Cool Bathroom Remodel Trick Saves Precious Space in the Most Compact of Rooms

On a daily basis, design-build remodelers wrestle with an engaging challenge: how to maximize space through good design. For these artisans, each project presents a fresh opportunity to re-imagine and re-invent to transform how a house and its component parts function. And the bathroom, as the smallest room in the house, is a prime spot for such spatial transformation.

By borrowing a bit from designers' and builders' playbook, we can all benefit from a major space-creating trick for bathroom remodels: the "hidden" shower. Below are four key principles to follow when applying this space-saver to your home or project:

Finish the bathroom so the whole room can get wet. The entire space needs to be able to get wet safely because the conventional, water-containing shower booth is missing with "hidden" showers. And because the material and aesthetic choices you make here will define the look and feel of the remodeled room, this step represents a critical design opportunity. Will your bathroom walls and floors feature a flowing naturalistic mosaic of tile work or express modernist rectilinear precision? Functionally, either approach is fine, as long as the surfaces are impervious to water.

Cleverly place the shower drain and the floor pitch to that drain. If your goal is to maximize the sense of spaciousness in your bathroom, you probably shouldn't plop the shower drain in the middle of the room and pitch the floor steeply to it. That would make the entire room "express itself" as a giant shower, not a bathroom with multiple functions. Instead, strive to tuck the drain in an unobtrusive spot, maybe against a wall. Then pitch the floor just enough to let water flow to it. That way the spatial integrity of the floor plane is left intact and the room feels like a living space, not a skate park.
Hide the showerhead in plain sight. Often the most elegant design solution for placement of the showerhead is to simply hang it from the ceiling, much like you would a light fixture. Above eye level, the hardware effectively vanishes from view.

Add a swinging door. While not strictly necessary, a shower door that swings out at shower time to shield the toilet, especially, can be nice functional addition to the system. And if you select a glass door, it needn't interrupt the visual flow of the wall surfaces when the door is folded away between showers.

Depending on the specific conditions of your space the details of this bathroom remodel trick will vary. But the basic principle holds true: you can save a bunch of space by hiding that shower.

How To Do A Bathroom Remodel Without Losing Your Shirt

The top home renovation investment you can make right now would be to redesign your bath rooms. Needless to say there is absolutely no point spending cash on bath remodels unless of course there is an realistic need for them. Very best time for you to remodel your bathroom is if you find something in fact wrong with it like it's in desperate demand for repair or is old.

Why are bath remodels are such a big investment? There may be many factors, but the first and most important one is that the bathroom is one of the essential places in any home.

The room that will get considerable use but sometimes a small amount of decorating attention in many homes may be the bathroom. There are a lot very practical parts of that room, nevertheless there can also be design and style and flair put into that space to really make it not just a utilitarian space. When it comes to doing a bit of bathroom remodeling, the owner of a house should be a bit more extravagant with their choice of decor, because generally that space is not as large as the some other areas in the house. The imported tiles and stones which can be way too expensive for a kitchen area could be quite affordable in the much smaller amounts that might be needed for the bath space.

Because of the tight economic climate and proliferation of the DIY home improvement movement, lots of folks considered taking on the bathroom remodels on their own. But the do-it-yourself types may want to pay attention to the practical suggestions of a local woman we shall call Linda. Her husband Don was about to smash up his bathroom with a sledgehammer, Linda frantically scoured the phone book in order to call a local Handyman Service to the rescue. Needless to say, the Handyman Service got there just in time. Don's ego was wounded, but the professionally repaired bathtub turned out beautifully. A number of do-it-yourself jobs are simple and easy, but bathroom remodels should be left to the specialists. Hiring a Plumber to address your bathroom remodel would most likely seem like the proper action to take but then you would require a electrician, a tile setter, a carpenter, if you are considering changing anything at all. And here , an experienced Handyman Service can certainly make sense as they quite simply will ensure a high-quality job that is finished in half the time that you might do it yourself.

Plumbing is definitely an intricate and important part of the normal daily functioning of a home. House owners who attempt to install their own toilets, sinks, showers, and baths may find yourself with botched jobs that create them much issues and expense down the line. Even a simple water leak or flood can cost thousands of dollars worth of damage to the home. It is much easier to avoid such calamities by having a proficient business take care of the installing of bathroom fixtures.

A property owner is probably worried about the time period that it will take in order to complete a bathroom upgrade. With a bathroom being such a fundamental piece of your home, it's not likely that the spouse and children will enjoy having the bathroom out-of-service for days or months on end. But a busy homeowner, most likely working a full-time job along with domestic obligations, will not be very likely to have a lot of time to commit to a remodeling project. Therefore, a bathroom remodeling can easily drag out for a long period of time, becoming a hassle to all occupants of the home. By far the most effective strategy to handle a bathroom remodel would be to employ a professional, who is going to get the job done in a fraction of the time.

Ultimately, a job done correctly will prove to add value to your residence. A modern, desirable bathroom is likely to set the home apart when it reaches time to place it in the marketplace. That amount of money that you chose to invest in a competent remodel is likely to come back your way when it's time to put the home on the market.

A bath remodel project can be at a grand scale or at a lower scale. Why don't we assume you aren't planning to sell your house, but your bathroom still requires maintenance and new accessories? Why not just make the necessary improvements and save on money and time and effort. Should your bathroom requires a new vanity or a new toilet, then just invest in those things and your total bath remodeling expenses could be under $1000 or less.

