Any Bathroom Designers Out There?

[RCW]

We have a small 4-bedroom house at ~1,500 sq. ft..

1 and 1/2 baths right now. Full is downstairs, half is upstairs where bedrooms are.

One "bedroom" is very small, and thinking it will be sacrificed for a bigger bath.

We're looking to re-do both bathrooms at once to get to 1 and 3/4. They're located directly over each other.

Our parameters are:

Upstairs would be about 8'6"D x 14'6"W. Hope to have walk-in shower, tub, and double vanity, toilet, some storage, etc.

Downstairs could be up to 10'10"D x 6'W . Hope to have walk-in shower, toilet and single vanity.

Both have a 20" x 30" metalbestos chimney chase in them.

I think downstairs bath needs a handicap accessible door. Not sure we can fit all the HA features beyond that, except the toilet (?).

We're both crowding 60 years old hard. In good shape.

Design is not my strong suit.

 

[Henro]

I do not think I can give much helpful advice, but take it for what it is worth.

We have a larger house, but only two of us now. We actually have a large bath on the first floor, Japanese style, since we are half Japanese and the other half (me) lived in Japan for over six years after we returned to Japan to get married, after meeting outside Japan.

Anyway, as we get older, we find we are using our Japanese bath less. It is in an area of about 12x8 feet that includes a shower and soaking tub. We basically just take showers now. Except for a few times every winter. (edit: that is the tub/shower area, the room is a bit bigger and hold the sink, vanity, closet, toilet and so on. )

Point is, do you really need a tub? Before the corona virus we used to visit Japan for a month each spring and fall. We never missed having a tub, although the place we rented had a combo, that we never used. Always just a shower.

So the only reason for this reply is to ask if you really need a tub. Not needing one may make things simpler and more convenient.

I am renovating a house that came with property I bought next door, and elected to just have a walk in shower. I think this is a good option for normal people these days.

All depends on what your perceived needs are.

Just a couple thoughts that may or may not help at all.

 

[JimmyJazz]

Get some opinions from "experts". As a do it your self and take the low bid kind of guy my advice would be to pay a little more and get someone reputable and experienced to do the work. Setting tile, plumbing ,wiring and whatnot takes skill. Have it done once and have it done right. There are folks that specialize in bathrooms. Thats where I would start. The handyman type I would avoid. I have dealt with a lot of this type of thing with mixed results having renovated 4 properties in the last 12 years. All for personal use. Good luck.

 

[RCW]

Get some opinions from "experts". As a do it your self and take the low bid kind of guy

Jimmy - I work 5 days a week 51++ weeks a year.

No risk for a DIY project.

I personally know several contractors. Just trying to figure out how they could/should be laid out.

 

[JimmyJazz]

Jimmy - I work 5 days a week 51++ weeks a year.

No risk for a DIY project.

I personally know several contractors. Just trying to figure out how they could/should be laid out.

Bathroom renovators are the best source of knowledge in such matters in my opinion. Ask a few. Let the wife decide that way if she is not pleased it will have been her idea.

 

[Fordtech86]

Let the wife decide

No truer words have ever be spoken

 

[ctfjr]

RCW the company I work for has 5 specific locations for kitchen / bathroom design. Typically a contractor (usually a plumber or gen contractor) will direct a customer there with their prints. A design specialist would work with the customer to define a solution. Its not a 10 minute design project and anyone who says they have a solution in 10 minutes is someone to avoid.
If you are hiring a contractor there are plenty of distributors in upstate that do the same things as we do.

 

[mcfarmall]

Hire it out so it's done right. A funnier joke doesn't exist.

 

[Henro]

Hire it out so it's done right. A funnier joke doesn't exist.

I did not get it at first!

ROFLMAO!

 

[jimh406]

Pinterest has a lot of ideas. Also, some contractors have very good ideas.

Ask the contractor you know since they are in houses all of the time. They may also know of other showrooms you can take a look at. Companies like Moen etc have lots of ideas in the showrooms and online.

 

[BigG]

I was a tile contractor for 10 years. We tiled over 2000 homes. A few things that I would recommend. First is make the shower a curbless one and big enough to allow a wheelchair into the shower. You have no idea what life will bring. I put a tub spout coming out of the wall, a toe tester, so that you can fill a bucket etc. Include a shelf for soap/shampoo. Add what we called a seat into the shower so the misses has a place to prop up her foot when she shaves her legs. Place the towel bars so you can reach them from the shower.

The tub might not be useful to you but it may improve resale if you sell the house.

Make sure the walls are not "green board" a waterproof drywall. Instead use a cement board or other product that will withstand the water, as the water will go thru the grout joints.

The biggest thing is do not put a window inside the shower. They will leak!

 

[RCW]

Hire it out so it's done right. A funnier joke doesn't exist.

I did not get it at first!

ROFLMAO!

Trust me - - - seen a lot of hacks over the years. A couple worked here, one time.

I would like nothing more than DIY, as I know enough to be dangerous. I also know when I'm over my head, and enough pros to help.

Unfortunately, my time doesn't allow that.

 

[Henro]

Trust me - - - seen a lot of hacks over the years. A couple worked here, one time.

I would like nothing more than DIY, as I know enough to be dangerous. I also know when I'm over my head, and enough pros to help.

Unfortunately, my time doesn't allow that.

Being older now I understand the time thing. When I was young in my 30s I did not, and built my home which is probably on the large size, at around 3500 sq. ft., while working a full time job. Well, I should not use the past tense, as it has become a never ending project.

Now I have problems working half a day being retired and in my mid 70s.

Wise to ask and get advice, and try to steer who ever you get to do the work in the right direction for your needs.

