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Bathroom Remodeling Requires A Plan Before Taking Any Actions

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Modern bathroom
Modern bathroom

In a world of DIY home renovation projects, it can be easy to get started on an extensive bathroom remodeling project without taking the time to plan ahead. After all, the bathroom is a relatively small room compared with the rest of the house. With so little to work with, planning the project out might seem like a waste of time. However, getting organized ahead of time will save you money, stress and energy as you progress. And having a plan means you’re less likely to forget crucial steps in the renovation process. If you’re planning to remodel your bathroom, then read on to learn about the best ways to get started and stay focused.


Sizing Up the Place

Remodeling projects should always begin with a detailed summation of the size of the space. You can’t go forward without knowing how much room you’ve got to work with and how much room you can steal from other sources. For example, your bathroom might connect with empty wall space, or it might border a wall that contains crucial electrical wiring. Before you plan out what to do with your space, you need to make sure you have the room to do it.

You may not need a professional to help you remodel your bathroom, but you will need a professional contractor to evaluate the project if you plan to extend your space at all. Regardless of your prowess as a DIY home renovator, you probably don’t have the same expertise when it comes to understanding complex wiring and structural systems. Speaking with a professional now will help you avoid expensive mistakes later.

Steps in the Right Direction

Once you’ve established the space limitations, it’s time to start planning your remodeling project. The easiest way to begin is by listing the necessary steps. Doing so will help you stay focused as the project progresses.

Step 1: Establish a budget. Be firm, but allow yourself some leeway in case of emergencies.

Step 2: Create a scaled picture of the final project including dimensions, sizes, fixtures and necessary details.

Step 3: Choose your materials, fixtures, equipment and other necessary items both for completing the project and for furnishing the bathroom.

You can always add or eliminate steps, but start with the basics so that you know you’ve planned appropriately. You may not be able to expect everything that happens during a remodeling project; unforeseen complications and unexpected expenses may throw you off momentarily. But having an established plan and following it in order will help reduce your stress and allow you to see the bigger picture.

Professional Advice

Just as you spoke with a contractor regarding electrical wiring and structural issues, you’ll want to seek advice from someone with experience on where to begin. You don’t have to hire a costly home renovator, but you should ask for help from friends who have done similar projects. You can also browse hundreds of online videos for specific renovation aspects along with books containing useful information.

However, nothing trumps experience, and you may need advice, especially when you get stuck. While you might be able to renovate your bathroom using online tutorials, you could benefit from some expert advice before you begin. Many professionals don’t charge the same rate for advice as they would for actual construction. Consult some local contractors for their tips and tricks before beginning a remodel.

Extras and Special Features

After you’ve planned for the basics and consulted with a contractor, you can add in extra features to really upgrade your bathroom. Universal elements such as handlebars in the shower and comfort-height toilets add immediate convenience and future value. Whether you plan to resell the home or retire in it comfortably, adding in extra universal features will help you in the long run.

Alissa Young works as a writer and a part time blogger. Her subjects are mainly about home and home improvement and in this article, she is giving us tips on how to remodel your bathroom.

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Walk-In Shower Enclosures Versus Wet Rooms

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Shower enclosures are becoming more typical in new construction and remodeling projects, replacing the old fashioned wet room. Remodeling a bathroom suite to include one can add cost to a project, so it is important to consider the actual advantages of an enclosure over a wet room. Surprisingly, one of the things to look most closely at when making your choice is not design or cost, but the age of the persons in your household.

Is There An Advantage To A Wet Room?

Wet rooms were the standard for so long the natural question is to look at whether there was an advantage to having one in the house. The answer is both yes, and no. A wet room can sometimes be ideal in houses with small children. It can make the bathing process easier on the parent because it opens up the area available. While this may seem a significant advantage, children only need help bathing for a few years and householders use their bathrooms for decades. The sacrifice in space that is required to have a wet room quickly undoes its momentary advantage of allowing more room to chase slippery toddlers.

