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The Most Frequently Asked Questions about Bathroom Fixtures
What are bathroom fixtures?
Bathroom fixtures are those items that help deliver fresh water into the bathroom and take dirty water and waste away. Fixtures are often made to be very alluring and are part of the bathroom’s overall decor. They include the following:
- Bathtub
- Sink
- Toilet Bowl
- Faucet
- Shower head
Some people include the vanity that holds the bathroom sink and the plumbing pipes as fixtures for the bathroom. Others call the plumbing pipes fittings instead of fixtures. All fixtures and fittings are able to be swapped out and replaced by new ones.
What are fixtures for the bathroom made of?
- Faucets: Faucets are most often made of metal, though some inexpensive ones are made of plastic. They can come in a range of finishes, including polished, brushed or matte chrome, bronze, polished brass, matte black and brushed or polished nickel.
- Bathtubs: Bathtubs can be made of cast iron with an enameled finish, steel with an enamel finish, fiberglass, acrylic and cast polymer that can be made to resemble natural stone such as marble and granite.
- Sinks: Sinks can also be made of the mentioned materials, but they can also be made of vitreous china (porcelain), engineered stone (which is stone powder mixed with a resin and pigment), and solid surface materials, which are acrylics or polyester resins that are baked into sheets and formed. Vessel sinks can be made of even more materials, including stainless steel, hammered copper or tempered glass. A vessel sink sits on top of the vanity like a bowl but is attached to a drain. Vessel sinks usually require wall-mounted faucets.
- Toilet bowls: Most toilet bowls are still made of vitreous china, though you’ll find some made out of stainless steel. Even now, experts believe that porcelain is simply the best material for a toilet bowl.
Can you install fixtures for the bathroom yourself?
Fixtures can be installed by a dedicated DIY person and a helper or two if it's a heavy or unwieldy item such as a bathtub, sink or toilet. However, if you don’t already have wall-mounted fixtures and need to install some, you’ll need to rearrange the plumbing behind the wall. This really calls for a professional plumber.
How much do fixtures for the bathroom cost?
The cost of a fixture for the bathroom can range from $25 for a plain shower head to many thousands of dollars for a claw-footed Victorian bathtub carved out of marble.