Remodeling a bathroom is one area in the home where your creativity is only controlled by your budget. Every possible theme, with the latest in fixtures are available. Your bathroom remodeling can include everything from a roman bath theme to a conservative bath/shower combo unit.
Steam generators, soaker tubs and whirlpool tubs can turn any bathroom into an area of deep contemplation and relaxation. Two person tubs can provide a room for romance and intimacy.
Bathroom floors can be covered with natural stones such as marble and granite or you can use vinyl sheet or even laminate flooring. Walls, can be covered in ceramic and porcelain tiles in a host of colors, sizes and textures.
Lighting can be mounted in bathrooms on ceilings or walls. Heat lamps or radiant heating can be installed to provide the ultimate in added comfort and luxury.
Bathroom cabinetry can be conservative, or ultra modern, with laminate or natural hardwood finishes.
The following directory will guide you to additional information on each aspect of bathroom remodeling.
Air Quality
If you are planning to undertake a bathroom remodeling project, steps should be taken to minimize pollution from sources inside the home. In addition, residents should be alert to signs of inadequate ventilation, such as stuffy air, moisture condensation on cold surfaces, or mold and mildew growth and use the bathroom remodeling project to correct underlying problems. While all of our general recommendations may not apply to your home, you should be aware of the issues, from radon gas and lead paint, to ventilation, and good work practices.
Backsplash
Installing a tile backsplash in a bathroom is not a difficult home improvement project for the diy home handyman. It is a great addition to a bathroom on its own or as part of a complete bathroom remodeling project. Backsplashes allow the homeowner to be creative, make clean-up easier and enhance the value of the home..
Basin / Lavatory / Sink
There is probably no other single item within a home with more selection than the bathroom sink, basin or lavatory. There is a wide selection of materials, shapes and styles to choose from that will compliment any bathroom remodeling project.
Bathtubs
Bathtub Caulk
Bathtub Materials
Bathtub Styles
In most homes the bathtub is used many times a day, we stand in it, we sit in it, and we lie in it! It provides comfort, and relaxation. It is a place for contemplating the problems of the world and many of us use it as the area to express our thoughts through song. We use it to wash the kids, the dog, and delicate drapes. Yet, with all its uses and its importance in our lives, it is probably the least thought about bathroom remodeling fixture.
Bidets
Bidets are principally used to wash and clean the external genitalia and the anus, as well as the skin near these areas. They may also be used to clean any other part of the body; they are very convenient for cleaning the feet for example. Not the most common bathroom fixture in North America, it is beginning to be shown in a lot of model homes.
Building Permits
Most states, provinces and local municipalities have bylaws that require homeowners, or contractors working on behalf of a homeowner to obtain permits for many building and remodeling projects. A complete bathroom remodeling home improvement, because it usually includes work on plumbing and electrical, as a general statement, require a building permit.
Chaulking
Caulking - Using
Caulking - Choosing
For the homeowner, caulking is one of the most beneficial products made. It can be used both indoors and outdoors, as an adhesive, as a decorative finish and at the same time it provides a weather and moisture seal. Using the right caulking is as important as using caulking at all. In a bathroom, depending on the materials used to manufacture the bathtubs, shower enclosures and other fixtures certain types of caulking perform better than others.
Contractor
Whether you are looking for a general contractor or a specific trade, determining who you should contract can be a very frustrating experience. Reference checks are a critical part of the exercise. Bathroom remodeling is an expensive exercise, and if you are not a diy home handyman - it is important that you choose your contractor wisely.
Countertops
Build Your Own Countertops
Concrete Countertops
Countertop Materials
Countertop Cost & Edging
Countertops are a primary focal point of any bathroom. You have many choices of material, edging and cost, each has advantages and disadvantages – learn which is best for you! If you are remodeling your bathroom with a tight budget, learn how to build your own counter tops.
Defogging Bathroom Mirrors
Getting out of a hot shower and finding the bathroom mirror fogged is a frustrating situation at the best of times. Now there is a way that you can eliminate fogged bathroom mirrors. Something that should be considered as part of every bathroom remodeling project.
Design Software
A total bathroom remodel, with the exception of adding additional living space, is by far the most expensive and most complex home improvement that one can undertake. With the new design software packages that are available you can see your finished bathroom in 3D before you start.
