Check out my building blog to learn more about construction for your home or office in Austin! David L. Traut, President, CAPS Certified (512)444-0097

Austin Bathroom Remodeling

Posted byDavid L. Traut, CAPS on Tue, Jun 18, 2013 @ 13:06 PM

     Most people remember how the old style bathtub/shower combination was a standard part of any bathroom design.  Some residential showering areas were enclosed using the multicolored vinyl shower curtain option while others had bi-passing or sliding shower doors on tracks.  The doors were framed with either chrome or gold colored aluminum matching the sliding tracks.  Modern bathroom designs have become much more sophisticated because the many available bathroom products are easier to be discovered by the homeowner.  There are millions of pictures representing fine bathroom upgrades or bathroom remodeling all across the internet.

Discover the Principles Of Universal Design

Certified Aging In Place Specialist

     Young Austin homeowners are always looking for ways to bring their existing older home's bathrooms up to date.  Bathroom remodels for these smaller baths can incorporate a number of the items listed above in moderation to fit any budget.  Using beautiful ceramic tiles in an interesting design, updating plumbing fixtures, and the use of neutral colors can create a small bathroom with a "wow" factor. It is quite possible to produce a small but charmingly remodled bath on a budget.  A project that is affordable plus the fact that it will add resale value to your home cannot be denied.  Check out all the options before committing to a plan and then stick to it.  Always hire a local and professional builder.  Remember that producing change orders because no one thought of "that" can be expensive. Create the style for your Austin bathroom remodel that best gives you a feeling of pride! 

     What about the costs involved?  In general, typically projects undergoing Austin bathroom remodeling can run you about $16,000.  However a large master bathroom makeover can push up your budget to around $26,000 as an average.  Don't forget that these are average costs and the client is limited only by their bank account totals.  Just the conversion of a tub into a walk in shower design can set you back around $9,000 as a good medium price range.  But what makes the costs appear so expensive?  Basically time, the difficulty of the job and the actual labor costs performed by all the trades involved plus the expenses for purchasing the products chosen to complete the project.

Conquer A Tub To Shower Conversion

     If you are benefited by having a larger space to deal with there will be increased costs due to the larger area to finish -as in more tiles for a bigger area and the labor to install them.  Your costs may go down per square foot but you are certainly dealing with more square feet and increased costs.  You need to consider that plumbers, electricians, tile setters, framers, drywall workers, carpenters, and insulation installers, just to name a few trades, will be involved in your bathroom remodel.  Now how about the demolition that will be involved before the actual construction begins?  Sometimes the preparations behind the scenes take longer than building the new bathroom remodel itself.  Perhaps there isn't enough water volume to supply your chosen bathroom fixtures requiring a pipe to be upgraded or there just isn't sufficient fall for a gravity drain to work naturally that necessitates a lift pump system be installed.  What are the new electrical requirements and layout and do these require dedicated or GFI circuits and will the existing electrical panel handle the new circuit breakers?

     Considering a new walk in shower design?   You can design the space so it doesn't require a door for splash protection or you can take the route of a clean looking frameless glass shower enclosure.   This will surely set you back at least $700.  The end result will be a sophisticated  clean look of beauty enclosing your new shower.  Whether the door sits upon a curb or you have a specific need for a curbless situation you will be satisfied with your choice.

    Let's say your tile choices include glass and marble instead of ceramic or porcelain and you choose to accent your bath with a glass block design.  All these premium finishing choices will drive up your project's bottom line well above the averaged costs mentioned above as a rule of thumb.

     Proper lighting is always an important aspect to be installed during a bathroom remodel.  It can be broken down by task.  Recessed cylindrical can lighting is used today to provide the overall luminescence for the room.  Trims with lenses can be installed above baths and showers by code to brighten darker areas.  Light strips or single wall fixtures can be designed around the new framed beveled mirror that you have chosen.  The choice of bulbs utilized is yours for now at least.  Try using dimmers to control your new lighting creating mood. 

     Ventilation is so important when planning a bathroom upgrade because of the humidity involved.  Too many times a single exhaust fan is installed above the toilet, or what is much worse, in the center of the room.   Heat and humidity naturally rise and will overtake the entire room if given a chance. Today's quiet bathroom exhaust fans should be sized according to the room's air volume.  They should be located above any bathing or showering facility and above the toilet.  Conditioned air along with adequately sized duct work supplied by your central unit will further accentuate a pleasant feeling within the bath.

Bathroom Remodeling Austin

     Fine cabinetry is a must for any bathroom makeover.  As for the vanity, you can work your way down from the upgraded cabinet top that has been installed at the correct height for you.  The vanity should have adequately accessible storage satisfying your needs.  Incorporating  easy operating and properly sized drawers and pull out shelves within the design can be very beneficial.  Linen, medicine, and "over the potty" wall cabinets need to be well thought out. The correct species of wood used for the construction of your fine cabinetry and the style of you cabinet doors are two very important factors to consider.  Remember, you do have a choice and you are going to be looking at these new cabinets for a while.

     Bathroom plumbing fixture choices are numerous to say the least.  Select reputable companies offering the best warranties especially when considering finishes used on control valve trims and the fixtures installed in the project.   Larger walk in shower designs should have seamless fiberglass liners to avoid leaks if the house ever shifts.  Using natural stone or glass tiles while additionally designing in glass blocks will certainly be an upgrade. 