What Are The Advantages Of A Walk-In Enclosure?

Walk-In shower enclosures have several advantages to them that quickly reveal them to be a better choice than a wet room. While wet rooms make it easier for parents to supervise their young children whilst bathing, using a walk-in can also make the process more controllable. For youth and adults, a walk-in shower can save significant time in the bathing and maintenance process. With an enclosure, there is only the shower screen to wipe down rather than a large space. Also, the privacy accorded to the bather allows for others to use the bathroom suite, which can be helpful in houses with teens. One thing that is not often mentioned is that a walk-in enclosure is easier for elders to use. There is less a chance of slip and fall injury as wet tile is limited and there is no climbing in and out of a bath. Lastly, walk-in shower enclosures can save space when designing or re-designing a bathroom suite in a home.

Things To Look For In A Shower Enclosure

To make sure you get the best for your budget, there are things you should look for when shopping shower enclosures. A movable shower head, one on a braided hose, can be best as it allows the shower to accommodate persons of all heights. There are also other styles and designs of shower heads available that you may want to consider such as soft, large heads and massaging styles. The wet pans of the enclosure are another important consideration. They should have an easy means of draining and not be plugged or stopped in any way. The height of the wet pan is also important, especially in homes with older residents. Also, consider the enclosure itself and what it is made of. Glass can be expensive and very heavy. Acrylic screens have become the new norm for enclosures. Acrylic is lighter, cheaper and easy to clean.

Louisa Jenkins is a Grimsby-based blogger. She regularly produces advice pieces on bathrooms, guiding people on which shower enclosures to buy, the flooring they should install and so on.

A Quick Guide To The Many Types Of Shower Enclosures

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When deciding to fit a new bathroom suite, many people are taken aback at the amount of alternatives available when it comes to shower enclosures.

Often, people simply think of a shower enclosure as the square cubicle in the corner of the bathroom, or even don’t think of a shower enclosure at all as they have a shower unit attached to the wall to go along with their bathtub.

Here though, I give a quick rundown on some of the shower enclosures available and each unit’s advantages.

Space Saving Option: Bi Fold Enclosure

If you are pushed for space when fitting a new bathroom, the best option for you could well be a bi fold shower enclosure, the reason being that the door folds inwards and across the shower unit, rather than the usual out swinging door which requires the room to be able to open it before you can take a shower.

Skip the Formalities: Walk In Enclosure

Very similar in essence to a wet room, which I discuss further below, a walk in enclosure is a good way of giving your bathroom a modern edge to it without the usual compact environment of shower enclosures.

Skip the bother of a door, and get straight down to business in your great new shower unit, pick a frameless offering to give your bathroom a real edge to it.

Slide To The Left Slide To The Right: Sliding Door Enclosure

Another space saving option; the sliding door enclosure once again cuts out the need of a door which opens outwards, taking up valuable space, which as you know is often not available in your bathroom.

Old Faithful: Quadrant Enclosure

Typically designed to fit into the corner of a bathroom, a quadrant enclosure is often the go to pick when it comes to shower enclosures as not only does it save space, but the unit itself can be quite spacious too. Therefore you can take a shower in spacious peace, while knowing that the space in your bathroom can be used more effectively too.

A Showering Of Alternatives

Of course alternatives to shower enclosures include opting for a bath instead, combining the two into a shower bath or you could ditch them completely and go for a wet room which in essence can turn your whole bathroom into a shower enclosure, unless you opt for a frameless unit to divide the shower from the rest of the bathroom

Louisa Jenkins is an interior design expert. She offers advice for people looking at shower enclosures as well as suggesting alternatives such as wet rooms, shower baths or even just bathtubs.

Walk In Tub perfectly Suited for Comfort, Style and Consumer Safety

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Are you wanting to get a new walk in tub?

When selecting your new bathroom fixtures you may want to give some consideration to a walk in bath tub now . These walk-in tubs are designed to offer the ultimate bathing experience for consumers who demand comfort, security and safety.

The walk in tub is a great investment.

