Bowl shape
The overall shape of the toilet bowl.
The choice of this parameter largely depends on the aesthetic preferences of the user and the overall design of the bathroom; however, the shape of the bowl is quite practical. So, in our time, the most common is
semicircular models, where the rear edge of the bowl is made straight, and the rest - rounded (oval, egg-like, etc.). This shape not only looks good - it is convenient to sit on, and the absence of angles (at least in front of the bowl) facilitates cleaning and reduces the risk of hitting the toilet with your foot. In addition, material on such a bowl requires less than a rectangular product of similar dimensions - as a result, semi-circular toilet bowls are relatively inexpensive and light.
The rectangular shape, in turn, gives a larger support area, which is important for users of large physique. However, toilet bowls
classical rectangular shape are rare (due to the high cost of production, as well as for some other reasons). Much more common are variations on this topic - the bowls
, with bevelled (rounded) corners, as well as
, with the front end shaped arc.
Drain tank volume
The working volume of the flush tank installed on the toilet-compact (cf. «Type») or supplied with a classical model; in other words - the amount of water contained in the tank.
The current standard volume value is 6 litres; it is believed that this capacity provides an optimal balance between water consumption, drain efficiency and compact design. However, there are also toilet bowls
with a reduced tank - less than 6 l (usually 4 - 5 l). This feature saves water and reduces the size of the tank; and to ensure the efficiency of the flush, various additional devices can be provided in the design. As a result, such toilets may cost more than full-size tanks; however, if the water in the bathroom comes from meters, the difference in price quickly pays off.
It should be noted that, in addition to the reduced tank, such features as a half drain (cf. «Functions and Capabilities») and a safe design (cf. above) contribute to the savings.
Toilet material
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Sanitaryware(“sanitary faience”). The most common material for modern toilets, at a low cost, has a neat appearance, is durable and reliable. The main disadvantage is the porous structure, which contributes to the accumulation of dirt and odors (although recently technologies have been applied to eliminate this disadvantage). The service life of such material in modern toilets can reach 40 years.
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Sanfarfor(“sanitary porcelain”). Like sanitary ware, it belongs to ceramic materials, however, with similar strength and appearance, it absorbs water and dirt much less easily, due to which it has a longer service life - up to 60 years. However, sanitary porcelain is also more expensive.
- Stainless steel. The key advantage of “stainless steel” is its high strength: this material can easily withstand even strong impacts that can crack sanitary porcelain or sanitaryware. On the other hand, such toilets are not cheap, despite the fact that the mentioned strength in reality is not needed so often. Therefore, it makes sense to pay attention to this option in cases where reliability and resistance to damage are of key importance - for example, if plumbing fixtures are purchased for a stadium, bar, etc., and must be vandal-resistant.
- Ceramics. These or other types of ceramics that either do not belong to the sanitary porcelain or sanitary ware described above, or represent specific v
...arieties of these materials. The specific features of ceramic toilets should be clarified separately; however, for the most part these are quite advanced and high-quality products.
Moreover, each of the listed materials may additionally have a special antibacterial toilet coating that prevents the growth and reproduction of bacteria. It significantly improves the hygiene of use, but affects the price.Dimensions (HxWxD)
General dimensions of the toilet bowl in height, width and depth (by depth is meant the distance from the front edge to the rear edge).
These indicators allow you to determine how much space is required to install the product, and also affect some practical points. In this case, width and depth are of key importance. Specific figures and nuances for these dimensions are as follows:
- Width:
up to 35 cm in the narrowest models,
40 cm or more in the widest, intermediate options -
36 - 37 cm and
38 - 39 cm. A large width is desirable if people of large build will use the toilet. However, it should be borne in mind that this dimensions is indicated by the widest part of the structure, and this is not necessarily a bowl - we can talk about a tank.
- Depth:
up to 50 cm - is considered small, in the largest products -
more than 65 cm ; intermediate options include
51 - 55 cm,
56 - 60 cm and
61 - 65 cm. Here the choice depends on the height and physique of the user: tall people and people with long legs will be most comfortable with toilets with great depth.
Height is worth mentioning. In models without a tank, it corresponds to the height of the bowl
..., see more about this indicator above. In compact toilets (see "Type"), the height with the tank is usually indicated, it depends on how much vertical space is required for installation. Here, an indicator of 75 cm or less is considered small, 76 - 80 cm is average, 81 - 85 cm is above average, and for the highest products, more than 85 cm of free space above the floor will be required.
