Generally everyone wants their baths to be clean  -  attractive  -  workable and in general comfortable.

When considering doing a bath project consider looking at professional bath showrooms and working with a company and people you are comfortable with.  You need to talk with someone who has done bath remodeling before  -  who can help you select and choose products that will serve your needs and enhance your bathroom space.

Some items to consider:

• Comfort height toilets  -  with self closing seats.
• Cabinetry that is the proper height so you do not have to bend over too far.
• Non slip floor tile
• Showers with ample space for you and shelves for any bathing products you require.
• Sufficient counter space for you to be comfortable
• Bath storage   -   linen cabinetry
• Excellent bathroom lighting
• Mirrors placed at proper height and angle for all family members.
• Tubs that will accommodate your needs  – maybe a soaking tub or a claw foot tub or an easy access tub with a door.
• Waterproof wet area for showering that can be easily maintained.
• Superior ventilation that removes moisture and odors and protects your investment in your bathroom.

This is a partial list of what you should consider when looking to re-do your bathroom.

Additionally  -  you want to work with a company or individual that has all the necessary and proper insurance, workman’s comp and liability and will provide you with these certificates when you ask

A bathroom well done is still a valuable asset to any home.

These specifications are suggestions – your Sparta Trades Kitchens & Baths designer can help you work through what is best for you and your family.

Door/Entry

Doorway opening should be at least 32″, requiring a minimum 2’10″ wide door.

Door Interference

Entry or fixture doors should not interfere with each other and/or the safe use of fixtures/cabinets.

Ceiling Height

Bathroom floor to ceiling minimum height is 80″. A shower or tub with a shower head shall have a minimum floor to ceiling height of 80″ above a minimum area 30″ x 30″ at the shower head.

Clear Space

Plan a clear space of 30″ from the front edge of all fixtures to any opposite bath fixture, wall, or obstacle.

A minimum space of at least 21″ is required in front of lavatory, toilet, bidet, and tub, with a 24″ minimum space in front of a shower entry.

Single Lavatory Placement

The distance from the centerline of the lavatory to the sidewall/tall obstacle should be at least 20″.

The minimum distance required is 15″. The minimum distance required between a wall and the edge of a lavatory is 4″.

Double Lavatory Placement

The distance between the centerlines of two lavatories should be at least 36″.

The minimum distance required is 30″.

The minimum distance required between the edges of two lavatories is 4″.

Lavatory/Vanity Height

The height for a lavatory varies between 32″ – 43″ to fit the user.

Countertop Edges

Clipped or round corners rather than sharp edges are recommended on all counters

Shower Size

The interior shower size should be at least 36″ x 36″. The minimum interior size required is 30″ x 30″.

Bath Planning: Needs And Wish-Lists

To get the most from a new bathroom, you’ll want to make sure it meets the needs of everyone who will be using it. If you are remodeling, you will also want to identify any problems with, or features you don’t like in, your current bathroom. Here is a list of questions you will want to ask yourself:

Who Will Be Using The Space

• A family bath should comfortably accommodate two people at the same time. That could mean, for example, planning enough space for two sinks. “Zoning” your fixtures-isolating the toilet from the shower, bathtub and sink(s)-will help provide privacy and reduce congestion.
• A master bath suite, which is often planned as a private retreat from family and the outside world, should have space to accommodate extra relaxation and luxury features, such as an oversized chair for reading or resting.
• A powder room, guest bath or half bath typically requires less space than a full bath. That said, make sure you don’t sacrifice comfort and adequate storage for space.
• Children’s baths pose unique concerns. They typically require more safety features and lower heights, but also need to be adaptable as kids grow.
• If you have elderly relatives living with your or family members with disabilities, be sure to take functional or safety needs into account.
• Do the users have a preference for showering vs. bathing? If you are remodeling, do your present fixtures reflect those preferences?
• Is The Bathroom Conveniently Located And Accessible For All Users?
• Is the layout user-friendly?
• Does it make the most of the existing space?
• Is your existing bath too small?
• Could you annex an adjacent closet or hallway to expand the space?
• Does The Bathroom Reflect The Style And Taste Of The Individuals Who Use The Space?
• If there are children in the home, is there adequate secure storage for prescription drugs and cleaning supplies?
• Is The Current Ventilation Adequate?
• Accumulated moisture results in not only steamy mirrors, but also mildew on tile, loose wallpaper and blistering paint.
• Is The Lighting Sufficient For Specific Grooming Tasks, Overall Ambiance And Safety?

Bath Changes That Pay Back

Remodeling an outdated bathroom is a sound investment: On average, American homeowners recoup 90 percent of their renovation costs at resale, according to Remodeling Magazine’s most recent “cost vs. Value” 2006 report. Adding a second bathroom is another project that will help make a property significantly easier to sell.

If your are considering selling anytime in the near-term, however, beware of bathroom renovations that some buyers might find more off-putting than appealing. “You can always add some fuchsia towels to the bathroom if that’s your color. From a marketability standpoint, however, the advise is against installing fuchsia tiles.

