Why not add a Shower to your bathroom?

by: Mike Yeager

If you are thinking of remodeling your bathroom and redoing or adding showers to them, consider all of your choices. The age we live in has allowed us many choices in what we want in our homes. We can choose from high end, high quality items to comfortable old favorites. When looking to redo or install a shower in your bathroom, you have many things to consider.
Start by knowing the size of the area you wish to install the shower. Or, if you have a previous shower already installed, removing the old will tell you whether any of the existing elements there will need to be repaired or replaced. Consider where the drains are located and how stable the flooring is. Once this information is obtained, you can move onto the design stages.

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Taking a trip to the nearest home improvement store will give you many ideas. Don't want to leave the house? Check online stores and even specialty stores that can give you many, many choices. Bathroom showers come in many shapes and sizes and are made from different qualities of materials. Consider whether you want to have an open area surrounded by walls or more of a bathroom shower stall which is more enclosed with a door. Some very nice ones can be made out of stone and ceramics. Others, more commonly used, are made from steal or plastics. Finding what suits you needs and tastes is important. Remember to keep in mind the costs and the installation fees if you will not be installing it yourself.
Now you have the bathroom shower installed.

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Looks great right? Did you consider shower curtains to match the bathroom? You can find many designs at a department store of your choice. Bathroom shower curtains are easy to find and in most cases an inexpensive way to provide privacy. Or, perhaps, you shower has shower doors? Doors can be a great way to keep the water in the shower itself. Doors made of glass will be much heavier then those made of plastics, but either choice will come with a film like surface to allow some privacy.
Got it put together? Do you like the outcome of your project? Remodeling or installing can be a great way to add value and comfort to your home. Finding things that you not can use, but that you like as well, makes the project an enjoyable experience.

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The Cost of Remodeling a Bathroom

by: Ken Marlborough

Before beginning any bathroom remodeling, you should create a budget. Pick an amount of money you can reasonably afford, and then check the costs of supplies to estimate what you can do in your remodeling project. It is wise to save about 20 percent of your budget to cover emergencies. They do happen. Keep in mind, too, the costs of professional help from plumbers or electricians. These services cost significantly more than doing the job yourself, so do whatever work you can. You may want to do your own painting, lay your tile, or decorate the new bathroom yourself. The extra work you do will let you be creative and have fun while saving money.

Online sites exist to help you estimate the cost of your bathroom remodeling. The Web sites have several remodeling scenarios to select; for example, adding a bathtub or redoing the walls. The calculators ask you your location, the size of your bathroom, the preparation work needed, and the amount and type of supplies you'll need. These sites are an easy way to plan your bathroom remodeling costs in minutes.

It also helps to talk with other people, either in person or online, who have remodeled their own bathrooms. They may alert you to great deals, products to avoid or unexpected costs they encountered. You can never do too much research. Check out the national averages of bathroom remodeling costs and get estimates from local contractors. If you are hiring someone to do work in your bathroom, don't be afraid to purchase the supplies. It may save significant costs.

The costs of supplies add up. A typical sink costs between $60 and $100, but higher-end sinks cost hundreds of dollars. Vinyl flooring is the cheapest, starting at around $3 a foot. Ceramic tile is usually triple the price of vinyl. Basic bathtubs cost a few hundred dollars, and whirlpool tubs thousands. Showers cost between $300 and $2,000. Traditional toilets cost under $200, but smaller or fancier toilets can cost up to $1,500. Paint costs around $50, wallpaper $60, and new accessories can cost anywhere from a few dollars to a hundred dollars. The important thing is to plan properly and shop wisely to keep a bathroom remodeling cost within your budget. You can always add more later on because after one bathroom remodeling experience, you will have the skills to tackle more.

