Bathroom Remodeling, Renovation, Improvement and Ideas
You must be here because you want to do something with at least one bathroom. This page is divided into three sections. The first is "Bathroom Ideas". The second is "Bathroom Remodeling and Renovation", and the third is Bathroom Improvement. All sections are probably applicable to your needs. The object is to provide you information so that you can have a successful project, irrespective of the wording of the activities.
Bathroom Ideas
Since we do not know what you want to do, and many times we find that you don't either, the following is a list of ideas you may use that we hope you find helpful. If it works out, you will contact us by e-mail or phone as at the top of the page.
- Is your budget under $1,000? If so, you can repair some things, but you cannot remodel or renovate your bathroom. If you need bathroom repair or if you just want to spiffy up your bathroom, consider that cleaning and painting are very good inexpensive activities. Irrespective of the size of your bathroom, you may use some of the techniques in "Small Bathroom Makeover". This is the recommended course of action for under a thousand dollars, and it will really make most bathrooms look much better. There is one exception. If you need your tub surround or shower surround repaired, or if you just see mold, particularly at the lower part of your shower or around your tub, you probably need a repair. That particular repair is beyond the $1000 budget.
- Is water stain beginning to show up on the ceiling below your shower or your tub? Are you seeing that pesky mold that shows up when your tub surround or shower surround begins to rot behind your tile? If that is the case, you need to read "The most important thing you as a homeowner need to know", then e-mail or call us immediately, because we are experts in repair where water is concerned.
- Do you need to repair your tub or shower surround but wish to remodel or renovate your bathroom at the same time? You might consider that depending upon your desires in terms of fixtures in your shower, the size of your shower, the type of glass (shower door, panel and return) and how your shower is to blend into your bathroom..type of threshhold, orientation, etc., you need a budget of $2000 to approximately $9000 just for this part of your remodel or renovation. You might consider that if your remodeling or renovation budget is between $2000 and $9000, that you may not get to do your complete bathroom, but you need to work on the shower or tub surround first because of the repair issue.
- Do you have a small bathroom? See some information and pictures specific to small bathrooms at "Bath Small".
- Would you just like to scan some pictures to see if any of the work reminds you of something you want? Try scrolling down the home page, or see Bathroom Pictures here.
- Have you considered that you must hire the right type of contractor? That all contractors do not hold the same types of licenses? First you must hire the right type of licensed contractor. You may verify that Tile Man Construction is licensed by going through the "Home Remodeling Process". Don't you even dare to hire a contractor without a Class A or B license with a Building Specialty if you are going to have them remodel or renovate your bathroom. You must then read "The most important thing you as a homeowner need to know", then call or e-mail us as above at top of this page. You will wind up with beautiful work and be happy you did!
Bathroom Remodeling and Renovation
The most important thing you as a homeowner need to know
The most important thing you as a homeowner need to know in selecting a bathroom remodeling contractor:
What is the biggest single factor in your bathroom remodeling project? Water! What is involved in 99% of the problems that will occur in bathrooms? Water! What is the biggest factor you as a homeowner should consider in selecting a contractor? You might think the answer lies in the cost of the job. Wrong. You may think that the answer lies in the bathroom design including the floor layout and cabinetry choices. Wrong. You might think the answer lies in the experience of the contractor in creating beautiful tile designs. Wrong. You might think the key to dealing with water in a bathroom would be to hire an excellent plumber to build your bathroom. You couldn't be more wrong.
All of the selection criteria we vetoed above are good criteria in selecting a contractor. But all those criteria are far overshadowed by other criteria when dealing with water. Before we jump to the answer, let us consider some real world problems, then we will consider examples of design, construction, and failure.
Mold. Have you ever seen mold in a bathroom? Do you know that some mold produces toxins? You surely know that many people are allergic to mold. It is unsightly in any circumstance. Now you may think that if you see mold, that mold is the problem. Wrong. The problem is that there has been a failure in the bathroom in the design or construction, allowing water to go where it is not supposed to be, or to remain when it should evaporate, or not be exhausted from the bath when it should be. The problem does not lie in the mold but in the handling of water. There are mold spores just everywhere. They are in the air inside and out. Give that some thought. Where did that mold come from that is in the lower part of your shower or tub surround? It did not just appear, it has always been there, but did not have the rot and water to feed on, and therefore, for a long time, it didn't grow and multiply, and become an eyesore, be a cleaning difficulty, and finally, a health hazard.
