Oxford County's drinking water comes from groundwater, in town and on rural wells alike, and it tends to be hard. Hard water carries dissolved calcium and magnesium, which dry into white scale on every wet surface in a bathroom. Some rural wells also carry iron, which leaves orange or brown stains.
It's worth thinking about when you pick finishes for a renovation.
Where hard water shows up
- Glass shower doors that go cloudy no matter how often they're cleaned
- Chrome and polished fixtures with white spots and crust around the base
- Showerheads and aerators that clog and spray sideways
- Grout that stains and is hard to keep clean
- Toilet bowls with a ring at the water line, and tank parts that wear out early
Finishes that cope better
- Coated glass. Many shower glass suppliers offer a factory-applied coating that helps water bead off. A squeegee after each shower helps even more.
- Brushed and matte finishes. Brushed nickel, brushed brass and matte black hide spots much better than polished chrome.
- Fewer grout lines. Large-format tile, or acrylic and solid-surface shower panels, mean less grout to stain.
- Better grout. Epoxy or high-performance grouts resist staining better than standard cement grout.
- Showerheads with rubber nozzles that you can rub to break off scale.
Treat the water, protect the investment
A water softener protects the new fixtures, the water heater and every tap in the house. If you're on a well with iron, an iron filter may be needed too. It's worth having your water tested and treatment sorted before or alongside a bathroom renovation, so the new room stays looking new.
Send the form at the top of this page and we'll pass your request to a local contractor who knows Oxford County's water.