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

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

:cheer:

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

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

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

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

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:

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.

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:

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.

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.

Man, I am so out of this thread.

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

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:

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

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!

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

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

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

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:

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

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

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

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

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.

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?

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

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