Bathroom Vanity Lights - Considerations Before Buying

by: David Buster

Bathroom vanity lights are often overlooked in a bathroom. Artificial light from vanity bathroom lights and general lighting is important during hours when natural light is not available. Without good lighting, the decor and the personality of your bathroom can not be developed properly. And since the day usually begins and ends with a trip to the bathroom, time spent there should be comforting, relaxing and easy to see when grooming.

Bathroom vanity lights typically include one light or perhaps two or more above the mirror. Or, there may be lights or sconces on each side of the mirror or medicine cabinet and one ceiling light or a row of recessed ceiling lights over the vanity, depending on the size of your vanity and mirror. Make sure your bathroom mirror is evenly illuminated and free of shadows since this is where applying makeup, shaving and other grooming activities will take place. If you have two bathroom vanities, each one should have the same bathroom vanity lights setup.

You should have both ambient lighting and task lighting in the bathroom. Here are lighting types for providing artificial bathroom light:

� Ambient Lighting - chandeliers, surface-mounted, bathroom vanity lights, wall sconces and recessed fixtures are types of general lighting that illuminate the overall bathroom area. This type of illumination allows you to move around and see safely in the room. These types of bathroom light fixtures should be controlled by dimmers where you can change the intensity of the light for a relaxing feel when you are soaking in the tub, for example. General ambient lighting gives your bathroom the most illumination towards the floor, but it will produce more glare than other types of bathroom light fixtures.

� Task Lighting - is a direct beam of light that illuminates a particular area with very work-specific tasks, not intended to light the entire room. Task lighting can be a beam of light directed towards the reading area while in the tub, while shaving, reading, exercising on the treadmill, applying makeup or putting in your contact lenses. It can be turned on only when you need it. Use wall sconces on both sides of the mirror or medicine cabinet as bathroom vanity lights so that you benefit from lighting from both sides.

� Accent Lighting - these types of bathroom light fixtures are intended to create a certain visual drama and atmosphere in the bathroom, and they provide focus to selected details of the room for a decorative touch. Consider using track lighting to spotlight decorative objects or to provide a relaxing environment that you will enjoy when soaking in the tub.

� Decorative Lighting - these are lighting fixtures that draw attention to themselves as objects and they are used to create an effect. Chandeliers, candles (traditional and electric), fireplace, candelabra and low voltage pendant fixtures are examples of decorative lighting.

Always choose light bulbs for bathroom vanity lights that provide light in the natural daylight spectrum. Bulbs that are mostly yellow or white will not show you how you will appear outside the bathroom, which makes applying makeup more difficult.

You should have many options for your bathroom vanity lights. Just as a luxurious soaking bath is a great way to begin or end the day, the lighting in your bathroom should provide you that warm, cozy feeling when you want. And when you need to see while grooming or shaving, vanity bathroom lights and lighting should make it easy to see.

If you find yourself unsure of how to proceed, consider consulting with a lighting designer to assist you in creating the best lighting for your home. Read and learn as much as you can about bathroom vanity lights and lighting in your home. Good lighting planning, design and implementation will provide you enjoyable, practical and dramatic effects for your bathroom and your home in general.

Making the most of a small bathroom

by: Steven Cooper

In bathroom terms at least, bigger doesn't have to be better � It�s all just a case of making the most of the modest proportions you�re presented with! And what's more, designing a bathroom that�s small on space usage but big on style and functionality should be a lot more fun.

The Click Bathrooms guide to maximising a modest bathroom follows three simple principles�

1 - Make it seem bigger

A great way of tackling a bathroom with limited dimensions is by creating the illusion of space. First and foremost, aim to colour your walls in lighter shades such as whites, creams and pastels, thereby avoiding the darker colours that dramatically reduce the sense of space inside a small room.

Good lighting is also a vital tool in expanding the look of your bathroom. By illuminating areas that are prone to shadows with strong directional lights you�ll find that the room opens up even further.

Finally, attempt to generate a feeling of space through the clever use of mirrors, which positioned correctly can literally make a room appear to double in size. For maximum effect, adorn the back wall of the room with one or more large mirrors, or a number of smaller mirrored tiles.

