Bathroom Design ~ Should you... or Shouldn't you?
This morning I had a conversation with a client, now friend, who said he was going to make some changes in his bathroom. When I asked what he was planning on changing he said, I'm pulling out the tub and putting in an inexpensive tile shower. When I asked him what it was going to cost, he said, oh, I'm not sure but it can't be more than a couple of thousand. Well, having some experience in bath remodeling, I said maybe someone will charge you a couple of thousand to pull the tub out, but there is plumbing that goes along with that and it may be more than you anticipate.
When you start thinking about making changes to a bathroom, there are several variables to consider. First, there is demolition. When you pull out a tub, because it's at the floor level, you will end up with repairing or replacing flooring, And with that comes drywall repair, and re-run plumbing. The drywall and the paint for bathrooms are specially treated to withstand moisture, and as a result are more costly. Then there are the miscellanies expenses such as fixtures.
Here are a few fun ideas to help get you started. As always, if you would like an opinion on what to do to keep costs in check so you don't price yourself out of the neighborhood, give us a call.
Accessories: Accessories include decoration, wall hangings, art and sink essentials. Begin with a unifying theme.
Clearances: All fixtures should be at least 30 inches apart. There should be 30 by 48 inches in front of the sink, 24 inches around the toilet and 45 by 30 inches in front of the tub.
Colors: Bright colors add light to a room. Pastels make the room appear larger. When in doubt, use white.
Countertops: Choose from tile, solid surfacing (like Corian), Formica and Polyester resin.
Flooring: Most important: a non-skid surface.
Floor plan: The toilet should not be visible from outside the bathroom, nor be the first thing you see upon entering.
Lighting: Halogen or fiber optic lighting help to brighten up the bathroom.
Safety: Protect all electrical outlets with a ground-fault circuit interrupter; place switches at least 60 inches from water sources.
Showers: Install swinging doors to swing outward to avoid trapping the user.
Storage: Storage doors should swing clear of fixtures.