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Steam cleaners use an internal heating element to bring water to a boil inside the reservoir. The resulting steam becomes a natural cleaner without the help of chemical additives. Using steam to clean the surfaces around your home can help kill bacteria, such as salmonella, E. coli and listeria. Using a steam cleaner on a shower door can loosen the natural adhesives that bind dirt and grime to the surface, allowing you to wipe away soap scum with a soft cloth.
Half bathrooms can seem like great additions to a home and are frequently installed off foyers and kitchens. They add little to a house's resale value, however, because they can often seem underutilized in terms of space. Adding a shower stall to turn a half bath into a three-quarter bath can add to the resale value of the house. Before you begin a remodel, though, make sure that a shower stall will fit in a half bath or figure out what you need to do to get the extra space.
Prefabricated shower pans are commonplace, but a traditional mud pan shower is worth the effort required to build it. Another benefit is that you can build the shower any dimensions that you like; you’re not restricted by standard shower pan sizes. Mud means many different things in the construction world. When it comes to shower pans, it’s simply Portland cement, sand and water.
The fixture over a vanity is often the only light in the bathroom and usually cannot produce enough light to see clearly in the shower. The lighting is further reduced if you have a frosted or opaque door on your shower stall. Safely install a light above your shower to illuminate the stall by using a recessed light fixture and trim rated for shower or "wet location" installation. You can use your existing bathroom light circuit to provide power to your new shower stall lighting.
Don’t rush out to buy a new bathtub because of a minor blemish. Replacement costs are fairly high, and repair costs are not. Acrylic bathtubs have a solid surface, not a sprayed or painted on finish. This makes repairs rather easy to do.
The biggest difference between plumbing a bathtub in an average bathroom and a smaller one is obvious; cramped working conditions will make the project seem a bit more demanding. On the other hand, the process for installing a bathtub in a tight space is almost identical as it would be for any other size area. Plumbing a new bathtub with limited space won’t be as daunting if you get some help to maneuver the hefty fixture around the cramped room once you’re ready to install it.
The standard bathtub measures 5 feet long by 30 inches wide. That said, there are so many styles and sizes available that rough-in is usually done after the bath has been chosen. “Rough-in” means the installation of the hot and cold water supplies, as well as the drain line, to approximate locations determined by the layout of the tub. Installing the vent is part of the process of roughing-in the waste pipe.
When you're installing a new bathtub and shower, one option is to install a tub enclosure. This system consists of a bathtub and panels that cover the walls around the tub. The panels often contain small built-in shelves or soap dishes. Sterling, a division of Kohler, is one manufacturer of these enclosures. To operate the shower, you'll need to install a shower valve. Delta is a leading manufacturer of plumbing fixtures. Before installing the fixture, read the instructions provided by Delta, as the exact installation procedure can vary depending on the fixture you purchased.
Caulking a shower always requires you to keep a few very important things in mind. Get tips on caulking a shower with help from a lead designer in this free video clip.
Acrylic and fiberglass are two materials commonly used for baths and showers. Learn about whether acrylic or fiberglass are the best material for baths and showers with help from a registered interior designer in this free video clip.
When it comes to shower walls, both tile and glass have their fair share of advantages and disadvantages. Learn about tile versus glass for shower walls with help from a registered interior designer in this free video clip.
Stepless shower pans provide a simple means for getting into and out of the shower that lets you walk straight in without having to step over a rise. This is especially helpful for those who have disabilities that prevent them stepping up into a shower. Despite a stepless water pan having no lip or step to prevent water from running out, if set up properly, the water should run straight to the drain and not escape the shower area.
The shower converter, or diverter valve, is a plumbing fixture that switches water from the bathtub into the shower head. It works by closing the water pipe to the faucet in the bathtub and redirecting it to the shower head sprayer. You need to repair the diverter if you find the tub or shower is leaking to prevent water wastage and high utility bills. With basic tools, you can easily fix the faulty spout and knob yourself instead of seeking professional assistance.