     Colors for bathrooms today are natural and earthy creating a calming effect.  Accents of color reflected from the tiles, paint, fixtures, and woodwork are used to make things a little more interesting compared to the room's overall vanilla tones within your design.  Help is just a phone call away but be sure the one who answers has the qualified experience you need for completing your new bathroom transformation.

Bathroom Remodeling With Style In Austin

Bathroom Remodeling In Austin

Tags: Austin, fine cabinetry, bathroom remodeling, fine bathroom upgrades, bathroom remodels, bathroom makeovers, glass block designs, custom walk in showers, disability bathroom remodels, Austin bath remodeling, Austin bath remodel,, Austin bathroom remodeling, Austin bathroom remodel, bathroom modifications for elderly, bathroom remodeling contractor Austin Texas, bathroom remodeling Austin Texas, remodel bathroom for handicap Austin Texas, bathroom modifications for disabled, bathroom cabinets Austin Texas

Austin Bathroom Remodel

Posted byDavid L. Traut, CAPS on Wed, Feb 20, 2013 @ 11:02 AM

 

    You should never consider hiring a "jack of all trades but master of none" type handyman to tear your bathroom apart.  What's more, you certainly do not want to witness such a person struggling to piece the room back together attempting to achieve your long desired Austin bathroom remodel idea.  If so, you will absolutely learn a hard and invaluable lesson in getting what you pay for by accepting the handyman's cheapest bid.

Discover the Principles Of Universal Design

Certified Aging In Place Specialist

     It is well past time to undergo a fine bathroom upgrade and makeover.  An Austin bathroom remodel can either be a pain or a pleasant experience according to the participants involved.  Bathroom remodeling in Austin, Texas like most other cities includes many of the same aspects.  Be sure to choose a qualified residential remodeling professional whose personality and qualifications are agreeable with you personally.  You are about to undertake a very important short term relationship in your life with someone you may know by reputation only.  The relationship needs to be comfortable and free flowing thus enabling the residential remodeling contractor's creativity level to be at it's highest during your remodeling project. Look at it as a partnership between your needs and the remodeling contractor's abilities.  His professional remodeling experience will include his capacity to identify many construction limitations and hazards.   These variables underlie the major pitfalls that can be avoided while making a bathroom remodeling design come into reality.  His experience can also aid you in accomplishing bathroom upgrades that include dissability issues.  Accessibility is what the project is about anyway.  The job needs to flow between the various trades involved to produce a better final outcome.  This too is a reflection on his remodeling experience for which there is no substitute.

Bathroom Remodels

     Just look at the different types of housing represented througout this city and it's surrounding areas.  Smaller homes, cottages, sprawling historical townhomes surrounded by architectually pleasing fences, rustic ranch homes, Macmansions, and sleek high rise condominiums are just a few examples of the structures that define Austin's diverse housing landscape. Economic situations alongwith personal preference formulates where we choose to live in a town with such diversity.

     Committing to a bathroom remodel means taking many factors into account in the planning stages.  No matter which type of the structures listed above you're dealing with,  you must lean toward making the new bathroom upgrade blend with your existing home's design existing in harmony with it's surroundings.  All efforts must be made to prevent it from appearing as a "dirt dobber" design.  Putting an ultra modern updated bath into a dated urban cottage really doesn't blend well.  The types of architecture dealt with will clash and one will override the other taking away the prospect of a blending project to your home.

     Certainly there are many upgrades available when planning a bathroom transformation.  The replacement of the tub with a new walk in shower can create a bold  look but will run you around $10,000.  There are no spending limits for bathroom remodels.   You can plan on spending around $12,000 to $15,000 for a hall bath remodel.   The price tag can approach or exceed $35,000 for a complete master suite remodel.  The type of fixtures and building components chosen alongwith the labor will compose the overall cost of the remodeling project.

       Young Austin homeowners are always looking for ways to bring their existing older home's bathrooms up to date.  They can't afford a major residential remodel while providing for a new family.  Bathroom remodels for these smaller baths can incorporate a number of the items listed above in moderation to fit any budget.  Using beautiful ceramic tiles in an interesting design, updating plumbing fixtures, and the use of neutral colors can create a small bathroom with a "wow" factor. It is quite possible to produce a small but charmingly remodled bath on a budget.  A project that is affordable plus the fact that it will add resale value to your home cannot be denied.  Check out all the options before committing to a plan and then stick to it.  Always hire a local and professional builder.  Remember that producing change orders because no one thought of "that" can be expensive. Create the style for your Austin bathroom remodel that best gives you that feeling of pride!

A Bathroom Remodel Should Provide A Pop For Your Home

Bathroom Remodeling In Austin, Texas

    

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Bathroom Remodeling Contractors Austin

Posted byDavid L. Traut, CAPS on Fri, Jan 18, 2013 @ 17:01 PM

     Living with a dysfunctional bathroom layout reduces the total feeling of relaxation your master bath is capable of providing.   Bathroom transformations which are carefully designed can help overcome any issues.  During those much deserved private moments you long for your bathroom's surroundings to provide both luxury and function.  There isn't adequate lighting for the many daily personal duties like applying makeup.   There needs to be adequate ventilation so you don't always feel as though you are housed in a "sweat box" while getting dressed. The outdated plate mirror extending from your vanity top's splash upward toward the drywall furrdown above has never been a design you thank the world of. You have always disliked that box above housing the poorly illuminating fluorescent tube lamps that are concealed by the yellowing plastic diffusing panel.  You are sick and tired of the poor storage facilities inherited when you purchased your home.  The height of the vanity is out of line according to your needs and it is also inadequate for your storage needs.  The existing cabinet layout contains unusable drawers beginning to come off their tracks and the cabinet doors have their own particular issues.  Your cabinets are either too deep to access what they contain or their storage capabilities have been limited by their total improper design.  What were those guys thinking?  What's more the out of fashion ceramic tiles are either partly missing or they are totally the wrong color for the day along with the colors within the rest of the room.  Having improperly working plumbing fixtures that are now also antiquated with their own set of problems is yet another matter within itself.  The fixtures themselves can also be finished in a color that is long out of style.  So what do you do?

