If you're redecorating or refurbishing a bathroom on a small or tight budget it's a good idea to consult with an Orange County bathroom designer in order to determine where your money will be best spent. Working with a professional is important because different parts of the bathroom carry different costs and there are many ways to save money. This is especially true when it comes to showers. While custom showers are generally expensive, prefabricated showers are much more affordable and as a general rule are much easier to install. This translates into fewer headaches and less money spent.
Your Orange County bathroom designer will go over the different types of prefabricated showers available. These include molded fiberglass, synthetic marble, and laminate showers. All of these are watertight, easy to clean, and extremely easy to install. These types of showers can be found in multiple sizes and shapes like squares, rectangles, and several other corner configurations.
Truth be told, prefabricated showers work best for the majority of remodels simply because their wall panels fit over a molded shower base and easily attach to water proof walls. Be sure to talk with your Orange County bathroom designer about which shape and style will work best for you in your bathroom.
All showers begin with a base or receptor with the exception of one piece showers and a proper base or "pan" must be selected in order for a shower to work properly. Your Orange County bathroom designer should be able to help you choose the right one so that there are no issues once installation begins. Additionally these bases come in a wide variety of different materials such as cast polymer, molded plastic, and even poured masonry.
If you've hired Orange County bathroom designer to help you with a bathroom remodel be sure that you've selected a prefabricated shower pan that has a drain matching the existing location of your drain pipe. If you purchase a prefabricated shower pan with a drain that doesn't match video be looking at having pipes moved which seriously ups the cost of a bathroom remodel.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Orange County Bathroom Remodeling: Bathroom Design Prioritites
When you set out to design a new bathroom it is of the utmost importance to determine exactly what your priorities are. Ask yourself what's most important to you in your bathroom. For some individuals their priority will be a fabulous step up bath while others will have the ultimate goal of having a two-person shower installed. Additionally when designing a new bathroom it's important to determine what the focal point of that bathroom is going to be.
When working with an Orange County bathroom designer you should stand in the bathroom doorway and determine what it is you'd like eyes to focus on first. It's important to keep in mind that eyes are generally drawn to sources of natural light before anything else and installing an illustrious tub under a window makes for a fantastic focal point in any bathroom. A sink could also be used in lieu of a bathtub as which looks great next to a vanity area.
Light: Ask any Orange County bathroom designer what the most important aspect of the bathroom is and they will tell you lighting. More specifically natural light is what an Orange County bathroom designer will look to capitalize on. Natural lighting that comes into bathrooms creates brightness, warmth, and a feeling of freshness which puts people at ease when in a bathroom. The Orange County bathroom designer you're working with will likely throw some recommendations your way with regards to what to place next to natural light, directly underneath it, and even away from it as to create a bathroom that feels warm and relaxing.
Storage: Storage isn't usually something that an Orange County bathroom designer will discuss with you right off the bat but rather will do so only after all other things have been considered and planned out. That's not to say that storage in a bathroom isn't of great importance because it is though there's simply a number of other things that need to be considered first. Once you get to the topic of storage however your Orange County bathroom designer will likely ask how much storage you need in this bathroom. Having adequate storage in a bathroom benefits every individual who uses that bathroom. Having soaps, toilet paper, and other bathroom accessories properly stocked can save people quite a bit of hassle and even embarrassment. Additionally an Orange County bathroom designer might recommend that in addition to utilizing a specific space for bathroom storage that you consider putting up shelves above the toilet and sinks in order to utilize what they often refer to as "dead space". Going this route will allow a bathroom be stocked and house more goods.
Plumbing: To the surprise of many individuals Orange County bathroom designers usually begin formulating layouts by basing things around the plumbing within a bathroom. Plumbing often dictates a bathroom's layout especially if you're redecorating or putting a new bathroom together on a tight budget. Plumbing is the most expensive part of putting together a new bathroom an individual will want to spend considerable time discussing with your Orange County bathroom designer just how the plumbing layout will affect the rest of the bathroom. It's also a good idea to get an estimate from contractors and/or a plumber if you're considering changing pipe positions. Those operating on a small budget may elect to leave pipes in place but that choice ultimately limits redecorated options.
