Q. My mum has a shower over her bath that she uses regularly, but now she's getting older I'm scared she's going to fall – is there anything I can do about this?

A. First let me ask you does your mum still want to use the bath, or would she prefer to only have a shower? If she doesn't need to keep the bath, numerous options are available. You could turn the bathroom into a 'wet-room', fully tiled, with non-slip tiles on the floor and a central drain. Or simply remove the bath and fit a shower enclosure in its place. I suspect though that your mum would like both a shower and a bath in which case the best solution is to consult your local bathroom retailer with a view to fixing one or two strategically positioned grab-rails; including the rail that holds the shower head, which can be replaced with a heavy duty grab rail, giving support if needed without looking out of place. Ensure that any grab rails are securely fixed. Companies such as Armitage Shanks have a range of equipment for the bathroom aptly named the independence at Home range. Take care too with the selection of flooring in the standing area just beside the bath, and make sure that the base of the bath is non-slip.

Q. I do not have a very big bathroom and I would like to have lots of storage for my toiletries. Is this possible?

A. Bathrooms tend to accumulate lots of clutter such as, bottles, jars, towels, soaps and cleaning products. The best way to hide all of these is to opt for fitted furniture. Not only does this provide ample storage, but it also creates clean lines and conceals the cistern and any unsightly pipe-work.

Furniture is not the only option though, there are plenty of other clever storage suggestions. Cabinets with mirrored doors can be fitted above the basin to hide toiletries and other items associated with the bathroom. It is also possible to buy cabinets that can be fitted into the corner of the room.

Shelving provides extra surface space, and can be fitted almost anywhere in the bathroom. Glass shelving is particularly smart and easy to clean, so is ideal for a bathroom, although the glass must be toughened. It also has the advantage of being light and inconspicuous, creating a streamline effect.

Trolleys with shelves or drawers are a modern option that can be moved around as required. It can be placed near the bath whilst bathing, so you can reach out and everything is close to hand, then it can be wheeled out of the way. Hooks on the door provide storage to hang a bathrobe, this may seem like a minor point, but it is one that is easily forgotten and it saves cluttering up the radiator.

Open mesh shelves can be used in the wet area above a bath or in a shower enclosure. These allow the water to run through and so stops the soap going soggy, they also allow the bath surfaces to be kept clear this in itself makes a room look less cluttered.

Place some small baskets or boxes by the side of the bath, these can then be used to keep bottles and jars organised. A bath rack is a classic, it is purely functional, however in recent years modern versions have included book rests and candle holders. Again the bath rack keeps everything close to hand and off the bath surfaces. Always include a small stool or chair, to keep clothes off the floor whilst you are bathing or showering.

Q. I would like to have a wet room/walk in shower in my new bathroom but don't know where to start. Can you help?

A. Open walk-in showering areas within the home, commonly known as wet-rooms, have become very popular. Before embarking on this type of specialist installation the following needs to be considered:

• Waterproofing – A liquid polyurethane membrane will need to be applied to form a seamless, impermeable coating preventing the lateral transfer of water (leaks)
• Drainage – When the flooring is removed and before the sloping false floor is fitted a tank will need to be installed to facilitate drainage
• Load bearing floors – the weight of a fully tiled room can be quite considerable

In addition lighting, heating and ventilation will need careful planning. We recommend that a building contractor specialising in this type of installation is used to undertake this project. This is definitely not one for the DIY enthusiast.

Useful numbers for more information:

• Institute for plumbers: 01708 47 2791
• Bathroom and Shower Information Service: 0800 746 9377

Q. I'd love to have a whirlpool bath, but I only have quite a small bathroom, is there anyway I can achieve this?

A. Whirlpool baths have long been considered a luxury item, only for the wealthy – people with huge bathrooms and lots of space – these days though a whirlpool, or whirlpool effect is available to anyone. No matter what the size of the room, or budget.

Any standard bath can now be fitted with a separate whirlpool or spa system, available from most bathroom showrooms.

Be careful though because sometimes it is just as expensive to buy a separate system, which the retailer then fits to the bath of your choice and there can be an additional hassle factor – in having your bath transported to an installer. It is not practical to have these separate systems fitted to an exsisting bath because the bath would need to be removed, which can cause damages, if not to the bath then perhaps the tiling.

Lots of companies now provide complete whirlpool and spa baths and to address your question of size we asked Brunella Howard, marketing manager of a specialist manufacturer Hydro/ Nereus. Brunella told us that her company had three hydro-massage baths which were no bigger than a standard 1700 x 800 bath:

• Whirlpool - pumps the bath water through a series of jets
• Spa Bath – pumps air into the water through a series of jets
• Hyromassage – jets arranged for therapeutic effect, available using Whirlpool or Airspa systems

Q. I want to change my bathroom suite, but I want to put the new toilet in a different place, is that possible?

A. It is possible to fix a toilet in any position in the bathroom, but there are some considerations that will make moving the toilet to another place less expensive.