Whatever the main reason for bath remodels, the very prospect of that could be exciting and interesting. From the web to the magazines and catalogs and from hoardings to the television, you only need to shop around to come up with the most suitable bath remodeling ideas and get up-to-date while using most recent trends. On the other hand, when selecting the general scheme of things and products, be certain you are able to mix the old with the new in a fashionable way that helps integrates them alongside one another instead of making them stick out like a sore thumb.

Bathroom Remodeling: Makeover For Your Bathroom On A Budget

Remodeling your bathroom is a great way to breathe fresh life in to your home. However, the task can seem quite daunting and the package price tag can drive many people away from wanting to remodel. However, there are plenty of ways to remodel your bathroom on a budget and the end result can be the same.

When people think of renovating their homes, bathrooms are typically first or second on the list of renovations. Maybe it's because people like to start small, to dip just a toe in to the pool of remodeling. Whatever reason, bathroom remodels and renovations are very common.

When calculating the costs though, the project can rapidly become overwhelming. This is because the design people and people who produce the products are supposed to get you to spend money. However, there are different ways to do things.

If you're on a tight budget, first take into consideration why you want to change your bathroom. Is it appearance? Function? Whatever your reason is, it's good to know what it is. Then you can begin with small updates that can make big changes.

Change the paint on the walls, re-do the walls in your bathtub area or buy some molding from your local hardware store and put it on the walls. These minor updates can really make the bathroom look like a whole new room. If after those small projects are done, you're still dissatisfied, then it is time to consider doing bigger things.

The most important part of bigger things shopping is to make you familiar with vocabulary and price. You'll want to know what to ask for when you walk in to a store and you'll want to know a general price range. These things make you a better shopper and less likely to be scammed in to spending too much money.

You can consider re staining your cabinetry or picking out new flooring. Both of these projects are also do-it-yourself projects and will give you immense satisfaction when you walk in to the room. If you're looking for new sinks, toilets or tubs, you need to figure out if you want them to match, if there are certain styles you love or hate, and a good price range.

Doing research online will help you a lot in this area, as you will be able to see a wide variety of things. You will also be able to determine an average cost range, a high end cost and a low end cost. Knowing all of this when you walk in to a store will give you the upper hand.

Basically, the best idea is to remodel in stages. If you begin with the smallest changes, you might be pleasantly surprised at the results. If, after the small things, you want to keep going, you'll know what to look for and how to find it.

You'll also, by taking your time, be able to really think about how you want it to look and will be able to stick to a budget. Since you won't be blowing massive amounts of money at the get go, you will have more time to reach better decisions.

Finding The Perfect Style Of Shower

As the owner of Kitchen Bath & Glass Center, a full-service company that has been helping clients in Brevard County since 1987, Chris Fuller has spent years helping homeowners learn about all the shower styles that are available before embarking on a renovation project. And according to him, when it comes to renovating a bathroom, choosing the perfect style of stand-alone shower can be among the most stressful steps.

Choosing a shower can be difficult for many homeowners. After all, it has to do with the number of styles and options available to choose from, along with the fact that no one particular style is more dominant than others. Rather than simply choosing the most common style, I recommend doing detailed research to find a shower that best reflects both your budget and personal taste.

Larger Tiles
When it comes to new showers, my clients in Melbourne, FL, want shower doors that are frameless and surrounded by extra-large tiles. Of course, the large tile trend is not just restricted to showers—it’s becoming popular for homeowners to add extra-large tiles in other areas of the home - such as the kitchen - as well. A lot of people are interested in that particular look, and I think it is a trend that got started because people were seeing large tiles in all the home magazines.

While large tiles are trendy right now, remember that these things can come and go. And it’s possible that smaller tiles might be more popular at some point in the future. For now, however, the majority of new bathroom remodels we work on involve the use of neutral-colored tiles in large sizes for the stand-alone shower. If you are looking for a way to give your bathroom shower a modern look, installing larger tiles could be a fairly inexpensive option.

Stand-Along Showers
In the remodeling industry, one of the most recent trends has been the shift away from bathtubs, as more homeowners choose to go with stand-alone showers instead. Not only are stand-alone shower installations the new norm when it comes to bathroom projects, but many homeowners are even beginning to tear out their existing bathtubs to be replaced with stand-alone showers.

However, it might not always a good idea to forego a bathtub in a home in favor of a trendier stand-alone shower, especially for anyone who is planning to sell his home in the near future. When you install a new shower, it means you’re losing a bathtub – and you don’t want to lose the only bathtub in the house. Because so many homebuyers want at least one bathtub these days, I recommend leaving one bathtub to help boost the home’s future resale value. What seems to be the case is that most homeowners are fine just as long as they have left at least one bathtub in the house.

When comparing the cost of installing a bathtub to a stand-alone shower, the two projects should be close in price. Price-wise, putting in a standing tile shower is actually quite comparable to installing a new bathtub with tile surrounding it. That is because building a shower pan out of mortar and tiling the walls above it is comparable in cost to the price of buying a new bathtub and adding tile above that. If you are thinking of doing a project like that, you should not let the price be a factor.

Rain Showerheads
Another popular shower trend right now is rain showerheads, which are essentially larger versions of a standard showerhead that come down directly from the ceiling rather than the wall above the bathtub. They are usually 8 to 12 inches in diameter, which makes them much larger in size than a traditional showerhead.