When working with an Orange County bathroom designer you should stand in the bathroom doorway and determine what it is you'd like eyes to focus on first. It's important to keep in mind that eyes are generally drawn to sources of natural light before anything else and installing an illustrious tub under a window makes for a fantastic focal point in any bathroom. A sink could also be used in lieu of a bathtub as which looks great next to a vanity area.
Light: Ask any Orange County bathroom designer what the most important aspect of the bathroom is and they will tell you lighting. More specifically natural light is what an Orange County bathroom designer will look to capitalize on. Natural lighting that comes into bathrooms creates brightness, warmth, and a feeling of freshness which puts people at ease when in a bathroom. The Orange County bathroom designer you're working with will likely throw some recommendations your way with regards to what to place next to natural light, directly underneath it, and even away from it as to create a bathroom that feels warm and relaxing.
Storage: Storage isn't usually something that an Orange County bathroom designer will discuss with you right off the bat but rather will do so only after all other things have been considered and planned out. That's not to say that storage in a bathroom isn't of great importance because it is though there's simply a number of other things that need to be considered first. Once you get to the topic of storage however your Orange County bathroom designer will likely ask how much storage you need in this bathroom. Having adequate storage in a bathroom benefits every individual who uses that bathroom. Having soaps, toilet paper, and other bathroom accessories properly stocked can save people quite a bit of hassle and even embarrassment. Additionally an Orange County bathroom designer might recommend that in addition to utilizing a specific space for bathroom storage that you consider putting up shelves above the toilet and sinks in order to utilize what they often refer to as "dead space". Going this route will allow a bathroom be stocked and house more goods.
Plumbing: To the surprise of many individuals Orange County bathroom designers usually begin formulating layouts by basing things around the plumbing within a bathroom. Plumbing often dictates a bathroom's layout especially if you're redecorating or putting a new bathroom together on a tight budget. Plumbing is the most expensive part of putting together a new bathroom an individual will want to spend considerable time discussing with your Orange County bathroom designer just how the plumbing layout will affect the rest of the bathroom. It's also a good idea to get an estimate from contractors and/or a plumber if you're considering changing pipe positions. Those operating on a small budget may elect to leave pipes in place but that choice ultimately limits redecorated options.
Orange County Remodeling: Air Quality Control
Many people are surprised to find out that the air pollution inside their homes is often two to five times higher than outdoor pollution levels. Not surprisingly there also times where it is 100 times higher than outdoor pollution levels but there's no need to panic because a good Orange County air-quality contractor can help you clean up the polluted air in your home.
Pets to Remodels: The Many Threats to Indoor Air
According to the Environmental Protection Agency and a large number of Orange County air-quality contractors poor indoor air quality is among one of the top environmental risks to public health. This is because in an enclosed home there are often illnesses floating around as well as pet dander and even bacteria and dust. If your eyes were capable of seeing the makeup of the air inside your home you would not like it.
The Culprits
While an Orange County air-quality contractor will tell you that air pollution varies from home to home there are several common indoor pollutants found in every home. These include:
- Dust
- Pet Dander
- Pollen
- Chemicals
- Airborne viruses
- Bacteria
- Cigarette smoke
Cleaning Contractors
Recognizing the pollutants inside of your home's air is the first step in fixing the problem. The second step involves speaking with an Orange County air-quality contractor. An Orange County air-quality contractor will help you select the right air cleaning products for your home. Some may recommend whole house air cleaners which reduce all of the air pollutants listed above while some will recommend others depending on your homes needs. Some of the other products that an Orange County air-quality contractor may recommend are professionally installed humidifiers, dehumidifiers, thermostats, ultraviolet lamps, and carbon monoxide monitors.
Orange County House Cleaning: How to Hire a Maid
For most people there just aren't enough hours in the day to get everything done. When household chores begin to consume all of an individual's free time they often consider hiring an Orange County maid. This consideration stems from a desire to refocus on more important things such as friends, family, work, and even one's self. Before you hire an Orange County maid however there are a few things you should do.
