If you have been considering a fine bathroom makeover or remodeling project in Austin there are a few things you should take into consideration. Bathroom makeovers in Austin, Texas can take on many looks and facets. The scope of work you choose to accomplish your bathroom transformation should effectively solve your problems and most importantly, your needs as the home owner. The identification of these specific needs belongs to you the home owner. The way your home is structurally altered to accomplish these needs is the job of the professional remodeling contractor. Accessibility should be a concern no matter what your age. If your concerns are not for you, barring any life changing accident, they could concern the accessibility of another generation's independence is using the restroom. CAPS professionals in the remodeling industry can help with solutions in solving these issues. Bathroom remodeling contractors Austin, Texas can provide you with answers to your much thought about questions.
Just look at the different types of housing represented throughout Austin and the surrounding areas. Smaller homes, cottages, sprawling historical town homes 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. 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 bipassing 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.
Certainly there are many upgrades available when planning a bathroom remodel. A custom tub 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.
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. Changing water supply line locations for a custom tub shower conversion is not as difficult as moving drains especially when they go into the main drainage system that resides underneath the finished floor.
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 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. As for the new walk in shower design, you can design the space to not need 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 $900. 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.
Who do you choose to help you with your dream? It is true that a professional remodeling contractor with years of experience will cost you more than a handyman illegally playing among the trades at your peril but then again there are those professional guarantees to consider. The professional verses the handyman is more likely to seek your overall satisfaction that will follow him into his next job. A true building professional can also orchestrate the job's smooth flow limiting the down time of a most useful room. Subcontractors will not be covered up and each skilled trade is brought onto the sight as needed in an orderly fashion. Professionals normally have insurance to cover on the job accidents to protect the homeowners from having legal action brought against them personally. Be sure you ask for a certificate of insurance from your chosen professional contractor so that you aren't held personally liable for medical experiences covering a worker's accident while on your property. Don't forget that only a certified aging in place (CAPS) professional can help you solve your accessibility issues.
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 any new residential bath 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.
What makes a residential bathroom makeover 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 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.
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 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.
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.
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.
Who do you choose to help you with your dream? It is true that a professional remodeling contractor with years of experience will cost you more than a handyman illegally playing among the trades at your peril but then again there are those professional guarantees to consider. The professional verses the handyman is more likely to seek your overall satisfaction that will follow him into his next job. A true building professional can also orchestrate the job's smooth flow limiting the down time of a most useful room during Austin bathroom remodeling. Subcontractors will not be covered up and each skilled trade is brought onto the sight as needed in an orderly fashion. Professionals normally have insurance to cover on the job accidents to protect the homeowners from having legal action brought against them personally. Be sure you ask for a certificate of insurance from your chosen professional contractor so that you aren't held personally liable for medical expences covering a worker's accident while on your property.
I tell my customers all the time that one of their main ways of choosing a reputable contractor with a good track record and BBB experience rating is the ability for them to do work with the particular residential building contractor they are interviewing. Can they communicate easily relying on the contractor's experience and reputation and can they get along throughout the sometimes long and detailed construction process? Are they compatible as human beings because the only energy that should be spent during the project should be directed toward it's completion.
After choosing your residential construction contractor you should never pay for everything up front. Payments should be associated with aspects of the job and you should always get something for your money. Soft costs like designs, permits, or fees can be paid in advance to get the project rolling plus any custom made entities or materials ordered and stocked on the job sight. Never let the contractor draw ahead of what is actually happening no matter how much you are caught up in the building process. Paying for a little overhead to a bonified construction professional will always cost more but usually saves you a lot in the long run. It's not always about the cheapest bid because you'll always get what you pay for. Get every aspect of the job in writing and both you and the chosen residential construction contractor must sign the document for it to be a binding contract.
A Fine Bathroom Makeover With A Walk In Shower Design
Austin homeowners are always looking for ways to bring their existing older home's kitchens and bathrooms up to date. Bathroom remodels for any smaller baths can incorporate a number of items to fit any budget. Larger bathrooms lend themselves to more extravagant designs. Using beautiful ceramic tiles in an interesting design, updating plumbing fixtures, upgrading the cabinet tops and the use of neutral colors can create a 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. 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. Always hire a local and professional builder. Remember that producing change orders because "no one thought of that" become expensive. Create the style for your Austin kitchen or bathroom remodel that best gives you a feeling of pride!
