When Robert Broccolo, Jr., owner of Professional Drain Services of Southern New England, answers any service call, he always has one of his company’s 11 video inspection cameras with him — ready to diagnose the issue at hand. 

There’s no question that the pandemic has left a permanent mark on commercial restrooms. Seemingly overnight, the pandemic produced a new set of standards from which we, as end-users, now evaluate restrooms.

As the plumbing bath and kitchen sector adapts to evolving homeowner, customer and end-user expectations, it’s more important than ever to stay up-to-date on the technology, product innovation and design trends in both the residential and commercial markets.

The Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS), owned by the National Kitchen and Bath Association, wrapped it’s first in-person show in two years. The combined strengths of the NKBA and the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), continuing their nine-year partnership to produce Design and Construction Week (DCW), brought forth the first and one of the largest in-person events since the beginning of the pandemic.

Although lack of available product and labor are ongoing factors within the residential plumbing sector, there is certainly no lack of opportunity. According to the 2021 North American Plumbing Fixtures Market Report, compiled by Grand View Research, the plumbing fixture market ended 2020 with a $22.4 billion value and it is expected to grow at a rate of 7.5% from 2021 to 2028.

Whether you’re a new pro entering the industry or a seasoned plumber in need of a quick refresher, this article covers best practices when installing or replacing a new toilet flange; best practices when repairing a broken flange; and finally, toilet flange types and options.

It’s been more than two years since kitchen and bath professionals, designers and builders have gathered for the industry’s largest trade show and conference — the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS), which is held annually in conjunction with the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA).

Electrification is often presented as a strategy for reducing carbon emissions, but the truth is, it’s not practical to rely on electricity alone because no single energy source can solve the long-term challenges we face.

While the overall kitchen and bath industry continues to show healthy growth for the year, the overall index is down 4% quarter over quarter as lingering issues caused by the pandemic seem to be catching up to consumer sentiment. Despite this, the industry is coming off of a record-breaking quarter of growth in Q2, which has fueled projections for the year at around 12% growth in sales year-over-year, with many members still encouraged about future growth in 2022.  

The National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) released its annual Design Trends report. The 2022 study, a deep dive into all aspects of both kitchen and primary bathroom design, forecasts the styles, features, materials and innovations expected to be most popular over the next two to three years. The current study finds that the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated consumer interest in and adoption of key trends in their homes such as integration of smart technology, multi-functional spaces and natural and nature-based designs.