Re: Bathroom Remodel

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

When I bought my house, before moving in, I did a bathroom remodel. I know what

you mean about overwhelming! IT seems like it would be a simple thing to

configure space to meet needs, but sometimes you don't know what you need until

you try something out learn what works and what doesn't!

I will tell you what I've learned. What works and what doesn't.

The hexagonal 1 " (about) white tiles are some of the least slippery flooring

materials I've encountered.

I had the tub taken out and multiple shower heads installed, one that has a

hand-held attachment adjacent to the built-in, wide, tile bench at the back of

the shower area. I can sit and shower, whereas my kids, who are able-bodied can

stand under the high shower head.

The mistake I made: My contractor thought he could build up a gently sloping

entrance into the shower area and the water would stay contained and flow into

the shower drain. We quickly learned that the water would flow and splash well

outside of the shower, and I had to install a shower door with tracks, which

made the area less accessible for rolling in a wheelchair and transferring to

the bench.

If I had it to do over, I would have exactly the same shower/bench design, only

I would have an additional drain in the middle of the bathroom (as well as the

shower area) and then not have to worry about standing water on the floor.

Oh! My favorite feature... I had grab bars installed at great strategic

locations in the shower and beside it. An absolute must! There are some really

attractive bars that match product lines (towel bars, toilet paper holders

etc.), especially from some of the mid-price manufacturers. My grab bars look

like part of the overall design which I love.

I would also recommend that you eye your remodel towards wheelchair

accessibility. None of us ever knows when that would be helpful and it's just

good, universal design, as I see it.

Hope this litttle bit of info helps and I'll be interested to hear what you end

up doing.

Cheers,

Lynna

[Guest guest]

Look at http://www.greatgrabz.com/ for neat grab bars.

There is also a product like linoleum because it comes in large widths

and it goes down on one sheet that has little bits of something in it

and when you step on it those bits rise and form a non-slip floor. I

have it in my bathroom and it works wonderfully. I don't know what

it's called though. It is a grey/beige and it actually sparkles. I've

gotten use to it as sparkle in a bathroom isn't really my thing.

My shower has no lip and some of the water flows off the curtain where

it goes over my transfer seat onto the floor (above) but it is easily

wiped up. If I were to do it over again, I'd take the entire tub area,

tile it bottom, top and side, in the biggest tiles I could find (grout

grows mould and is hard to clean) and put a drain in the middle of it

slightly recessed.

Our new hospital has bathrooms in each room that are entirely tiled,

have a large corner flip down seat (a flip seat is good if a person

goes to a shower commode and can no longer transfer. You can get it

out of the way) and no curtain. A long vertical chrome pole holds the

handheld shower head that slides up and down for standing or seated

and the controls are at a good height for those seated. If things get

wet you just towel them down. I think I prefer somewhat of a curtain

because it's s lot of work toweling things down. A simple ceiling

track holds a curtain beautifully and doesn't involved a bottom

threshold. I'd also put a 4 " ledge with a small lip around the entire

shower between seat and standing height to hold soap, shampoo, etc.

and have small drain holes in it to let the water drain out.

There is also a flexible threshold strip you can buy that you can roll

over or step over that holds in water so you don't need a lip.. Where

I live I look at Barrier free Architecturals at barrierfree.org. It's

Canadian but you have the same type of stuff in the U.S. including

that terrific flexible water barrier strip.

Also google accessible shower installations for a ton of information

by the folks who brought us Univeral Design.

Hope this helps.

.

>

>

[Guest guest]

I can't add too much more than what these folks have said. I am fortunate and

still very mobile, but know that my future may be more on the lines of some of

you. In the past 6 years since moving into our current home, we have done small

to major renovations on all the bathrooms. The first was " powder room " on the

main floor got new walls, new slim line sink and cabinet to make as much free

space as possible, and an ADA toilet. I did that because so many of us have CMT

in my extended family, I wanted anyone visiting to be comfortable.

Next, we moved to this house so my Mom could be with us. She had a full bath

near her room, which she had the tub removed and had one of those walk in tubs

installed. After lots of " negotiating, " we got the guy down to $13,000. His

first list price was like $18,000. That was for the tub, installation, a gap

filler (because the new tub is much shorter than an existing traditional tub),

the surround, the curved curtain bar, and even a shower curtain. If I had to it

do over, I would go to Costco.com, order the tub myself (base price one now is

like $1999.99). You would have to arrange installation, but I think for just a

tub you can for far less than $13,000. These even come with heaters now and my

Mom's does not have one. Sadly, we lost Mom last year after a brief illness, so

we have this bathroom and tub, and no traditional tub in the house. For now, my

teen and pre-teen sons are using it mainly for the shower. My wife will go and

soak in it on occasion.