If pleasing prospective buyers and getting the greatest return on investment is a top priority, keep in mind the experts’ advice when renovating your bathroom:

Keep It Simple

“From a design perspective, clean and simple is always more marketable than anything that’s ornate or off the wall,” say, Chet, Andrea, Dennis and Judy from Sparta Trades Kitchens & Baths.

Consider sticking with white fixtures and neutral color scheme if you really want to play it safe. For the floor, ceramic tile tends to bring the greatest return on investment.

Showers have surpassed whirlpool baths in popularity. But keep in mind that there are tub people and there are shower people. If you install only a shower, make it a roomy one-at least a 5-footer-so the next owners have the option of removing it and putting a tub in its place.

Shower Power

Handheld showerheads facilitate cleanup and are considered a “must have” by many remodeling professionals and homebuyers.

Pause For Reflection

Anything you can do to make a bathroom feel bigger is a plus. A wall-to-wall, counter-to-ceiling mirror will make a small space seem much larger.

A wall-to-wall mirror works well with a double sink vanity because the reflective surface unifies the shared space. Clean, contemporary bathroom designs generally call for unframed or beveled mirrors.

Increasingly, however, bathroom designers seeking a more furnished look are mounting framed oval or rectangular mirrors above the sinks instead of flat, unframed mirror that extend from one end of the vanity to another.

Everything In Its Place

Pedestal sinks look sharp but don’t offer storage or counter space. If you install one, don’t forget to add cabinetry or storage units.

Keep Style Consistent

Ideally, a bathroom should feel like an oasis. But that doesn’t mean you should forsake the style of the house to which it’s attached. Consistency is key: Don’t put a rustic timber mountain look in a 1950s-era brick ranch house.

Make A Wish List And Project Binder

Once you have determined your needs and identified any existing problems or issues you will want to correct with a new bath, start a “wish list” binder or project scrapbook. A great source of inspiration when it comes to designing your new bath, a project binder or scrapbook will also help keep you organized and focused.

Items to include:

• Design idea and trend articles clipped from magazines
• Information from consumer publications that rates products and building materials
• Pictures of attractive bathrooms from magazines and product literature
• Creative ideas for storing towels and toiletries, and for decorative items to personalize your new bath
• Product literature categorized by fixtures and faucets, cabinets and countertops, flooring, lighting and window treatments
• Paint samples and fabric swatches
• Business cards, newspaper ads, and the names and addresses of interior designers, builders, and retail suppliers
• A pad of paper for jotting down ideas, layout sketches, likes and dislikes

Use the Special Features checklist below to identify those features your feel would add value or convenience to your new bath. Add it to your project binder for ready reference.

Creating a project binder-and visiting showrooms for further inspiration-will help you to better visualize what you want your new bathroom to look like. Ultimately, this will save a lot of time and guesswork as you move forward with your project.

The Bottom Line – Your Project Budget

On a per-square-foot basis, the bathroom is the most expensive room in the house to remodel. What you will pay depends on many factors, but the area you live in and the products you include are the two biggest variables. If you are remodeling, the most expensive aspects of your project will be cabinet installation and relocating major fixtures within the space, additional labor to execute your project- plumbing, tile work, carpentry, installation, job supervision, can all add up to more than 50% of the project.

When developing your project budget, consider how long you intend to stay in your new or present home.

• If you intend to stay in your home for a number of years, a new or remodeled bath is well worth the investment.
• If you plan to sell your home in the next few years, check with a local real estate agent to find out how many baths and what kinds of amenities home-buyers in your area expect.

As with any project, you will need to make some tradeoffs. Determining your budget can help you prioritize your needs so you can begin to consider less expensive alternatives, if necessary, and get the most for your money.

Found Space

8 Tips For Small Bathrooms

Looking To Create More Bathroom Space Without Calling In The Wrecking Ball?

Look No Further

In order to stand comfortably in your bathroom, do you need one foot in the tub?

Over the past 30 years, the average size bathrooms has almost doubled. However, in many older houses the main bathroom has remained at its original 5 – by 8-foot size. Feel like time has passed your bathroom by? Don’t despair. The following 8 tips from Sparta Trades Kitchens & Baths, Chet, Dennis, Andrea and Judy will help you update your small bathroom, either by saving physical space or by using design techniques to increase the perception of space.

Less Commodious Commodes

TIP 1:

Old toilets are larger and less efficient than newer models. To give yourself more room to operate, consider replacing your old model with a compact toilet. It’s the same size as a round-front model and still provides the comfort of an elongated seat.

TIP 2:

A bonus: newer toilets flush with less water, making them more friendly to the environment.

Smaller Sinks

TIP 3:

Get a sleeker, roomier look with a stone or solid-surface counter and an undercounter mounted sink.

TIP 4:

Change your shower faucet to a space-saving, single control model.

TIP 5:

Consider hanging your vanity cabinet from the wall at a more comfortable height (around 32 or 36 inches) to avoid the necessity of bending over.

TIP 6:

Save real and perceived space by installing a smaller pedestal or wall-mounted sink, or a console table.

Not-So-Big Bathtubs – In a traditional-size bathroom, the bathtub tends to take up quite a bit of room. To give the illusion of more space, you might consider replacing your old tub with a lower-walled bathtub / or a shower.