Drilling Holes - Ceramics
Drilling Holes - Porcelain, Stone, Marble, Granite
Drilling holes in ceramics, porcelain, natural stone, marble, granite, and glass is not difficult, it requires some patience and as with most projects, the proper tools for the job. Very few bathroom remodeling projects do not have a requirement to drill holes in tile.
Exhaust Fans
Exhaust Fan Installation
Exhaust Fan Timers
Exhaust Fan Noise
Exhaust Fan Performance Graph
Exhaust Fan CFM Table
Exhaust Fan Sizing
Bathroom exhaust fans come in many noise levels, sizes, shapes and configurations. It is important that the bathroom ventilation system meet the needs of the square footage of the bathroom that it is to ventilate. You can save energy by installing timers on your bathroom exhaust fans.
Faucets - Basin / Lavatory / Sink
Faucets - Cleaning & Polishing
Faucets Shower & Tub
Faucets come in a variety of styles, finishes and quality levels. These faucets can be one piece or three piece styles. In the vast majority of cases the one piece style uses holes in the vanity top or sink or basin itself on four inch centers. Three piece, separate hot and cold valves and a separate spout, generally use eight inch centers for the holes in the sink, basin or counter top. It is important to determine the faucet style that suits you before committing to new sinks or counter tops for your bathroom remodeling project.
Flooring
Flooring Index
Pebble Tile
Tile Patterns, Designs & Layout
When considering the flooring material for a bathroom remodeling project there are two major considerations; safety and the material's ability to stand-up to moisture. There are many choices for your bathroom remodeling project including man made tiles, laminates, vinyl and natural stones.
Glass Blocks
Glass Block Shower Installation
Glass Block Styles & Types
As a somewhat unique building material glass blocks blend with many architectural styles. It has the characteristic that it can provide privacy, yet permits substantial amounts of light to pass from room to room or from outdoors to indoors, making it and excellent choice for bathrooms. Consider glass blocks for your bathroom remodeling project.
Hot Water
On demand or tankless hot water systems have been in use in Europe and Asia for over 40 years, although the vast majority have been fueled by natural gas or propane and were installed in locations within the home that required hot water, primarily kitchens and bathrooms, as they did not use a central hot water tank for an entire home. Tankless water heaters have a number of advantages. But installing one as part of your bathroom remodeling project can become expensive, especially if your current electrical service cannot delivery the necessary power.
Lighting
Adequate lighting in a bathroom can be a complex exercise. Florescent lighting, as a general statement, produces a light spectrum that is somewhat limited and hence colors are not what they appear to be. Glare and shadows from light bouncing off ceramic tile and enclosures add to the lighting problem. Do not leave the lighting as an afterthought in a bathroom remodeling project.
Medicine Cabinets
The bathroom medicine cabinet provides an area for storage and generally provides the mirror that resides over a sink. Medicine cabinets come in a variety of sizes, finishes and functionality. Because they are generally mounted in the wall, rather than on the wall, it is important that consideration be given to the style and size of the medicine cabinet before you start framing and installing plumbing pipes and electrical wires.
Mirrors
Defogging Mirrors
Mirror Quality
Installation, Maintenance & Disposal
Bathroom mirrors accomplish two tasks. They allow us to groom ourselves and they give the feeling that the room is larger than it is. Use mirrors to create the feel of a large bathroom, when you are facing a smaller bathroom area.
Mold & Moisture
Molds are part of the natural environment. Indoors, mold growth should be avoided. Molds reproduce by means of tiny spores; the spores are invisible to the naked eye and float through indoor air. Mold may begin growing indoors when mold spores land on surfaces that are wet. There are many types of mold, and none of them will grow without water or moisture. Bathrooms are the perfect haven for mold growth.
Painting Ceramic Or Porcelain Tile
It is a fact of life in decorating that what is the in thing today will most likely not be the in thing tomorrow and because of that many homeowners end up with outdated room decoration. This is especially prevalent in ceramic and porcelain tile. If you are on a tight budget or you are not prepared to replace perfectly good ceramic or porcelain tile, it is possible to paint them!
Pedestal Sink Installation
A pedestal sink, is a good alternative to a vanity and sink combination especially in smaller bathrooms and powder rooms. Bathroom vanities tend to make a small bathroom look and feel smaller.
