathroom into a gorgeous setting. To find the right color, shape, size and look for your bathroom, start by finding mirror ideas online, in stores and even in bathrooms you visit at the homes of friends and in restaurants!

Whether you decide to invest in one large mirror or a dozen smaller mirrors, you can transform your bathroom setting with your own reflection.

Here are some of our favorite bathroom mirrors we think make the most of bathroom space!

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Not all bathrooms are massive, but space doesn’t matter. Transforming a small bathroom into a luxurious one can happen when you know the right products and design tips. Here are some of our favorite things to keep in mind for small bathroom renovations:

Tip #1 – Maximize storage space with floating shelves, container storage, wall-mounted storage or even a floor to ceiling cabinet (perhaps with a mirror on the outside!).

Tip #2 – Add mirrors to enhance the space.

Tip #3 – Swap out an old window for a decorative glass window that becomes a focal point of the room. Styles from Hy-Lite include operable versions to allow air flow into the bathroom.

Tip #4 – Create a fuller space feeling with well-placed lighting.

Tip #5 – Add a stylish toilet that makes a design statement in the bathroom and ties in with 2016 bathroom trends! Consider one of the toilets from the Affordable Style suite collections from Mansfield Plumbing.

Tip #6 – Create privacy areas by using obscure acrylic block walls to separate the toilet area from the sink.

Tip #7 – Keep it light.  Use brighter colors, like tones of whites, grays and beiges to create an open feeling.

Tip #8– Add texture with glass tiles, mosaics or grained wallpaper.

Tip #9 – Stagger towel racks on the walls and add a Clutterbuster Family Towel Bar from Hinge-It . The rack stores behind the door and has four parallel bars for drying and storing towels.

Tip #10 – Forget shower curtains and frosted glass showers. Use a glass door on the shower to help make the room look bigger.

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