Before you have one of these showerheads installed, however, a few issues need to be taken into consideration. Installation of the new showerhead can sometimes be more difficult because a portion of the ceiling needs to be taken out to put one in, which can add to the overall cost of a shower installation.

Be aware that there’s no limit to the number of unique products that can be used in bathroom renovation projects. For our clients in Melbourne, FL, shower doors, drains, tiles, and even showerheads are all important pieces of any bathroom remodel. I recommend speaking with a professional to learn about all available options.

Options For A Kitchen Or Bath Remodel

Deciding to remodel any room in your home can be a huge undertaking. This is especially true with a kitchen or bathroom. There are a lot of little details you may not think of, and there can be issues with things like electrical and plumbing. The best way to avoid problems like these is to hire professionals who do design and remodels every day and know exactly what they are doing.

If you want to remodel a kitchen or bath in Toronto, finding a great designer will not be a difficult task at all. The best way to find a really great design team is to ask others who have done similar remodels in their homes. Word of mouth is one of the most valuable sources of finding your best options.

There are several things to take into consideration. Do you want to put the entire remodel in someone else’s hands, or would you like to have more of a say in how things work? Hiring a designer or contractor that can do it all, from the very early plans to securing permits and overseeing all work, is a great road to a stress-free remodel. You will have input on the materials and how things work, but all the work will be left to the person or team you have chosen to oversee everything.

There is also the option of hiring separate contractors for each job and supplying all of your materials from whatever home store you frequent. It all depends on how involved you want to be in the process.

If you don’t have extensive knowledge of plumbing, trying your hand at it during your remodel is probably not the wisest decision. The same goes for electrical work. Mistakes or unknown problems in your handiwork can be disastrous. If your work presents you with problems during the work process, you may have to consult with a contractor for help. This can end up being more costly, because they may have to undo whatever work you have done and redo it the correct way.

If you do have experience in these areas, opting to do some of the work yourself can be a way to save money. Using a designer to help you get started the right way, however, is one of the most valuable things you can do to get your remodel started out on the right foot.

Raleigh Bathroom Remodeling Contractor Ms Carpentry Inc.

A bathroom remodel can be one of the most rewarding remodels you can make in your home. A remodeled bathroom can increase resale value for those looking to sell or it can just be a spa-like experience for people looking to simply improve an old bathroom.

Having a bathroom that is inviting and appealing as well as functional is vital to the operation of any household. A Raleigh bathroom remodeling contractor like Mike Spann Carpentry can help you remodel your bathroom while offering you the comfort of working with someone who has been in the business for over 25 years.

It can sometimes be difficult to choose a design for the bathroom when remodeling. The layout is more important than the aesthetic, but they often work together.

If you are considering changing the layout by expanding the bathroom or adding a shower, the added element of building a functional layout in concert with the existing plumbing is definitely a job for a skilled contractor. Even if you have your own plans in mind, a skilled contractor can help you make the most out of the ideas you have.

Many bathroom remodels don't require removing walls or changing plumbing, but it can often be a good chance to do so if you have been wanting to add something. Perhaps you would like to add a big claw tub or built-in spa. Other restrooms might need a double sink instead of a single or maybe you're adding a shower to a half bath.

Turning a half bath to a full can usually pay for itself when it comes time to sell the house, but you have to be careful not to cramp everything just to be able to call it a full bath. There is a fine line to be walked between features and function.

There are a few good options for saving money that most homeowners should consider. One of the best ways to save money is to do the demo and prep work yourself.

This is no-skill stuff that anyone can do to save on paying labor costs to a contractor and his team. Removing old hardware and tiling and getting the room prepped for the workers can save you a day's worth of labor costs.

A contractor can also find you great hardware and fixtures that you might not find if you just went to the local home goods store and looked around.

Bathrooms and kitchens are two of the best rooms in the house to remodel. If you are looking to add resale value to your house, a bathroom renovation is a great way to do so.

And if you aren't selling, remodeling a bathroom can not only give you a real spa feeling at home, it can also keep important plumbing up-to-date and prevent potentially costly water-related damages. Whatever your reason, remodeling your bathroom will likely pay off big for you in the end.

Bathroom Remodel Designs For A Tub Or Shower

Bathroom home remodeling is a great way to start a full house remodel or to simply spruce up the bathroom. The bathroom is a room that you want to be cozy, comfortable, and relaxing. You use this room every day, and on special occasions you might even spend time in it for a relaxing bubble bath. You do not want to look up at ugly tile or stare at an ugly wall paper every morning when you brush your teeth. Instead, think about doing a bathroom remodel for your tub or shower!

Finding Ideas
There are many different places where you can find ideas for a bathroom remodel on your tub or shower. There are entire television channels devoted to home remodel ideas and concepts, and there are shows specifically about bathroom remodel ideas, including tub or shower ideas. Tuning into a show like this can give you countless new ideas and concepts for remodeling your shower or tub, or even the entire bathroom! Sometimes all a bathroom needs is a little facelift like a new tub or shower idea.

In addition to looking at home improvement television shows, you can also look in your local home improvement store. Many of the larger stores like Home Depot or Lowes have home improvement sessions that are free of charge. Look at the schedule and see if there is anything scheduled for improving the look of your bathroom, or specifically for something like tubs and showers. These bathroom remodel ideas for a tub or shower could help you to find the perfect idea for your bathroom.

A third place to find ideas for your bathroom remodel on your tub or shower is a magazine. Look specifically for magazines that cater to bathroom remodels and you will be well on your way to finding an idea that suits your individual needs!

