Bathroom Remodeling – Top 10 Tips For a Successful Bathroom Remodel
1.) Choose the Right Contractor:
Selecting the right contractor for a bathroom remodeling project in Dayton, Ohio is the crucial first step and can make the difference between a successful enjoyable process and a never ending nightmare of regret. Make sure the bathroom contractor you select is qualified and capable. Apples to Apples estimates often differ since outstanding quality and customer service costs more to provide you then low attention to detail and no customer service.
Remember often times in life you get what you pay for. Be sure to compare more then just Scope of Work when comparing estimates and investigate and verify their Better Business record.
2.) Proper Prior Planning:
Sound familiar from college? Well it applies to everything including bathroom remodeling. There is a lot of coordinating to be done in typically small spaces when bathroom remodeling. Sure a good contractor will do most if not all the coordinating for you but it is a good idea to go over the steps yourself prior to construction.
Planning the process yourself will not only allow you to be more educated about it, but also make you more informed and better capable of making good decisions with regards to your bathroom remodeling project.
3.) Functional Work Triangles:
Work triangles typically apply to kitchen remodeling but also have value when Bathroom remodeling. “Work triangles” refer to the distance between the functional amenities of your bathroom such as toilet, lavatory sink, showers and tubs, and storage. Creating the right amount of space between these items can make your bathroom functional and comfortable as well as create a feeling of openness and space.
4.) Choose the Right Materials:
With the increased popularity of the big box stores came a gambit of new choices, consequently making selecting materials a nerve racking experience for some remodeling novices. A good contractor will help you select the right stuff for the right spot keeping esthetic appeal, texture, durability and cost in mind.
By properly installing the right materials, they should last the lifetime of your home. The right materials can make all the difference in the world and its painfully obvious when you select the wrong ones.
5.) Waterproofing and Concrete.
By properly waterproofing the concrete board it will create a durable long lasting medium for the tile setting. Reputable contractors only remodel bathrooms using moisture resistant drywall for dry painted surfaces, and concrete board for any areas to be tiled or exposed to wet conditions. However hanging cement board alone is not enough.
The joints and corners need to be taped and finished with ASTM approved mortar in a similar fashion as one finishes drywall. Doing this waterproofs the system allowing your walls to not rely solely on the finished tile for water proofing characteristics and, creates a second moisture barrier.
This simple, low cost step will add decades of time to your bathrooms life span. Ask your proposed contractors how they intend to waterproof the cement board. If they leave this step out of the answer, or say, “the tile is the waterproof system.” move onto the next guy.
6.) Get Great Lighting:
Proper lighting is essential for bathrooms. The right lighting can dramatically improve the appearance and function of your newly remodeled bathrooms. Utilizing a diverse selection of lighting such as 6 inch can lights, 4 inch cans lights, flush mounted lighting, wall sconces, under cabinet lighting, and vanity lights truly livens the space and adds a sense of elegance only great lighting can. The more lights and type of lights you use the more dramatic the aesthetic appeal.
7.) Select the Right Trim:
A bathrooms trim is very important. Types of bathroom trim include; baseboard, casing, chair rail, wainscoting, crown molding, and around mirror trim. The correct combination of trim separates good bathrooms from great bathrooms. There is a fallacy that all of a home’s trim must match. It just isn’t true. Upgrading a bathroom’s trim package can provide huge design dividends while remodeling a bath room and separate it as the most elegant room in the house, which it should be.
8.) Hardware and Fixture Fluency:
Not many things can destroy a bathroom remodel like mismatched hardware and fixtures. There are several finishes to choose from when considering which one is best for your project such as, chrome, brass, brass and chrome, nickel, brushed nickel, stainless steel, brushed stainless steel, antiqued bronze, brushed bronze, and oil rubbed bronze. It is imperative that all items in your bathroom have similar finishes. Disregarding this will confuse the eye, create an un-unified look and take away from your bathrooms appeal.
9.) Remember the Small Stuff:
The small stuff is commonly overlooked then thrown together in the end. One of the largest consumer complaints with regards to bathroom remodeling is that the contractors did not …
Kitchen Renovation Gives a Clear Perspective on a Cloudy Day
In the face of long winters, dreary days and bleak economic times, there are few things that are able to bring people close together the way that cooking and family dinner events do. This is a social staple that has bound together friends and families for as long as there have been humans on this planet. Eating is a necessity, and perfecting the process of food preparation and presentation is all part of turning this event into something unique. For this reason, many view kitchen renovation as more than just a way to freshen up the look of their cooking area, but as a way to expose our social habit to a new light.
Considering the possibility of home improvement on the whole can be a burdensome thought. The initial costs can often make knees weak, especially during these difficult economic times. Despite this reality, people are still in need of making their homes feel more comfortable and inviting to their friends and family. Rather than get caught up in thoughts of such a massive project, many find themselves focusing on giving new life to certain parts of their residence. By focusing on where the most time is spent, and how to revitalize a place like the kitchen, the project can seem far less overwhelming and certainly more manageable.
