Fixing up the house

Bathrooms are small rooms where renovations can result in big impact, big value, and oftentimes, big problems. That’s why it’s important to thoroughly plan your bathroom renovation ahead of time and talk to a contractor about your options, limitations, and budget. Unless you have vast experience with home renovations and plumbing, a bathroom renovation may not be the best project for the DIY homeowner to tackle but there are some tips that will help ensure success.

Any home renovation can be a bit of a headache and inconvenience but the bathroom may be the single largest inconvenience for a renovating homeowner, especially if your home has only one bathroom. Even with more than one bathroom, the water may need to be shut off to the entire house, rendering a second or third bathroom barely functional anyway. Time is of the essence when it comes to bathroom renovations which is one very important reason you might opt for professional help. A professional contractor can help the process go more quickly, and plan each step of the project to be as accommodating to you as possible.

Before you begin your bathroom project, there are many things to decide. What finish do you want on the light and plumbing fixtures? What type of plumbing fixtures do you want? Do you want a single or double sink? And the list goes on and on. Having a good idea of the overall design of your bathroom, as well as the finer details, will help ensure that your project meshes into a beautiful and functional finished project instead of a mishmash of expensive counters, cabinets, and fixtures that don’t work for your space or your lifestyle.

One of the biggest problems that is often revealed during a bathroom renovation is the plumbing. In some cases, even your contractor won’t know what’s behind the walls until they see it. You certainly don’t want to be on your own when a plumbing issue arises. Incompatibility, out-of-date and out-of-code pipes, leaks, and other issues are best handled by a professional. It will provide you with peace of mind and could even save you money in the long run.

Even though bathrooms are smaller rooms, there is a vast amount of work to accomplish during a renovation. If the bathroom is being expanded to include extra square footage or the addition of a tub or shower, the design is very important in order to maximize available space. Even if the basic footprint of the bathroom remains the same, the replacement of a vanity, sink, tub or shower, flooring, walls and other fixtures can be daunting. An experienced contractor will help you sort out the best options.

During the planning stages of the project, decide which materials you prefer for floors, walls, and counters. Be sure to take into consideration the maintenance and upkeep as well aesthetics. Also be sure to plan space for adequate storage of toiletries, towels, and other bathroom essentials. Keep in mind that the most successful bathroom renovations are those that were well thought out and planned before construction actually started.

Bathroom fixtures, such as tub and shower styles, sinks, and cabinets, change frequently. Some designs are classic in nature but other reflect modern technology. To get the most bang for your buck, decide what type of fixtures suit your home, lifestyle and budget, and avoid designs that don’t suit the rest of your home or may date your bathroom too quickly. Trends come and go but a well-designed bathroom can last for years to come. Investing in water-saving features can also help make some of your money back over time.

Remember that a contractor with experience in bathroom renovations can be your best friend; choose one that not only has experience, but a solid reputation as well. Many remodeling projects are derailed by inexperience and lack of quality workmanship. Since a bathroom renovation can be stressful, it’s better to work with someone well equipped to get you through it.

In the end, careful consideration of the details and thorough planning, combined with the experience of a qualified contractor, will result in a successful bathroom renovation that adds value to your home now and in the future.

Conklin Developments is a renovation company that specializes in complete calgary renovations. From the simplest basement renovation and design to more complex projects such as a complete kitchen renovation, additions to your home, or that custom home theater you have always wanted. We can do it all for you, and all you have to do is sit back and enjoy the fruits of our labor.

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Did you know that the residential toilet is responsible for nearly 30% of virtually all home water usage, and leaking toilet pipes are a major source of water loss. This enormous use of water prompted the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the Country to sponsor a program known as WaterSense to help those making acquisitions of toilets to find high-efficiency toilets for sale which might be extremely water-efficient to assist the nation save water by reducing its water and wastewater use within the home.

High Efficiency Toilets

The classification of high efficiency toilets is defined under federal law within the US, but will likely be completely different around the world. Check your own nation’s specs to see. In the US any new toilet shouldn’t be allowed to make use of more that 1.6 gallons of water per single flush. High efficiency toilets (HETs) have to improve on that by utilizing not more than 1.26 gallons for each flush (gpf). This saves approximately 20% over normal new toilets, a large saving if these are rolled out country wide. An impartial laboratory has to verify these toilets to permit them to receive the WaterSense tag. The certification process is stringent and the toilets have to satisfy stringent efficiency and performance standards.

But Do They Work ?

As to whether HET toilets can offer the same flushing power and bowl cleaning performance as normal toilets, the news is good. Due to advances in flush technology, the HET toilet provides excellent and reliable flushing and bowl cleaning with no loss of power. These toilets actually clean the bowl more effectively than standard toilets.

What Financial savings May be Made?

If you are keen to add an HET toilet to your property, you could save water at the rate of 4000 gallons per year, and over the lifetime of the toilet, could save $2000 in water and waste water costs. This is a large saving, much more than the cost of the toilet itself. If you have a really old toilet, or are replacing more than one, the savings could be a lot larger. So the financial savings, as wel as the environmental ones, can be large.

High Efficiency Toilet Producers

Just about all the main toilet producers are now offering high efficiency low-flow and dual flush toilets for sale to the market. American Standard, Toto, Kohler, Eljer and Gerber all provide the HET alternative. Caroma, Mansfield and Niagara are some of the lesser know manufacturers also providing these low consumption toilet designs.

It is sensible, in these occasions of drought, uncertainty about local weather changes, financial turbulence and escalating prices of providers like waste water disposal, to think about methods to scale back your water usage. The costs of HET bathrooms should not excessive, rebates may be available on certain areas and their effectiveness makes it a very good time to contemplate putting in high efficiency bathrooms in your home.

Would you like to know more about toilets for sale, visit Orlando’s website at www.toiletsforsale.org, where he offers reviews of a wide range of toilet systems and fittings including the stylish toto toilet range.

categories: toilet,bathroom,bathroom remodeling,bathroom and shower,remodeling,home improvements,diy,home and garden,property,home

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