Where to Start
When remodeling your tub or shower, the first place to start is deciding whether you want a tile shower or tub or a plastic shower or tub. A plastic shell can be put in your bathroom in a matter of a day, but tiling a shower or tub can take several days. If you are looking for a quick bathroom remodel for your tub or shower, using a shell is the best way to go. But if you want to take time to do an excellent, high quality job, remodel your bathroom shower or tub using tile. Once you have decided how to remodel the tub or shower, everything else will fall int

Bathroom Remodels - Avoid Laminates When Natural Stone Like Marble Or Granite Should Be Used

Because bathrooms are prone to such high humidity and excessive moisture, certain materials used for bathroom remodels will not yield the best results in the long run. A prime example of a poor application would be the installation of laminate vanities or a laminate countertop. While commonly found installed in bathrooms, these materials are not the best of choices.

The disadvantage of laminate cabinetry and countertops is that they are layered. Over a brief time of just a few years, laminates can and most likely will de-laminate (peel apart). As the humidity levels and temperature rise and fall through the cycle of bathing and showering, laminated wood is constantly expanding and contracting. These frequent changes greatly accelerates the separation of the laminate from the compress board subsurface which it is glued. Instead of getting 10 to 15 years or more of a perfect looking bathroom, a homeowner will likely experience warping and a bubbling up of the laminated vanity top or laminated vanity itself, leading to chips and cracks..

Remodeling a bathroom is the perfect time to not just replace the existing vanity top with the same inferior laminate material, but upgrade to much more durable and beautiful natural materials such as granite, soapstone, or limestone. Marble and onyx are also favorites of custom builders and homeowners. Natural stone countertops and even flooring can create a warm and serene atmosphere to an antiseptically efficient environment depending upon the color and stone right down to the custom edge profile of the countertop.

Very few other building materials are as versatile or as widely desired as natural stone. In the hands of expertly skilled craftsmen and machinists, the range of application and shapes are almost limitless. Looking at the past Mediterranean cultures and what their craftsmen were able to create with marble, which is more delicate than granite, is astounding. Today, stone fabricators have the benefit of machines to accelerate the results with even more precision.

All of this potential beauty does not come cheap though. There is a trade off of increased cost for increased quality and material. Even though stone fabricators have additional hardware to assist them, which the ancients did not possess, it is still a very difficult and costly medium with which to work and the primary reason for a higher price point when compared to inferior grades of materials.

Great Ideas for a Budget Bathroom Renovation

When property owners desire to commence a new home remodel plan, whether it's in the basement, kitchen or a major budget bathroom renovation , they often suffer from sticker shock. Budget remodeling doesn't imply that you need to buy the cheapest goods and labor. It plainly indicates you can be a wise home improvement planner. You should take the following home improvement suggestions to heart. They will aid you in trimming costs and creating an original bathroom renovation.

Your first approach is to draw up a good plan of action. The quickest way to run up costs and create unnecessary difficulties is to approach your bathroom renovation with a poor plan. Hiring an experienced expert that can rely on experience to distinguish likely problem areas and deal with them before they become major issues is something anyone approaching a home improvement project should seriously weigh. If you are a do-it-yourself person then developing a course of action for your bathroom renovation is essential. Deal with the major problem areas initially. Choose exactly what items you would want to change, i.e. tub, shower, vanity, tile, etc. Here are some handy methods to help guide you on your bathroom remodel without emptying your wallet:

Budget Bathroom Renovation #1 - Creative Color Schemes

The easiest and least expensive method to upgrade your bathroom is by painting, wallpaper, and new wall tiles. Any one of these or a combination of them will add a fresh atmosphere to your bathroom. Commonly seen color themes in a lot of bathrooms are uninteresting white or typical "drab" colors you can find in shopping mall and fast food restrooms. Try to bring your own personality to life with the color options that you pick out. Softer tones like pastels and earth tones can create spectacular changes to a new budget bathroom renovation.

Budget Bathroom Renovation Step 2. - Vanity Choices

The central point for many normal bathrooms is the vanity. Nearly all master baths and main bathrooms have sizable vanities with abundant storage and counter top space. Usually a smaller vanity will be found in 1/2 and 3/4 bathrooms. If storage is not a major concern in your remodeled bathroom you might look at installing a pedestal sink. This will create more floor space and make the room feel more expansive.

Budget Bathroom Renovation #3 - Flooring Basics

Flooring is the one aspect of your bathroom remodel where buying the cheapest materials can turn against you. If you can afford to spend a little more money on any one portion of your project this should be the place. Putting in a lesser quality tile can make for future problems like chipping if using vinyl tiles. The flooring will go through a lot of use and must be able to survive the moisture. There are many wonderful types of floor tiles that you can shop for online, or at home improvement stores.

Low-priced final touches can produce just the right look to putting your budget bathroom renovation into the best of Home and Garden magazine. Some simple additions to think about would be paintings and pictures. Another easy improvement is to add custom molding to emphasize the color scheme you have chosen. Using color coordinated shower/window curtains will add to the overall ambiance. Even on a budget you can produce a wonderful new bathroom that has a custom feel to it.

How to Demolition Your Bathroom When Completing a Bathroom Remodel

An important part of the bathroom-remodeling project is the demolition of your existing bathroom. You need to have a plan. There is a process to the demolition phase and it usually does not require a sledgehammer. It requires a plan and patience.

Below is planning guide to the demolition process.