TIP 7:

Look for a 5-foot tub with a flat bottom. They are perfect for showering, but still deep enough for a pleasant bath.

TIP 8:

Choose a simple shower door or shower screen. Stay away from overly ornate designs, as they don’t help maintain visual openness.

By using some imagination and a few simple tips, you can turn your cramped bathroom into a cozy retreat-without moving any walls.

Locating Bathroom Devices And Accessories

Residential bathrooms are busy places packed with plumbing fixtures and numerous supporting devices and accessories. With these items competing for limited space, a bathroom quickly can become a hodge-podge of clutter with little correlation between an item’s location and the function it serves. To simplify bathroom layouts, we follow a few rules to locate and coordinate bathroom devices and accessories. We want to make clear visual sense of switches and outlets; increase the perception space: and create a comfortable, open, and inviting feeling.

Guidelines For Locating Devices And Accessories

One of the first considerations for locating devices and accessories is whether there are any special needs. Will children be using the bathroom regularly? Will guests use the bathroom? The room’s configuration also will influence locations, but an important rule of thumb is that devices and accessories should be within arm’s reach of the task that they support. Another consideration is blocking and backing required for accessories. The rough framing often is complete before all the devices and accessories have been selected, which means the locations have to be anticipated. Consult Sparta Trades Kitchens & Baths about separate locations and suggestions.

With the hectic pace of modern technological American, people are in desperate need of stress management. To the list of aerobics, group therapy, yoga, massage therapy, Tai Chi, aroma therapy and free weights, add the newest stress reducer: extraordinary creature comfort. To help cope with their dizzying lifestyles, Americans today are finding their solace – both physical and emotional – in the bathroom!

“Spacious, feature-loaded showers have become one of the most sought-after requests for today’s homeowners,” says Chet Basher, Certified Kitchen and Bathroom Designer owner of Sparta Trades Kitchens and Baths. “More and more people are recognizing the very real need to take time for themselves, to relax and reduce stress by pampering their bodies in a spacious, modern, convenient shower. Just one-half hour of total self-indulgence in a feature-laden shower can make up for any number of grueling hours in an unfriendly, competitive workplace.

“Though once considered luxury features, multiple shower heads, scald-free water controls, shower seats, skylights, grab bars, leg-shaving shelves, room for two, music and much more have become necessities for increasing numbers of homeowners who understand just how important it is to experience the relaxation and even sensuous experience of a well-planned shower.

“A steam shower, for example, loosens the muscles, opens the pores and relaxes the mind, providing maximum effect for a relatively minor investment,” continues Basher, who has installed dozens in existing and new bathrooms. “The steam unit itself is small and can be hidden in a closet or vanity without compromising much storage space. About the only other requirement is a shower door, as opposed to a curtain, so the steam can be contained more effectively,” he explains.

Scald-free showers have become a reality now that pressure-balanced shower valves have been designed to compensate for changes in water pressure and temperature. The installer or homeowner simply sets a stop-a ring or adjustment screw-at the maximum desired temperature, usually about 110 degrees.

Showers today come in a variety of sizes and shapes: square, rectangular, corner, neo-angle, circular and even freeform, any of which can be custom-sized to fit the most irregular of bathrooms. A variety of accessories – a shower seat, his and hers toiletry shelves, multiple shower heads with sprays aimed at all the right places, and grab bars can all be added to your personal space.

Installation of grab bars is an especially good idea, adding to safety for young and old, the healthy, the handicapped and the in-between (which might include weekend tennis players, bikers or gardeners with strained elbows, knees or backs).

“Grab bars can be located vertically, horizontally or on a 45 degree angle, but should always be mounted on a 2″ x 6″ piece of plywood, recessed between studs in the wall. Improperly mounted, they will eventually pull away from the wall with the weight of use,” emphasized Basher. “Grab bars are not meant to be an afterthought, but should be carefully planned and located, then installed by a knowledgeable craftsman.”

Another welcome change for the homeowner is the variety of shower doors now available. Made of clear, opaque, striped and even etched glass, they can be trimmed in brass, chrome or colors. But the biggest single advancement is the trackless shower door which, together with the one-piece shower base, has eliminated the drudgery of cleaning showers forever. Heavy thick glass adds a feeling of jewelry to the shower.

Planning is the key. Visiting a professional, a specialist who has a strong background in bathroom design and installation, is an absolute must when redoing a room as complicated as a bathroom. Experienced – insured – professional craftsmen are a must to do your project.

“A professional Certified Bathroom Designer knows all the details of electrical codes (such as ground fault interrupters), plumbing codes, and construction codes (such as waterproof sheetrock), so he or she can coordinate every aspect of the job. And based on experience, the professional can cite the advantages and disadvantages of any given product, such as ceramic tile, granite, marble, porcelain. Give yourself the advantage of a professional designer’s knowledge,” Basher advises. “It’s the best investment you can make!

“Redoing the bath in a well-designed, well-thought-out manner, as opposed to changing just the floor or the countertop,” he continues, “yields a far higher return to the homeowner, both personally and financially.”