- Look for Orange County maids everywhere. Don't restrict yourself to just the phonebook or just the Internet, try and utilize every avenue of information available.
- Look for reviews online and even in newspapers to get an idea of the type of work the Orange County maid your interested in does. Whenever possible meet or speak with past clients because word-of-mouth is always a good indicator of quality of service.
- Interview all the Orange County maids your interested in. Be sure to let them know up front what services you need and find out what type of experience they have in doing the things you need done. You also want to be sure to ask for references from each candidate you see. These can easily be verified with a simple phone call.
- Fees for cleaning services should be negotiated up front during an interview and it's also a good idea to find out whether or not the Orange County maid you're meeting with will be bringing his/her own cleaning supplies and equipment. If you have to supply these it might be worth your time looking at another candidate.
- Once you decide to hire a particular Orange County maid be sure to set a start date. Make sure that you're home with the Orange County maid you've hired for the first couple of days in order to show them around the home and watch how he/she carries out her duties. If there are any problems that need to be addressed bring them up early on so that your Orange County maid knows where they stand.
- Kick back, relax, and kick your feet up and ask yourself why you didn't hire an Orange County maid much sooner.
- Don't feel the need to straighten up your home before your Orange County maid arrives. This is why you hired him/her to begin with so let her tend to that job.
- Why not turn your neighbors and friends on to the Orange County maid you hired? Doing so often allows you to negotiate a lower price with you maid.
- If you hire an individual to work as your Orange County maid you'll likely be responsible for not only verifying citizenship and their eligibility to work in this country but for maintaining employment records and complying with minimum-wage laws as well. If you're looking to avoid those hassles you might want to hire an Orange County maid through a maid service.
- If your Orange County maid is going to be responsible for things like caring for children in addition to cleaning you'll want to use a bond service to ensure that you receive only the highest level of security when working with your maid.
Orange County Real Estate: How A Home Appraisal Works
Knowing what your home is currently worth has never been more valuable especially in today's market. If you're not sure what your home is actually worth then your best bet is going to be to work with a professional Orange County home appraisal specialist. An Orange County home appraisal specialist will factor in things that certain home value websites don't. These things include possible improvements and upgrades that have been made your home and other things that a website can't physically see.
Homeowners looking to hire a professional Orange County home appraisal specialist on the cheap should keep in mind that the old adage "you get what you pay for" is as applicable here as it is to anything else you pay for. Less experienced Orange County home appraisal specialists may miss many things or fail to take into account a number of things about your home while an Orange County home appraisal specialist who is experienced will give you a more accurate financial representation of your home's worth. A good Orange County home appraisal specialist will be a licensed individual and will visit your home and evaluate it in person. He or she will do a thorough room by room assessment of the entire home and will take into consideration the age and condition of your home as well as possible upgrades and even landscaping opportunities. He or she will also look at up to date sales data for homes similar to yours in your neighborhood.
At the end of the appraisal your Orange County home appraisal specialist will present you with an appraiser's report. This document can help you determine an asking price if you plan on selling your home or help you determine how much equity you have in the event you want to or need to refinance. Home owners will want keep in mind however that if you are selling your home a buyers lender will likely send their own Orange County home appraisal specialist to your home to get their own take on things. Homeowners that plan on selling their homes however will still want to hire an Orange County home appraisal specialist of their own in order to compare analyses.
How to Prepare for It
Many homeowners want to hire an Orange County home appraisal specialist but remain apprehensive simply because they're not sure how to prepare their home for appraisal. In short preparing a home for an appraisal should be treated as though you're preparing a home for a buyers visit. Once the house is presentable for a buyer a homeowner need only to sit back and wait it out as there are many things on the list of an Orange County home appraisal specialist that they cannot fix/change. Some of these include the size of the home, it's location, the number of rooms in the home, as well as recent sales data for the neighborhood. As a homeowner has no control of these factors there is no point in needlessly worrying about them. Instead home ownership focus on the following things:
- Address any home repair needs
- Without overspending update any outdated fixtures in the home.
