For homeowners, renovating a bathroom is often viewed as an investment in their property. They therefore look for quality products that will provide longevity.
For installers, fitting with quality is an essential part of delivering a bathroom that will go the distance, as well as retaining customer loyalty, and avoiding the added cost and pressure of emergency call-outs.
The following considerations will help everyone involved achieve these goals.
Is it durable?
With showers and taps, early signs of wear and tear are often evident in the finish. Whether a consumer has gone for chrome or a special finish, such as matt black or polished gold, they want it to stay this way and not look worn after a few years of use.
Products that use a refined Physical Vapour Deposition (PVD) finishing process means that colours are absorbed into the product, making them more resistant to external factors.
Is there power with less water?
With the average shower using 16 to 18 litres per minute, customers may also look to installers to recommend sustainable products that reduce the amount of water they use – helping them save money and have a less negative impact on the environment.
Shower elements that combine the mixing of air to the water with special flow limitations, such as Hansgrohe’s EcoSmart technology, can reduce the amount of water they consume by up to 60%. These ensure that customers won’t have to sacrifice shower performance to be more eco-conscious in their bathroom.
Will it be easy to maintain?
A new bathroom can look spectacular when it is finished, but if a customer finds it difficult to keep the individual products clean, then you may find yourself back at their property to fix issues quicker than you thought.
Most taps and shower fittings have rubber seals to prevent limescale adhering to the finish and components. However, rubber degrades over time, which can lead to leaks and other issues.
But there are options to combat this, such as tearproof silicone that allows the customer to simply rub off limescale and other residues with a squeegee. If your customers do this regularly, the shower heads and taps stay in top condition and look as good as the day you installed it, for years to come.
Has it been tested properly?
The ability to suggest products that you know will provide the experience and performance expected without the worry of them failing in a short space of time has several benefits. Not only does it avoid the obvious added pressure and cost of returned products and disappointed consumers, it also reinforces a position of authority in the marketplace.
Looking out for bathroom products that use high quality materials approved for use with drinking water ensures that every single part complies with the relevant standards.
Can it be replaced easily?
With so many brands offering different guarantees and warranties, it can be difficult to identify the products offering the most longevity. Looking out for products that guarantee every single component is a good way to provide reassurance to customers. As an installer, you will know that what goes inside the tap is most important in ensuring longevity.
For example, Hansgrohe make mixer cartridges that go inside products, meaning we can offer five-year manufacturer’s guarantee on the whole product.
Equally, finding a product that needs to be replaced because certain parts are no longer available can be just as frustrating and disruptive for customers. Some manufacturers offer a spare parts guarantee for up to 15 years – after the product is discontinued.
Leading nicely into wider conversations about sustainability and longevity, you can provide reassurance to customers that even if the product is no longer available, the spare parts will be.
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