The elegant lines and innovative features are sure to capture your eye, but these tubs provide you with much more than just a pretty bathroom fixture.  From the quality acrylic materials to the smallest detail of construction, the quality of walk-in baths should be distinctive, unique and undeniable. This modern style of bathing brings safety to the forefront by eliminating those common dangers associated with traditional styles of bathtubs.

Each year there are thousands of slips and falls that occur in home bathrooms. Senior citizens are at the most risk of becoming a casualty due to one of these accidents. In the past there were few alternatives when bathing was concerned. If someone did not feel comfortable trying to climb into their bath they could settle for a sponge bath or just skip bathing altogether.

As people age the changes in their balance and vision can make bathing bathtubs a dangerous experience. Even a slight slip can result in a sprained muscle, bruises or a painful bone fracture. For seniors who value their independence the fact of asking for help with their bath was not a satisfactory solution to this dilemma. What they wanted was a tub that offered them a new bathing experience that was designed to be comfortable, convenient and safe for all consumers.

Instead of balancing on one foot to climb in and out of the bathtub, walk-in tubs have  been created as a walk-in fixture. There are no high sides to clamber over because these are bathtubs that allow you to enter and exit by walking. This one concept was bold enough to permanently change the bathing industry. The walk-in designs assure you that these bath fixtures have been created to deliver the maximum amount of safety and convenience.

These bathtubs can be used by consumers in all age groups, but are especially appreciated by adults and senior citizens. There is an easy exit and entrance; secure footing; comfortable seating and a sturdy locking mechanism that prevents water leakage. What more could anyone ask from a simple bathtub?

The modern design also bring a welcome splash of elegance and beauty to any bathroom. The practical aspects of the walk-in tubs are gracefully combined so that they are delightfully blended into the sleek appearance. This means that your functional bathtub is going to be noticed first for the beauty and style that it adds to your bathroom.

Each walk in tub is constructed to meet your personal needs, decor and level of taste. These products are available both in Canada and the US.

You should purchase a walk in tub today.

Bathroom Remodels Which Won’t Scare Your Wallet Away

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While you might want or badly need a part of your house remodeled, the truth of the matter is that renovations cost money, something which most of us do not have a lot of. In fact, bathroom remodels are projected to cost an average of $15,789 per project. For this reason, remodeling plans which you have conceived more than five years ago have been pushed to the back of your mind and your budget. But whether you are thinking about upping the value of your house or making a much needed modification for someone who is having trouble using your current bathroom, here are some remodels which you are sure won’t break the bank:

Changing the Grout

Do you want to make a huge impact on your bathroom without having to spend your son’s college fund? Then try re-grouting your bathroom tiles. If you’ve been to old houses, you have observed how these homes seem to have no, if not only meager, problems with their tiles. For as long as the tiles you buy are not chipped and cracked, you can re-use them but breathe new life into them by using a new color of grout. While replacing old tile can cost as much as $2000, it only costs $500 for you to re-grout your entire bathroom.

Refinishing the Tub

If you have invested in a high-quality tub which still functions great although it has already look worn-out and outdated, just like every item after it has been used for at least a decade, you do not need to have it removed and replaced with a new one to have a spa-like bathroom. You can choose to have your bathtub refinished so that you can get rid of all the stains and water spots which have developed over time. Not only is this job affordable with services costing only around $475 to $600, this job can also be completed in just 24 hours. While it is true that you can buy a new tub at just a few hundred dollars, the entire work involved will run for a longer period of time than the former which can lead staggering labor fees of up to thousands.

New Mirrors

Because we never forget to look at ourselves in the mirror when we’re in the bathroom, doing something as simple as getting a new mirror is sure to not be left unnoticed. One of the tricks of really getting the best out of any remodel is to spend time on the items and parts of the house which are often used.

Jeannie Conner is a writer who has several experiences with bathroom and plumbing services. She has many great advise when you read articles in Filan & Conner Plumbing .

photo by: juhansonin

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