Step 1:

· Remove the mirror and · To help keep a frameless mirror from shattering, I recommend applying tape from corner to corner creating an "X".
· Run tape from top to bottom and side to side through the center of the "X".
· You may need to take a razor blade to scribe between the wall and mirror to loosen paint, glue, and etc.
· Once the mirror is cut around all four sides gently break the mirror and carefully dispose of the mirror in the dumpster.
· Remove towel bars, toilet paper holders, shelves and etc. from the walls.

Step 2:

· Remove the vanity top.
· Disconnect water lines. Just in case, check to be certain you know where the main water shutoff is for the home. Make sure the shutoff valves for the sink are closed before disconnecting the water lines. Open the hot and cold water for the faucet and let the waterlines drain.
· If there are not any shutoff valves for the vanity sink, you need to shut the water off for the home. Check this by turning some faucets on and making sure the water stops running. Remove the water lines. Cut the copper pipe as needed and install a compression fitting shutoff valve. If you are not sure what to do, I strongly encourage you to find someone who can help, such as a licensed plumber. Be very cautious when dealing with water!
· Disconnect the drain line for the sink.
· Use a razor blade to cut loose any adhesive holding the vanity top to the vanity.
· Put vanity top in dumpster or a safe location if you are reusing the vanity top.

Step 3:

· Remove the vanity / cabinet.
· Remove screws holding the vanity to the wall. If you are reusing the existing vanity, I recommend removing the vanity anyway. This will help give you a professional finished look for the floor tile and make it easier to install the floor tile.
· If water shut off valves were originally installed after the vanity was installed, you can cut the water shutoff valves off, or you can carefully cut the vanity back open to allow the vanity back to slide over the shutoff valves.
· If you decide to cut the shutoff valves off, you will need to shut the main water off to the home. Be sure to cap the water lines or install new shutoff valves before turning the water back on.
· Remove base trim along the bathroom walls.
· Break the vanity down and throw in dumpster or place in a safe location if you are reusing the vanity.

Step 4:

· Remove the toilet.
· Turn the water off at the shutoff valve.
· If the toilet does not have a shutoff valve follow the process above in step 3 for installing a shutoff valve.
· After the water is shut off, flush the toilet several times to remove as much water as possible.
· Use a wet shop vacuum or a sponge to remove the remaining water.
· Remove the nuts and caps at the base of the toilet.
· The toilet should lift straight off; the old wax ring should be visible.
· Use a putty knife to remove the old wax ring. Stuff the opening with a rag to prevent sewer fumes from entering the home.
· Dispose of the toilet or set aside if it is to be used again.

Step 5:

· Remove the bathtub / shower surround.
· Remove the trim for the tub / shower faucet.
· Remove the fiberglass shower surround by cutting down the corners with a reciprocating saw. Use a short blade and do not cut into the wall in the back. Remember, you do not know what is in the wall behind the shower.
· If you have tiled shower surround use a sharp razor blade to score / cut the drywall all the way through at the top of the tile and along the sides of the tile. You will have to run the razor blade over the drywall a few times to cut all the way through. Pry the tile and the backer boards off the wall. The backer board is held on with screws. These screws will be removed after the backboard is removed.
· Remove the tile and backer board in larger sections, if possible, to eliminate dust and trips to the dumpster.
· Do not remove the drywall where the tile is not installed. You want to remove the tile and the backer board behind the tile only. What you remove now you have to replace later.
· Disconnect the bathtub drain and remove the bathtub. If the bathtub is cast iron, have a two wheeled cart to help carry the bathtub to the dumpster, as cast iron tubs are heavy. You can break the cast iron bathtub into smaller sections in the house, but this will make a mess. You can cover the bathtub with a blanket before breaking the tub apart to help contain small pieces and keep the mess to a minimum.
· If the bathtub is fiberglass, cut the tub into manageable sections to remove from the home and dispose of into the dumpster.

Step 6:

· Remove the existing flooring.
· Depending on the age of the bathroom and how the flooring was installed will affect how easy the removal process will be.
· Below is a couple of the most common ways I see the floor tile installed.
The tile may be set on cement board. The cement board is often set on thin set, and screwed to the sub floor.

With this you may have five layers of flooring:

· Tile
· Thin set
· Cement Board
· Thin set
· Sub floor - the sub floor will stay. Everything else should be removed.

The tile is set on a layer of thin set that is about one inch thick.

With this you may have three layers:

· Tile
· Thin set
· Sub floor - the sub floor will stay. Everything else should be removed.

· Every bathroom is different and until you start the demolition of the floor you do not know what you will encounter. In either case, removing the tile and tile backer down to the sub floor is not an easy task.
· One option you may have is to remove the tile only and set the new tile on the old mortar bed. This option may raise the current height of the tiled floor from 3/8 to 3/4 of an inch. I do not recommend this option as it does not give you the opportunity to inspect the existing sub floor for damage.
· There are a variety of thresholds available to transition from the tiled floor to the adjacent floor. Check with your local flooring store to see what threshold will work best.
· Keep in mind the toilet flange will need to sit flush with the sub floor or the finished floor. If the flange is higher or lower than the finished floor, you may need to replace the flange. This, of course, will add to your expenses.

At this point your bathroom should be empty, except for the light. We will keep the light for now and install a new one later. It is now time to start putting the bathroom back together!

