Save the Planet – Going Green on Your Bathroom Remodeling Project
Last year, my daughter decided that she was going to go on a “Save the World” binge and do everything she could to save the planet. This meant that we had to sign up for recycling pick up, buy products with responsible packaging, only use recyclable products or products made of recycled materials, and remodel our bathroom. Yes, Salt Lake City bathroom remodeling can save the planet. After consulting with a contractor who doubled as an ecologist, I realized that some people might need a Salt Lake City bathroom remodeling guide- for going green.
Replacing the Windows
Believe it or not, you can save on energy costs by replacing old bathroom windows. As windows age, the seams that keep the weather outside will slowly spread open allowing for cold winter air and hot summer heat to find their way in. When you replace your windows you cut back on the cost of heating and cooling because you don’t have to have the AC and heater on quite as much. Saving energy saves on resources, and this can help save the planet.
Using Recycled Products in Your Salt Lake City Bathroom Remodeling Project
You’d be amazed at the amount of building materials that are being created out of recycled materials. There are wood floors made of reclaimed wood. There are custom countertops made of recycled glass.
Wasatch offers many renovation and remodeling services stores that offer these products for reasonable prices. If you have any green ideas that you want to turn into a renovation or repair project go right ahead and design your heart out. Creating an indoor haven out of recycled outdoor materials can save the planet by allowing the decrease in logging, a reduction in toxin producing processes, and less dependence on harmful energy production.
Reusing What you Already Have
In some cases, you don’t have to completely replace everything. You could opt for cabinet re-facing rather than cabinet replacing. Reuse the cabinets you already have but give them a new look but changing the color and putting on new fixtures. In Utah, Salt Lake City bathroom remodeling isn’t all about gutting and replacing- reusing is always an inexpensive way to remodel a bathroom and save a little bit of the planet in the process.…
Time For A Little Bathroom Remodeling?
A bathroom is supposed to be a room of comfort, for some a sanctuary. Just like all of us, after years of use, we start to look and feel a little worn and out dated. Think of a bathroom remodel as an eye lift for your home. How should you go about it?
The first thing you’ll want to determine is budget. Unfortunately, most of us have to be concerned with this factor, as it will dictate the extent and limitations of your improvements. Next, you will want to formulate a plan of attack for the renovations you would like to see done in your bathroom remodeling. Then you should locate a good contractor that will do the job for you.
The size of your bathroom is one of the most critical elements in deciding what to do, because it will determine the types and sizes of sinks, shelves, and fixtures that will be placed inside. Believe me, you don’t want to feel too cramped in your bathroom. If you have a small space to begin with there are opportunities to create the illusion of a larger space with a more open and uncluttered feel. The proper choice of fixtures should do the trick to create an illusion of openness. Choices like using a pocket door to save more space. If you have linen closets installed, you can replace them with wall cabinets.
You can actually purchase complete bathroom suites if you don’t want to purchase bathroom items separately. You can check your local showrooms or view them online. If you are working with a contractor, often times they have access to these types of assets for you to review as well. Try to find out which one will suit your taste and budget. Choosing a whole suite, if it works with your budget, can make a bathroom remodel project a little quicker and easier.
If your personal style requires you to get the items separately, you my want to analyze what current items could potentially work with your new vision. For instance; if you have a great bathtub already and a toilet that works, you could maximize your dollars by updating the floor, counter tops, mirror and lighting at a significantly lower price. You can often shop locally or online for great deals on these items yourself.
You can choose between different types of toilet seats and hinges and cisterns that are hidden or mounted on the toilet itself. Cisterns may also be operated by a push button or a lever.
Sinks come in different sizes and shapes and materials. Some are over-the-counter, some are under-the-counter, some are wall-mounted, and some are on a pedestal. You would be surprised at how much your bathroom space would change with a new sink and counter space.
Bathtubs are usually rectangular or circular and if space allows, you may have a shower room in the bathroom. You can pick your choice on the different kinds of standard and handheld shower heads.
The color of the wall and floor and material for the tile should be carefully chosen. Let it give an ambiance of cleanliness in the room, while not dating the look within a couple years.
A home remodel of a bathroom is not as daunting as it may seem if you proceed with proper planning. You may just feel comfort inside that you may not have felt before for a long time.…
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.…
Bathroom Remodeling – Tips for Improving Family Bathroom Safety With Your Remodel
The bathroom can quickly turn into one of the most dangerous rooms in your home if it isn’t appropriately designed for safety. Safety is even more important if you have small children, elderly people, or someone with a disability in your home. If you decided to do a bathroom remodel, this is the perfect time to work in improving the safety of the bathroom for your family. Here are a few bathroom remodeling tips that are important for keeping your family safe and comfortable in the bathroom.