The need to get involved in something as simple as kitchen renovation is much more than just replacing faulty pipes are a leaky faucet. Shedding fresh light on the cooking environment in your home will provide a new sense for how you feed and nourish your family. While many Americans find themselves reevaluating their budgets, they find themselves cutting out the added cost of going out to eat. Furthermore, they see the need to eat healthier and cook more wholesome meals as a dire necessity if they are to live healthier lives.
Undertaking a home renovation project as focused as this can be narrowed down to fundamental changes that should be addressed. For those who seek to expand the space of their cooking realm, this should be noted from the onset. Lighting, cabinet and counter spaces are all important considerations to also make. Additionally, replacing or repairing appliances will also make the kitchen far more functional and generally pleasant to work in.
After a long day of work or of taking care of the kids and the necessary errands that go along with this, there is little energy left to waste on cooking or preparing a dinner in a place that is unpleasant to be in. For this fundamental reason, kitchen renovation has gained more traction as an invigorating project that can lead to a change in lifestyle that you may have been yearning for. By addressing simple concerns like lighting, space, and functionality, you can give new light to your home and the experience of both eating and cooking together with your family. Hosting a dinner occasion at your house need not be a burden, but an exciting event to look forward to.…
Great Bathroom Lighting Tips
When many people are planning a bathroom remodel the most overlooked part of the project is the way the new bathroom will be lit. Yet good lighting is essential if the new bathroom is going to be as functional and attractive as possible. The new sink, toilet and luxury spa shower are all great but, if you cannot see to put your make up on in the morning, the remodeled bathroom will end up annoying you as much as the old one did.
Ideally there should be more than one kind of lighting in the bathroom. Task lighting is essential. Mirrors should be well lit but not with a light that is too artificial or glaring. Vertical fixtures or sconces mounted on either side of the mirror are best for makeup and shaving. Be sure to position sconces to shed equal amounts of light on both sides of the face, and use “natural light” bulbs to impart a less artificial looking glow.
For ambient lighting pendant lamps, recessed ceiling lights or even a small chandelier can all work well in the bathroom. If your remodeled bathroom is going to include one of the wonderful garden bathtubs that are so popular these days why not a chandelier with dimmer switch so that you can soak your cares away in ultimate luxury.
One area that is often not lit – but should be – is the shower. Light the shower’s interior with waterproof fixtures. The light does not have to be too bright but you will appreciate the difference right away.…
Working With Kitchen Contractors
If you are going to remodel your kitchen and you are not a do-it-yourself type of person, you will probably want to hire professional kitchen contractors who will be able to take care of all of the work for you. Before you hire a contractor though, you will need to do some preliminary work.
The first thing that you will want to do is decide on the style of kitchen that you want. If you are doing a full remodel and have no idea where you should begin, you can always hire a kitchen designer who will be able to help. Write down all of the things that you want to change in your kitchen and come up with an overall idea of how you want the kitchen to look. Take your ideas, listen to what the designer has to say, and then come up with a solid plan for the kitchen. If you have no ideas of your own, see what the designer has to offer.
Once you have your plan for the kitchen, you will be able to hire the kitchen contractors you need to finish the job. You can interview different contractors and get estimates from them. Ask them any questions that you might have, such as how long the remodel should take, if they have experience with the types of flooring, counters, cabinets, and fixtures that you want, and anything else that comes to mind. Choose the contractor with whom you feel the most comfortable and offers the most experience. You want to have a good working relationship with the contractor.
Before the kitchen contractors come to start work, you will want to prepare your home. It is a good idea to lay down a pathway on which they can walk without getting the rest of the house dirty. You can use plastic, although cheap strips of carpet are a better idea because there is less of a chance that someone could slip and fall. This protects the flooring underneath as well.
Because remodeling can cause dust, you might want to have covers for any furniture that might be nearby. Move any breakables out of their path. In general, you want to make it as easy as possible for the workers to be able to do their job without worrying about damaging your home.
Remodeling a kitchen can take some time as well as effort, but if you plan early and choose a great contractor, it isn’t that hard!…
Walk in Shower – How It Affects You
You will be affected in more ways than one when you have a bathroom remodeled. The emotional impact will probably be the first thing that impacts you. Because you are thinking about a remodel you obviously are not really happy with your present bathroom. Is it the longing to add something to your bathroom like a walk in shower or is it just not as big as you would like for it to be. The new bath should make you feel really good once you are through with the remodeling project.
It will be a place where you can go to relax and refresh yourself. You can ease your tiredness away by standing in your shower or maybe you prefer to soak in your tub just like at the spa. It can be a great relaxing area whether you have had a long day at work or if you have just been working around the house.