Certified Aging In Place Specialist

     It is well past time to undergo a fine bathroom upgrade and makeover.  Bathroom remodeling can either be a pain or a pleasant experience according to the participants involved.  Bathroom remodeling in Austin, Texas like most other cities includes many of the same aspects.  Be sure to choose a qualified residential construction contractor whose personality and qualifications are agreeable with you personally.  You are about to undertake a very important short term relationship in your life with someone you may know by reputation only.  The relationship needs to be comfortable and free flowing thus enabling the contractor's creativity level to be at it's highest during your remodeling project. Look at it as a partnership between your needs and the remodeling contractor's abilities.  His professional remodeling experience will include his capacity to identify many construction limitations and hazards.   These variables underlie the major pitfalls that can be avoided while making a bathroom remodeling design come into reality.  His experience can also aid you in accomplishing bathroom upgrades that include disability issues.  Accessibility is what the project is about anyway.  The job needs to flow between the various trades involved to produce a better final outcome.  This too is a reflection on his bathroom remodeling experience for which there is no substitute.

Bathroom Remodeling Austin

     So now how about the bathroom remodeling project?  You must consider everything that is involved in obtaining the luxury and comfort you desire.  Now is the time to change the bathroom's dislikes noted above and increase the overall function of the room.  The fine bathroom makeover must be a reflection of your needs.  It is probably time to consult with one of the many qualified bathroom remodeling contractors Austin whom you can trust.

     Proper lighting is always an important aspect to be installed during a bathroom remodel.  It can be broken down by task.  Recessed cylindrical can lighting is used today to provide the overall luminescence for the room.  Trims with lenses can be installed above baths and showers by code to brighten darker areas.  Light strips or single wall fixtures can be designed around the new framed beveled mirror that you have chosen.  The choice of bulbs utilized is yours for now at least.  Try using dimmers to control your new lighting creating mood. 

     Ventilation is so important when planning a bathroom upgrade because of the humidity involved.  Too many times a single exhaust fan is installed above the toilet, or what is much worse, in the center of the room.   Heat and humidity naturally rise and will overtake the entire room if given a chance. Today's quiet bathroom exhaust fans should be sized according to the room's air volume.  They should be located above any bathing or showering facility and above the toilet.  Conditioned air along with adequately sized duct work supplied by your central unit will further accentuate a pleasant feeling within the bath.

Conquer A Tub To Shower Conversion

     Fine cabinetry is a must for any bathroom makeover.  As for the vanity, you can work your way down from the upgraded cabinet top that has been installed at the correct height for you.  The vanity should have adequately accessible storage satisfying your needs.  Incorporating  easy operating and properly sized drawers and pull out shelves within the design can be very beneficial.  Linen, medicine, and "over the potty" wall cabinets need to be well thought out. The correct species of wood used for the construction of your fine cabinetry and the style of you cabinet doors are two very important factors to consider.  Remember, you do have a choice and you are going to be looking at these new cabinets for a while.

     Bathroom plumbing fixture choices are numerous to say the least.  Select reputable companies offering the best warranties especially when considering finishes used on control valve trims and the fixtures installed in the project.  Custom tub shower conversions and larger custom walk in shower designs should have seamless fiberglass liners to avoid leaks if the house ever shifts.  Using natural stone or glass tiles while additionally designing in glass blocks will certainly be an upgrade. 

     Colors for bathrooms today are natural and earthy creating a calming effect.  Accents of color reflected from the tiles, paint, fixtures, and woodwork are used to make things a little more interesting compared to the room's overall vanilla tones within your design.  Help is just a phone call away but be sure the one who answers has the qualified experience you need for completing your new bathroom transformation.

     T-Square Company is a bathroom remodeling contractor in Austin, Texas.

Travertine, Glass Blocks, and Glass Tiles are Used in this Tub To Shower Bathroom Remodel

Bathroom Remodeling in Austin, Texas

Bathroom Upgrades

Tags: Austin, Texas, kitchen remodeling, residential construction contractor, fine cabinetry, ADA accessible, fine bathroom upgrades-bathroom cabinetry, fine bathroom upgrades, bathroom remodels, custom walk in showers, accessibility home remodeling in Austin, Austin bath remodeling, Austin bath remodel,, Austin bathroom remodeling, Austin bathroom remodel, disability bathroom remodeling in Austin, bathroom modifications for elderly, aging in place specialist, aging in place services, aging in place design,, handicap remodeling contractors in Austin, bathroom remodeling contractor Austin Texas, bathroom remodeling Austin Texas, bathroom upgrades Austin, bathroom modifications for disabled, bathroom cabinets Austin Texas

Austin, Texas Bathroom Remodels

Posted byDavid L. Traut, CAPS on Tue, Dec 04, 2012 @ 22:12 PM

    

     What makes a bathroom remodel more Austintaceous in a laid back Central Texas city like ours?  What propels a bathroom upgrade to stand alone in Austin like the proud lone star representing our beloved state?  What enhanced characteristics are shared but also contribute to all completed bathroom transformation projects making them exclusive and individual?  Personality with pride is the only way to sum up all the major characteristics adding up to create a great Austin bathroom remodel.  There is a feeling within the new bath that only the great wide open spaces of Texas suggest denying the discomfort of confinement. We all express our individuality living here in Austin.  We meld together our backgrounds and cultural differences to form a diverse but unique city with style.  Certainly style is what is needed to compliment that pride that Texans feel so strongly. 

