Porcelain

Whilst it's a little early in the build to be buying porcelain, or rather sanitaryware, we've been doing some research nevertheless. This is partly to check the budget and partly sizes. You would've thought that toilets, sinks and baths were a standard size but no, they come in a huge range nowadays.

Much to our suprise an eco-issue has helped limit our choice in sanitaryware supplier. We had been considering using Vitra, a good value contemporary range that had been recommended to us. Checking their website, the company is Iso 14001 accredited so they must be okay environmentally, surely. And if you dig a bit further you can see that they source the clay from English China Clays in Cornwall, also a good thing. But, and it's a big but, they then ship the clay over to Istanbul where the products are made before shipping them back to the UK.

Enter our alternative, and slightly more expensive, supplier Ideal Standard. Also using British clays their finished products are manufactured in Hull and other parts of the UK. So far less product miles involved.

With plenty of other decisions being made we're keen to make the decision process as simple as possible, ruling out a product on product miles is a quick win. So, with little to choose between the two suppliers we've decided that the low product mile Ideal Standard option is best.

Off to try out the lime based render tomorrow....