The bathroom is one of the most frequently visited areas in our house. The first one we go into in the morning and the last one in the evening. That’s why is important to make it cohesive, functional, pretty and practical. To achieve this, you have to think about a lot of things, flooring, storage cabinets, the toilet, type of sink and much more. But one of the biggest dilemmas when it comes to the bathroom is whether to install a urinal or not. We say go for it!

What’s a Urinal?

A urinal is a simple form of toilet that’s meant to be used by men. It’s meant for urination only and you have to stand in order to perform the task. When you’ll look around, you’ll see there’s a big variety of urinals on the market. There are many different styles and designs available. Starting from the simplest form and evolving into sophisticated designs. You can find them in different materials and flushing mechanisms. What you choose depends on your personal preferences.

Types of Urinals

Trough Urinal

This is a urinal with a simple design. It’s made from stainless steel and some people don’t consider it aesthetically pleasing. You might want to think twice if you plan on incorporating it into your bathroom because this design won’t fit everywhere.

Compared to a bowl urinal, this is an inexpensive option and will save you a couple of dollars from your budget. A good thing about them is that they require one waste line. They’re also easy to install and you probably won’t need the help of a professional.

Bowl Urinals

When you think about a bowl urinal you probably imagine one made from ceramics. There are also stainless-steel models, but they’re rare. They accommodate only one person at a time and offer more privacy. But they’re more expensive than the trough type. Between the two, the bowl type would be more aesthetically pleasing in a home bathroom.

Sensor Urinals

This is one of the latest upgrades manufacturers did on urinals. They’re very practical and hygienic. You don’t have to touch any of the levers to flush. There’s a sensor at the top of the urinal and a blinking light. They detect human activity and flush according to movement.

When the sensor determines that the urinal is unoccupied, it flushes by itself. This is especially handy when you’re in a hurry in the morning and every second counts. But keep in mind that you might that they can cost more than the manually flushing ones.

Waterless Urinals

It may be difficult to imagine a waterless urinal, but it really exists. You must be wondering how it works. It’s simply because of its design. Instead of using water to flush down the urine, these urinals use gravity to do it. Same as any other type, it’s connected to the sewer system and there’s no need for any extra work or expenses.

They’ve recently become very popular because of their water-saving properties. You might have wanted to pay less money for the urinal, but this is the perfect investment to save you money in the long run. It has the potential to save around 87,000 litres of water in just one year. This is good for your budget, and for the environment as well. The only downside is that it requires more maintenance and cleaning than the other types.

What to Consider When Buying

Size

This is an important factor to consider. As you know the biggest benefit of a wall urinal is that it doesn’t take a lot of space in the bathroom. Still, you can find it in many shapes and sizes and not all of them will fit into the space you have. That’s why you should always measure how much space is available before buying one.

If the bathroom is smaller, choose a smaller urinal and vice versa. Larger urinals are better because they do a good job of capturing all the waste and you don’t have to clean them after every use. But you also don’t want to close the space and make it difficult to walk around.

Price

It’s crucial to set your budget beforehand. You can make a list of all the features you need and lead with that. If you’re not limited by the price point, your options are endless. Generally, a simple urinal will be cheaper. As the extra features pile up, so does the price.

A self-flushing or a sensor one will cost more than the basic flushing one. Its shape will also make a difference. A design that prevents splashes will cost more than the one that doesn’t. But all these extra features will save you money in the long run, so it’s better to invest in them.

Aesthetics and Design

This bathroom essential comes in many designs and styles so no matter what’s your interior design, you’ll find something suitable for it. If it’s modern and contemporary, a urinal with a sleek, minimal design will look amazing. The design will influence the functionality a lot. Some prevent splatters, some catch the flow more naturally and some will be easier to clean and maintain than others.

Materials

There are 2 basic materials when it comes to a urinal. Stainless steel is corrosion resistant, durable and inexpensive. It’s also easy to clean and maintain because it can handle any cleaner. The other material is porcelain coated with vitreous china. The coating makes it waterproof and sturdier.

Porcelain is more aesthetically pleasing than stainless steel and will complement any bathroom design. But keep in mind that it’s easier to damage. One bump can cause chips and cracks.

Cleaning and Maintenance

This might be the worst part of having a urinal in the house. How often you’ll have to clean it depends mostly on the flush type. Waterless ones need to be cleaned more frequently. Flush ones get water all the time and get partially cleaned by themselves. The shape will also influence the frequency of cleaning. Simple designs with fewer crevices are simpler to clean, so consider this when you’re buying.