Tip #1 – Start with Non-Slip Flooring
One great tip for a bathroom remodel is to start off with non-slip flooring. The right flooring is essential in the bathroom. Your flooring needs to stand up to water, since the bathroom often deals with puddles and humidity. You also need to ensure that the flooring has a non-slip surface so there is less likelihood of a fall occurring.
Tip #2 – Avoid Steps if Possible
While many people feel that steps add some visual appeal to the bathroom area, you should avoid steps if you can for safety reasons. Steps that lead into the shower, tub or the bathroom can end up being dangerous. Older people and children are more likely to have problems with steps. Instead of using steps when you’re working on a bathroom remodel, consider adding a platform area around the tub. This allows you to easily sit down while getting in and out of the tub.
Tip #3 – Use Anti-Scald Faucets
When installing new faucets as a part of your bathroom remodel, make sure you use anti-scald faucets to keep your family safe. These faucets should be used on the sink, shower and bathtub. This is especially important if you have small children that will be using the bathroom. Anti-scald faucets will help prevent accidental scalding accidents in the bathroom.
Tip #4 – Go with Shatterproof Shower Doors
If you’re planning to have a shower that includes shower doors, make sure that you install shatterproof shower doors. Shatterproof doors are much safer in your bathroom. They won’t shatter, helping to prevent injuries within the bathroom area.
Tip #5 – Ensure Electrical Outlets are GFCI
It’s also important to ensure that the electrical outlets in your bathroom are GFCI outlets, which stands for ground fault circuit interrupters. These special outlets are designed for areas where water may accidentally be splashed in the area. Not only will they keep your electrical system safe, but they’ll help prevent electrical injuries from occurring in your bathroom as well.
Tip #6 – Use Grab Bars Throughout the Bathroom
You’ll want to make sure you add some grab bars throughout the bathroom as you remodel the bathroom area. Grab bars help to provide more safety in the bathroom, especially to those who are elderly or disabled. Of course, the entire family can benefit from the improved safety that comes with installed grab bars. These bars can be added in bathtubs, in showers and in toilet areas as well. When choosing grab bars for installation, make sure that you choose models that hold at least 250 pounds. You can find these bars in various finishes, shapes and sizes, allowing you to find the options that work best with your bathroom remodel.…
Home Remodeling Tips You Need to Know About
Almost everybody is working on a budget. If you aren’t working on a budget you can hire a decorator to give you home remodeling tips. Otherwise, doing a little research and getting creative with your remodel can produce awesome results. There are so many excellent projects you can do by yourself to freshen up rooms, give them attitude and make them feel comfortable. There is no room in your house that is untouchable, and no project that you cannot tackle if you have the time and devotion to do it.
Whenever interior decorators are interviewed about their work, their responses are simple. They say that making the project fun is the key. That should catch your attention. Don’t start tearing a room apart grudgingly just because you feel it is time for a change. Instead, let yourself dream. And as you dream realize that whatever you can see in your head, you can bring to fruition in your home. The best home remodels are often the most inexpensive.
For example, one of the leading trends in the industry right now is called acid treatment. It’s a project you would do on a cement floor and if applied correctly can make plain old, foundational concrete floors look like beautiful tile of any style. Plenty of How To articles can get you started working with your own concrete floors. An entire basement could be treated, and sealed for less than five hundred dollars-assuming you are performing labor yourself. It lasts longer than carpet and adds an element of unique style to a room that can otherwise be hard to design.
Often times, the simple things, like acid treating a floor, are the very things people think of last. It’s as if they feel boxed in by a set of invisible rules. Most people think that it is against the rules to flip flop the painting scheme. Somewhere back in the cloudy past, somebody stated a rule that lighter colored paint had to be applied at the top of walls and darker colors had to be applied at the bottom. If you want to give a room a more bold feeling, break this rule. Who needs it anyway? Apply a simple wooden trim around the center of the room, paint the bottom half cream or tan and let the top of the wall shine in deep rich color: reds, greens, blues, you decide.