Last year, we did a mini-redo of the bathroom in our master bedroom. The shower

and commode are in a separate room, the vanity outside. We had Bathfitter come

for that and cannot say enough about them. This room only has shower, so we went

with the lowest floor ledge we could, wide doors, and matching grab bars inside

(which are also my FAVORITE feature of the new shower). We also had them install

travertine marble tiles for the floor and floor trim. It is rough enough to be

good for me to step out to, but I never have never been able to step out to a

bare floor. If for some reason the little rug is gone (in the wash?) then I put

a towel down and step out onto that. If find the hot shower finally gets my feet

warm and stepping onto the floor ices them right away all over again. That whole

deal probably cost us around $6000, and there was some structure work to be

done. We are very happy with the result, and it does have some mind for the

future.

Next up... the kitchen... Need to make that easier for me. I am thinking all

drawers on the lower cabinets. Between the braces and a bad back, bending over

is tough. My sister just had her kitchen redone and one of the neatest cabinets

was the cookie sheet cabinet. I love that one! Slim, everything stands up, easy

to access. Our baking sheet cabinet is such a thorn in my side. Also the pot and

pan cabinet. Hope my wife likes these ideas! She is the queen of the house, but

I do what I can since she went back to work last year. If I need to help, I need

to be able to get at this stuff!

Mark

>>

> >

[Guest guest]

I remodeled our master bath (as well as other portions of the house).

We: (a) Enlarged the area of the shower. ( Jackhammered out the shower

concrete pan and repoured the pan into a gentle slope to the drain. © Built

up a gentle 'hill?' at the door of the shower that keeps the water in. The

'hill?' is low enough that if - well, when - I need a wheelchair to get into a

shower I can. (d) Added two grab bars in the shower, and two grab bars by the

toilet. (e) retiled the floor, and added radiant heating under the tile. (f)

some other stuff that were more cosmetic in nature .

You may want to consider replacing the current toilet with an ADA toilet, or at

least using a toilet riser

http://www.dynamic-living.com/product/toilevator-a-raised-seat-alternative/#name\

_tabsHref

WRT a walk-in bath - I dunno. While they look to be a neat things, they are

pretty expensive. All of the contractors I had over for bids were not real into

it. One of them also told me that you would not be able to open the door until

all the water had drained out.

Dan

[Guest guest]

ADA toilet blah, blah, blah. I want one of those beautiful ceramic toilets which

sits flush with the floor! Ahhhhhhhh! They're all over the orient, so why not

here?! ;-)

>

> I remodeled our master bath (as well as other portions of the house).

>

> We: (a) Enlarged the area of the shower. ( Jackhammered out the shower

concrete pan and repoured the pan into a gentle slope to the drain. © Built

up a gentle 'hill?' at the door of the shower that keeps the water in. The

'hill?' is low enough that if - well, when - I need a wheelchair to get into a

shower I can. (d) Added two grab bars in the shower, and two grab bars by the

toilet. (e) retiled the floor, and added radiant heating under the tile. (f)

some other stuff that were more cosmetic in nature .

>

> You may want to consider replacing the current toilet with an ADA toilet, or

at least using a toilet riser

http://www.dynamic-living.com/product/toilevator-a-raised-seat-alternative/#name\

_tabsHref

>

> WRT a walk-in bath - I dunno. While they look to be a neat things, they are

pretty expensive. All of the contractors I had over for bids were not real into

it. One of them also told me that you would not be able to open the door until

all the water had drained out.

>

> Dan

>

[Guest guest]

Thank you so much for all of your thoughtful responses. One more thing. When I

approach this, who do I call? Do I call my plumber first? Or do I call my

general contractor?

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

 

I'm not sure if anyone responded to this yet.  If so, I apologize.  I'd try to

find a qualified bathroom remodeling contractor in your area, with experience in

w/c accessible bathrooms.

 

http://ezinearticles.com/?From-Bathroom-Ideas-To-Bathroom-Contractors & id=5515707

 

 

From: cathy.power <slumpville@...>

Subject: Re: Bathroom Remodel

Date: Wednesday, January 26, 2011, 6:24 AM

 

Thank you so much for all of your thoughtful responses. One more thing. When I

approach this, who do I call? Do I call my plumber first? Or do I call my

general contractor?

[Guest guest]

The Aquassure accessible tub on that site sure looks good. I haven't

been able to access a bathtub in more than 25 years.

On 28-Jan-11, at 12:23 PM, wrote:

> Hi ,

>

> I'm not sure if anyone responded to this yet. If so, I apologize.

> I'd try to find a qualified bathroom remodeling contractor in your

> area, with experience in w/c accessible bathrooms.

>

>

http://ezinearticles.com/?From-Bathroom-Ideas-To-Bathroom-Contractors & id=5515707

>

>

>

>

>

> From: cathy.power <slumpville@...>

> Subject: Re: Bathroom Remodel

>

> Date: Wednesday, January 26, 2011, 6:24 AM

>

>

>

> Thank you so much for all of your thoughtful responses. One more

> thing. When I approach this, who do I call? Do I call my plumber

> first? Or do I call my general contractor?

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

same here................

Re: Bathroom Remodel

>

> Date: Wednesday, January 26, 2011, 6:24 AM

>

>

>

> Thank you so much for all of your thoughtful responses. One more

> thing. When I approach this, who do I call? Do I call my plumber

> first? Or do I call my general contractor?

>

>

>

>