Discover the Principles Of Universal Design

Certified Aging In Place Specialist

     Just look at the different types of housing represented throughout this city and it's surrounding areas.  Smaller homes, cottages, sprawling historical townhomes surrounded by architecturally pleasing fences, rustic ranch homes, Macmansions, and sleek high rise condominiums are just a few examples of the structures that define Austin's diverse housing landscape. Economic situations along with personal preference formulates where we choose to live in a town with such diversity.

     Committing to a bathroom remodel means taking many factors into account in the planning stages.  No matter which type of the structures listed above you're dealing with,  you must lean toward making the new bathroom upgrade blend with your existing home's design existing in harmony with it's surroundings.  All efforts must be made to prevent it from appearing as a "dirt dobber" design.  Putting an ultra modern updated bath into a dated urban cottage really doesn't blend well.  The types of architecture dealt with will clash and one will override the other taking away the prospect of a blending project to your home.

Bathroom Remodels

     Certainly there are many bathroom upgrades available when planning a bathroom transformation.  The replacement of the tub with a new walk in shower from a custom tub to shower conversion can create a bold  look but will run you around $11,000.  There are no spending limits for bathroom remodels.   You can plan on spending around $12,000 to $15,000 for a hall bath remodel.   The price tag can approach or exceed $35,000 for a complete master suite remodel.  The type of fixtures and building components chosen along with the labor will compose the overall cost of the remodeling project. The price for a custom walk in shower will begin at around $13,000 by itself depending on the size.

     Updated Austin, Texas bathroom remodels consist of a blending of hardwoods used to create fine cabinetry, granite tops, oil rubbed bronze fixtures, faucets, and hardware accessories just to name a few.  Simply changing the bathroom cabinets can create the look of a new space. They come with matching light fixtures.  They have walk in showers with elegant frameless door enclosures and artfully framed beveled mirrors.  These bathrooms can be accented using glass blocks, glass and travertine tiles, pebbled backsplashes, and seats within the walk in shower design where shampoo niches can often be found.  Colors remain natural and vanilla but are accentuated using a light to dark contrast between the richly stained woods and the natural stone tiles. 

    Young Austin homeowners are always looking for ways to bring their existing older home's bathrooms up to date.  They can't afford a major remodel while providing for a new family.  Bathroom remodels for these smaller baths can incorporate a number of the items listed above in moderation to fit any budget.  Using beautiful ceramic tiles in an interesting design, updating plumbing fixtures, and the use of neutral colors can create a small bathroom with a "wow" factor. It is quite possible to produce a small but charmingly remodeled bath on a budget.  A project that is affordable plus the fact that it will add resale value to your home cannot be denied.  Check out all the options before committing to a plan and then stick to it.  Always hire a local and professional builder.  Remember that producing change orders because no one thought of "that" can be expensive. Create the style for your Austin bathroom remodel that best gives you that feeling of pride!

    Bathroom remodeling in Austin, Texas

Bathroom Remodeling Austin

 

Tags: Austin, Texas, residential construction contractor, older structures, fine bathroom upgrades-bathroom cabinetry, fine bathroom upgrades, bathroom remodels, bathroom makeovers, ADA remodeling, home remodeling, glass block designs, bathroom remodelshow-to, building professional, disability bathroom remodels, handicap accessible bathrooms, custom tub to shower conversions, accessible home remodeling, Austin bath remodeling, Austin bath remodel,, Austin bathroom remodeling, Austin bathroom remodel, disability bathroom remodeling in Austin, bathroom modifications for elderly, aging in place specialist, aging in place services, aging in place design,, handicap remodeling contractors in Austin, bathroom renovations in Austin, Texas, bathroom remodeling contractor Austin Texas, bathroom remodeling Austin Texas, bathroom upgrades Austin, bathroom modifications for disabled, bathroom cabinets Austin Texas, bathroom accessibility remodels in Austin, accessibility remodelers in Austin

Austin Bath Remodeling

Posted byDavid L. Traut, CAPS on Tue, Jul 31, 2012 @ 18:07 PM

 

    You've spent your time looking through the internet examples of bathroom remodeling.  You've gazed at all the remodeling books offered at the local grocery and lumber box stores. Now you've come to the conclusion thatnone of them immediately suits your current situation.  The pictures you studied of fine bathroom makeovers are composed of lavish bathrooms with huge footprints way beyond the scope of your modestly sized room needing a fine bathroom upgrade

Bathroom Remodeling Austin

     Bathroom sizes are usually dictated in some respect by the length of the tub which in most cases is five to six feet long.  This is evidenced by a tub that has been installed opposite the entry wall producing a wall to wall tub situation.  In this configuration the toilet and vanity are generally placed on one of the walls that are perpendicular to the length of the tub. Here is a great starting point to gain space for a larger custom walk in shower to replace the tub you never use.  But if you are fortunate to have both wall lengths exceed the five or six feet norm then space is not an issue and you can proceed with ease.  Just choose your finishes wisely and keep all choices within your budget.

