Bathroom Renovation – Part 5: The Toilet and the Sink

It’s the home stretch – at least for the planning process – on your bathroom renovation. While you’ll still have several decisions to make in conjunction with HA Construction (haconstructionremodelers.com) for the finished product, the right toilet and sink will help to round things out.

The All-Important Throne
No one likes to clean one, but the toilet is a crucial component in your bathroom, and can easily help or harm the design flow you’re shooting for. As you make your selection, keep these factors in mind:

• Measure the rough-in distance, which is the length from the wall to the middle of the toilet sewer drain (standard is 12 inches) – this will help to narrow down your options.
• Elongated toilet bowls provide more comfort
• Round toilet bowls are ideal for small spaces and are less expensive
• Standard toilet bowl height is 14 inches, but taller models are available and more universal

While it may surprise you, there are toilet styles, too. Two-piece toilets have a separate bowl and tank bolted together. One piece toilets are seamless and easier to clean than two-piece models, but are also more expensive. If you’re looking for dramatic effect, consider a wall-mounted toilet. Keep in mind, however, that it will be more expensive not only for the fixture, but for installation because it requires more work and support. Not to mention the fact that, if it needs repair in the future, it may mean you have to open up the wall.

If at all possible, test the toilet’s flushing capabilities before making a purchase. While it may look pretty, if it doesn’t flush well, it will be nothing but trouble. If you want a toilet that’s environmentally friendly, consider a dual-flush model; push one button to release half the tank capacity and both buttons for the full 1.6 gallons. Experts say these toilets can save up to $2,100 for a family of four over the lifetime of the commode.

Everything, Including the Sink
The sink you choose makes a pretty strong statement toward the design of your bathroom, too. Whether you go with a pedestal sink to conserve space, a traditional drop-in sink, or a modernized vessel sink that looks like a bowl sitting on the counter (and provides the opportunity for a lot of creativity), it will likely be one of the first things people notice when they walk into your new bathroom.

Consult with Andy at HA Construction (springfieldmoremodelers.com) to determine what types of sinks are even a possibility in your space. While you may want to install a vessel sink, there may not be a way to mount the fixtures on your wall space. You also need to make sure that the sink you prefer matches the configuration of the fixtures you want – again, such as wall-mounted.

The full list of bathroom sink types includes:

• Drop-in Sink – the traditional style that most everyone is used to seeing (also called self-rimming or top-mount)
• Undermount – mounted under the counter top for an uninterrupted surface
• Wall-Mounted – affixed to the wall to conserve space with a modern look
• Pedestal – supported on a pedestal, also to conserve space and provides a traditional turn-of-the century appeal
• Vessel – looks like a bowl sitting on the counter-top with a drain in the middle; you can use a prefabricated vessel sink or ask Andy if he can turn the piece you found into one

The finishing touches will come together soon and Andy can help to make that happen. In no time at all you’ll have a brand new bathroom to relax in – and show off to your friends.

Part 1: Layout Design
Part 2: Bathtubs
Part 3: Showers
Part 4: Choosing Tile

Bathroom Renovation: Part 4 - Choosing Tile

Second to the bathroom layout are the tile and colors you choose to decorate it. Whether you paint the walls and just tile the floor, or put tile from floor to ceiling, what you select will set the mood for your bathroom before anything else.

Types of Tile
The possibilities are endless when it comes to choosing what makes up your tile. You can stick to one style or combine several for a look that compliments you perfectly. Examine the following options to see which best fits your budget and design:

• Ceramic Tile – Has a brick type interior and backing with ceramic overlay and is the most common selection because it is versatile and budget friendly
• Homogenous – More universal selection because it’s the same color all around, in matt or polished finish
• Stone – The best options are tumbled stone and terracotta, which need to be sealed due to their soft surfaces
• Granite – Among the most durable selections, it has a higher cost and texture is a must
• Marble – Go with the sanded style for floors
• Glass – Generally done in a mosaic pattern and paired with ceramic for a retro-inspired style with a modern price tag
• Stainless Steel – New to the market, providing sleek, modern look
• Enameled Porcelain – Often has a metallic glaze and is also relatively new to the market

Bathroom Tile Color and Shape
Generally, unless you’re going for an over-the-top new design, you’ll want to stick with tile color in warm tones (earthy colors) to provide a relaxing feel to your bathroom’s atmosphere. Brown, beige and gray are all very popular and relevant color choices. Whatever you select needs to go with everything else in the bathroom – it’s easy to change paint color, curtain fabric or fixtures than it is to change the tile.