- Do touch up painting on faded and chipped areas.
- Improve your curb appeal in whatever way you can.
While addressing the aforementioned issues won't add a lot of value to your home every little bit helps and more importantly it keeps an Orange County home appraisal specialist from beginning the process with a negative mindset or bad first impression. Homeowners should also alert the Orange County home appraisal specialists are working with to any upgrades that may have been done to the home. This can be critical because it potentially increases the appraised base value of the home. Things to alert an Orange County home appraisal specialist to are new flooring, new decks, major landscaping additions, swimming pools and spas, and new cabinets or counters.
Orange County Remodeling: Does Your Home Need an Energy Efficiency Makeover?
It should come as no surprise that energy efficient homes will save their owners a lot of money when it comes to heating costs. Additionally those homeowners will breathe in good air while enjoying a warm home as well since an Orange County energy efficiency makeover makeover and high-performance home construction improves indoor air quality significantly. If you're someone who has recently shopped for homes and/or a mortgage then you probably know that a homes efficiency of energy use improves its buyers mortgage interest rate. The same can be said about older homes that are receive an Orange County energy efficiency makeover.
Home Performance Inspections
Assessing the energy your home consumes and its air-quality begins with an Orange County energy efficiency makeover expert. These individuals generally spend 3 to 5 hours inspecting a home and are specially trained contractors who follow the EPA's Energy Star guidelines for efficiency of energy use. Your Orange County energy efficiency makeover expert will show you the paths that indoor air takes to your home as well as the places where indoor air leaks out of your home. Moreover they will show you ways outdoor air leaks in and contaminates the air inside your home. Orange County energy efficiency makeover experts aim to show homeowners how their homes can be compromised by the vents and insulation as well. If your a homeowner looking for an Orange County energy efficiency makeover expert be sure that you consider only those experts that are EPA qualified home energy experts.
Energy Efficient Improvements: Long-Term Investments, Immediate Payoffs
There are a great number of benefits to be had from putting your existing home through an Orange County energy efficiency makeover. Not only will improving the air-quality and energy efficiency in your home improve the quality of your life but it carries a number of financial benefits as well. A good example of this is a homeowner out of Danville California who invested $25,000 into an orange County energy efficiency makeover. This homeowner purchased things like a smaller furnace, R-8 installation, duct replacements, and a few bathroom fans. While his savings are not immediate and he will need to be patient in order to recoup his investment this homeowner expects to save about $800 a year in heating costs, though recent increases in the cost of energy may bump up those savings. If you choose to follow suit your Orange County energy efficiency makeover will pay for itself while you pay off your mortgage. While the financial payoffs may take some time to see, there will be an immediate noticeable difference in indoor air quality as well as a 30% drop in energy costs the EPA estimates the homeowner will experience.
Home Performance Inspections
Assessing the energy your home consumes and its air-quality begins with an Orange County energy efficiency makeover expert. These individuals generally spend 3 to 5 hours inspecting a home and are specially trained contractors who follow the EPA's Energy Star guidelines for efficiency of energy use. Your Orange County energy efficiency makeover expert will show you the paths that indoor air takes to your home as well as the places where indoor air leaks out of your home. Moreover they will show you ways outdoor air leaks in and contaminates the air inside your home. Orange County energy efficiency makeover experts aim to show homeowners how their homes can be compromised by the vents and insulation as well. If your a homeowner looking for an Orange County energy efficiency makeover expert be sure that you consider only those experts that are EPA qualified home energy experts.