The worst thing you can do is get boxed in. With so many elements of style, let your imagination run wild. Painting is a cheap way to give your house a brand new feel. Floors are a bit more challenging. Plumbing and electricity will require you to study, but even that should not limit your options. A brave dream will lead to a beautiful home.…
Bathroom Remodeling – Choosing the Right Flooring For Your Bathroom
While many homeowners believe that flooring is more for aesthetics than anything else, your flooring services multiple purposes in the bathroom. When you’re getting ready to do bathroom remodeling you need to put careful consideration in the type of flooring that you’ll install. Very specific factors come in to play with the bathroom, from water retention and absorbency, stain resistance, safety when wet, overall durability, cost, how it fits with the design. Here’s a look into the different flooring options to consider while you prep for bathroom remodeling in your home.
Carpeting: While it might not seem like the best idea in an environment that is perpetually exposed to moisture, carpet is actually a great option for the bathroom – you just have to make the right purchase decision and do your homework on the carpet you want. You need to install carpet that is stain-resistant as well as milder-resistance. The backing of the carpet also needs to hold the water back so it won’t be absorbed by the padding. If this is in line then you have no worries about carpet installation in the bathroom.
Ceramic Tile: Ceramic tile for bathroom flooring is designed a little differently than the ceramic tile you would use on a countertop or backsplash. While those surfaces are smooth, ceramic flooring tiles are made with a textured surface to prevent slipping. It’s a favored option for floors because of the custom designs, shapes and more that are available – lending an opportunity to create a truly unique floor in your bathroom.
Laminate: Laminate is made of layers of material that have been bonded together for strength and durability, including resin and wood fibers. The final pieces are formed together into compressed planks with an image that’s imprinted on the surface. This allows a custom design in various material styles and colors, most commonly wood. It’s durable and easy to clean, making it an affordable and great option for many bathroom remodeling projects.
Hardwood: It’s an added expense, but it’s difficult to replicate the beauty and character that comes from a hardwood floor. It lends a great deal of warmth and comfort to the bathroom environment, which is beneficial if you’re the type to rely on your bathroom for relaxation after a long day. Even older wood floors can be easily refreshed and to ensure safety you can apply a no-slip finish in the bathroom.
Natural Stone: Natural stone is often cut into large tiles that are placed in various patterns across the floor in the bathroom. It’s common for tiles to be cut in 12″ squares but they can also come larger. Being natural stone it’s highly durable and easy to care for. When properly sealed the floor won’t absorb water and the surface is naturally slip-resistant making it a safe option for your bathroom flooring. The only downside here is that natural stone tends to get a little cold on the feet.
Vinyl: This has long been one of the most popular options for bathroom flooring, coming in sheets or tiles that can be easily placed and bonded to the subfloor. It comes in a variety of shapes and patterns to fit most designs and personal styles. While easy to clean, vinyl tiles have a lot of seams which creates potential for mold. The bonding glue can also give after time, causing your vinyl to release from the flooring.
Ultimately you’ll need to choose the flooring that best suits your personal preferences, your budget and the overall look of your room. If you’re not certain which type of flooring suits your bathroom, take the time to consult with a general contractor. They can help you make an informed decision on what material is best for your bathroom remodeling project.…
What to Look for in a Home Remodeling Company
A Seattle home remodeling company should not be chosen merely because it’s the first one that appeared in the phone book or because it’s the one with the cheapest rates. Most people these days care so much about convenience and economy that they end up sacrificing quality because they don’t want to exert a bit of effort in finding a company that can do the work for them. As a result, they end up with homes that look nothing like what they envisioned.
Make sure that the renovation company that you’re getting actually specializes in remodeling. Consider for a second construction companies that have shifted towards remodeling. Because they came from a different field, their mindset about the work is radically different. For them, as long as they finish the job, then that’s it. Contrast that with remodeling companies, who know full well that there’s more to renovations than simply building things and reorganizing. They see to it that everything is considered, from beginning to end, including the cleanup.
With regards to price, certainly budget is always a factor that you will need to consider. However, it shouldn’t be the only criterion in your mind when you’re looking for a company to do the remodeling for you. If the offer sounds too good to be true, chances are, it is. You might end up either scammed or left with substandard work, since you’re getting what you actually paid for. Even if it’s slightly more expensive, a renovation company that actually gives a quote with a detailed breakdown of the costs is more reliable than one that gives a lump sum without telling you where the expenses are going.
Before you choose a company that will do the house renovations for you, make sure you consider these factors. Remember, it’s your home they’re going to be working on, so making that extra effort will be worth it in the end.…