     If you're current situation is cramped but you already have a double vanity, you might gain space for a new shower expansion by either shortening the vanity while keeping the two sinks or by going with one single sink located in the middle of a shorter vanity.  This can be accomplished by capping off one sink drain completely and/or deleting the water supply stops.  If your toilet is located between the vanity and tub then shortening the vanity is all for naught.  You can move the toilet over but this means breaking out the floor to change the toilet plumbing floor flange plus the water supply.  Be careful as this alteration can be costly and should only be done to allow certain specific situations to evolve.  

Discover the Principles Of Universal Design

Certified Aging In Place Specialist

     Moving on to either the tub removal bringing about a walk in shower design or the tub's replacement highlighted with a custom shower surround,  you'll have to decide what will be of the most use to you.  A tub surround limits your creativity but you can still enjoy a couple of shampoo nooks installed between your existing studs before any tiling takes place.  Replacing the old tub/shower valve and tub spout will also give you a shiny feeling of newness.  A new glass enclosure will provide a revived look plus the more expensive frameless models will bring your bathroom completely up to date.

     If deleting the tub to achieve a custom walk in shower design is your choice then you have a few options to consider.  Do you wall in two thirds of the width of the old tub placing the new door away from the shower head?   This new wall can be tiled in to match the shower and can also have glass blocks inserted into it for natural light to prevent claustrophobia.  Do you desire a full length curb to accommodate a taller ready made glass enclosure or even the more expensive frameless model set beside a glass panel?  The designs are limited only by your imagination and how you want the final product to turn out.  Be sure that all your research is justified and don't try to cram too much into your new bathroom remodel.  A good design is one that can come into being with the least time spent on alterations and additional costs.

     If you're uncertain about how to proceed during Austin bath transformations always rely on a local and trusted building professional.  Sometimes spending a little money for experienced help with design and construction techniques can save you a lot during the construction process.

Conquer A Tub To Shower Conversion

A Tub to Shower Conversion with Seat Derived From a Shorter Vanity with Glass Block Inserts

Bathroom remodels in Austin, Texas

 

Accessible Bathrooms In Austin

Dodie wells AIP 037.jpg

     Universal design and aging in place services in Austin have finally taken hold in the residential remodeling industry.  The current housing inventory doesn't offer the features needed for safety and accessibility in the numbers needed to accommodate the growing demand.  It is ultimately up to the homeowners and their families to plan for future housing needs.  Our existing architecture does not lend itself well to accomplishing any easy aging in place home remodels in Austin.  In fact, there are more inaccessible homes in all of the US than there are accessible homes and 45% of these existing homes are owned by the baby boomers representing the oldest group of homeowners.  Generally speaking in most residential US properties there are no easy ways to enter into bathrooms or utilize  kitchens without coming into contact with one architectural  barrier or another-especially if a wheelchair or walker is being used to help with mobility issues.  Everything requires the proper clearance and distance for a new customized accessible route in your home to function properly.  Please consider this aspect in your design if an elderly parent will be coming to visit or you yourself suffer an unfortunate accident or develop a debilitating disease.

     The National Association of Home Builders, in partnership with the AARP and Home Innovation Research Labs, created the CAPS program, which includes training and education on the technical, business management and customer service skills essential to compete in the fastest growing segment of the residential remodeling industry--home modifications for aging in place.  David L. Traut, CAPS the owner of T-Square Company in Austin, Texas is one of the select group of professionals nationwide to earn the Certified Aging-In-Place Specialist (CAPS) designation, identifying him as a home remodeler and builder with the skills and knowledge necessary to remodel or modify a home to meet the unique needs of the older population, disabled owners or their visitors.  Call us at 512-444-0097 to see how we can help you design your bath for the future.

 

Bathroom Upgrades

 

      

Tags: Austin, Texas, how-to, fine cabinetry, aging in place home improvements in Austin, bathroom remodeling, fine bathroom upgrades-bathroom cabinetry, fine bathroom upgrades, bathroom remodels, glass block designs, custom walk in showers, ADA bathroom cabinets, accessibility home remodeling in Austin, Austin bath remodeling, Austin bath remodel,, Austin bathroom remodel, bathroom modifications for elderly, aging in place specialist, aging in place services, bathroom renovations in Austin, Texas, bathroom remodeling contractor Austin Texas, bathroom remodeling Austin Texas, bathroom upgrades Austin, bathroom modifications for disabled, bathroom cabinets Austin Texas, bathroom accessibility remodels in Austin, accessibility remodelers in Austin

Choosing A New Countertop For Your Fine Cabinetry

Posted byDavid L. Traut, CAPS on Fri, Dec 16, 2011 @ 12:12 PM

 

    Whether you have replaced your old cabinets with a set of new fine cabinetry or just need an updated work surface atop your existing setup there are a few choices that need to be considered before choosing a new countertop for your fine cabinetry and making your final decision.  Plastic laminates, solid surface material, granite, quartz, and concrete are the most popular choices today when considering new or replacement countertops for a fine kitchen upgrade.  Each surface has it's own set of pros and cons to take under advisement before a conclusion is reached so that it blends with your lifestyle.  Remember that any samples of materials that you see are only small representations of any larger piece when choosing products.  Furthermore hotpads and cutting boards should always be used no matter which top you choose.