If you are considering replacing your old cabinets during a kitchen remodel with some new fine cabinetry or perhaps you are just needing an updated work surface there are a few choices that need to be considered before making your final decision. Plastic laminates, solid surface material, granite, quartz, stainless steel, wood, 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 making sure your selection blends with your lifestyle. Remember that any samples of materials you see are only small representations of any larger piece when choosing products. Furthermore trivets and cutting boards should always be used no matter which top you choose. Kitchen upgrades and bathroom remodels return the most money at resale on the initial investment of the remodeling project. National averages show the cost of kitchen remodel recoups around 70% of the costs of the upgrade at the time of resale. However, your kitchen remodeling costs should never exceed 15% of the total value of your home. Here is where you need to get your thinking cap on and plan for an affordable budget that is within your means. Your material choices are very important and if you need to stay mid-level to fit the budget then do so. The labor involved for the project will be around 1.6 times the cost of the materials used. The total budget should allow $100 per square foot for your kitchen upgrade project.
Finding help to remodel a home can be time consuming and should be undertaken only by those builders possessing a wide array of remodeling experience. All builders certainly are not remodeling contractors. The finale of new construction is by far more foreseen because of the known and predictable path the work schedule will follow. During remodeling, first there is the demolition work and the costs involved to dismantle a certain existing area in your home prior to beginning the construction of a new project. Knowing the best way to accomplish this aspect is why you need to hire a remodeling contractor. This type of building professional will base his results on his capability of blending any new work done within the home with the existing design and elevations. The expenses of this new construction represent the second set of costs involved for any residential remodeling project.
Whatever your situation please remember to rely on the experiences of a local building professional. Check out their credentials and references and don't limit yourself to only price checks against other bidders. Don't make the mistake of letting a cabinet making subcontractor or tile installer play the part of a general contractor. Their knowledge will be limited to that of the cabinets or tile and not much else. More importance needs to be given to the reputable contractor's personality and knowledge and how well you two communicate. You are making your choice for a professional to lead the way enabling your dream to be realized. You get what you payfor with proper planning when using an experienced and qualified local contractor.
The Formation Of A New Walk In Shower During A Bathroom Remodel
With increasing age, simply maneuvering around within our home becomes more difficult. Some debilitating diseases slowly take over our bodies completely reducing mobility and independence over time. The situation is complicated further once we are forced to use any device for increased mobility. That's when we find ourselves asking how we are to negotiate a set of stairs or a doorway that is too narrow to allow entry into a room or even the entire house. These types of overpowering circumstances can certainly make life terribly difficult to deal with at times. Who would ever have imagined that just passing through a doorway we had negotiated many times could now present such a problem within our private life? This situation reminds us of the need for more handicap bathrooms.
Designated accessible routes can be created by first hiring a knowledgeable residentialconstruction contractor in Austin, Texas. The experienced and CAPS certified handicap remodeling contractors in Austin that you contract must be skilled in both home remodeling and all ADA guidelines to perform CAPS certified remodeling. The noted accessible route will first provide ways to accomplish any elevation changes in your yard that once required only stairs leading up to your front door. A correctly angled ramp following ADA guidelines will help you gain access into your home. Perhaps the front door itself needs to be widened or additionally equipped with an electronic opener.
Once inside, the accessible route will continue derived from wheelchair remodeling into all the rooms thus increasing accessibility. Kitchen upgrades and handicap accessible bathrooms will provide roll under capability for wheelchairs at all sinks. A required underneath clearance and scalding protection below the sinks must be observed for the end user with special needs. The correct handles must be used controlling all sink faucets assisting those with limited mobility. Reach limits must not be exceeded above the new 34 inch high cabinet top.
During bathroom accessibility remodels, roll in or transfer showers equipped with adequately placed grab bars will lessen injury from falls while entering the bathing facility. Further outfitting these areas with hand held shower wands that can be temporarily mounted on adjustable slide bars will also be of assistance. Hallways need to be wide enough for wheelchair clearance and all entry doors at each room must be at least 36 inches wide for unobstructed wheelchair entry. A clear and unobstructed five foot wheelchair turning radius will be built into the design for increased accessibility to facilitate leaving a small room as in the bathroom. Lowering the light switches in certain rooms may be a requirement to help with decreased mobility to below 48 inches.