Bathroom Remodels - Turning Your Bathroom Into An Oasis

An atmosphere of personal indulgence, which used to be the domain of day spas, is finding its way into master bathroom remodels. Limited only by imagination and a project's budget, standard master bathrooms are turning into customized retreats. The good news is luxury can be incorporated into any design by using higher end tile designs, fixtures, and bathroom vanities or decorative bathroom furniture vanities.

STYLE

Start scouring those magazines that you see in the waiting rooms... make sure you check out the local design studios and design tradeshows. Styles change year to year, so if you want to keep up with current trends make sure you do some research.

MATERIALS

"For master baths, no material is too luxurious or too unusual. Whether it is installing travertine tile from floor to ceiling, find a rare type of granite countertops, or buying a one-of-a-kind decorative bathroom vanity, the options are endless" says Dale from Artistic bathroom Designs in Philadelphia, PA.

LAYOUT

To create a custom floor plan, consider hiring a certified bathroom designer, who will analyze the size of the space and your family's needs. Some things to discuss with the designer include:

Shower or bath: "The master bath has undergone some changes in recent years. Giant tubs, once wildly popular, have fallen out of favor. Instead, people are choosing custom showers including overhead showerheads, wall-mounted showerheads, hand-held showerheads, shower tiles, rain bars, body sprays and steam showers. Oversized tubs and jacuzzi tubs are under-utilized these days. When people are shopping for homes, they are not looking for the high end tubs, but they are demanding more and more out of the shower features" says Jake Parks of Atlantic States Realty.

Choosing a custom shower with a smaller bathtub can have a big impact on the layout of a bath, too. "A big tub with a nice surround takes up a tremendous amount of space. We can do a great big custom shower in a lot less space," Parks says.

Number of Sinks: If it is new development, it is almost expected to have two sinks in the master bathroom. In a remodel of an older home, the running of the second line and installation of a second sink can be cost prohibitive. Think about the return on investment before making a major change like installing a second water line and sink.

Delicate Matters: While it may seem a bit awkward to talk about the toilet versus the tub, whenever doing a remodel or new bathroom, the recent trend is to separate the tub and toilet by creating a second room. This can add a lot of value to your home.

Universal Design: Another trend in master bathrooms is the use of universal design. This approach, designed to accommodate people of all ages and abilities, includes wider doorways, showers with no raised lip around the bottom, larger shower doors and more room around fixtures. Once thought of as industrial-looking, universal elements such as grab bars now blend seamlessly into even the most luxurious master bathrooms.

THE DETAILS

When it comes to extras in a master bathroom remodel, look toward the luxurious. Hang an extravagant chandelier over a soaking tub; install a high end decorative bathroom furniture vanity; add built-in warming drawers for towels or install a pass-through fireplace for ambience and warmth. You might also consider increasing the master bathroom's convenience by housing your washer and dryer, adjacent dressing rooms or even massage tables in the space.

Sound systems and televisions have become quite common in master bathrooms, but today's remodels are taking the concept to a new level. Flat screens are becoming more popular and in-mirror models, where the television is visible only when it is on, are another option.

A master bath should be a calm, quiet retreat, and that can be tough to pull off with the noise from a television or stereo bouncing of the room's hard surfaces. These finishing touches will add that extra bit of luxury to an already spa-like master bath remodel.

Bathroom Remodel Disasters

Doing a bathroom remodel can go smoothly or it can be a total disaster. Most remodels people do for themselves lie somewhere in between the two. It is easy to have problems with a bathroom remodel when it is not something you do on a regular basis. Your mind is just not geared to thinking about all the factors that go into reworking a bathroom.

Measuring

There are several cases where poor measuring can be disastrous in doing a bathroom remodel. Your fixtures need to fit. You know this, but you may not remember to take every necessary measurement. Some people get as far as starting to install their toilet before they realize that the measurement from drain to wall is off. The toilet will not fit without moving the drain, so that must be done before the bathroom remodel can be finished.

Some oversized fixtures will not fit in the space you have for them if you have not measured correctly. You may have designed the entire bathroom remodel around the concept of a certain fixture, only to find out that it does not fit. Some fixtures may not even fit through the bathroom door. The whole operation will come to a halt while you decide how to change your plan.

Certain materials must be bought in a piece and must be bought in the right size of piece. If you bought a piece of linoleum for your bathroom it would need to fit perfectly. A disaster would be if you measured incorrectly and bought a piece that was too small. The piece would be worthless in covering the floor for the bathroom remodel, and you would need to buy something else.

An expert in bathroom remodels will make sure that all the fixtures fit and that all the measurements for the bathroom are correct. If something does not fit together the way you wish it to, the professional remodeler will know that fact ahead of time and help you alter your plans.
Plumbing

If you do not work on plumbing often, you might have trouble installing the plumbing. No matter what kind of plumbing you use, you might have trouble with leaks if you are not skilled in installation of pipes. This is a major problem if you are using copper pipes and do not have experience doing them. If the pipes are installed incorrectly, you might get air in them which will lead to rattling pipes.

Another problem is that you might have problems with your drains if they are not plumbed correctly. A stinky bathroom sink drain would be something of a disaster. Someone who does plumbing as a part of their everyday job would know to use a P-trap to keep the smell from rising up through the drain and into the room.

Mold

There is nothing worse in doing a bathroom remodel than thinking you have done a good job, and then having mold show up in your new bathrooms. If you hire a home remodeling company, they will make sure that green-board is used rather than plain wallboard. They will make sure that walls behind shower tiles are watertight. They will seal all areas where mold could possibly accumulate otherwise.

