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.
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.
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
Commercial bathroom remodeling Austin is supremely different than any fine bathroom upgrade involving a residential setting. You have to consider the needs of the general public and not simply the needs of a certain set of employees involved at working at a business. There are many guidelines and sets of rules to be considered. Compliance with these regulations will be acheived by first hiring an experienced commercial building contractor. Be aware that a true residential contractor normally does not possess the knowledge of the contractor operating within the commercial world of construction. He simply does not use nor is he confident with all the commercial rules. Meeting and understanding the ADA accessibility regulations as they pertain to all commercial buildings requires a certain skillset and experience. A commercial contractor will possess the knowledge of the building's structure and composition along with the experienced ways of altering the construction to bring it into compliance.
A completely serviceable special needs bathroom must contain an ADA accessible vanity. The vanity must be one with a clear underneath scald protected area having an unobstructed roll under capability for wheelchairs. A five foot turning radius allowing the wheelchair to maneuver an approach must also be associated with the ADA vanity. The area of travel will then be enhanced by an unobstructed clear accessible barrier free route dedicated to reaching the vanity.
Whether the job concerns ADA remodeling or new construction, commercial or residential, the end result will always be the same in aiding those who no longer or have never had the choice of a means of locomotion. Sometimes folks need a little help beyond the rest of us to be self sufficient and hold on to their dignity. That's when the clear accessible route comes into play. This designated route wil make it possible for those with special needs to enter through the front door and travel into any room of the structure without barriers like the bathroom.
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 equipted 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 countertop 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.
Regardless of whether there are special needs people working within a commercial building or not, we are required by law to make all the common areas ADA accessible. Homes provide a different situation because the alterations are put in place for specific full time occupants. The barrier free accessible route put in place must be observed as a means of life safety and function. You just never know when a personal life changing situation can appear requiring help for those with special needs. If one does occur we do have the means to offer aid and safety to those who have become afflicted in some unfortunate way and to help preserve their personal dignity and independence.
A Typical Commercial Bathroom Layout Representing Better Accessibility
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
When considering bathroom remodeling in Austin, Texas there are many things to take into account. Fine bathroom makeovers certainly aren't as simple as they appear nor are they as easy as the big box building material store employees make it sound. It takes years of experience to limit the pitfalls that can show up during the remodeling or construction process. First you'll need a design that fits your lifestyle and budget. Many people get overzealous at this point without considering the overall space in which they have to work or the budget they need to consider. How much does a bathroom upgrade generally cost? What are some cost effective measures that can be taken to get the most bang for your buck? In this present economy many Texas homeowners are choosing to remain in their current homes,. The two most popular and rewarding rooms to remodel are still the kitchen and bathroom. Remodeling these two rooms alone has the greatest influence toward increasing the resale value of your present home. Some local homeowners are remodeling for the future so that accessibility derived from special needs affecting their personal lifestyle never comes into play.
What about the costs involved for a bathroom transformation? In general, a typical bathroom remodel in the Austin area 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?
So how about those premium products purchased that will complete the new bathroom design. You've chosen quality plumbing fixtures like Kohler or Grohe setting them into granite counters atop fine cabinetry composed of luxurious hardwoods. 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.
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.
When you have finally decided to pursue a personal building project for your home and are now ready to hire a residential construction contractor in Austin, Texas you must first verify the company's capabilities and completion record. First you really need to know just how reputable a business is before jumping on board with anyone. Is there an office or shop listed with a physical address and not just a P O Box. The safest way to validate any contractor's record and understand their business is by utilizing free listings available from your local Better Business Bureau either through their website or via the telephone. Any consumer can see if the contractor is not only a current member and for how long but if they are an accredited member with a rating given out by the BBB based on track records of the contractor. You can find out how long they've been in business and if there have any derogatory complaints against them. You can be assured that no money has changed hands for receiving the accreditation grade which is based on the total profile of the contractor's business. Don't get caught taking the easy route to a decision blindly trusting posted lists of trusted businesses that are available on the internet . Many say that no contractor can pay a fee to be listed on their approved sights; however, a fee was certainly paid by someone to be listed or the web sight could not exist.
After checking out the local business listing on the BBB why not look into the business owner himself. Linked In can provide you with some background on the business owner like educational experiences, how long they've been in business, and other general knowledge. Just how transparent is the business and is it in good standing? Yelp is another web site where a free listing about a business containing testimonials has been posted by their clients. You can verify if a business exists and find out more about them plus you can always ask for more references.