There are basically two styles of ADA vanities that comply with an unobstructed roll under area below the sink. This capability has everything to do with both the water supply lines and the main waste line connecting the sink. There must be provisions made to protect the user from being scalded when coming into contact with any one of the plumbing pipes serving the sink. These connecting pipes may become heated merely by the water passing through them creating the problem. The open type model should always receive both waste and supply insulating jackets applied directly to the pipes providing protection for the wheelchair user. The closed model concealing the pipes will be equipped with a removable face or face board covering the pipes. This pipe concealing panel must be installed at the correct angle. This allows for the needed unobstructed legroom required for the user. The vanity can extend beyond the sink but the area containing the sink is required to have this roll under capability. This section of the vanity must not be any taller than 34 inches above the finished floor with sufficient lower clearance. Clear unobstructed reach distances around the counter top area must be observed. Any motion controlled sensors integrated into the various dispensing devices and/or plumbing fixtures throughout the restroom present a true hands free benefit to all the restroom users. If these aren't in the budget then at least wrist handles used for controlling the faucet can be incorporated into the design of the vanity. Furthermore, automatic flush valves should be used on all toilets and urinals that provide for hands free use.
There is nothing strange, different, or out of the ordinary to consider when shopping for ADA kitchen cabinetry. The specialty cabinetry can be composed of any materials that currently make up standard off the shelf or custom cabinetry. It's all about the agreed upon cabinet industry standards for heights and distances being incorporated into the cabinetry designs . This allows the consumer with special needs a more comfortable experience while performing the kitchen's daily duties. Architectural barriers have been removed allowing for the proper legroom clearance, reach distance, and cabinet height. Upper wall cabinets are installed four inches lower providing for a comfortable reach distance above the cabinet top, installed at 34 inches above the finished floor, for the perfect height that is totally useful. The ease of operation of the new cabinetry is more favorable and convenient and certainly user friendly.
And now for the layout of your new ADA compliant kitchen. First you should try to maintain the five foot turning radius within your kitchen if you require the use of a wheelchair or other assistive mobility device. You will need to have your plumbing attachments brought into compliance to enable your freedom and safety. The installation of grab bars where needed within the kitchen can be very helpful for insuring your safety for maneuverability. These should be installed at 34 inches above the finished floor to safeguard your use of them. Having roll under capability for the new kitchen sink can be very helpful while you are utilizing the wheelchair. Exact clearances should be complied with for width and clear unobstructed legroom underneath the sink. The proper safety equipment should be installed on the plumbing pipes that prevent scalding of your legs.
Whatever your situation please rely on the experiences of a local building professional. Check out their credentials and references over merely price checks against other bidders. Don't make the mistake of letting a cabinet making sub play the part of a general contractor because his knowledge will be limited to that of the cabinets and not much else. You get what you payfor with proper planning.
If you have recently replaced your old cabinets during a kitchen or bathroom remodel with some new fine cabinetry or perhaps you are just needing an updated work surface there are a few choices that need to be considered before making your final decision. Plastic laminates, solid surface material, granite, quartz, stainless steel, wood, and concrete are the most popular choices today when considering new or replacement countertops for a fine kitchen upgrade or bathroom makeover. Each surface has it's own set of pros and cons to take under advisement before a conclusion is reached making sure your selection 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 trivets and cutting boards should always be used no matter which top you choose.
Nonporous plastic laminates have been around for many years which is a testament to their durability. They represent the most affordable choice for your money and appear seamless. 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 but be advised--they will scratch and the glossier the finish the worse the scratch shows. Heat should never be introduced and the use of hot pads is a necessity. Color caulks offered by the laminate manufactures matching their laminate colors are used where the top meets the splash for flexibility or integral splashes are also an option. Drop in sinks are preferable when using plastic laminate but now there are some under-mount 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.
Solid surface materials like "Corian" or "Gibralter" are 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 out the affected areas and repairs are a possibility and is a great choice for Austin kitchen cabinets. 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. As with the laminates above there is usually no variance in color between like samples. There are no limits for the edge profiles and different colors can also be used as an accent. The use of trivets to protect from heat exposure is advisable. (see photo below)
Granites are a natural stone coming right out of the mountain so no two slabs are exactly alike. Pitting and veining are inherent of mother nature and lend to any slab's beauty. Many natural colors are available and usually lighter tops are preferred over darker stained fine cabinetry and vice versa holds true. 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 continues to bead up when you place it 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 and the best rated material available today having bacteriostatic qualities. It is technically maintenance free due to it's nonporous surface and the best choice for a bathroom vanity. The colors are consistent and a uniqueness due to a natural occurrence of color concentration known as pooling can be observed. The use of this material is on average a higher cost 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.
