Archive for the ‘Bathroom’ Category

Bathroom Renovations

bat Several unwanted challenges arise when updating older type bathrooms from the ancient plumbing leading into the shower cabin, bath or sink to water damaged flooring.  You never know what you will find once you start dissecting the bathroom. When you lift up that old ceramic or vinyl flooring, don’t be surprised as to what could be lurking beneath the surface.  I recently completed a home renovation tour with a local home contracting company, because I would soon be tackling my own bathroom renovations and wanted to ensure nothing was left to chance since I would be doing most of the work myself.

Turning my focus to the bathroom renovation project, I was taken back a few steps by what I saw and quickly realized, if initially the job is not done correctly, you will actually spend more money in the repair process. Since the ceramic tiling was not properly laid, severe water damaged occurred over time and was in desperate need of replacing, the mortar was not spread evenly across the floor boards which gave way to rotted plywood and ultimately lead to having to start from scratch. If you are not a professional and need advice on proper installation techniques, local hardware stores often hold weekend classes on a number of different home renovation projects. From the installation of new showers enclosures, bath panels or shower cubicles, everything you need to know for your bathroom renovation project. Investing a few hours of your time to get it right the first time will pay off in the long term or if you are looking to hire an expert, before you do, thoroughly research past home contracting projects and get references from various sources.

Hire a Bathroom Contractor to do your renovations

If you have friends or relatives that have had any work done using a home contracting company, go out and have a look at the workmanship. I had the opportunity of visiting an older home that was completely renovated, where the home contracting company took on the huge undertaking of ripping out and installing new bathroom furniture, a new bathroom suite, and new ceramic flooring.  The project was granted to Pano Sofianos of Rombus.ca Home Contracting Ltd., located in Toronto, Canada who has been in the home renovation business for several decades and sets the precedent in superior craftsmanship.

A perfectionist and extremely meticulous when it comes to doing the job right, Pano Sofianos never leaves anything to chance.  The picturesque bathroom looked like it belonged on the front cover of Better Homes and Gardens, the well-finished bathroom included a beautiful corner bath for space conservation, a traditional fixed rain shower head, wall mounted bathroom storage cabinets, new bathroom vanity and earthy colored ceramic floor tiling.  When the bathroom was completed it was a professional design that provided a tranquil space that included subtle variations of wall colors, woodwork and bathroom cabinets all of which visually enhanced the look of the bathroom and gave the appearance of spaciousness. It is highly recommended if you get the opportunity to see first-hand the previous work of a home renovation firm as I did in the case of Rombus.ca Contracting, this will help in the selection process based on pricing and the quality of work.

Sign a contract with your bathroom design firm

Before signing off with your home contractor, scrutinize their work under a magnifying glass, look for the slightest cracks and furrows in the ceramic tiles, examine the grouting, caulking around bathtub, showers, sinks and any cabinetry along with any imperfections in the walls, remember once the home contractor disappears from the worksite, it can be difficult to get them back to the home to make repairs. It is also vitally important to draft a binding contract between the homeowner and the company you are contemplating hiring for your bathroom renovation project and don’t sign on any dotted line until you are completely satisfied with their work ethics and policies. You want to make sure the company you hire will return to the worksite to make any necessary repairs should something go wrong with the bathroom installation from the plumbing to the flooring, being consumer smart will protect your investment.

Written by Shelley Murphy on behalf of www.victoriaplumb.com an online retailer of bathroom furniture, steam showers, shower enclosures, whirlpool spa baths and bath related products serving the United Kingdom.

A Huge Range Of Bathroom Vanities To Complete Your Bathroom’s New Look!

bvr These days bathroom vanities come in an enormous variety of styles, for bathrooms of all different themes. If your bathroom’s in need of a makeover, adding a stylish new bathroom vanity set could make work wonders at improving it’s appearance. Modern bathroom vanities are not just built to look pretty, they are designed to be functional as well. A vanity unit can be custom built to make the best use of even the smallest bathrooms. For instance, vanities with a built-in base cabinet beneath the sink can provide valuable storage space to keep countertops clutter free, or a specially made unit could be fitted to a spare corner.

There are so many stores selling bathroom vanities online that it’s easy to browse a massive selection of designs, all from the comfort of your home or office. The difficulty you might have is choosing which one would be just perfect for your bathroom’s image! It helps to have a general idea of the theme of your room. For instance, are your other bathroom fixtures traditional, contemporary or antique in look? Furniture style vanities are very popular, and come with a choice of decorative touches to add a touch of class to any bathroom, from arched skirts to Queen Ann legs. Think about the finish of the wood. Do you prefer glazed, painted or laminated finishes?

Bathroom vanity tops also come in a range of durable and attractive materials, from granite to marble. Don’t forget to pay attention to smaller details such as the design of the hardware. Try to coordinate it with your faucets and the handles on your shower doors and bathroom cabinets, for instance. Choices include chrome, copper and brass. The positioning of your bathroom’s vanity lights and mirrors is also important, as this can have an influence over the look and feel of the whole room. There are lots of helpful hints and ideas available on the internet to give you inspiration for transforming your bathroom.

Well chosen bathroom vanities can become an attractive centerpiece and focal point of a room, instantly adding style and function without too much expense or effort.

Bathroom Floor Plan Remodel - Help Is At Hand

u3 A bathroom floor Plan remodel project can be a daunting task –not generally a task for the do-it-yourselfer.  There are some amenities that you see in the bathrooms for multi-million dollar homes that can be incorporated into your master bath for between $400 and $8,000.  One of the easiest jobs to tackle is the lighting.  The recessed bathroom lighting is so popular with contractors will cause shadows over your bathroom vanity unless you have some additional light source.

Remodel a bathroom floor plan by having a floor heating system installed under your bathroom floor.  Imagine stepping out of the shower onto a warm custom heated floor.  The floor heating will help to warm up the bath with floor to ceiling warmth.  Another inexpensive element that can be included when you remodel your bathroom is an chromo-therapy system.  Streams of color can be shown through either standing or running water.  This helps to relax you.  You can buy bath, shower, and sink systems with chromo-therapy options.  Multiple shower heads with differing sprays and jets to massage and relax you can bre installed in your bathroom.  The cost of this shower systems can run between $3,200 and $5,500 depending on the kinds and number of heads you choose.

Another interesting bathroom option when you are remodeling your master bath is a stream shower.  This system provides a mist of steam that makes your skin feel refreshed and rejuvenated.  Most of these projects require someone very knowledgeable in plumbing and laying of pipe.  Before you remodel your bathroom, check to see if your local building codes allow you to make these changes.