Toilets

All toilets work the same, so choosing it when designing your bathroom should be easy. The style you choose is simply personal preference. The style preference you will consider are round or elongated, one or two piece, how high, and pressure-assisted or gravity fed. There are also a variety of colors and trim. The best thing is to sit on the toilet before purchasing it. This way you will know if the size and height are comfortable for you. Prices range $200 to $1000.

Styles and Types

One-piece or two-piece
Most commonly toilets are two-piece with separate tanks and bowls. Higher priced one-piece are available and are generally more stylish. With a one-piece, you will not have leaks and they do tend to be quieter.

Round bowl or elongated bowl
Round is most common, as it saves space. Since bathrooms have become larger, elongated bowls have become very popular. Elongated bowls are 2-inches longer than a round bowl. The standard height of toilets is 15-inches.

Gravity or Pressure
Gravity or pressure is the way the toilet flushes. Standard gravity-fed toilets use the weight of the water to force everything from tank into the bowl and through the S-shaped trap way, where a siphoning action finishes the flush. In 1984 Mansfeld introduced the first pressure-assisted toilet in the U.S. By 1986, nearly all North American manufacturer offered at least one PA model. In 1992, a law was passed by the government, which restricted toilets to no more than 1.6 gallons of water used per flush, where the older toilets used 3.5 gallons. These systems use trapped air to initiate the flushing mechanism.

Concealed Tank
A concealed toilet tank is insulated. It is mounted between wall studs on the wall rather than the floor. This makes it easier to clean the toilet.

Materials
Clay fired at high temperatures forms a high gloss, stain-resistant surface. This is called vitreous china, and is what toilets are most commonly made of. They are durable but can chip, crack, or break if abused. With normal use, they can last forever.

A bit about Bidets

The word bidet (pronounced: bee day) is French for pony. This reference is to sitting astride as if on a saddle. It is not a bathtub, shower stall or different kind of toilet (though it is placed next to the toilet) - it is a hands-free, sit-down water washing unit or basin that used in place of wiping with toilet paper. Most Americans have never seen a bidet, unless they frequent upscale hotels in the U.S. and/or Europe. European's consider the bidet to be an essential part of their bathroom, in fact, no well equipped home is without one. Bidets are offered in many styles. They range from traditional to contemporary, but they usually do match the toilet.