The next thing to consider is the practical side of a new bathroom. Your old bath may just be laid out in such a manner that you just don’t like. You will be able to address these problems during a remodel, creating more usable space and getting it arranged just the way that you want. You can add extra storage space by building in some additional cabinets or adding some usable shelves or a bigger vanity. Another driving factor for you may to increase the accessibility particularly if you have an older person living with you or someone who is handicapped. By adding a walk in shower not only are you adding luxury but also a safety factor for those who need it.
One of the bigger effects of a remodel will probably be on your finances. The more remodeling that you do and the more that you add the more that it will cost in the end. At the same time you are adding to the value of your home, so don’t look at it as money that you are spending now but as an investment. A contemporary bath with an up scale spa theme featuring a walk in shower and a spa tube are really good selling points.
The bathroom is one room that you are in just about every day. If you are going to remodel make it a room that you will truly enjoy just being in. Take the time to make the space what you really want. The choice is yours.…
Granite Vs Silestone: Which Is Better?
Kitchen renovation is an exciting undertaking, but the wealth of decisions you have to make can produce a lot of stress. One of the most common sticking points for renovators is the material that they select for their countertops. Most countertops debates these days come down to either granite or silestone.
Let’s look a little deeper into this important decision.
Both are Bacteria Resistant
Many advocates of silestone argue that it is bacteria resistant, while granite becomes a breeding ground for germs. This argument primarily comes about due to the fact that granite almost always has more pockets and divots in its surface than the permanently smooth silestone.
While granite countertops due feature a more irregular surface, if you clean yours regularly than there will be nothing to worry about when it comes to bacteria.
Looking at them from a material standpoint, both granite and the quartz-based silestone naturally resist bacterial growth.
Silestone Comes Pre-sealed
This argument is true, and goes in favor of silestone. When you install a silestone countertop it will already be sealed to resist water, staining, and all other imperfections which build up over time. Granite countertops often require you seal them yourself to give them the same level of perfection against the daily wear and tear you will subject them too.
While silestone is inarguably more convenient when you first install it, the process of sealing granite is not particularly difficult, time consuming or expensive. You will only have to seal your granite countertop once, and after that initial procedure it will remain as clean and protected as silestone.
Granite Usually Costs Less
Silestone countertops are usually more expensive than granite to purchase. Silestone is a processed material, while granite countertops are cut from whole natural slabs of stone. In some markets, a silestone countertop can cost up to 30% more than an equivalently sized and shaped granite countertop.
The price of granite is variable, however, and the best deals on the material generally come from specialty sellers and not the big-box home improvement stores.
Remember that Looks Matter
While your kitchen is primarily a functional space, you have to remember that it also should be as aesthetically pleasing as possible. When it comes down to it, most people prefer the look of granite countertops over silestone countertops.
Granite countertops are cut from a single slab of stone, which gives each piece its own unique look and patterning. No two granite countertops will ever look exactly the same.
On the other hand, silestone countertops are all uniform in their construction. While silestone comes in a wide variety of colors, you will have a handful of granite colors to choose from as well if you go with the former material.
Making the Choice
At the end of the day, neither granite nor silestone are demonstrably better than the other as countertop material. The decision that you make will likely come down to nothing more than personal preference, and which fits the overall theme of your kitchen project better.
If you can afford it and if you prize convenience above all else, than silestone will be the more obvious choice.
If you are more concerned with aesthetics and spending less money, than granite makes the better option.
But at the end of the day, they are both great materials for kitchen countertops and you won’t go wrong from choosing either one.…
Remodeling Your Master Bathroom
When picking out a home how many of us search for a master bath that has the things we might ever want and love. Regrettably this is not always the case. When you cannot discover the one that you like endeavor to instead discover various ways that you are able to reconstruct it. Remodeling is not a simple thing – but it can be enjoyable. But first you have to understand what to do.
Floors
The floors are commonly the first thing that people will change. The majority of people are going to have floors that are boring, cheap, and difficult to clean. These are bad things to be stuck with and the only way you can fix it is to take it off and place something new down. In the bathroom your safest option for flooring iwill be tile.
This is the most extended and can manage with wet areas. It is also going to be the most low-priced. Stone is an alternative but it is rather heavy and very pricey. With tile you will have the ability to select from hundreds of styles and even have the choice to create your own pattern.
Colors
The next thing to change is the dull white color on the walls. If you are really unlucky then you will have something tacky on the walls. Try to pick out something that you love and that will assist you to relax. If you have a smaller bathroom than choose lighter colors. Darker colors will make the room appear smaller.
Showers And Sinks
Why not indulge a little and exchange that dull old bathing tub with a modern spa tub. Or you can put in a new steam shower that will help your muscles to relax and you to clear your head. What master bathroom would be complete without a double sink. These allow you more space to utilize with your partner.…