The need to replace a toilet lid can take a person by surprise , because few people realize the variety of choices provided by the modern market. Nowadays, everyone can choose plumbing fixtures and accessories to match their most incredible desires and regardless of their financial capabilities.
Nowadays, most toilet lids are made of plastic, plywood, or wood ; but plastic is more popular due to its convenience. The only advantages of plywood are low price and strength aesthetics are sacrificed . If we talk about wooden lids, they come in different qualities, which vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. One of the main disadvantages of wooden lids is their price and size. There are often cases when a wooden lid accidentally fell and broke a toilet.
Plastic options are considered the most comfortable : made of polypropylene (and other modern plastic materials) and a more modern type of plastic - duroplast, which is a little more outstanding in technical terms.
It is these two materials that we will focus on, trying to figure out which one is best suited for your toilet.
Advantages and disadvantages of a duroplastic lid
Duroplast is considered a more modern and technically advanced type of plastic. Less susceptible to technical damage and withstanding much more aggressive acids, duroplast is similar in appearance to ceramics . At the same time, if the manufacturer does not skimp on his product and applies hygienic impurities to its surface, then a seat made of Duroplast will be perfect for a child, because it will always be perfectly disinfected.
Advantages of a duroplast lid:
- Protection from physical and chemical damage.
- Antibacterial protection, depending on the manufacturer.
- More pleasant appearance compared to plastic counterparts.
- Sun protection.
- Durability.
Disadvantages of a duroplast lid:
- High price.
Child seats
For every baby there comes a time when he needs to be toilet trained. To avoid injury and to sit comfortably on the “white friend,” manufacturers have developed child seats.
In another way they are called nozzle pots. They have an attractive appearance and design. For the convenience of children, there are special toilet seats with steps. The child can easily climb onto the throne without the help of his parents and relieve himself independently.
Popular manufacturers of child seats: Roxy Kids, Tega, IKEA. A product for children must be environmentally friendly and harmless so as not to cause allergies on the child’s body.
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Advantages and disadvantages of a polypropylene cover
Polypropylene belongs to modern subtypes of plastic , along with polyvinyl chloride and polyethylene. Lids made from polypropylene are the most popular on the market today; Inexpensive in price and relatively easy to use, they have an equal number of pros and cons.
Advantages of a polypropylene cover:
- Comfortable shape with soft edges.
- Stiffening ribs that allow the lid to hold both a child and an adult.
- The ability to firmly secure the seat to the toilet using rubber inserts.
- Variety of designs.
- Price.
Disadvantages of a polypropylene cover:
- Fragility of the material.
- Fragility, which does not allow the use of strong chemical cleaning agents.
- Quick appearance of scratches on the cover.
- Most polypropylene covers do not retain heat, which can cause discomfort to owners of such seats.
- Repairing an old coating is more expensive than buying a new one
A polypropylene cover is a simple and budget option with its pros and cons, which, with proper care and care of its owners, can serve them for a long time, and practically not remind them of its potential shortcomings.
How does a toilet seat work?
Structurally, a stationary toilet seat has space for fixing different shapes. It can be round, oval or angular (square, rectangle). Rubber supports are attached to the bottom of the toilet seat to prevent slipping and the risk of damaging the ceramic base.
Most models are additionally equipped with a lid. It may also have attachments to reduce noise. In size, the upper part of the toilet seat is slightly larger than the lower part or overlaps it.
There is also a quick-release, non-stationary toilet seat. Such models do not have mounting space. As a rule, they are intended for children and people with disabilities.
What do Duroplast and polypropylene have in common?
As you can already understand from the information presented above, both polypropylene and duroplast are subtypes of the same material - plastic , just polypropylene is an older and simpler version of it, and duroplast is modern and strong . Therefore, in the first or second case, you buy a plastic cover.
All this allows you to take your mind off the choice of material for a second and focus on equally important things : shape, size, color, lid hardness, qualities that are no less important for convenience. The modern market is ready to provide you with all their variety, both from polypropylene and duroplast, so you can choose the model that is right for you.
Also, some modern lid models are equipped with are absolutely useless from a practical point of view, which, however, can add individuality to your toilet - for example, there are manufacturers who equip the lid with lighting or even a special step for the toilet seat. All this affects both the price of the product and its quality, so we advise you to choose wisely between quality, practicality and price.
Let's go to the store
So, we decided to buy.
In the store we see, to put it mildly, more than one toilet seat - how to choose the right one?
- Decide in advance how much you are willing to part with. Decide whether you need the notorious goodies and whether you are willing to pay for them. Many high-quality seats with a microlift alone exceed 10 thousand rubles.
- How to choose a toilet seat of the right shape? It's as simple as that: look at your toilet. On an angular toilet, an oval seat will look strange and be used without any convenience. The opposite is also true.
- In advance, looking at the walls and plumbing, decide on the color. It is much more difficult to imagine a combination of flowers on a seat with grass on the wallpaper in a store.
Tip: it is believed that if there are more than three colors in a room, it is perceived as overly colorful.
At the same time, white and black colors are universal: they fit into any design without visually overloading it. This is why, by the way, plumbing fixtures and household appliances are most often white.
The simple white seat will fit into any design.
- To avoid making a mistake with the size, it is usually recommended to make a seat template. In general, it’s enough just to film your toilet from above using your phone’s camera and record the overall dimensions and the distance between the mounting holes. Do not forget that ideally the seat should protrude slightly, literally a few millimeters, beyond the edges of the toilet.
- Regardless of what material you choose, carefully inspect the seat. There should be no burrs, cracks or visible irregularities.
The main differences between Duroplast and polypropylene
To make it easier for you to understand which material suits you best, we decided to compile a table that will help you understand why polypropylene is better than duroplast.
| Duroplast | Polypropylene |
| Sturdy plastic | Fragile plastic |
| High price. | Low price. |
| Withstands chemical attack. | Chemical sensitivity. |
| Not affected by sunlight. | Not UV protected. |
| Keeps you warm. | Doesn't retain heat. |
| An antimicrobial coating is present in most cases. | Antimicrobial coating is most often absent. |
| Beautiful appearance, similar to ceramic material. | Appearance depends on the manufacturer. |
Which option is right for you?
As you can already understand, the main difference between Duroplast and polypropylene is its resistance to damage and price ; Therefore, you have to start from these two points. If at the moment you have a very limited budget and are willing to handle the seat carefully, then you can opt for a polypropylene cover. But don’t forget that repairing it will cost you more than buying a new one, so in the end your costs will most likely be equal to the costs of a person who bought a duroplast lid.
Duroplast is perfect for people who are ready to invest in an expensive but durable purchase.
Repair and constructionComment
Tips for choosing
There are some basic points on how to choose a toilet lid. First of all, you need to know the dimensions of your plumbing fixtures. The seat should cover its surface by 5 mm. The shape of the toilet seat should approximately coincide with the toilet seat - this will allow the lid to hold more tightly. It is better to choose colors based on the overall color scheme of the toilet room.
Be sure to check the presence and integrity of all components so that you do not have to waste time returning your purchase. It is better to purchase an accessory with high rigidity - this will avoid deformation if the person’s body weight is large. The antibacterial surface of the seat will be an additional opportunity to keep the toilet clean.
Whatever choice is made when purchasing a toilet rim, the main thing is the feeling of satisfaction from its purchase.