Now that you know the business actually exists and the owner is both local and somewhat reputable, you should take note in how they conduct their business. Is the contractor trying to do the job without a city permit not being registered with the city and county or does he have both general liability and workman's comp insurance? The old adage that "if there is a permit involved then my taxes surely will go up because of the improvements" gets shot down because city officials make sure the work is done in line with the accepted building code. The time to obtain the permit and it's fees surely outweighs the costs of the judgments you would have had to bring against the incompetent contractor once his methods failed. Now how about asking to see a current certificate of insurance for the company? The contractor must have general liability coverage to cover any accidental physical occurrences while working on your home. He must also have workman's comp insurance to keep any employees working on your home from suing you as the homeowner if they are hurt on the job.
I tell my customers all the time that one of their main ways of choosing a residential building professional in Austin, Texas 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.
T-Square Company can help you with kitchen and bath remodels, room additions, or simply making your home more accessible for you or a loved one. Our design build projects will be customized to your fit your needs and are guaranteed to blend with your homes existing architecture. Let our over three decades of remodeling experience work for you.
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.
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.
Remodeling your existing master bath to obtain an often dreamed of larger shower doesn't always mean adding square footage to your existing bathroom. Whether your doing a tub to shower conversion, utilizing the existing uncomfortable tub and shower spaces together, or merely enlarging your existing shower you can reach a more comfortable feeling by changing your existing layout and utilizing your existing bathroom's square footage. Fine bathroom upgrades usually involve an efficiency of space usage plus getting rid of any unused or abused space like inefficient closets or wasted storage areas. This situation can be addressed in the design of your future fine cabinetry.
A tub to shower conversion for a custom walk in shower can provide easier access helping with mobility issues. There's no stepping over the side of the tub. The custom walk in shower in Austin, Texas access can be made into a raised threshold type used in a wheelchair roll in situation that solves accessible ADA issues or it can involve a small 4-6 inch step over a newly formed curb. Either way the access is located at the greatest distance from the wet wall and within the wall that is perpendicular to the wet wall. A hand held shower that is clip mounted on an adjustable vertical rod will be sufficient for almost all situations. A seat may be able to be installed within the perpendicular wall nearest the wet wall if at least a twelve inch offset is available.
If you have the luxury of combining the tub and nearby shower areas into one large custom walk in shower design your problem will be taking full advantage of the larger spatial situation. A huge shower area is just that if it isn't efficient at using the new enlarged space. Remember that multiple heads like rain and body sprays require more water volume and this can only be accomplished by replumbing the water supply lines increasing their diameters from the 1/2" pipes commonly supplying baths. Seats can also be incorporated into the design process and must be no taller than eighteen inches high. Tiled niches recessed into the existing wall studs are a great place for shampoos and body washes. Corner shelves are a good idea if they are out of the way. Hooks and hangers for towels and wash cloths must be installed for efficiency and not be in the way of traffic or in a place to harm yourself once your eyes are closed fighting soap invasion. Glass block designs can be used as a means of obtaining natural light through shower demising walls with individual installations or as a complete splash wall dividing the wet area from the rest of the bathroom. This type of wall can be either straight or curved according to your preference.
Redoing or enlarging your existing shower can also give you a feeling of comfort. You can incorporate any entance situation from walk in to roll in thresholds and you are only limited by space. You will still have the feeling of a satisfactory bathroom remodel once everything is clean and new even if your new shower is the same size you started with.
Shower pans are a concern with fiberglass being superior to that of vinyl fabric. Fiberglass pans usually never fail and must be used in all second story bathroom upgrades. The fiberglass normally will stay together even if the house settles or the floors buckle. Any type of metal pan is obsolete and will almost always fail at the corners.
A reputable cement impregnated tile backer board is preferable to any green or moisture resistant drywall products. Lighting issues should be addressed if the use of a solid shower demising wall makes it too dark within the new shower. This situation can be solved by installing a covered shower can light within the ceiling immediately above the bathing area. One other concern is humidity and this can be solved by installing a large enough vented outside ceiling exhaust fan just outside and above the shower entrance within the ceiling. Using glass enclosures is a choice with any design and installing an additional wet trap floor drain within the bathroom just beyond the shower entrance is always an option.
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.