Stains or water on your ceiling below your bathroom or even ten to fifteen feet from your bathroom on the ceiling below. Now that sounds like a problem in your home doesn't it? On your dining room ceiling, or your kitchen ceiling or your beautiful den with built in mahogany shelving. The problem again is in the handling of water.
We have made the case that the proper handling of water through bathroom design and construction is the major factor that a contractor must consider in bathroom remodeling. Mold and stains, leaks and damage are commonplace in bathrooms, particularly in older bathrooms.There are builders and contractors which are excellent, and do excellent work, providing homes and bathrooms that do not prematurely decay from the effects of water. There is also stuff that happens. Pipe joints pop. Roofs leak. Seals around vent pipes on the roof are eventually destroyed by the sun and leak. Commode seals deteriorate over time and leak. Homeowners clean all of the caulk out of the shower door over time, or it deteriorates, and it leaks. Houses sometimes settle, breaking joints, and they leak. These are normal aging problems and require maintenance. But the ability to handle water is something your contractor needs to know.
Here are Examples of improper water handling by builders and remodeling Contractors. Review of these examples will show you that hiring a builder or a licensed experienced contractor is not sufficient to produce not only a visually pleasing functional bathroom, but one which does not prematurely decay.
So, what do the contractors have in common where incompetent water handling is concerned? If we only consider those contractors that are licensed we will eliminate a lot of the gross incompetence, however, we see by the above examples that is not sufficient. We also see that experienced plumbers and tile setters may not have enough experience in bathroom remodeling. They may be very good in their tradecraft. So, bathroom remodeling experience is a large factor. It does not explain, however, how those experienced remodeling contractors and builders can do such incompetent work. We believe the answer is integrity. Homeowner, you need an experienced bathroom remodeling contractor with integrity.
Homeowner, you need to know that bathroom remodeling experience and integrity of the contractor is more important than all other factors combined (after type of contractor and licensing).
Surface Level Bathroom Remodel
This section is added as information for the homeowner for two reasons. First, there are bathroom remodeling companies which have made a business of covering up and hiding problems in bathrooms. Sometimes they are covering up the tub or shower surround in your bathroom that looks bad. More generally, they are covering up the mold (which can be life threatening), the leakage (which is rotting out your home), the rot (which can threaten the structure of your home), and the carpenter ants (which eat up your home). When repairing or remodeling bathrooms we have many times opened up nests of carpenter ants which have been attracted to water leakage and have built their nests in the wood near this source.
Companies which fool the homeowner into thinking they are providing a good service but cover up the homeowners problems are dispicable, sham companies which take pride in their lack of integrity. Of course they are running to the bank with your money.
The second reason for providing this information is that we just found an article on the internet with a section under "home renovations/remodel your bathroom" which declared that "There is no shame at all in wanting to do a surface level bathroom remodel." This is disgusting misdirection to the homeowner that attempts to justify this foolishness by "saving" the homeowner money. The long-term expense to the homeowner can be loss of life, serious illness, and additional remodeling and repair costs.
The writer of the article declares that "The mantra of the surface-level bathroom remodeler is "cover, not replace".". This is much different than a small bathroom makeover, where you replace or repair, paint, clean and keep the current items in order to save money. Homeowner, please do not be fooled by the difference.
Bathroom Improvement
We design, build, and remodel bathrooms. If you need assistance with your bathroom improvement or renovation, or wish to discuss your remodeling ideas, you may e-mail or call us at the number above.
Rough Bathroom Pricing and Contractor Selection
One of the things we have tried to do throughout this site is provide information that is truly useful for the homeowner. You will find information about both the type of contractor to select and how to check out and select your contractor using the "Home Remodeling Process" under "Home" above. You may go through this process to actually do it, or you may go through the process just to learn about contracting and obtain some idea of rough pricing on your bathroom remodeling project. The rough pricing provided is from qualified contractors.