PEX is a type of plastic commonly used in residential and commercial plumbing. In the bathroom, PEX may be used to connect the sink, the supply line for the toilet or the supply lines for the shower. Roughing-in plumbing is the process of laying out the pipes prior to installing the tub surround, shower head and other fixtures. Roughing-in with PEX pipe requires you to make a few basic connections that will supply hot and cold water to your shower.
Replacing an old or worn out bathtub can be cost-prohibitive. Rather than spend money on a new tub, you can set your cash aside for other repairs and renovations and update your bathtub with an alternative treatment. The application of a cement overlay allows you to completely resurface your bathtub and freshen its existing look or give it a different look altogether. When you use a cement overlay you can customize your bathtub's appearance so it complements the rest of the bathroom decor or becomes the showpiece in the room.
Basco’s Neo-Angle corner shower enclosures are designed to be leak-free upon installation, but occasionally leaks occur. Allowed to continue leaking, the water from your Bosco enclosure can cause damage to your bathroom, rotting the wood in the room and causing mold issues due to the rise in humidity. Leaks can usually be repaired without having to disassemble the enclosure by sealing the gaps within the enclosure that may have been incorrectly sealed when the enclosure was installed.
Updating an old bathroom can add to the beauty of your home while also increasing its value. Since replacing an old bathtub that still works can be costly, you can use an alternative method to achieve a better-looking bathtub that serves as an asset to the room instead of an eyesore. With the use of a concrete resurfacing compound, you can refinish your bathtub, giving it a gorgeous, customized appearance that complements the rest of the bathroom.
The elegance of a clawfoot tub lends a vintage look to a bathroom. Large, deep, freestanding tubs, clawfoots are ideal for long, hot soaks. There's a price for luxury, however: the inability to take a quick shower. Sure, you can add a shower unit to your bathroom -- if you have the space -- but it will ruin the antique look of your tub. You can also purchase a clawfoot tub shower enclosure -- but generally at a high price -- and decipher the instructions. Instead, create your own custom clawfoot tub shower enclosure for less and suit it to…
When it comes time to update your bathroom, you may find that the old shower fixtures aren't located where you want them to be. Moving the plumbing fittings for your shower is a relatively big job that requires a combination of demolition and plumbing. It's best to only move shower fixtures when replacing the entire shower stall. Following a few standard procedures will help make the process smooth.
Installing a shower with multiple jets consists of hooking up a shower tower, or single large unit, that contains a shower head and multiple jet outlets. This process proves simple enough for an ambitious DIY homeowner because these units require only basic plumbing hookups and the water supply pipes are already in place in your shower. Keep in mind that this job differs from installing multiple shower heads, or numerous individual units with autonomous water supplies and pressure.
The standard bathtub can be a relaxing escape from the everyday world; just step right in and immerse your body in the warm water. However, as people grow older, getting in and out of the bathtub becomes more of a challenge. Many bathroom equipment manufacturers offer specialized bathtubs for premium prices, but the new tub requires a major overhaul of the bathroom itself. An alternative is cutting a door into the existing bathtub for easier access. Customized door kits are available to make the new access point watertight.
Terrazzo is a simple mixture of concrete and colored marble shards commonly used as an inexpensive but expensive-looking shower bottom or floor covering. With terrazzo you can effectively upgrade a bathroom, covering the basic shower pan’s concrete base and showcasing the custom patterns and colors of a terrazzo surface. Whenever you take a rinse in your terrazzo-lined shower, you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing the design is the only one of its kind in the world.
Whirlpool bathtubs are installed in a surrounding deck, which hides the unfinished sides of the tub as well as the plumbing hookups, the motor and heater. You can build a removable access panel so you can reach the plumbing and electrical components without having to tear out the decking. The access panel is easiest to make during the installation of the whirlpool tub.
Cleaning soap scum from a shower stall is one of the more difficult housekeeping tasks most people do on a regular basis. The difficulty lies in the fact that soap is only one substance that makes up the scum. Others include scaly minerals, the dirt you wash off in the shower and your own body's oils and skin particles. With the scum comes bacteria, which multiply quickly in the damp warmth of the bathroom. Although the best cure is prevention -- frequent cleaning to prevent buildup -- most people will, at some point, have to contend with a hard-to-clean shower.…
Drop-in tubs like cast iron models are not fastened to the bathroom floor; instead, they rely on their own weight and any underlayment you apply to the floor to keep them in place. If your bathtub begins to rock, even if the movement is slight, rebrace it to keep it in place.