If you want to make a statement, consider adding a pop of color with glass mosaic tiles in a border around the room – maybe in blue or green. Just remember to stay close to the same color palette and, as with any room, light colors make small bathrooms look bigger (dark colors are more confining).

While, for the most part, tiles are square, you can also play with tile patterns and mosaics on floors and walls by using octagons, diamonds and rectangular shapes. It all depends on your style and budget.

Bathroom Tile Size
Most importantly in this category, however, is the size of your tile. The most common size selections are 4x4 inches, 8x8 inches and 12x12 inches. Each size has its benefits and drawbacks, depending on the size and layout of your bathroom.

If your bathroom is small, and you go with the 4x4 tiles in a small bathroom, using a grout that doesn’t match the tile color exactly, then the grout lines can be overwhelming to the eye and make the room confining. Medium to large tiles are common in all sized bathrooms. In fact, the majority of bathroom floors have 12x12 tiles, though it’s important to note that you should use 2x2 or smaller mosaic tiles in the shower floor so that they conform to the drain.

Andy of HA Construction notes that the most common trend he’s seeing in tile design today is the use of 16x16 or 20x20 sized tiles, placed in a brick or multi-dimensional slate pattern with thin grout lines.

Remember to take into account space between fixtures such as the tub, shower, toilet and cabinetry/sink. If you want to use 12x12 tiles and your toilet and sink cabinet sit only four inches apart, then big tiles are likely not the best option for providing a symmetrical flow to the room.

Cold Feet = Heated Floors
The final major consideration is the unavoidable fact that tile floors are cold, usually throughout the year. Let’s face it, no one wants to step out of a wonderfully relaxing warm bath onto cold tiles. So, if your budget allows, consider installing heated floors in your bathroom.

Under-tile heating systems come in two styles: mat rolls and cable wiring. The costs for installation vary depending on the style you choose, the size of the bathroom and the layout (i.e. whether it’s difficult to install). If you used a radiator to keep your bathroom floor warm before, heated floors are not only safer, but can save you money in operating costs, too.

The right tile for your bathroom’s functionality and design depends on your style and budget. HA Construction can provide you with several viable options to choose from so that you can find the best fit with optimal visual appeal. Just remember to choose something with texture – water and an overly smooth tile floor don’t mix very well.

Part 1: Layout Design
Part 2: Bathtubs
Part 3: Showers
Part 5: The Toilet and the Sink

Bathroom Renovation: Part 3 - Showers

Who knew that deciding on your shower would include so many options to choose from? Of course, the first consideration is available space in your renovated bathroom, and next comes design. However, another important factor in the selection process are the elements you desire for the most relaxing shower experience possible.

Where to Put the Shower
You will get the most out of the space you have if you place your shower in a corner of the bathroom and utilize a quadrant enclosure (which comes in a corner style unit or a D-shaped unit that still saves space but is nice for a shower out in the open a bit more).

Wetroom for a Larger Budget
This option is not for you if you have a tight renovation budget. However, if you have a little room to breathe and long to accomplish something a bit different, then a wetroom may be the way to go. Basically, with this design element, the shower is open – no walls, doors or curtains – the whole bathroom is a shower. While this design is appealing, it costs more because:

• The whole room will need to be “tanked” or made water tight to prevent leaks – only a professional contractor like HA Construction can do this properly
• HA Construction will have to raise the floor by approximately 5cm to account for waste fittings, which will slope toward your drain location (which should be away from the door so water doesn’t drain out o the room)
• The room support structure must be strong enough, or you will need reinforcement
• Extra ventilation may need to be installed so the room can dry out after use
• You’ll need non-slip flooring installed

Accommodating the Smallest of Budgets
If you really don’t have the room for many extras in your bathroom renovation budget, then you may just need to upgrade the shower head and fixtures on your current shower, or install a shower to a bathroom only equipped with a tub. These options are much less expensive, but can still provide you with the satisfaction of an upgrade.

Somewhere in the Middle
Installing (or replacing) a regular shower unit is typically the way things go for a renovation. As mentioned, there are many corner and quadrant options to choose from. However, for just a small adjustment to your budget, consider putting in a walk-in shower. These units still have doors (typically glass), but usually have more space available. The largest feature is that there is no lip – you don’t have to step up or over anything to get into the shower.

You can take this even further by designing a walk-behind shower. This has no doors or curtains, but a wall (usually of tile or glass) that you walk around to get to the shower. The wall separates the shower heads from the rest of the bathroom enough that there is no splashing, but it’s still part of the bathroom as a whole (rather than a seemingly separate room). Plus it makes for easier cleaning.