Counter Tops

     Nonporous plastic laminates have been around for many years which is a testament to their durability.  We've come a long way since the days of harvest gold and avocado green but some of this original material still exists in kitchens today.  We now have different grades of laminate and the HD grade offers interesting designs and textures that help to hide scratches.  Heat should never be introduced and the use of hot pads is a necessity.  Seams are also a consideration when choosing laminates because they are still visible even when using today's matching seam fill products.  Color caulks offered by the laminate manufactures matching their laminate colors are used where the top meets the splash for flexibility.  Drop in sinks are preferable when using plastic laminate but now there are some undermount units available. There are also many edge profiles produced today to enhance the look of your new laminate surface.  Never use abrasive cleaners on any plastic laminate surfaces because they dull the existing finish.

Certified Aging In Place Specialist

     Solid surface materials like Corian are also composed of nonporous plastic where the color is continuous throughout it's thickness.  This material will stain and scratch but due to their makeup the solid surface tops can be reworked by professionally buffing the the affected areas.  Remember that the darker the product the more evident the scratches.  These tops do appear seamless and are more bacteriostatic than stone.  The pricing varies for groups A-E with the solid color A group being the least expensive.  The higher priced groups give you many more color choices and variations.  A matte finish with a low sheen verses the higher glossed finishes found on granite is typical.  There are no limits for the edge profiles and different colors can also be used as an accent. (see photo below)

     Granite is a natural stone coming right out of the mountain so no two slabs are exactly alike.  Many natural colors are available and usually lighter tops are preferred over darker stained cabinetry.  The stones are cut and polished to a high gloss finish but this can be altered to produce a more dull surface by a process known as honing.  There are different edge treatments available limited only by the fabricator.  Seams are visible and accepted and only avoided by using  larger pieces to limit the number of joints.  One downfall of granite is it's porosity.  Granite tops require maintenance and must be sealed frequently.  The duration between coats is directly proportional to the amount of use your top gets.  A good rule of thumb is to see if water still beads up when you place on the surface.  If not, reseal.

     Quartz is a man made product consisting of 93% stone pieces held together by resin and dyes.  It is the newest material available today having bacteriostatic qualities and it is technically maintenance free due to it's nonporous surface.  In its beginning this product contained small pieces of stone but now larger pieces are being used to create more interesting patterns.  The overall look is a more uniform pattern than that of granite.  It is the most scratch resistant choice out there but things do happen.  The joints are not seen.  Like granite there are no limits to the sinks that can be used.

     Concrete tops are poured in a mold outlining the face and edge profile.  The varying colors of the substrate are accomplished by adjusting the variables within the mix like cement colors, the type of sand(s), or by the add mixes used during the mixing process.  Many factors can produce shade, hue, and tone contrasts like acid etching stains used on the  surface once it has been poured and set.  More creative and interesting contrasts can be achieved by using additives in the mix like stainless steel filings, glow in the dark materials, or colored glass chips.  Once the slab is polished it must be sealed at the rate needed per use.  This process lends itself to a patina with age.  

A Solid Surface Example with an Accented Edge

fine cabinetry and solid surface tops in Austin, Texas 

    

Tags: Austin, Texas, fine kitchen upgrades, kitchen remodeling, fine cabinetry, kitchen cabinetry, commercial cabinetry, fine bathroom upgrades-bathroom cabinetry, fine bathroom upgrades-bathroom cabinetry-how-to-c, fine bathroom upgrades, kitchen cabinets Austin Texas, kitchen cabinets Austin, bathroom cabinets Austin Texas, kitchen cabinet remodel Austin, Texas

Fine Kitchen Cabinets

Posted byDavid L. Traut, CAPS on Tue, Aug 02, 2011 @ 21:08 PM

     Kitchen remodeling using fine kitchen cabinets has become quite expensive over the years and sometimes people simply run out money at the end of a large project. The unforeseen problems like faulty wiring or plumbing may have absorbed more of the allotted funds than were budgeted and you must make changes in your allowances in order to finish the job.  The quality of desirability of fine kitchen cabinets for that look of a custom job may have to be realized at a later date. Ready made cabinets that you purchase and install yourself can sometimes keep you within a budget and promote the project's completion.

Certified Aging In Place Specialist

     The mere composition of any new set of fine cabinets used in your Austin kitchen remodel can either make their installation a frustrating experience or aid in the process.  Harder woods like oak, maple, pecan, or hickory can be tougher to deal with because of their hardness.  Drilling holes, cutting, or fitting to a tight tolerance will prove to be a harder task to accomplish when you aren't working on softer woods like pine, cherry, or poplar.  Fastening can also be a problem while using the harder woods requiring pilot holes to be drilled.   When installing the crown molds at the ceiling or the cove moldings in the inside corners where the cabinets meet the wall always use caution and pre-drill when possible to prevent splitting. 

Kitchen Remodeling

     Once you get your new cabinets home open up the boxes and let them stand in the room where they will be installed for some four to six hours.  This will  acclimate the cabinets to your building's temperature and humidity and help prevent the wood from moving once the cabinets are installed.  Don't be surprised if you still have to make some slight adjustments to your new cabinets once they take on their new environment.  Be sure that you go into a stud when screwing on the carcasses through their fastening areas.  This will insure that your new cabinets will stay hung in place and prevent future injuries from a falling wall cabinet.

     Remodeling in Austin, Texas like most other cities includes many of the same aspects.  Be sure to choose a local qualified remodeling contractor whose personality and qualifications are agreeable with you personally.  You are about to undertake a very important short term relationship in your life with someone you may know by reputation only.  The relationship needs to be comfortable and free flowing thus enabling the contractor's creativity level to be at it's highest during your remodeling project. Look at it as a partnership between your needs and the remodeling contractor's abilities.  This is not new construction and the use of the European cabinetry must be accommodated for.  His professional remodeling experience will include his capacity to identify many construction limitations and hazards.   These variables underlie the major pitfalls that can be avoided while enabling a remodeling design to come to reality.  His experience can also aid you in accomplishing remodeling upgrades that include disability issues.  The job needs to flow between the various trades involved to produce a better final outcome.  This too is a reflection on his remodeling experience for which there is no substitute.

