Bathroom Remodeling FAQs:
Cape Cod, Metrowest & Boston
Why do I need a bath designer to plan my bath renovation?
An Encore bathroom designer is equipped with the knowledge and training to design your bathroom so that the plumbing, heating and electrical system work in conjunction with each other in a relatively small confined space. There are many guidelines, aspects and restrictions that set the standard for the industry that should be adhered to so as to comply with local and national building codes.
How long does it take to remodel a bathroom?
The scope of the bathroom remodeling dictates how long the project will take. For example, if you are relocating your fixtures and reconfiguring the layout of the room, the actual construction will obviously take a little bit longer. Generally, a small bath remodel should take about 5-6 weeks, a larger full-scale remodel, about 8 weeks.
What trends are taking place in bathroom remodeling?
The ‘Spa’ Experience is highly requested and luxury fixtures are plentiful in the marketplace. Your designer can help navigate through the plumbing and construction issues and the many products that will fit within your project budget to make your bath the ‘chamber of ultimate comfort’.
These trends include the following:
- Whirlpool & airjet tubs, including aromatherapy & chromatherapy
- Freestanding and soaking tubs
- Seamless glass or tile, walk in euro-style, oversized showers with no curbs, some even without doors (perfect for ADA requirements)
- Shower systems, including double shower heads, jets and rainshower heads AND a handheld shower (perfect for cleaning the shower)
- Steam showers and saunas
- Private Water Closets
- Towel warmers
- TV in bath mirrors
- Radiant heated floors
- Storage on display in open cabinetry
- Dressing tables and make-up areas
What features should I plan to invest in the most for my new bath?
Depending on your style and taste, the floor and wall tiles can be the most expensive only because they cover so much area. The shower glass can be costly, depending on the configuration of the shower. Other possibly considerable expenses are the fixtures, including your sink(s), faucet(s), and toilet. In addition, the shower system is a major consideration, should you want to add a ‘Spa’ environment.
Importantly-an evaluation should be made of your current water tank capacity to make sure that you are not left with a five minute shower as the gallons per minute could deplete quickly once you have the shower heads, the jets and rain shower heads spraying in all different directions.
As an aside: The most important, but not the most expensive feature, is the ventilation process and method used to take the moisture out of the bath.
What type of return on investment can I expect from remodeling my bathroom if I sell my home?
Bathrooms typically get an 80-90% return on investment in a remodeled home depending on the scope of the remodel. If you have a closet or small bedroom to spare, and are able to re-purpose that living space into a new larger bath or additional bath, chances are that your bath remodel could net a ROI as high as 112% over the years.
