Any Bathroom Designers Out There?

[BigG]

After thinking about this awhile. Often the toilet room is a small closet off to one side. Rethink about making it large enough for the wheelchair or a helper. Also add blocking for the grab bars. And I pray you never need to use them.

 

[motionclone]

ONLY issue is finding one. Don't have a clue how one does that...

You go to the local building supplier and ask which contractor they recommend. You talk to friends/family to find out who they recommend. You have to be willing to pay top dollar and wait not low bidder get it done now to get a good contractor.

Ive built my business 100% on word of mouth and have a long list of satisfied happy customers. When you go to the local mason supplier and ask who to get, they will give you my card and one other guys card.
If you ask a friend or family member if they have a recommendation for a mason, they will give that friend/family my number.

If you see a large company that does a lot of advertising in the construction trade, its a sure thing that they will put out crap work. A craftsman doesnt need to advertise.

 

[Biker1mike]

We are in the middle of a bathroom remodel.
I contacted 7 companies over two months trying to get quotes and ideas.
4 wanted to just do a bathtub cover-up and replace.
1 asked for measurements and gave quote without coming on property.
1 came in did a fast over view and mailed a quote.
The last guy came in with a tape measure and notebook. He went over ever inch of the bath and then went to the basement to move ceiling tiles and look from the bottom up. He then spent an hour with the wife and I talking about ideas and needs/wants. He then showed us pictures of his finished jobs and what might work for us. We signed a contract right then and there.
He was not the cheapest and he put us on a wait list but so far he is fantastic. Wood floors protected and each night before he leaves all the tools are packed and the floors vacuumed.
The wife picked fixtures from Lowes, Home Depot, and Wayfair. Contractor will buy flooring and subway tile.

 

[Henro]

We are in the middle of a bathroom remodel.
I contacted 7 companies over two months trying to get quotes and ideas.
4 wanted to just do a bathtub cover-up and replace.
1 asked for measurements and gave quote without coming on property.
1 came in did a fast over view and mailed a quote.
The last guy came in with a tape measure and notebook. He went over ever inch of the bath and then went to the basement to move ceiling tiles and look from the bottom up. He then spent an hour with the wife and I talking about ideas and needs/wants. He then showed us pictures of his finished jobs and what might work for us. We signed a contract right then and there.
He was not the cheapest and he put us on a wait list but so far he is fantastic. Wood floors protected and each night before he leaves all the tools are packed and the floors vacuumed.
The wife picked fixtures from Lowes, Home Depot, and Wayfair. Contractor will buy flooring and subway tile.

Sounds like you found a winner. Please do report back after the job is finished...

 

[BigG]

I have tiled over 2000 houses with 4000 baths so I can give a few ideas. And yes I have a few tractors also.

 

[Biker1mike]

I don't think you will find a bathroom designer on a forum about tractors

That may be true but you might someone who has used a designer in your zip code.
A recommendation from a trusted source says a lot more than a web page.

 

[radas]

I've always done my own bathrooms because in a large majority of cases, tile contractors and plumbers skimp on properly waterproofing shower enclosures and tub surrounds. There is typically no recourse for this either after shoddy work has been done and paid for. Do a ton of research on waterproofing techniques and materials for showers before signing any contracts and inspect the work as the contractor progresses. You will thank me later.

 

[Biker1mike]

Sounds like you found a winner. Please do report back after the job is finished...

Finished ! Shower is subway tile, niches have floor tile backs and marble sides. Shower base has 1X6 white marble added for more 3d look. Shower doors slide like barn doors. New plumbing from basement up. New wiring/switch for vanity light. This guy was great. More important... wife is happy. 13K-15K

 

[majorwager]

To difficult to do from a distance, but bathrooms are easy, have done many, & kitchens as well.
A few pointers. Since both bathrooms exist, keep the water closets in the same location or only a few feet away. You should save the cost of moving the main waste stack & vent. The other fixtures are plug & play but venting them will still add cost. water lines can be chased up an interior wall w/ k copper or pex. The further you extend away from the main stack, the more costs escalate. Is there a attic or crawl space above the second flood bath for a new vent connection.? Try to minimize roof penetrations. If you live in a cold climate, do not place water lines in ext wall. Window locations can also conflict w/ fixture layout.
Get a few contractor estimates. Find out if they are a broker or they have employees. How many bathrooms have they done Call his customers, how long did the job take, issues, cost overruns, Talk to the local building inspector, what contractors always pass inspections, first time.? Complete the first room before disrupting the second. Do NOT give down payments. I never asked for them. When work is @ least 1/2 done & inspected, then some partial payment is acceptable. There are many stories of half completed jobs w/ a missing contractor. Be vigilant. Get his insurance certificates, some try to avoid a building permit, claim to save you re-assesment for property tax. That is crap, there are no secret remodels & when caught, they fine you + tear open walls for inspection. Plus you can void your homeowners policy for performing un- inspected work.

 

[RCW]

I started this thread a couple years ago.

We finally go to the point of getting a quote from a contractor we know and trust. Did quite a bit of work here before. Easy to work with and good work delivered.

The design doesn't check ALL the boxes we were looking for but does most of them.

Most of that is due to the retrofit in existing spaces - - - some walls can't be moved, and we're not looking to do an addition. Applies especially to the downstairs bath, where accessibility is more of a concern. We won't meet ADA guidelines, but best we can do.

While his quote was shocking, it was just +3% above my own "bar napkin" estimate. I was hoping to be on the high-side.....

I've already talked to him about some "adders" while he's here. Main thing is a generator connection/transfer switch, as they'll be doing a lot of electrical work anyway.

 

[RCW]

Resurrected my old thread.

This is the upstairs bathroom almost done. Needs a door on the shower.

The downstairs bathroom and laundry room will follow in a few weeks if the Mrs. doesn’t do me in before then….

 

[John T]

Any Bathroom Designers Out There?

I'm not a bathroom designer,

But I've decorated a few toilets in the past...

 

[RCW]

I'm not a bathroom designer,

But I've decorated a few toilets in the past...

This was a Christmas gift last year.....

 

[RCW]

We're getting close to the downstairs bathroom being done.

While not ADA compliant, we tried to get it MUCH more accessible than before. Clearance between vanity and wall is 36”, but entry door is only 32. That’s the best we could do.

This bathroom was done 25 years ago with a tub/shower and very tight confines. I think entry door was 30", and clearance was less than 20" in one spot.

We’ve had several knee, foot and neurosurgerical procedures over the years that caused real challenges for family members to access the bathroom. Was our only full bath for 33 years.

This should make things easier, and the Mrs. and I are not getting any younger…

 

[RCW]

I'm not a bathroom designer,

But I've decorated a few toilets in the past...

John T - I spent 15 years in the County Health Department in the Environmental Health field.

We used to say was a technical term..

 

[DustyRusty]

Have you considered a split folding door for the bathroom entrance? It might be too late to make the change, but it is a suggestion for others who might read this thread in the future.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

I installed a 'pocket door' to get the 36" opening,others like 'barn doors'..as they're super easy and FAST to frame up,especially for an 'upgrade'.

 

[Speed25]

Keep in mind ADA only requires a 32" opening for bathrooms. A 36" hinged door is usually used as the 32" requirement factors in the door jutting out into the opening when opened 90-degrees. A 32" pocket door or barn door will meet the requirements as there's no door impeding the clear opening.