Austin Kitchen Remodels

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Bathroom Upgrades

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    Whether you're looking for a local residential construction contractor to accomplish a kitchen remodel or a construction professional to complete an entire gutting and remodel of your entire home including a home office transformation,  the final accenting finishes most likely will include the use of fine cabinetry. The choice between frameless European and Northern face frame cabinetry styles will highlight any design.  

 

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Fine Cabinetry Austin, Texas

Posted byDavid L. Traut, CAPS on Thu, Jan 13, 2011 @ 20:01 PM

     If you plan to remodel the ‘food production room’ in your home, then choosing your kitchen cabinets is probably going to be part of the plan. Not surprisingly, kitchen cabinetry is up for scrutiny in terms of the modernization tsunami changing home decor trends in recent times.

     Modern cabinets are breaking away from the ornate design found in traditional cabinet styling, rather reflecting minimal trends such as simple, clean design features. Streamlining and modernizing kitchen cabinetry or the storage cabinets used in bathroom transformations works in tandem with other kitchen or bathroom furnishings.  The use of new-age quartz countertops with complimentary glass tile backsplashes is becoming the norm.

Certified Aging In Place Specialist

     To the untrained eye a cabinet is just a box within a given space that fulfills a storage need.  But have you ever taken the time to look closer at the cabinet's makeup beyond the cost?   Before investing your hard earned money into cabinetry for a fine bathroom or kitchen upgrade take some time to get acquainted with the cabinet's parts and pieces.

     Cabinets are like anything else in our lives and sometimes we can be deceived by the bells and whistles the cabinet manufacturers want us all to see.  They create a sense of false quality for the consumer by blinding them with noticeably concealing finishes  masking the innermost important aspect of the cabinets general makeup.  In the North American face frame cabinet type the use of hardwood stiles and rails covered by hardwood cabinet doors fills the bill.  The most important weight bearing carcass sides, the top, and bottom or floor in a base cabinet are buried by the outer window dressing. The makeup of these aspects  is not aesthetic but structural.  These are the parts that sit perpendicular to the floor holding up the cabinet top and whatever is upon it.  They may cut this expense by using 1/2" or 5/8" thick matrix materials like MDF or particle board and covering these with a vinyl similar to shelf paper that creates "picture wood"of any wood species.  The European frameless cabinet types are generally covered entirely in a thin plastic exterior as in the case of melamine which covers up the particle board insides.  Check out the picture below representing how a simple plumbing leak creating melamine failure has lead to an entire cabinet replacement.  This customer had no choice!

     Our kitchens are no longer the "Orphan Annie’s” of our homes. This space now integrates with the rest of the home, and beautifully remodeled kitchens now serve as the main meeting space for our friends and families. You can even have wireless built into the kitchen cabinetry to power up all manner of gadgetry. It all goes to prove that kitchen cabinet design trends are moving in line with advances in technology, and why not – kitchens are the hearts of our homes.

melamine failure in Eurropean cabinets in Austin, Texas

     Their next trick is to associate quality cabinet type buzzwords like dovetail jointed drawers, European concealed cup hinges or other specialty hardware, special finishes or paints, and hardwood trim with faces as mentioned above.

Fine Cabinetry

     Fine cabinetry Austin, Texas consists of an entire 3/4" plywood carcass with a 1/4" plywood back.  The plywood gives you some moisture protection against a leaking sink drain trap or faulty supply line or stop valve.  European frameless cabinets can be painted on the interior using oil base enamels then covering all the visible exterior surfaces plus the doors and drawer fronts along with their edges with any choice of high pressure plastic laminate.  North American face frame cabinets can either be painted or stained and finished with polyurethane.  The finish on the plywood makes even more less vulnerable to moisture problems. 

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Bathroom Remodeling Austin

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Austin kitchen remodel

Kitchen Remodeling

     Don't get sucked into thinking that quality is behind the brightest glowing box on the sales floor and never forget that you get what you pay for in this life especially where cabinetry is concerned.  Do your homework!

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Kitchen Cabinet Remodel Austin, Texas

Posted byDavid L. Traut, CAPS on Fri, May 14, 2010 @ 16:05 PM

      Know that a kitchen remodel is not a DIY situation and that you will need to consult with a residential remodeling professional at some point. Be sure to choose a local qualified kitchen remodeling contractor whose personality and qualifications are agreeable with you personally.  Check out the reviews on the company to find out how clients have responded to their experiences. You are about to undertake a very important short term relationship in your life with someone you may know by reputation only.  The relationship needs to be comfortable and free flowing thus enabling the contractor's creativity level to be at it's highest during your remodeling project. Look at it as a partnership between your needs and the remodeling contractor's abilities.  The use of many finishes must be accommodated for.  His professional remodeling experience will include the capacity to identify many construction limitations and hazards.  These variables underlie the major pitfalls that can be possibly avoided while enabling a remodeling design to come to reality.  Don't forget that you get what you pay for and it certainly isn't about the lowest bid but the remodeling company's integrity and knowledge.  Some CAPS certified remodeling companies have the experience and education to assist you in accomplishing remodeling upgrades that include accessibility or disability issues.  It is important that the job flows between the various trades involved to produce a better final outcome.  This too is a reflection on his remodeling experience for which there is no substitute.

