Can I install a bathroom without plastic?
Discussion
dazwalsh said:
Define plastic. plumbing? Suite? Literally every type of plastic ?
You could certainly limit it to the flush internals only. Thats the only compromise i think you would have to make.
Copper plumbing, steel bath, tiled walls, ceramic walls and floors, wooden toilet seat.
As little of it as possible.Mainly I was wondering if people these days use plastic pipes because they are easier/cheaper or because there is some flaw with using copper. You could certainly limit it to the flush internals only. Thats the only compromise i think you would have to make.
Copper plumbing, steel bath, tiled walls, ceramic walls and floors, wooden toilet seat.
Maybe washers/seals have to be rubber, although people had taps and flushing toilets before plastic.
montecristo said:
Maybe washers/seals have to be rubber, although people had taps and flushing toilets before plastic.
Yes, leather was used, then rubber. Plastic (and higher-tech "rubbers") was a massive advance in reliability and longevity.Quarter-turn taps use ceramic disc valves.
Oh, and don't forget the PTFE tape on compression joints. Or the plastic waste pipes that replaced lead and cast iron.
Equus said:
Simpo Two said:
Mind you the Victorians managed pretty well without it.
Well, setting aside for the moment the minor inconveniences of cholera epidemics and lead poisoning, which contributed to an average lifespan of about 41 years, that is... 
Cold said:
Interesting question, is it based on a desire to be as recyclable as possible during the re-fit/modernisation at some point in the distant future?
Yes, mainly. I know there is a compromise with convenience and I am not saying I want to go back to the good old days of using a mangle and throwing waste out of the bathroom window.
Equus said:
Well, setting aside for the moment the minor inconveniences of cholera epidemics and lead poisoning, which contributed to an average lifespan of about 41 years, that is...
Suspect that figure includes infant mortality. If you look back up your family tree, did your adult ancestors expire with an average age of 41? Mine didn't.Little was known about disease and its spread, and the existence of plastic wouldn't have made much difference I think. Disease is one way nature weeds out the weak; it's an evolutionary advantage!
(And now, back to the studio)
Equus said:
Simpo Two said:
Mind you the Victorians managed pretty well without it.
Well, setting aside for the moment the minor inconveniences of cholera epidemics and lead poisoning, which contributed to an average lifespan of about 41 years, that is... 
You'd have thought the lime plaster would have prevented choleramontecristo said:
If I wanted to install a new bathroom in a new build house without using any plastic, is that possible?
In the sense of the final installation then that would probably be possible, no electric lighting obviously and any paints would need to be oil based rather than acrylic, wooden windows with single glazing held in with putty etc. The likelihood of sourcing materials without involving plastic packaging at any stage seems very doubtful though. Why would you want to, it is the ephemeral use of plastics for packaging that is more of an issue surely?
The problems with plastic pollution has been obvious for decades, we need to do something about it and so maybe the recent hyper-awareness will be a help. I just hope it isn't going to become another pseudo religious crusade like climate change now that that is apparently settled.
Toltec said:
Why would you want to, it is the ephemeral use of plastics for packaging that is more of an issue surely?
The problems with plastic pollution has been obvious for decades, we need to do something about it and so maybe the recent hyper-awareness will be a help. I just hope it isn't going to become another pseudo religious crusade like climate change now that that is apparently settled.
The issue of waste is part of it. But I'm not on a crusade - I use plastic and 'damage' the environment in many ways every day. I also like the idea of more natural materials like metal and wood more than plastic. I know that's a flawed division, but you get my point.The problems with plastic pollution has been obvious for decades, we need to do something about it and so maybe the recent hyper-awareness will be a help. I just hope it isn't going to become another pseudo religious crusade like climate change now that that is apparently settled.
montecristo said:
The issue of waste is part of it. But I'm not on a crusade - I use plastic and 'damage' the environment in many ways every day. I also like the idea of more natural materials like metal and wood more than plastic. I know that's a flawed division, but you get my point.
Sorry, I didn't mean you were on a personal crusade I was meaning more about the recent plastic furor, I took your post to be a speculation or talking point.You can use ceramics or steel for a bath or shower tray rather than composites, you could use copper piping for both supply and waste water. You might be able to get around the toilet flush valve by going for a tankless flush if you have enough mains pressure.
TooMany2cvs said:
Quarter-turn taps use ceramic disc valves.
Which typically have a number of plastic components in. The ones I’ve seen have plastic retainers between the brass body of the cartridge and the ceramic disc as well as plastic washers.I don’t have a problem with plastic apart from excessive packaging.
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