2 - Utilise hidden or difficult spaces

Time to get creative and think outside the box; can you utilise space that isn�t immediately visible? Start at the bottom by identifying any available low-level spaces - under bath storage is a great way to keep towels and toiletries out of sight for a start. If you�re struggling to free up low-level space, wall hung ceramic ware can provide vital extra ground room.

Then it�s time to target the high-level spaces � stylish hooks and hangers can effectively replace the need for bulky closets, whilst a large ladder style heated towel rail can happily accommodate all necessary towels and dressing gowns.

Don�t just give up on the difficult or unusual spaces your bathroom may present to you. Corner fitting WCs and basins can squeeze in to the tightest of spots, whilst short projection bathroom furniture and ceramic ware options should also prove equally economic with space.

3 - Get multifunctional

If space is really at a premium, try selecting bathroom fittings and fixtures that serve more than one purpose. Choosing a combined shower bath will allow you the option of relaxed bathing or rapid and refreshing showering without occupying the amount of space otherwise needed. Then there�s the dual functionality of the heated towel rail, working as both a radiator and a storage feature, or bathroom cabinets that provide shelf space, lighting and mirrors.

Finally, look to combine individual bathroom items to create harmonious multifunctional bathroom features. An inset ceramic basin can be housed on top of a short projection vanity unit to create a stylish washstand with ample low-level storage.

It�s Easy to Add a New Shower in Your Bath

by: ARA ADX5XEWQRS6N

(ARA) - If you think you're stuck with your bathroom's old, dingy shower or none at all, think again. There are now modestly priced showering systems and shower doors that are easy for homeowners to install themselves in less than a day. �Many homeowners are surprised that something that seems as complicated as a shower is actually simple and affordable to install,� says Bill Pavilonis, product manager-Sterling brand bathing products for Kohler Co., a kitchen and bath products company. For the homeowner who is interested in building a shower within an existing bathroom space, or swapping a new unit for an old one, the Sterling Ensemble shower systems are designed to make installation quick and easy for the do-it-yourselfer. The four modular pieces can be transported by just one person through doorways and around corners, and the tongue-and-groove interlocking joints create a seamless appearance without the need for caulk. Installers don�t have to drill holes or screw bolts into brackets, eliminating the work of mounting components to the side or back walls. �It takes one person less time to install these showers than it would take multiple people to install common one-piece modules,� says Pavilonis. The shower systems are made from an easy-to-clean, durable Vikrell material and consist of two side walls, a backwall and a lightly pebbled bottom surface designed to help prevent slipping. There are strong structural ribs molded into each shower base to supply additional support and rigidity. Each unit includes a molded-in shaving area ledge and six corner shelves that offer storage for toiletries. You can also transform an old shower by simply installing a new glass-panel door. Although many homeowners consider this to be a cumbersome and frustrating task involving cutting, drilling and careful measuring that allows little room for error, it doesn�t have to be complicated. Sterling has developed a stylish bypass shower door, the Finesse Quick Install, that can be installed with just an Allen wrench in less than 15 minutes. �Installing this shower door is as easy as hanging up a shower curtain, but with a lot more style and durability,� says Matt Klein, product manager-Sterling brand showering products for Kohler, who adds that most homeowners these days have less time to devote to household projects, and require products that are quick to install. �Most other conventional shower doors could require to four hours to install,� adds Klein. The doors, appropriate for a bath or shower, have adjustable frames that can accommodate a wide range of openings without requiring any cutting or drilling. A compression fit mechanism provides a solid surface, leak-proof seal. Constructed of tempered glass, the doors are durable and easy to clean. For more information on Ensemble shower systems and Finesse Quick Install shower doors, call (800) STERLING or visit SterlingPlumbing.com. Courtesy of ARA Content About the author: Courtesy of ARA Content Circulated by Article Emporium