The first consideration Is the position of the toilet in relation to the existing Soil Vent Pipe (SVP). Designer Caroline Bezemer explains: “When the house is first built the SVP will be just beside the toilet – you won't see it because it will be boxed in. In older houses the SVP was an external pipe which can be seen outside the building.” Caroline went on to explain that for ease of installation, and thus a lower installation cost, keeping the toilet near the SVP and/or on an outside wall was still norm. However, you do not have to do so, toilets come in a number of configurations, as well as the typical floor standing, toilets are available in back to wall format, with rear or below outlet.

Modern toilets can also be wall mounted, where the flushing cistern is built into a mock-wall, which provides the space to re-route the SVP. Some modern toilets can be fixed into the corner where space is very tight.

In extreme cases it is also possible to fix a waste pipe, called a macerator, which breaks down solid waste and then pumps it out through a normal one inch plastic pipe – this enables toilets to be fitted anywhere in the house, even in cellars which are below the sewer level.

Be aware too of the construction of the floor that the toilet sits on, it is far easier to route water and waste pipes between the joists in a wooden floor, but the floor joists need to be running in the correct direction. A concrete floor attracts much more expense, as it will need channels digging out and surfaces re-laying.

Check with your plumber or installer before trying to fix the toilet in a different place, it may not be straight forward and thus can be expensive to achieve but do be assured it can be done.

Q. How can I find a good plumber in my area and how much should I expect to be paying for the installation of a bathroom?

A. You can find a list of plumbers in your area by contacting either The Institute of Plumbing on 01708 4722791/www.plumbers.org.uk or the Bathroom and Shower Information Serviceon 0800 746 9377 or visit the web site at www.thebathroom..info.

In terms of cost for installation, this will vary depending on what is required. We do recommend that you contact a few plumbers and ask for a quote/estimate in order to have an idea of the cost involved.

Q. I would like to have a power shower, but I've heard that pumps can be really noisy, can I have a power shower without a pump?

A. The simple answer is if you have a gravity fed hot and cold water storage cistern you can't. But your question really relates to noise and you can enjoy a 'pumped' power shower without undue noise.

To answer the question thoroughly we asked Roger Powel from pump manufacturer Stuart Turner and Barry Rudd from shower manufacturer Trevi.

Roger told us that noise from a pump comes from two potential sources, the additional pressure forcing water through the pipes creating turbulence, which translates into noise, or more commonly noise from poorly fitted pumps and pipework.

Barry picked up this first point saying that noise from a shower pump varies according to its design and performance. With pump performance available from 0.5 to 4.0 bar – the more powerful the pump, potentially the more noise it can make.

Barry also picked up on the subject of noise from installation when he pointed out that to fit the pump under the bath, or in the loft could magnify the noise within the bathroom and in the rooms below.

The pump needs to be positioned as close to the base hot cylinder as possible. This usually means in the airing cupboard where it will be much better insulated against transmitting noise into the bathroom.

To dampen the noise from vibration, set the pump on a concrete block. “ Part of an old paving slab is perfect,” said Roger Powell, “it is a dense material that will absorb pump vibration.”

Roger also pointed out that some installers screw the pump down, which is wrong and should not be done, as it will amplify the noise.

Most pumps are supplied with flexible hoses and anti-vibration feet, designed to reduce vibration and noise transmission, the flexible houses should not be sent, as they are most effective when kept straight.

Finally, in a good installation, the pipe work should be supported with pipe clips, which have two purposes. They limit pipe vibration and support weight of the pipe and the water held within. The pump should not support this weight; equally the pump should not be hung on the pipe work.

Q. Could you please explain the difference between the various methods of producing baths and the different materials used? I would like to be able to buy a bath with the lightness of acrylic but without its flexibility which should I go for?

A. Baths are usually made from acrylic, steel or cast iron. Acrylic baths are the most popular and have been for many years. They are warm to the touch, lightweight, smooth and can easily withstand daily wear and tear.

The bath is usually supported with a steel cradle with feet which can be adjusted in height to suit the installation. The surface of the bath should be treated with care and not exposed to any harsh chemicals, cigarette burns or essential oils which can damage the acrylic. Acrylic is a good choice for a modern bathroom.

If you want a tougher bath, with the solid feel of cast iron, look out for materials such as Idealcast. Unlike cast iron these baths are more lightweight and warm to the touch.

Steel baths are strong and hardwearing and therefore are usually used in hotels and hospitals. A steel bath is quite lightweight but has a more traditional and robust feel due to the enamel finish. However the enamel should be treated carefully, if it becomes chipped or damaged it can be difficult to repair.

Traditional cast iron baths are usually thought to be the ultimate luxury. The curvaceous roll top shape is very indulgent but unfortunately very impractical for most homes. Due to the weight you may find your floor would need reinforcing to withstand the extra load. Added to this is the fact that they are very expensive and difficult to get hold of – there are no manufacturers in the UK.

However, there are now traditional roll top baths made from modern materials such as Idealcast which are based on the traditional designs with scroll feet. There are even modern styled roll tops designed to satisfy the contemporary bather!