A sunken fiberglass bathtub that has a built-in shower can become a safety hazard if you or a family member experiences mobility difficulties. Instead of removing your current bathtub and installing a shower kit, you can install a bathtub step-through conversion kit, or bathtub saddle, into your current tub. This option eliminates the need to make changes to your plumbing that may seem complicated. In addition, this type of bathtub conversion project takes only an afternoon to complete.
According to an article in the "Chicago Tribune," bathing trends have shifted from bathtubs to showers. While some homeowners are removing their bathtubs in favor of shower stalls, a more economical choice is to simply convert the bathtub to an adjustable shower with a slide-bar handheld shower head. Depending on the type of tub spout, it may be necessary to replace the spout with one that fits the shower equipment.
Showers sometimes undergo repairs that include refitting old valves or connection points. Plumbing that uses one of these refitted fixtures needs special attention when attaching a shower head. Because the fitting is inside the wall, you must ensure there are no leaks on the repurposed brass fitting. Even a small drip can lead to big problems with mold, so taking the time to inspect and seal the fitting can save a lot of time and money.
Leave the freestanding MAXX Origin bathtub upside down in its packaging until you are ready to install it on the wooden support. Do not allow the bathtub to rest freely on the short metal legs or projections on the bottom. The tub is designed to be installed on a wooden support. The template that comes with the tub will give you the proper spacing for the basic tub components.
Whether you intend to build a custom shower stall or install a pre-formed acrylic unit, you need to first build a rough frame to support it. Cutting a shower opening out of a wall saves time over building a freestanding frame, if the wall studs are in the correct positions. The opening must be plumb, or perfectly straight along the vertical lines, to prevent damage or an ill-fitting shower stall. Check for levelness, as well, after checking the plumb.
Frameless shower doors provide an elegant look to your home's bathroom. These doors have no metal frame holding them in place. Showers in older homes often have metal frame doors in which the glass slides open and closed, however, these frames become traps for mold and mildew. Frameless shower doors are not susceptible to this problem and are much simpler to remove and repair.
In order for the shower pan to be installed and function as intended, the subfloor must be clean and level. In some conditions, such as on a wooden subfloor with only slight unevenness, an acrylic shower pan can be leveled by correctly positioning shims under the pan. For concrete subfloors or areas with several low spots or extreme unevenness, pour a thin layer of self-leveling concrete where the pan will go.
Framing a base for your whirlpool provides a nice test of basic carpentry skills. The key to success is thoughtful and methodical preparation in designing the project. Measure the alcove for the whirlpool, as well as the tile and cement backer board used to finish its surface. Once you have arrived at the precise dimensions of the framing, cutting the members on a chop saw and assembling them should go smoothly.
Bathtub diverters consist of the hot and cold water valves and the spout for the tub. They also have an outlet built in to install a shower in the future. Converting an existing tub to a shower is a matter of removing the tub spout and installing the shower head in the existing diverter.
While not all showers have them, the inclusion of a seat or bench of some kind in the shower is an added convenience that allows for relaxation as well as decoration. The actual building of the seat is done during the preparation for the shower, after the cement board and the shower pan have been installed but before the tile is put on. After the seat is built out of mason blocks, the surface is covered with tile along with the rest of the shower to tie everything together and create a finished look and feel.
A custom shower enclosure can improve the appearance of your bathroom while protecting your bathroom floor from moisture damage. It allows you to choose colors and design elements that work well with your bathroom decor. Although you can purchase shower enclosure kits for your bathroom, you can also build your own shower enclosure. Creating a custom shower enclosure is a fairly extensive project; however, completing this task requires only common bathroom construction materials and tools.
Older tubs and those made from cast iron are often coated in glazed porcelain. Even new tubs typically have polyurethane glaze on the surface. While glazes typically only last 10 to 20 years, a variety of issues may contribute to the glaze peeling well before that time. An adequately glazed tub is necessary to protect the surface from water damage and normal use.
