Service makes the difference
The support of our friendly and knowledgeable staff will guide you through every step of the remodeling process. Bathrooms can be tricky rooms to design when you consider space restrictions and all that has to go into the room to make to make it beautiful and functional. Helping you choose products that suit your taste and address your needs – while being mindful of the things you can’t see behind the walls and beneath the floors – will result in a bath that will provide years of pleasure and comfort while adding value to your home.
Preparing to make the change
- How big is your space? A functional floor plan is key to building and remodeling success. To determine the best layout take measurements of your space and indicate the placement of existing windows, doors and fixtures.
- Who will use this bathroom? Will you and your spouse be using it at the same time during the morning rush? Is this your child’s bathroom? Are your children boys, girls or both? Are they old enough to bathe on their own? Is this a shared space – one that family and guests will be using? Or is this a guest bath that will only get occasional use?
- How will this bathroom be used? Consider what activities will be done in the various parts of the room. For example, will you require a place to sit and apply makeup? Will the room also house laundry facilities? What activities can be done in a shared space, and which require a private area?
- Where will you put things? What items need to be stored in the bathroom, and where should they be located for easy access?
Keep your bathroom safe
Follow these design guidelines from the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) to enhance accessibility and ensure safety for all users.
- Install slip-resistance flooring in all areas of the bathroom.
- Ease entries into tub and shower areas. Eliminate steps leading into the shower, and include a tub surround with a platform so you can sit down while entering or exiting the tub.
- Select shatterproof shower doors. If the shower door is hinged, install it so the door opens into the room instead of the shower.
- Install pressure-balanced and temperature-controlled valves to prevent scalding. Make sure fixtures are easily accessible from outside the tub and shower to prevent stretching to reach the controls.
- Add grab bars throughout the bath – especially near the entrance of the tub – to prevent falls. New grab bars offer stylish looks and double as toilet paper holders, shower shelves and towel racks.
- Add a bench inside the shower.
- Install an emergency shut-off for a whirlpool tub.
- Use ground-fault circuit interrupters on electrical outlets; these shut off when a hazard, such as moisture, is sensed.
- Use cabinet locks to prevent children from accessing household cleaners and medications.
