POLL: would you want a urinal in your home? archived

notehead

Nov 28, 2007 at 11:19am

An article a year or so ago in the NYT discussed how having a urinal in the bathroom is a quickly-growing trend. There are a lot of quite nice-looking models from all the major bathroom fixture companies, some of which have lids, and some of them are even waterless -- and don't smell at all, according to reviews I've checked out. I've thought having a urinal was a great idea ever since the first time I saw one in a private home, which actually was in the film "Cheaper By The Dozen." But I want to consider the pros and cons before rushing into something like this. Here's what I've come up with so far:

Pros
----
We have a son, not yet potty-trained. He will presumably have lots of male pals visiting us over the years. A waterless urinal could possibly prevent quite a lot of contact with colds and other viruses and bacteria.
(But kids may still not wash their hands, and put their hands all over everything.)

It's slightly more efficient/convenient (for males) than a toilet.
(Slightly.)

It's significantly easier to use without making a mess, especially for boys who may not be that concerned about the matter.
(Women will just have to trust men about this point.)

Less mess means less cleaning.
(But that's only if there is truly less mess.)

No chance of guys leaving the toilet seat up.
(Unless they are feeling malicious!)

Thousands of gallons of water saved each year, more if a waterless model is used. This gets both "green" and economic points. Over many years, the urinal would pay for itself.
(If you move right away, you won't see much benefit.)

Cons
----
Expense, obviously. They run around $500 and up... some are way up.
(I think something you like and appreciate that you use every day for many years is easily worth $500, even $1000.)

It is a manifestly male item, which may seem inconsiderate to females.
(As long as there is sufficient room in the bathroom, this seems like it shouldn't be a major issue.)

It's one more thing that will have to be cleaned when cleaning the bathroom.
(That's true.)

What does MOL think about this? And I apologize if the subject made you have to run to the nearest rest room!

Scarlet

Nov 28, 2007 at 11:24am

NO!!!

brianoleary

Nov 28, 2007 at 11:28am

I'd vote no. They're too hard to sit down on.

ictulips02

Nov 28, 2007 at 11:35am

:cheer:

I would love to say, yes...but it will have to be a no!

dave

Nov 28, 2007 at 11:46am

Imagine all the fights over what scent of urinal cake to use. No.

earlster

Nov 28, 2007 at 11:56am

Yes, mostly for the water savings. Although I wouldn't go with a waterless one.

doulamomma

Nov 28, 2007 at 11:57am

yes! (see my prior comments about the lack of aim issue in my home & you'll know why)

TigerLilly

Nov 28, 2007 at 12:01pm Edited

I CANNOT BELIEVE YOU POSTED THIS. DO NOT...I REPEAT...DO NOT ALERT MY HUSBAND TO THIS THREAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We're redoing our bathroom next year and he keeps threatening to put a urinal in there....He thinks it's the greatest idea to come along since the Lend-Lease Act.

I still cannot believe you posted this.

By the way, I give a BIG thumbs down on a urinal in the bathroom.... I'd feel like I walked into the wrong room every time I went to the bathroom. :shamed:

brianoleary

Nov 28, 2007 at 12:11pm Edited

While I continue to feel that I would not want a urinal in my bathroom, I am not sure I agree that feeling like I'd walked into the (wrong? right?) room is the reason. I always feel out of place in my bathroom, which has: seven more hair care products than I have ever used; five hair brushes that are of limited utility for a man with my (ahem) limited follicle-inspired resources; pink-colored razors (I've used pink razors, yes, but I'm not proud of it); two puffy things of the sort that I once washed and dried in the laundry, only to find out that they shrivel up and look like walnuts if you do that; and a series of publications for whom I am not the intended audience. Not that I'm put out by such things. Not at all.

TigerLilly

Nov 28, 2007 at 12:15pm

very good point brian.

OK - here's another reason - urinals represent that "god-awful public bathroom" feel, which loosely translated means "unsanitary." It just seems, well, disgusting.

What's next? A hand-dryer machine and auto-flushing toilets in homes??? Hmmm???? :wink:

bobk

Nov 28, 2007 at 12:22pm

I saw urinals advertised somewhere recently, maybe in Family Handyman?

The one being advertised saved something like 75 percent in water usage. However, even as a guy, I would find a urinal in a home bathroom a little off putting to be honest. I haven't brought this up with Mrs. K, but I am sure you could hear her yelling all over South Orange and we live in West Orange.

miss_l_toe

Nov 28, 2007 at 12:30pm

I'd love to have a bidet in my bathroom. Bidets can be used by either sex - and no, they're not for putting dirty socks in LOL!

I haven't seen many bidets in American hotels but they've been in many bathrooms I've stayed in at decent hotels on mainland Europe, the Middle East and South East Asia.

