DIY Bathroom Remodeling
Do It Yourself Bathroom Remodeling
DIY Bathroom Remodeling
Do It Yourself Bathroom Remodeling
If you are planning to undertake a bathroom remodeling project, steps should be taken to minimize pollution from sources inside the home. In addition, residents should be alert to signs of inadequate ventilation, such as stuffy air, moisture condensation on cold surfaces, or mold and mildew growth and use the bathroom remodeling project to correct underlying problems. While all of our general recommendations may not apply to your home, you should be aware of the issues, from radon gas and lead paint, to ventilation, and good work practices.
Installing a tile backsplash in a bathroom is not a difficult home improvement project for the diy home handyman. It is a great addition to a bathroom on its own or as part of a complete bathroom remodeling project. Backsplashes allow the homeowner to be creative, make clean-up easier and enhance the value of the home.
There is probably no other single item within a home with more selection than the bathroom sink, basin or lavatory. There is a wide selection of materials, shapes and styles to choose from that will compliment any bathroom remodeling project.
In most homes the bathtub is used many times a day, we stand in it, we sit in it, and we lie in it! It provides comfort, and relaxation. It is a place for contemplating the problems of the world and many of us use it as the area to express our thoughts through song. We use it to wash the kids, the dog, and delicate drapes. Yet, with all its uses and its importance in our lives, it is probably the least thought about bathroom remodeling fixture.
Bidets are principally used to wash and clean the external genitalia and the anus, as well as the skin near these areas. They may also be used to clean any other part of the body; they are very convenient for cleaning the feet for example. Not the most common bathroom fixture in North America, it is beginning to be shown in a lot of model homes.
Most states, provinces and local municipalities have bylaws that require homeowners, or contractors working on behalf of a homeowner to obtain permits for many building and remodeling projects. A complete bathroom remodeling home improvement, because it usually includes work on plumbing and electrical, as a general statement, require a building permit.
For the homeowner, caulking is one of the most beneficial products made. It can be used both indoors and outdoors, as an adhesive, as a decorative finish and at the same time it provides a weather and moisture seal. Using the right caulking is as important as using caulking at all. In a bathroom, depending on the materials used to manufacture the bathtubs, shower enclosures and other fixtures certain types of caulking perform better than others.
Whether you are looking for a general contractor or a specific trade, determining who you should contract can be a very frustrating experience. Reference checks are a critical part of the exercise. Bathroom remodeling is an expensive exercise, and if you are not a diy home handyman - it is important that you choose your contractor wisely.
Countertops are a primary focal point of any bathroom. You have many choices of material, edging and cost, each has advantages and disadvantages – learn which is best for you! If you are remodeling your bathroom with a tight budget, learn how to build your own counter tops.
Getting out of a hot shower and finding the bathroom mirror fogged is a frustrating situation at the best of times. Now there is a way that you can eliminate fogged bathroom mirrors. Something that should be considered as part of every bathroom remodeling project.
A total bathroom remodel, with the exception of adding additional living space, is by far the most expensive and most complex home improvement that one can undertake. With the new design software packages that are available you can see your finished bathroom in 3D before you start.
Drilling Holes - Porcelain, Stone, Marble, Granite
Drilling holes in ceramics, porcelain, natural stone, marble, granite, and glass is not difficult, it requires some patience and as with most projects, the proper tools for the job. Very few bathroom remodeling projects do not have a requirement to drill holes in tile.
Bathroom exhaust fans come in many noise levels, sizes, shapes and configurations. It is important that the bathroom ventilation system meet the needs of the square footage of the bathroom that it is to ventilate. You can save energy by installing timers on your bathroom exhaust fans.
Faucets - Basin / Lavatory / Sink
Faucets come in a variety of styles, finishes and quality levels. These faucets can be one piece or three piece styles. In the vast majority of cases the one piece style uses holes in the vanity top or sink or basin itself on four inch centers. Three piece, separate hot and cold valves and a separate spout, generally use eight inch centers for the holes in the sink, basin or counter top. It is important to determine the faucet style that suits you before committing to new sinks or counter tops for your bathroom remodeling project.
Tile Patterns, Designs & Layout
When considering the flooring material for a bathroom remodeling project there are two major considerations; safety and the material's ability to stand-up to moisture. There are many choices for your bathroom remodeling project including man made tiles, laminates, vinyl and natural stones
Glass Block Shower Installation
As a somewhat unique building material glass blocks blend with many architectural styles. It has the characteristic that it can provide privacy, yet permits substantial amounts of light to pass from room to room or from outdoors to indoors, making it and excellent choice for bathrooms. Consider glass blocks for your bathroom remodeling project.
There are so many beautiful flooring materials for bathrooms, yet most a major drawback. They are cool and sometimes very cold to the touch. There is nothing much worse than stepping out of a relaxing hot shower onto an ice cold floor. Before you commit to the design of your new bathroom consider the different flooring materials and whether you should install radiant heating in the floor.