Any one of these disasters may be possible to divert when you do your own bathroom remodel. The problem lies in doing the entire job without slipping up on one aspect of the work. You do not do remodeling work every day, so you should not be expected to complete it without a hitch. However, a remodeling company can finish your bathroom remodel quickly and easily.

Small Bathroom Remodels - Using 24" Bathroom Vanity Styles

Taking on home remodel projects is a fun and creative way to express your DIY self and bring in your personal style. If you are working on a small bathroom, give it a nice open feel and create an appearance of a larger space by using specific items and a some special techniques. Use light colors, the right mirror, and the perfect size of bathroom vanity and your small bathroom will look better than ever.

Open up the Space: When working with a small bathroom, you want to make the most of the space wherever possible. A great way to do this right off the bat is to choose a new vanity that has a good amount of under sink and counter storage space. By using a vanity that has good storage space, it will eliminate the need for things like over-toilet shelving units and multitudes of towel racks and hooks. Another way to create additional space is by using a built-in shelving unit. If you already have one, great; if you don't, then consider installing one, they are great for storage space and because they are flush against the wall, it gives a clean appearance. Pedestal style vanities pair well with this type of shelving, because they are also great for creating the look of a cleaner and more open space.

Create Illusions: Add the feeling and look of additional space by playing with angles and reflection. Another option is to utilize mirrors for the purpose of creating the illusion of space within the small bathroom. And if you are lucky enough to have a window in your bathroom, then you can use mirrors to add the illusion of more light too, which also helps with the look of more space. Adding a large mirror to your bathroom will create the illusion that the space is a little larger that it looked before. If you're going to repaint the walls, make sure to use a light color palette. Cool, lighter tones tend to make the space seem more open and less closed in than darker colors, thus making the room feel more spacious. Light colors will also make your bathroom brighter, especially if you have natural light coming in.

Toss the Clutter: No matter what you do, if there's a lot of stuff in your bathroom will still feel small and claustrophobic. Cut back on decorative objects and go for a minimalist look. Toss anything you don't really need; if you can't remember the last time you used it, it goes in the trash. Limit decorative elements to the walls and try to add interest through the frame on your mirror and the light fixtures.

Start your small bathroom remodel creatively by getting some paper and pencil to illustrate a diagram of what you want for the bathroom. Make notations of the room's dimensions and the estimated dimensions for necessary items you plan to shop for, like a 24" bathroom vanity and shop for 30" square mirrors, for example. This way, you'll have some idea of the existing floor plan as well as the floor plan you desire for the completed project.

How to Remodel A Small Bathroom

Not all bathrooms can be lavish spaces with whirlpool tubs and two separate vanities. For some bathrooms, space is at a premium and knocking out walls is not an option, but remodeling must be done. Small bathroom remodeling presents its own complications, but with the right information, a small bathroom-remodeling project can shine.

Before beginning your small bathroom remodeling, design a floor plan that maximizes the room's useable space. Don't be afraid to design up by incorporating free-floating cabinets. Use mirrors to stretch a small bathroom's space, and keep the color scheme simple. Keep a small bathroom bright, fresh, and inviting with coordinated colors and accessories.

Pare down the scale in your bathroom. Big items take up more space in the bathroom and look bulky. Corner sinks are simple and small. These sinks free up visual space below, but don't provide the counter space and cabinet space that a traditional sink provides. Another option is a pedestal sink. These sinks have a more classic design and are free standing. Wall-mounted sinks save space but do not have counter space. Both types of sinks do not provide storage space underneath. Most home-improvement stores stock smaller sinks, or you can custom order one from a cabinet shop for a price.

A simple way to conserve space is to do away with a tub and just use a shower. Smaller tubs, however, are available, although most cannot handle whirlpool faucets. Any tub less than five feet long will probably spill the water sprayed by the whirlpool faucets.

Pick a toilet that can sit close to the wall to conserve space, and the size of the seat and tank design determine just how much space the toilet will use. Also pay attention to the size of the home's original toilet. Older homes have toilets with 10 to 14 inches between the wall and the toilet drain, but newer homes typically have 12 inches. The wrong toilet won't fit. Buying a toilet with a low tank takes up less visual space and compact toilets leave more room, but as with any small bathroom remodeling project, use these suggestions to find a toilet that is both stylish and fits in the room.

Finally, limit what you bring into the bathroom. To save space in a cramped bathroom, for example, it may be best to have a dressing area in a bedroom. Limit the number of accessories -- clutter can easily make a small bathroom look smaller.

Planning a small remodeling may take extra planning, but the resulting clean, beautiful, an uncluttered bathroom will be an inviting space.

Bath Remodels Are the Best Remodeling Investment For Your Home

Why bath remodels are such a big investment? There can be many reasons, but the first and most important one is that a bathroom is one of the most important places in any home.

The best home remodeling investment you can make today is to remodel your bathrooms. Obviously there is no point spending money on bath remodels unless there is an actual need for them. Best time to remodel your bathroom is when there is something really wrong with it like it's in desperate need of repair or is outdated.

Bath remodels are an excellent investment especially for those of you who are willing to sell your home. A remodeling project just before you put your on the market can help you get a much better price for your property in the market. It can even expedite the sale of your house as prospective buyers will definitely be attracted to a newly decorated bathroom or bathrooms. A nice looking bathroom is a pleasurable experience and view.