Other Considerations
You’ll also need to determine the type of shower-head you want (there are too many to list), as well as how many shower-heads. You’ll also find shower units that are fully high-tech and equipped with everything you can think of – that essentially look like a car wash with an in board radio and temperature control.

The shower pictured here is one that HA Construction recently installed in a full-scale bathroom renovation, and a prime example of the car wash approach. It has a standard shower-head, four jets, one overhead and one handheld attachment. A 75 gallon water heater was installed just for the shower, as well as a booster pump for increased water pressure and a larger-than-normal drain for the extra water. Now this is a shower anyone would enjoy!

What you choose, again, depends upon your space, budget, design and desires. Andy and his crew at HA Construction can help you determine the best fit for the ultimate shower experience.

Part 1: Layout Design
Part 2: Bathtubs
Part 4: Choosing Tile
Part 5: The Toilet and the Sink

Bathroom Renovation: Part 2 – Bathtubs

So, you’ve determined the layout of you new bathroom design, now it’s time to start deciding what goes in it. While you can, of course, reuse the fixtures you already have, it’s more likely that you’ll want newer, updated models. Which brings you to the questions: What kind of tub do you want?

When it comes to picking something new for your bathroom, you want to consider design and functionality. Of the two, functionality is probably more important because, while you want your bathing apparatus of choice to match both your bathroom scheme and your personality, you’ll probably want it to fit your needs and bathing desires more.

It’s important to note that bathtubs should be installed by a professional contractor, in order to avoid cracking or chipping and to insure the tub has the proper sealing (to prevent leaks) and support.

Believe it or not, there are actually several styles and functions of bathtubs other than the mustard colored eyesore from the ‘70s that may be in your current bathroom. Which means you don’t necessarily have to go with the state-of-the-art-cost-my-life-savings investment in the retailer showroom in order to have something in your bathroom that will make it all your own.

Bathtub Styles
First, there’s style and the following are the most popular:

• Freestanding Bathtubs – usually either claw-foot tubs for that old-fashioned, eclectic appeal, or copper bathtubs for an individualized look
• Corner Bathtubs – circular tubs set in a triangular frame to fit in the corner of the bathroom, at an angle rather than parallels to a wall
• Alcove or Recessed Bathtubs – fit snuggly in the space between three wall, so that only the front shows and should be finished
• Drop-in Bathtubs – set into the floor or a small platform, but often require reinforcement of the bathroom floor for support (jetted tubs are often drop-ins)
• Jetted Tubs – like other bathtubs with the addition of hydro-massage jets (may require more water to use this function)

Functionality
As far as functionality goes, you have two main options: single-person or two-person tubs. Single-person tubs don’t use as much water (so they’re a little more cost effective and environmentally friendly), and are much easier to clean. One option you may consider on a single-person tub is getting a deep basin. You can fill it moderately for a regular bath, or sit comfortably in a tub full of water to soak your cares away after a long day.

Two-person tubs are typically installed in master bathrooms. While this can be a nice luxury for intimacy sake, you should still consider the fact that it will take a significant amount of water to fill, which will likely require a larger hot water heater (or even the installation of a hot water heater exclusively for your renovated bathroom).

Considerations
Average bathtubs are 30 x 60 inches (2.5 x 5 feet), but that doesn’t mean you’re limited to that size. In fact, that size is usually in regard to alcove/recessed tubs and some freestanding models. You can get a tub extra at around 6 feet for taller individuals. Jetted and soaking tubs are often wider as well.

Speaking of jetted tubs, there are a few things you need to look at if you are considering this style of tub for your renovated bathroom:

• Noise of the pump
• Self-cleaning option
• Horsepower
• Control options for speed/power of the jets
• Timer and temperature options
• Number and size of jets
• Air or water jets
• Electrical needs
• Frequency of use once installed

When it comes to air and water jet options on a jetted tub, there are some differences. Air jets, of course, put air in the water to circulate it. Water jets mix air and water. While there is less power for water flow with air jets, they do prevent the build-up of mildew, making the tub easier to clean. Additionally, while you can use bath salts and oils with air jets, you typically cannot with water jets.

While the options for your bathtub may seem overwhelming, getting the right one means many relaxing evenings soaking away the cares of the day. As always, if you’re not sure what will be the best option for your bathroom layout and renovation budget, Andy at HA Construction can help you come up with something that will both reflect your personality and have optimal functionality for your family.

Part 1: Layout Design
Part 3: Showers
Part 4: Choosing Tile
Part 5: The Toilet and the Sink