On demand or tankless hot water systems have been in use in Europe and Asia for over 40 years, although the vast majority have been fueled by natural gas or propane and were installed in locations within the home that required hot water, primarily kitchens and bathrooms, as they did not use a central hot water tank for an entire home. Tankless water heaters have a number of advantages. But installing one as part of your bathroom remodeling project can become expensive, especially if your current electrical service cannot delivery the necessary power.
Adequate lighting in a bathroom can be a complex exercise. Florescent lighting, as a general statement, produces a light spectrum that is somewhat limited and hence colors are not what they appear to be. Glare and shadows from light bouncing off ceramic tile and enclosures add to the lighting problem. Do not leave the lighting as an afterthought in a bathroom remodeling project.
The bathroom medicine cabinet provides an area for storage and generally provides the mirror that resides over a sink. Medicine cabinets come in a variety of sizes, finishes and functionality. Because they are generally mounted in the wall, rather than on the wall, it is important that consideration be given to the style and size of the medicine cabinet before you start framing and installing plumbing pipes and electrical wires.
Installation, Maintenance & Disposal
Bathroom mirrors accomplish two tasks. They allow us to groom ourselves and they give the feeling that the room is larger than it is. Use mirrors to create the feel of a large bathroom, when you are facing a smaller bathroom area.
Molds are part of the natural environment. Indoors, mold growth should be avoided. Molds reproduce by means of tiny spores; the spores are invisible to the naked eye and float through indoor air. Mold may begin growing indoors when mold spores land on surfaces that are wet. There are many types of mold, and none of them will grow without water or moisture. Bathrooms are the perfect haven for mold growth.
Painting Ceramic Or Porcelain Tile
It is a fact of life in decorating that what is the in thing today will most likely not be the in thing tomorrow and because of that many homeowners end up with outdated room decoration. This is especially prevalent in ceramic and porcelain tile. If you are on a tight budget or you are not prepared to replace perfectly good ceramic or porcelain tile, it is possible to paint them!
Pictures - Bathroom Design & Layout
More than 50 pictures of bathroom designs and layouts showing all aspects of a bathroom remodeling. Vanities, Flooring, Lighting, Fixtures, Tile
Bathroom remodeling is one of most expensive and most complex home improvement that a diy home handyman can undertake.
Plumbing - Drains, Vents & Water Lines
The most complex part of any residential plumbing system is located in the bathroom. If the rough-in portion of the plumbing is not installed properly, the homeowner will have no end of problems, that include water hammering, sinks and lavatories that drain slowly or create gurgling sounds and sewer gases entering the home - a true health hazard.
Remodeling your bathroom can be one of the most expensive remodeling projects you undertake on a square foot basis. However, there are some things you can do to get the luxury bathroom you want at a fraction of the cost. Bathrooms are generally small rooms and that fact is one of the primary keys to saving money.
There are very few bathroom remodeling projects that require more planning and thought then the installation of a shower or tub enclosure. A new or replacement shower or tub enclosure will require working, at a minimum on the walls, hot and cold water lines, tub spout and shower piping.
Repairing Leaking Shower Doors
As in most things, you get what you pay for. But with shower and tub doors that statement has a lot of meaning. It is very easy for manufacturers to skimp on quality while still providing a product that has aesthetic appeal, in the short term. In the long term, inexpensive products will bend, warp, discolor and generally fall apart. No one wants to do bathroom remodeling every few years. Understand the materials you are choosing for your bathroom remodeling project.
When it comes to the shower head, most shower and tub faucets include a matching shower head. If you are purchasing a separate shower head, make sure that the finish actually matches. Chrome glosses vary as do other types of plating between manufacturers. A brushed nickel from one manufacturer may not match the brushed nickel of another manufacturer.
Taking a steam shower is a refreshing and invigorating experience which can be enjoyed in almost any bathroom. A compact steam generator delivers steam to a shower enclosure with suitable seals, creating a leisure facility in the privacy of your own home. Definitely a fixture to consider if you are contemplating a bathroom remodeling project.
Molded from porcelain, toilets are the basic essential for a bathroom. With the ever dwindling supply of water, manufacturers have been pushed to create toilets that require as little water as possible in order to properly dispose of waste material. However, some toilets work with less water and others don't - learn why.
Make Your Own Vanities & Cabinets
Face-Frame Versus Frameless (Euro Box/Style) Cabinets
In many cases the vanity and sister cabinetry is the focal point of a bathroom. Besides providing an area to perform self grooming, it provides a place to house the sink or basin and provides space for storage. When remodeling a bathroom it is important to consider what you need in cabinetry before commencing the project.
Tile Patterns, Designs & Layout
From 1" to 18" squares, from diamonds to rectangles, bathroom wall tile comes in an unbelievable amount of shapes, patterns, colors and materials. Take time to see what's available before you start your bathroom remodeling project.