Just pick up any remodeling magazine or a trade journal and you'll find plenty of bath remodeling ideas, accessories and information. However, those good looking bathroom that you see in the magazines are all very expensive and such a bath remodeling project could set you back by $20,000 to $25,000. Worse, even if you spend $20, 000 odd on bath remodels, it is possible that you get less value than that investment. However, if you do manage to get more value, it would be great!

A bath remodel project can be at a grand scale or at a lower scale. Let's assume you aren't planning to sell your home, but your bathroom still requires repairs and new accessories? Why not just make the necessary changes and save on money and effort and time. If your bathroom requires a new vanity or a new toilet, then just invest in those things and your entire bath remodeling bill could be under $1000 or less.

Whatever the reason for bath remodels, the very prospect of that can be exciting and interesting. From the Internet to the magazines and from hoardings to the television, you just need to look around to come up with the best bathroom remodeling ideas and get updated with the latest trends. However, when deciding on the scheme of things and products, make sure you are able to mix the old with the new in a chic manner that helps blends them together rather than make them stick out like a sore thumb.

Once you are ready to make the difficult decision to bring the new products and accessories home to start your bath remodels projects, you will have to arrange for a plumber and a contractor. From curtains to rugs, and from vanity cabinets to sinks, you can choose everything now. You will also need to figure out a color scheme as well so that everything blends together. From antique and dark tones to bright to pastel shades, choose colors based on your requirements.

Budget Bathroom Remodels

The bathroom is one of the most-visited rooms in your house, and an effective remodeling of your bathroom can increase your home's value, impress your visitors, and provide you with more comfort.

To ensure that the costs of your bathroom remodel don't get out of hand, it is crucial to develop a budget before starting any work. Decide upon how much money you can comfortably allocate to the project, but allow for about 20% in addition in case of unexpected developments. The same goes for developing a timetable for the remodel; allow for 20% more time, in case of unexpected delays or complications. When creating your budget for the bathroom remodel, make sure to include for the cost of any required labor performed by professionals for electrical work, plumbing, tile-laying, heating/cooling, carpenter work, and drywall installation as well as the cost of materials. Your materials checklist may include:
- Flooring materials;
- Paint or wallpaper;
- Countertops and cabinets;
- Sinks;
- Shower and/or bathtub;
- Faucets;
- Toilet;
- Accessories (such as extra storage containers).

To save money of your remodel, look for ways you can economize. Can the existing cabinets be touched up by refinishing, instead of replacing the entire cabinetry? Can the current tile be regrouted to freshen it up, rather then replacing it with brand new tile and grout? Would new faucets perk up the existing sinks, shower, and/or bathtub and avoid having to entirely replace them? For walls and ceiling, a new shade of paint can work wonders visually and may allow you to achieve the look of a remodel without the expense of undertaking a more extensive remodel. A lighter color on the walls can make a small bathroom seem much larger, and a mirror can enhance the feeling of spaciousness.

Another way to cut bathroom remodeling costs is to do some of the work yourself. Obviously, unless you are skilled in electrical work or plumbing, these jobs are best left to the professionals. But jobs such as painting, installing wallpaper, or replacing curtains are things you can likely handle, and by taking these on, you will save the money on labor for these areas.

Take the time to plan for your remodel before you begin, and you will be surprised at how the process of thinking about all the details will transform into ways you can save money and still have a beautiful new look for your bathroom.

Bathroom Remodeling Ideas to Increase Your Home's Value

Under the best circumstances, any bathroom remodeling endeavor can add up to be quite expensive! This fact is compounded by the reality of the sluggish housing market, leaving many homeowners questioning their potential return on their remodeling investment dollars. However, it is a catch-22 situation: while homeowners are worried about recouping their remodeling budget when their house sells, buyers are seeking out properties that are in top-notch condition. Of course the top two rooms on the buyer's list of high expectations are bathrooms and kitchens. It goes without saying, that a modern, dressed-up bathroom will put you ahead of your competition!

If you are trying to sell your home, you most likely would like to sell it quickly and for the maximum selling price point that is possible given the market conditions in your town. In many urban areas, sellers' competition is fierce because so many properties are for sale. Savvy homeowners know that the bathroom is an important selling feature of their house and that if their bathroom is superior to the other houses within their relative price range, their final selling price will be maximized. This fact alone may make bathroom remodeling a viable option for the homeowner who wants their house to shine above all the other for-sale homes.

Because of heavy competition in certain markets as well as lenders being more wary of inflated pricing, home appraisers are being more rigid in their comparisons. Sellers with dingy vinyl bathroom floors and peeling wallpaper will not be able to compete with their neighbor who invested a bit in a bathroom remodeling project and added natural stone floors and creamy up-to-date paint colors. Lesson learned: a clean, modern, turnkey bathroom is a crown jewel in your home.

How much of your remodeling dollars can you expect to recoup during your home sale? It varies based upon your choice of materials, buyers' perceptions, and the overall amount you spend. Overall, a well-planned bathroom remodel can expect a return on investment of 75 to 85 percent. The key is to use classic, natural foundation materials with unique finishing touches such as handmade rungs. Check to see what other bathrooms in your neighborhood look like - you absolutely do not want to have the most outrageously expensive bathroom on the block. Overspending will certainly not help you get the best return of your money!

Even if you are not planning to sell your home immediately, bathroom remodeling still makes sense if you haven't done any updating for five years or more. The lasting value and enjoyment you will get from living in a home with a nice bathroom is priceless over time!