Hopefully you will get a good contractor. I am sure they are out there. ONLY issue is finding one. Don't have a clue how one does that...

 

[RCW]

Pinterest has a lot of ideas. Also, some contractors have very good ideas.

Ask the contractor you know since they are in houses all of the time. They may also know of other showrooms you can take a look at. Companies like Moen etc have lots of ideas in the showrooms and online.

I was a tile contractor for 10 years. We tiled over 2000 homes. A few things that I would recommend. First is make the shower a curbless one and big enough to allow a wheelchair into the shower. You have no idea what life will bring. I put a tub spout coming out of the wall, a toe tester, so that you can fill a bucket etc. Include a shelf for soap/shampoo. Add what we called a seat into the shower so the misses has a place to prop up her foot when she shaves her legs. Place the towel bars so you can reach them from the shower.

The tub might not be useful to you but it may improve resale if you sell the house.

Make sure the walls are not "green board" a waterproof drywall. Instead use a cement board or other product that will withstand the water, as the water will go thru the grout joints.

The biggest thing is do not put a window inside the shower. They will leak!

Jim and BigG - - - thanks.

Jim - - I saw some "stock" configurations based on "stock" bath dimensions...ours don't fit real well, but prompted me to pose the question here.

Our neighbor is probably one of the best carpenters in the area, but he's kinda semi-retired himself.

He was foreman on our kitchen 12 years ago....did a great job. Shortest commute he ever had. Walked home for lunch, across my lawn....

He's a carpenter, and doesn't do electrical, plumbing or HVAC.

BigG - - I was actually thinking of you when I decided we need to make everything as accessible as we can in a small space. I haven't eliminated the need to adjust the downstairs' footprint for those accommodations.

Hadn't thought of curb-less shower, but makes perfect sense...thanks.

Intent is downstairs would be a 3/4 with shower-only anyway...

I've helped buddies do bathrooms with green board, and some with cement board. Never knew the difference either way, but that's very helpful.

Thankfully, because of my work years ago, I've gotten to know who talk to about a renovation. We've had a couple great contractors here in recent years.

The old saying goes "you might be from a small town if..."

I can call several of these guys, tell them my name, and say "I want you to come look at this job..."

I don't have to tell them where I live....

Sometimes, a small town is the best.....

 

[GreensvilleJay]

since the one bathroom is above the other , be prepared for the 'oopsy, it's raining inthe 1st floor bathroom' problem. Same 'contractor' did both of mine, a 'jack of all trades' know it all....well 2nd floor BR is leaking water . One guy installed..new floor joists, sub floor, real floor, tile and yup, had to SHIM the premade vanity 3/4" to get that level... over 85' of copper IN THE FLOOR cavity to replace the 21' I had in the walls( accessable from closet...didn't install new shutoffs, shower pipes are 'backwards',glass shower walls are not level, straight or plumb, he needed 4 ,1' wide tiles to span the 3' shower wall.good news is the raindrops are 'runoff' NOT pressurized water and land in the downstairs combo bath/shower unit. Electrical is spliced into an existing run, even though he had FULL, EASY access to basement panel (has 4 free breakers...)

 

[leveraddict]

Just something to think about. I removed my bathtub (actually gutted the whole bathroom) and wanted to install a walk in one piece shower! I had to take out a wall in the parlor to get the shower in the bathroom. I knew that from the start but my sis didnt think of that when planning her remodel! Once I pointed that out she opted out on the one piece shower! Its nice to have a second bathroom when doing these projects yourself. Especially when the boss keeps adding on! We went from a tile floor to tile half way up the wall then she added a tile border to that and finally said...Might as well do tile up to the ceiling! This project took 3 months while working full time. Sis says my bathroom looks like the one at the casino!

 

[mikester]

If this is your forever home consider making the bathrooms wheel chair accessible and put grab bars everywhere. Easier now than paying someone to do it 10 years from now and you have to hire someone.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

YES to wheelchair accessable !!
gut the entire bathroom, install a 36" door ,or a pocket version...)
if you put in a tub, insulate with Roxul, also all walls. keeps noise in, room warmer.
add 2by8 'blocking' behind shower/tub area so you can add STRONG grab bars.
be sure you can access the plumbing for future repairs....
buy spare set of faucet cartridges and store IN the bathroom vanity. you'll need the hot one ,on a sunday,about 630PM, when ALL the stores are closed......

 

[William1]

We redid our bathroom two years ago. Got rid of a giant Jacuzzi tub and a 4X4 stall shower. We had to have the shower floor up 2" because the joist below could not be cut out and scissoring in doublers would of aded too much to the cost. The 2" can easily be dealt with for a wheelchair by a micro ramp. Two hand held sprayers. One wall mounted shower head. Wall length shelve Five lights in the ceiling. large glass panel. No shower door needed.

36" doors. Heated floor (it is over a garage).

We have a tub/shower combo in another room. If the wife wants a soak, she goes in there a few times a year.

Do one bathroom at a time. It takes 5X longer to do each room than you expect and no bathroom is no bueno.

 

[johnjk]

We built in 2017 and made sure we had a few things in the design. All doors are wide enough to allow a wheel chair to easily pass. The shower has no sill and is large enough to allow a chair and a person to assist. Neither me or my wife need this now but we saw how nice it was to have with her parents and what a pain it was not to have it with mine. We also went from a two story to a ranch. In the master bath, all counters are low for chair access. We did a large soaker tub but it has been used once in 4 yrs. Would not put one in the master if I had to do it over. The other thing we did was put a door in the closet that goes in to the laundry room. Saves trips