Replacing your shower and tub with a new unit means you’ll have to tear out the old one and start over. This is a major remodel job, and if you’re going to go through the trouble of doing it, you should go ahead and do it right. Bathrooms and kitchens are rooms that have a good rate of return for the money you put into the job, and home buyers are always looking for updated bathrooms. Splurging for that nicer tile means you get to enjoy it now and you have a good chance of getting back the investment when you sell.
Go Frameless
Shower styles may come and go, but the frameless glass shower has been associated with spas and luxury bathrooms for a while now. Check into any four-star hotel, and you’re likely to find a frameless shower in the bathroom. These units provide a nice, sleek look, but they aren’t exclusive to modern design. You can install a frameless shower in every type of bathroom, blending easily in an arts and crafts bungalow or a mid-century modern home. And not only will you enjoy the clean lines of your frameless shower, they’re a hot item that home buyers are on the lookout for, too.
DID YOU KNOW?
Frameless showers are more prone to leaking than traditional units, so if you go in this direction make sure your installer has everything sealed tightly.
Leave it to the Pros
Working with tile is something that many DIY enthusiasts feel comfortable with. While laying a new tile floor is within the range of capable do-it-yourselfer, tiling a shower and tub area is a different deal. Floors are the easiest things to tile because you’re working with a horizontal surface, most likely covered with backerboard. It’s nice and flat and you’re generally dealing with right angles. Tiling a shower means you’re working with vertical walls, difficult angles and, in many cases, a more intricate pattern than you’d find on your floor. Unless it’s something you’ve done before, put down the trowel and leave the finishing to a professional.
Steam Away
If you’re looking to push your bathing experience over the top, think about adding a steam unit to the shower. Steam showers used to be exclusive to spas, but savvy homeowners looking to pamper themselves are adding them to home bathrooms. These showers are sealed up to the ceiling and with a push of a button, a hot steam cloud will envelop you. A nice hot steam is also great for sore and overworked muscles.
DID YOU KNOW?
If you have allergies, then adding eucalyptus to your steam can really help you clear your sinuses.
Sennebogen, Emilie. “5 Shower Remodeling Tips” 04 April 2011. HowStuffWorks.com. 21 May 2015.