Going slightly off-topic as the original question on this thread reminded me:

Someone once posted on these boards who asked the question; "Do you take a shower before going to bed or when you wake up in the morning?" (To save time in the morning)

I never did reply to that post......but a bidet is a great for people who want to have a shower before bed, but still want to make love with their partner and can have a quick clean-up afterwards.

brianoleary

Nov 28, 2007 at 12:37pm

Man, I am so out of this thread.

HighSky

Nov 28, 2007 at 12:38pm

I have always wanted one of those bidets! And that would be great for late night clean-ups!! :wink:

Scarlet

Nov 28, 2007 at 12:39pm

Tiger :rolling:

krnl

Nov 28, 2007 at 12:51pm

Yeachhhhh to the urinal idea. My skin is crawling at the idea.

Doubt it would be helpful for resale. But would probably count extra when the revaluation evaluator comes around!:wink:

plungy

Nov 28, 2007 at 1:30pm Edited

WATERLESS??? When were you going to tell me that part Notey???
The plumbing inspector is going to hit me over the head with it!!!

meandtheboys

Nov 28, 2007 at 1:32pm

Posted By: notehead Less mess means less cleaning.

Posted By: notehead It's one more thing that will have to be cleaned when cleaning the bathroom.

Yuck! Gross! NO!

And I would NEVER buy a house that had a urinal in the bathroom either--resale being one point you didin't consider in your pro/con list.

I will say yet again, BrianOleary is so funny.

Posted By: brianolearytwo puffy things of the sort that I once washed and dried in the laundry, only to find out that they shrivel up and look like walnuts if you do that

And miss_l_toe has gone someplace I really don't want to go.......................TMI!

ictulips02

Nov 28, 2007 at 1:35pm

But MATB, I was sure you would say yes. Wasn't it one of 'the boys' that went on the wall?:wink:

tomd

Nov 28, 2007 at 1:51pm

Sure, but why limit it to the bathroom. A nice urinal could brighten up almost any room.

TigerLilly

Nov 28, 2007 at 1:56pm

Posted By: tomdSure, but why limit it to the bathroom. A nice urinal could brighten up almost any room.

:rolling:

k_soze

Nov 28, 2007 at 1:56pm

Yes. I contemplated putting one in (basement bathroom near my bar) but it was one of the first things to go when cutting items from our builder's list of change orders. Apparently other things were more important:confused: I think it would've been kinda cool to have it. Of course I wouldn't want it in a master or main bathroom but in Mantown, right next to my bar...sweet:sad:

wunder

Nov 28, 2007 at 1:59pm

you bet ya...

k_soze

Nov 28, 2007 at 2:03pm

What can you say, can't have it all. I did get the dancing pole though, so there's no need for complaining.

MichaelKMcKell

Nov 28, 2007 at 2:05pm

The whole world is a urinal for us men.
But yes. I would like one.

eliz

Nov 28, 2007 at 2:08pm

The most important consideration: how does pippi feel about it????

rags

Nov 28, 2007 at 2:13pm

ABSOLUTELY

tjohn

Nov 28, 2007 at 2:22pm

Urinals are not necessary. Bathtubs are dual purpose fixtures. And when the women folk shower at night they will be cleaned out.

notehead

Nov 28, 2007 at 2:24pm

Well, if Pippi was gung-ho for it, I wouldn't have needed to start a thread, would I? :devil:

But I think I've come to the realization that there is no need for a urinal in the bathroom. We'll put it in the bedroom.

pippi

Nov 28, 2007 at 2:31pm

eliz - I am glad you asked!

Notehead neglected to mention that the #1 Con on his list is that Pippi is adamantly opposed to it.

I am of the mind that a urinal would make the bathroom feels like a public bathroom and not something that belongs in my warm, inviting home.

I am also of the mind that no one would clean it but me, and that ain't happening.
I do not agree that it will add resale value.

Notehead is right about the article in NYT about really high end new construction adding extremely expensive urinals, but I don't remember that it was a quickly-growing trend at all levels of construction, though. If we do get a very high end urinal It would be adding a potentially huge additional cost to our budget. Also, consider that this is not a bathroom for just boys to use. If it were, I might reconsider my position.

oh, and BTW:
DEAR - Like plungy, I was unaware that the urinal would be waterless.
could you explain the concept, please?

notehead

Nov 28, 2007 at 2:35pm

I'll let my good friends at Kohler take over at this point, and explain the delightfully simple method behind these wonderful plumbing fixtures...

http://www.us.kohler.com/onlinecatalog/waterlessurinal.jsp?sect=3§ion=2&nsection=2&nsubsection=2&category=30&nitem=cat30