bathroom question

[funthief]

Hi, hoping some bathroom experts will see this and help me out.
Looking at refurbing the family bathroom. Was refurbed by previous owner and it leaks all over the shop. Shower leaks, toilet leaks, sink leaks. WE have had nothing but trouble with it so my primary aim is to install something robust and leak proof as I am SICK of dealing with bathroom related problems. Have two small children. I will be installing bath which will also be used as a shower. Thinking of a Carronite bath, to use for kids baths and adults showers. Thinking of Carronite as seems to be better than standard acrylic, if google is to be believed. Would I be better off going for steel? Worried about kids smashing things about in it and scratching the enamel. I'm basically looking for something very hard wearing and not prone to leaks.
Also thinking of a Burlington sink with Crosswater or Bristan taps. However, it seems like I will have to go for a pop up waste unless I go for a separate hot water and cold water tap (I want mixer taps as don't like a separate cold water tap and hot water tap, doesn't feel practical when washing hands, i.e. your hands are either frozen off or scalded off). We NEVER fill the sink (i.e. we never use the plug) so are the leakage problems associated with pop up wastes irrelevant? Hoping Piglet John sees this and can advise.
I'm not especially wedded to any brand. I'm basically looking for something very reliable, leak proof (I just can't bear one more leak) and kiddy proof. I'm looking for a traditional style (hence looking at Burlington ceramics) but like I said, not wedded to any brand in particular.
Many thanks in advance.

[gemmalou123]

Do not get a pop up plug, worst invention ever to exist! Ours just gets itself stuck everytime it's used, yet somehow leaks water down the plug hole so empty sink & stuck plug. Absolute faff and effort wasted where effort shouldn't even be needed on a daily basis. Never looked any further than acrylic roll top bath from victoria plumb ourselves. So so cheap, brought the set of bath, sink, toilet with no issues at all 18 months on. The dog, muddy builder husband, grubby child, myself and dogs get washed in it and always cleans up perfectly. Love it, and could have spent 10 x the amount we did to look/feel/clean up the same.

[grumbleina]

I have a slightly nonsensical loathing of all non-plug wastes and ran into the same problem as you re mixer taps - the only sink that would fit only had a single tap hole, too, so really no choice.

I can't really comment on whether this was an ok thing to do or not, but what I did was buy a tap meant for a pop up mixer, and then bought a plug waste. The mixer tap had a little hole in the back for the pop up stick thing to go in, and maybe by chance or maybe this is the way they all are, this hole was the same size as the screw at the end of the plug chain. So in it went, with a tiny dab of silicone just in case, and there haven't been any issues. And no leaks!

[PigletJohn]

Pop-up wastes leak.

[0x530x610x750x630x79]

yep my v.expensive popup plug leaks.
the roll up plug in the bath doesn't.
Are we talking making downstairs wet leaks? or things just not holding water leaks?

as the first type is just rubbishy plumbers, but how to find a good one...

[Millymollymama]

I have flip over waste plugs in my sinks and they do not leak! They are no faff whatsoever. Don't get ones with the stalk mechanism in front of the tap . They are useless. Make sure you buy good quality mixer taps. We have Crosswater, Grohe and Hansgrohe - all mixer taps with the flip over waste I have described which is completely separate from the tap. These taps are well made and will last. Crosswater are the least robust though. We like Duravit as a make for sinks and loos but I would recommend Kaldwei steel baths if you are using them as a shower as well. They are robust and do not move or flex. Only allow lighter weight plastic toys in the bath. Ban metal anything in the bath and your bath will stay perfect. We have twist waste mechanisms on the Kaldwei baths where there is a big disc on the side of the bath that closes and opens the waste. They work fine.

Check all your plumbing and pipes. In 35 years of house ownership I have never had a leaking loo! I currently have 7 loos in my house and have never had a leak! Make sure you get a decent plumber. To be honest, I think spending a bit more on decent bathroom sanitaryware and baths is money well spent. It is only a minor percentage of the cost of installing a new bathroom anyway. Plumbing, installation and tiling cost more, so why skimp? You can also tank the bathroom to prevent leaks coming down onto the ceiling below. Get large format tiles with fewer grouted joints. This helps keep bathroom secure regarding water seepage. At least you are not having a separate shower where most leaks occur!

[PigletJohn]

0x530x610x750x630x79

Pop up wastes have a hole in them where the lever goes through, so naturally they leak through the hole, once it is worn. Usually they drip onto the floor while the bath or basin is being emptied. It may take a while to show on the ceiling below. It gets worse over time.

You can adjust the screw-in stem, and lock it with the nut, to adjust the height of the mushroom-shaped plug.

[0x530x610x750x630x79]

Ahh i may be confused, mine is a pressure pop plug so you press the actual plug, no lever. Do they have a different name?

[PigletJohn]

might be a clicker plug. www.plumbworld.co.uk/search?w=bath+plug&submitBtn= or a tilting one

Pop-up plugs have a rod or lever by the tap, or a rotating knob at the bath overflow.

[0x530x610x750x630x79]

My very expensive clicker plug leaks, it has never kept water in the bowl :)

[funthief]

Thanks everyone