Stainless steel used on counter tops has the same smudging disadvantage as is seen on appliance faces. The surface is seamless when utilizing custom welding. The typically used 16 gauge product can be configured into any shape. It is impervious to both oils and acids. It is also a higher cost option starting at around $65 per square foot. The use of cutting boards is highly advised. Standing water can cause a permanent mark.
The use of wood represents the certified green choice with no two pieces alike. Wood is both renewable and repairable. It is gentle on glassware and can be used as a cutting board. It's main drawback is the natural porosity of wood. This will cause darkening when water is left standing along with the fact that food odors are constantly being absorbed. Trivets must be used because wood expands and contracts with temperature changes. And do not forget about splinters when you aare cleaning up.
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 acheived 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 Typical Solid Surface With A Colored and Routed Edge
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.
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.
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.
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.
Whether you're looking for a local residential remodeling contractor in Austin, Texas 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 practically any design. Choosing the correct wood species can further add to the richness of the job. Then there are those needed additions that must blend while being added onto your home without notice.
To begin with, kitchen upgrades and bathroom remodels return the most money at resale on the initial investment of the remodeling project. National averages show that kitchen remodels recoup around 70% of the costs of the upgrade at the time of resale of the home. However, your kitchen remodeling costs should never exceed 15% of the total value of your home. Here is where you need to get your thinking cap on and plan for an affordable budget that is within your means. Your material choices are very important and if you need to stay mid-level to fit the budget then do so. The labor involved for the project will be around 1.6 times the cost of the materials used. The total budget should allow $100 per square foot for your kitchen upgrade project.
Any kitchen remodel will need to produce a better service or work triangle between the sink, refrigerator, and stove placement. The shorter the sum of the triangle legs the more efficient the layout but islands can also be incorporated into the design to increase the efficiency. The prep sink within the island can become it's own focal point of the work triangle displacing the duties of the main kitchen sink. The orientation of the island toward the work triangle is very important making sure traffic can still flow freely within the designated triangle. Islands can contain all sorts of special storage areas. Mixer lifts, produce storage drawers, wine storage, and dough board pullouts are just a few of the many useful aspects that can be incorporated into the island.
Living with a dysfunctional bathroom layout reduces the total feeling of relaxation your master bath is capable of providing. 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 ventillation 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 diffuser 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 quandry within itself. The fixtures themselves can also be finished in a color that is long out of style. So what do you do?
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 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 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.
Residential Remodeling Creating A Custom Walk In Shower
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 bypassing 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.
All fine bathroom transformations must stand out even to their owners after the job is complete and all the workers have gone away. The use of granite, marble, onyx, limestone, or glass tiles during a bathroom upgrade can only be further enhanced when any design utilizing glass blocks is introduced into the mix. The owner's eyes will see the intense natural sparkle provided by the glass block's ability to diffuse natural light that will brighten any setting and create an open feeling. Glass blocks can be inserted into an interior shower wall's opening providing light from a nearby outside window or on the exterior wall itself creating a waterproof window with both privacy and insulating capabilities. The blocks also make a great toilet partition when you don't want the confinement of an additional toilet room. Here they can be stair stepped toward the top to the wall's highest point and their raw ends covered in cuts from your field tiles or by using special glass tiles that are available. If you are lucky enough to be able to borrow natural light from an outside source like a light shaft or hallway you can create a brilliant room having no windows visible from the outside.
All new construction or any bathroom remodel should involve multiple shower head combinations in multiple locations to fit anyone's desires. Rain heads coming out of the ceiling, body heads coming out of the walls in many locations, or hand held units attached to the shower walls can make things very interesting. These combinations of heads and locations can be used to create rain effects, provide relief for muscle aches through body massages, or simply provide pin point convenience with hand held variable heads. The possibilities are endless as you dial in your bathing environment. Steam generators are also being considered as an investment in today's fine bathroom designs. The steam heads can make the difference after a tough day when you're looking for that more therapeutic spa experience. This has certainly led the way to the thermostatic shower valve with plumbed-in hand held shower that is being used specifically in homes today where the owner is planning to retire.
What about the costs involved? In general, a typical bathroom remodel in the Austin area can run you about $19,000. However a large master bathroom makeover can push up your budget to around $35,000 as an average. Don't forget that these are average costs and the client is limited only by their bank account totals. A custom tub to shower conversion can set you back around $13,000 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.
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?
As for the new custom walk in glass block shower design, you can design the space to not need 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 $600. 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.
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 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.
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.
A Tub to Shower Conversion with Seat Derived From a Shorter Vanity with Glass Block Inserts
Accessible Bathrooms In Austin
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.
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.
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.