A copper shower pan might not be as easy to use as one made from a more modern material, such as fiberglass or acrylic, but it provides a sound protective layer between your shower floor and the subfloor beneath it. When laying the mud bed on your copper shower pan it's important to create a waterproof barrier for the subfloor and a gentle slope that allows for proper drainage.
If you would like to open up a shower wall to provide more light or air into the space, one option is to cut a window through the shower wall enclosure. A shower wall consists of more than one layer though, generally a covering, such as tile or fiberglass, as well as a permanent wall, such as drywall. So, when you want to cut a window through the enclosure, you must cut through one layer at a time.
Pre-made stone shower seats, commonly known as benches, give you a place to sit down in the shower when you want to take that extra time to pamper yourself. Installing pre-made stone shower seats requires some cleaning of the shower and pre-made stone to remove dirt or manufacturing dust. Because of the weight of the stone seat, it is necessary to have a helper assist in most cases. Securing the seat to the shower is a matter of using caulk as an adhesive.
A doorless shower pan is usually installed in a small bathroom that does not have the space for a large tub and shower combination or in a larger bathroom that has a big tub but no shower at all. Installing the shower requires some carpentry skill because the shower pan has to be level in order for the drain to operate efficiently. Installing the shower pan takes at least a day to complete, even if you have experience with this type of project.
Custom shower construction allows a builder or homeowner to create a shower to accommodate specific needs and desires. One feature that may be included in a shower is a seat, which can be constructed at the same time as the shower pan for the sake of convenience. Cinderblocks or bricks and mortar can be implemented to form the body of the seat once the shower pan has been covered with a waterproofing membrane.
You have plenty of scope to incorporate your own ideas on the final look of a skirt for a Jacuzzi or other brand of whirlpool bathtub. You can finish the skirt in tile or even teak on the top and contrasting tile or wood on the sides, making the skirt as wide or long as you want. Check local building codes for whether they require an access panel to the whirlpool pump; if so, you can design one into the skirt or try hiding the panel in a closet adjacent to the pump end of the tub.
Plumbing a shower can have serious consequences if done incorrectly. Bad plumbing leads to leaks within the bathroom wall or electric shocks while a person is taking a shower. Finding the cause of an electrically charged water tap or shower head allows for repair, making the shower safe again.
While traditionally most shower walls are created out of ceramic tile, natural stone or plastic sheet material, some homeowners install metal panels to create shower. As with most shower jobs, you'll have to prepare the existing wall before you can install the metal stall sections. The principles are the same as preparing a wall for ceramic tile installations: Everything needs to be square, plumb and flat across the width of the wall studs so there is no warping in the steel panels once they are in place.
If you have a bathtub in your bathroom but want to turn it into a shower, you have to pull out the tub and the surrounding walls and then install a shower pan in that space. This project involves some demolition and the use of power saws, so you should be able to handle larger power tools to get the job done. It is also very helpful to have an assistant on hand to perform the demolition steps in this project.
With a wide range of shower shapes and styles, you might find yourself with an oddly shaped shower in your bathroom. Right-angle showers designed to fill two walls of a corner, create a special challenge when it comes to choosing a shower curtain rod.
Showering in a dim or dark shower stall can cause you to miss a few things, namely dirt on your skin. Installing a low-voltage halogen pot light above the shower stall not only resolves this problem, but it can save money on your energy bills. The low-voltage halogen pot light comes with an attached transformer that steps your 120-volt circuit down to a 12-volt circuit without the need to wire a separate transformer.
The seal around the fiberglass door should be watertight and airtight along the sides and the bottom of the door. If it isn’t, your shower will leak water onto the floor when you bathe. The only way to fix a leaky shower seal is to replace it with a new one. Contact the manufacturer of your specific shower door to purchase a replacement seal, because all shower doors have different seals.
A bathtub that squeaks or creaks is at the risk of falling apart or cracking; therefore it should be repaired immediately. Such noises occur in bathtubs, especially those made from fiberglass, for a variety of reasons, including improper installation or the absence of a supporting mortar bed. Although you can hire professional plumbers to correct the problem, consider repairing it yourself to save on excess costs.