Certified Aging In Place Specialist

     Fine Kitchen Cabinetry in Austin, Texas is about the cabinet carcass and the finishes applied to it's front making up a Northern face frame or a frameless European look of your fine cabinetry.  Each type will accommodate mounting doors using a concealed cup Euro 32 mm bore hinge and installation is accomplished by varying the type of mounting plate that attaches to the carcass. The mounting plates are specific for the design once the doors are applied in an overlay fashion.  If the doors are recessed to be flush with the carcass face then other types of hinges can be used such as wrap around or door stile bore types.  Non concealed hinges come in many forms such a strap, Youngdale kerf units, flush, or offset and are used to create a certain style such as an antique look.  These hinges also come in many finishes like brass, chrome, or black to name a few.

Kitchen Remodeling

 

  • Door styles include Flat Panel, Raised Panel, Shaker, Lip Molded, and Slab
  • We Create Interesting Cabinets by Varying Both The Height and Depth Along a Cabinet Line
  • Featuring Red or White Oak, Poplar, Alder, Cherry, Walnut, Maple, Birch, Ash, Pecan, and many other Exotic Wood Species
  • We offer full extension drawers with SOLID WOOD construction for durability mounted on ball bearing guides
  • Our cabinets contain fully adjustable shelving supported by metal pilasters
  • Many choices of hinges are available from concealed 32mm hidden hinges by Blum or many other surface mounted varieties
  • Many convenient pullout options for convenience and clutter reduction are available used for  pantries, trash cans, mixer lifts, or under sink storage to name just a few

 

     Frameless European cabinets can either be wooden or covered in plastic laminate per your choice for your Austin kitchen remodel.  The laminated application makes for a cleaner application and provides for easy maintenance.  These doors are flat with no crevices to conceal grease and grime. 

     If you go for the wooden look there are many choices from which to choose.  These include a slab as above with the edges banded with heat tape or a 1/4" rip of the same wood specie as the door, a flat slab using a lip molding on the edge creating a 3/8" offset door, a raised panel with a 3/4" insert, a flat panel with a 1/4" insert, or a Shaker style with a varying divisions of the face.

     Any of these will work for a kitchen or bathroom cabinet remodel Austin, Texas and it is truly a personal preference.  So whether you are furnishing a new kitchen or bathroom space or are going for a kitchen or bath upgrade be sure you consider all the possibilities and design the room for function.

Fine Cabinetry

 

Raised Panel Doors Can Be Square, Single, or Double Arched

Raised Panel doors in Austin Texas

Bathroom Remodeling Austin

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Austin Bathroom Remodeling

Posted byDavid L. Traut, CAPS on Fri, Apr 16, 2010 @ 17:04 PM

     Once you've had your home for a while or have recently closed on a new property, you need to analyze and discover any deficiencies that are incorporated into the overall functionality of one of your most private rooms.  Make a list of your greatest wants and desires and begin to figure out how to make them affordable and real.

     Conventionally, the master bathroom has featured a giant master bath tub. This might be a traditional tub or a jetted unit – but it seems that more and more clients are asking for something else. They are saying ‘no’ to the large master bath tub taking up more room that could be used for other activities. Specifically, the current trend is for smaller, freestanding tubs with stand alone larger custom showers that might include body sprays, steam showers, duel heads, etc. or maybe no tub at all. The tub no longer needs to take up so much of the usable square feet as the main focal point in the bathroom. Most likely, large showers will remain popular, while tubs will remain a more personal choice. There will likely be a certain group of people who really enjoy and want a nice long bath, regardless of the trends. Each situation is personal, and a home should be full of personal choices.    

Certified Aging In Place Specialist

     Keep in mind that moving plumbing, especially drains, is one of the more expensive aspects of a fine bathroom makeover involving floor demolition.  If you can limit and control the costs involved with this issue you will have more money to spend on the things that show off your endeavors. Keeping this in mind will make your Austin bathroom remodeling a success.

 

     Start with your vanity cabinet(s) to see if the proper amount and kind of storage is present.  Can you accomplish your needs by using specialty items like pull out shelves, miscellaneous storage add ons as in wire pullouts, tilt out trays, or simply drawer inserts separating cosmetics or medicines?   If this isn't enough, your vanity cabinet can be replaced with something that's been custom made or you may be able to find an off the shelf product that solves your storage problems.

     How about your existing conventional tub?  If it is no longer used or you have another tub in your other bathroom it can be transformed into a shower within the same footprint.  You'll need to decide if you want a door and bring in the sides for the correct opening with either glass blocks or custom tile work on stick frame type construction.  A walk in shower without a door requires a large enough area to enter so that the shower head is off to the side.  Today's custom walk in showers can get pretty fancy with body and rain heads but remember these require a larger size supply line than is normally standard.  Composite shower pans or liners beneath the floor tile can be composed of either a custom fiberglass application or the proper vinyl material.  Waterproofing is the most important aspect of shower building and all precautions must be taken.

     Changing your toilet is an easy way to change the look and efficiency of your bath.  Older toilets use too much water when flushing and leaky flappers or malfunctioning fill valves are also water wasters.  Toilets come in either a round or elongated shape and in standard and somewhat taller heights according to your comfort level.

 

     Always use energy minded construction techniques in Austin, Texas and conserve water when making alterations to your home.

A Fine Bathroom Makeover

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View our Video of a Custom Bathroom with walk in Shower!


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