Pictures - Bathroom Design & Layout
More than 50 pictures of bathroom designs and layouts showing all aspects of a bathroom remodeling. Vanities, Flooring, Lighting, Fixtures, Tile
Planning Bathroom Remodeling
Bathroom remodeling is one of most expensive and most complex home improvement that a diy home handyman can undertake.
Plumbing - Drains, Vents & Water Lines
Plumbing: The Secret To A Successful Bathroom Remodelling Project
The most complex part of any residential plumbing system is located in the bathroom. If the rough-in portion of the plumbing is not installed properly, the homeowner will have no end of problems, that include water hammering, sinks and lavatories that drain slowly or create gurgling sounds and sewer gases entering the home - a true health hazard.
Porcelain Repair:
Many homes have porcelain on steel and porcelain on cast iron plumbing fixtures. This manufacturing technique is commonly used for bathtubs, laundry sinks and tubs, kitchen sinks and bathroom basins. The problem is that these materials chip, scratch and fade and either need to be replaced or repaired.
Remodeling On A Budget
Remodeling your bathroom can be one of the most expensive remodeling projects you undertake on a square foot basis. However, there are some things you can do to get the luxury bathroom you want at a fraction of the cost. Bathrooms are generally small rooms and that fact is one of the primary keys to saving money.
How to Maintain a Septic System
Many houses still rely on septic systems to treat their sewage. Septic systems are common in rural locations and many vacation properties. A septic system is the house's personal sewage treatment facility, used when a house does not have access to or the cost would be prohibitive to connect to a municipal sewage treatment center.
Sewer Gas Odor In Your House
Sewer gas is generally hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and has the smell of rotten eggs. It is the result of gas which is trapped in the municipal sewer system entering the house. Houses that have proper plumbing drain systems, vent the sewer gas through the roof to the outside of the house.
Shower & Tub Enclosures
There are very few bathroom remodeling projects that require more planning and thought then the installation of a shower or tub enclosure. A new or replacement shower or tub enclosure will require working, at a minimum on the walls, hot and cold water lines, tub spout and shower piping.
Shower & Tub Doors
Repairing Leaking Shower Doors
As in most things, you get what you pay for. But with shower and tub doors that statement has a lot of meaning. It is very easy for manufacturers to skimp on quality while still providing a product that has aesthetic appeal, in the short term. In the long term, inexpensive products will bend, warp, discolor and generally fall apart. No one wants to do bathroom remodeling every few years. Understand the materials you are choosing for your bathroom remodeling project.
Showerheads
When it comes to the shower head, most shower and tub faucets include a matching shower head. If you are purchasing a separate shower head, make sure that the finish actually matches. Chrome glosses vary as do other types of plating between manufacturers. A brushed nickel from one manufacturer may not match the brushed nickel of another manufacturer.
Steam Generator
Taking a steam shower is a refreshing and invigorating experience which can be enjoyed in almost any bathroom. A compact steam generator delivers steam to a shower enclosure with suitable seals, creating a leisure facility in the privacy of your own home. Definitely a fixture to consider if you are contemplating a bathroom remodeling project.
Toilets
Toilet Repair
Toilet Replacement
Toilet Sweating
Molded from porcelain, toilets are the basic essential for a bathroom. With the ever dwindling supply of water, manufacturers have been pushed to create toilets that require as little water as possible in order to properly dispose of waste material. However, some toilets work with less water and others don't - learn why.
Vanities
Make Your Own Vanities & Cabinets
Cabinet & Vanity Hinges
Face-Frame Versus Frameless (Euro Box/Style) Cabinets
How To Build Bathroom Vanities & Cabinets - Free Plans
In many cases the vanity and sister cabinetry is the focal point of a bathroom. Besides providing an area to perform self grooming, it provides a place to house the sink or basin and provides space for storage. When remodeling a bathroom it is important to consider what you need in cabinetry before commencing the project.
Wall Tile
Pebble Tile
Tile Patterns, Designs & Layout
From 1" to 18" squares, from diamonds to rectangles, bathroom wall tile comes in an unbelievable amount of shapes, patterns, colors and materials. Take time to see what's available before you start your bathroom remodeling project.
Window Treatments
Choosing window treatments for a full bathroom can be a bit of a daunting task. Unlike the majority of the rooms in a home the high levels of moisture generated in a full bathroom can have a detrimental effect on a number of materials used for window treatments.