How we supply it: Sanitaryware is arranged through a partner sanitary dealer who quotes, supplies and bills it and pays us a referral commission. We ask you to fix the WC models before the floor is cast, so the plumber sets the drains to match.
In one line: Sanitaryware is the set of glazed ceramic fixtures in a bathroom, the WC, washbasin, urinal and their cisterns, usually made of vitreous china to IS 2556.
S-trap or P-trap WC?
| Point | S-trap | P-trap |
|---|---|---|
| Outlet direction | Down through the floor | Back through the wall |
| Drain position | Below the floor slab or sunken portion | In or behind the wall |
| Common with | Floor-mounted WCs | Wall-hung WCs, some upper floors |
| What to measure | Wall to outlet centre | Outlet height from floor |
What vitreous china means
Sanitaryware is the set of glazed ceramic fixtures in a bathroom, the WC, washbasin, urinal and their cisterns, usually made of vitreous china to IS 2556.
Vitreous china is fired until the body is dense and barely absorbs water, then glazed. The glaze quality decides how easily the bowl stays clean.
Fixture types
| Fixture | Notes | Plan for |
|---|---|---|
| Floor-mounted WC with cistern | Most common; S- or P-trap | Drain position before casting |
| Wall-hung WC with concealed cistern | Easy floor cleaning | A support frame inside the wall |
| One-piece WC | Pan and cistern as one unit | Heavier; check the outlet distance |
| Indian (squatting) WC | Set into the floor | Sunken slab depth |
| Washbasin: wall-hung, pedestal or counter-top | Counter-top suits a vanity | Waste and supply points at the right height |
Measure before you buy
Flush valves need more pressure than a gravity tank on the roof usually gives; cisterns work at low pressure.
- S-trap: distance from the finished wall (after tiles) to the centre of the floor outlet
- P-trap: height of the wall outlet above the finished floor
- Space in front of the WC and beside it for comfortable use
- Washbasin rim height, commonly about 800–850 mm
- Dual-flush cisterns commonly use 3 and 6 litres per flush
Checks on sanitaryware
- Tap each piece with a coin: it should ring clear; a dull sound can mean a hidden crack.
- Look at the glaze under light for pinholes, crazing and wavy patches, especially inside the bowl.
- Check the trap type and outlet size on the box against your drain.
- After fixing, flush with a few sheets of tissue to test clearance.
- Check the seat hinges are not plated mild steel that will rust.
Storing and protecting
- Keep pieces boxed and upright until fixing; ceramic chips easily.
- Fix after tiling and cover with the carton until handover.
- Remove cement stains with mild cleaners, never acid.
Sanitaryware mistakes
- Choosing the WC after the floor and drain are cast.
- A wall-hung WC without its support frame planned in the wall.
- No fall from the WC outlet to the soil stack.
- A flush valve on a low-pressure gravity supply.
- Basins fixed at the wrong height for the family.