Energy Efficient Improvements: Long-Term Investments, Immediate Payoffs
There are a great number of benefits to be had from putting your existing home through an Orange County energy efficiency makeover. Not only will improving the air-quality and energy efficiency in your home improve the quality of your life but it carries a number of financial benefits as well. A good example of this is a homeowner out of Danville California who invested $25,000 into an orange County energy efficiency makeover. This homeowner purchased things like a smaller furnace, R-8 installation, duct replacements, and a few bathroom fans. While his savings are not immediate and he will need to be patient in order to recoup his investment this homeowner expects to save about $800 a year in heating costs, though recent increases in the cost of energy may bump up those savings. If you choose to follow suit your Orange County energy efficiency makeover will pay for itself while you pay off your mortgage. While the financial payoffs may take some time to see, there will be an immediate noticeable difference in indoor air quality as well as a 30% drop in energy costs the EPA estimates the homeowner will experience.
Orange County Bathroom Remodeling: Bathtubs Buying Guide
Custom showers are popular because they allow individuals to have a shower built on the spot to whatever specifications they want. Some individuals want nothing more than a small tile enclosure built into an unusual corner while others opt for something really unusual like a stone lined area that opens to the master bedroom. Custom showers require a skilled hand to build as well as a custom shower fixture, drain, and a curtain or door with custom-built as well. An Orange County bathroom remodeling specialist can help you determine what works best for you and your home.
The majority of custom showers begin with a shower pan that serves as a base along within an integral drain connection. Orange County bathroom remodeling specialist will usually make sure that homeowners are aware that these can be purchased as premade polymer, poured masonry, or as a composite unit which is both a time and money saver.
The installation of custom shower should be handled only by professionals and while you're Orange County bathroom remodeling specialist will undoubtedly be helpful in choosing a style and color that's right for you and your home, a contractor or plumber is generally recommended in such a scenario. This is because flooring underneath and on the sides of custom shower will need to be properly waterproofed and the process isn't something the layperson should ever try to tackle on their own. Most waterproofing jobs entail walls being covered in 15 pound builders felt and panels of cement and backer board screwed into studs along with a final layer of ceramic tile, marble, slate or other solid surface.
Once the installation has been planned out or been addressed, and individual and the Orange County bathroom remodeling specialist they're working with can begin discussing the installation of luxuries such as seats, multiple shower heads, and even steam shower generators. All of these things can make a shower seem more like a massage and make showering something individuals can't wait to do.
Steam Showers
Steam showers have been very popular at health clubs and gyms for many decades because of their ability to help relax muscles, provide relief for aching joints, and rejuvenate worn out bodies. Due to their massive popularity steam shower manufacturers have turned their focus on the home market and now make available a wide range of products from steam shower units to steam capabilities for a conventional shower, to the average consumer. As always be sure to consult with your Orange County bathroom remodeling specialist before moving forward with the purchase of any steam shower.
The majority of custom showers begin with a shower pan that serves as a base along within an integral drain connection. Orange County bathroom remodeling specialist will usually make sure that homeowners are aware that these can be purchased as premade polymer, poured masonry, or as a composite unit which is both a time and money saver.
The installation of custom shower should be handled only by professionals and while you're Orange County bathroom remodeling specialist will undoubtedly be helpful in choosing a style and color that's right for you and your home, a contractor or plumber is generally recommended in such a scenario. This is because flooring underneath and on the sides of custom shower will need to be properly waterproofed and the process isn't something the layperson should ever try to tackle on their own. Most waterproofing jobs entail walls being covered in 15 pound builders felt and panels of cement and backer board screwed into studs along with a final layer of ceramic tile, marble, slate or other solid surface.
Once the installation has been planned out or been addressed, and individual and the Orange County bathroom remodeling specialist they're working with can begin discussing the installation of luxuries such as seats, multiple shower heads, and even steam shower generators. All of these things can make a shower seem more like a massage and make showering something individuals can't wait to do.
Steam Showers
Steam showers have been very popular at health clubs and gyms for many decades because of their ability to help relax muscles, provide relief for aching joints, and rejuvenate worn out bodies. Due to their massive popularity steam shower manufacturers have turned their focus on the home market and now make available a wide range of products from steam shower units to steam capabilities for a conventional shower, to the average consumer. As always be sure to consult with your Orange County bathroom remodeling specialist before moving forward with the purchase of any steam shower.
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