Traditionally, the built environment has been designed for an idealized, able-bodied, non-elderly adult. Since that description fits less than 15 percent of our population, the result is environments, including kitchens and bathrooms, which create handicaps and barriers for the rest of us. Demographics, legislation, public awareness, and personal experience are pressing us to examine the basic assumptions we have used in design, particularly in high function areas like the kitchen and bath.

The result is design that breaks the traditional molds and is more flexible and adaptable. It is accessible to or useable by all people, regardless of age, size, or physical ability, as much as possible. This is Universal Design.

In terms of bath design, you will want to consider clear floor spaces sufficient for entering, closing the door, and approaching each fixture. In addition, you’ll want support in the walls for grab bars to be placed as needed. The beautiful choices available today in fixtures make it easy to create this supportive environment attractively. For more information, ask your Watkins Construction representative.

Unless your fixtures are easily removable in one piece and are at least 40 years old, they probably have not monetary value. Even then, the salvage yard will likely pay you less than 10 cents on the dollar for their asking price, and you will have to haul the old stuff to them. They don’t make house calls. We will dispose of any old fixtures with the other items from the demolition and put them in a county approved landfill. If you know of someone who wants your old toilet, sink or shower doors, we will try to save them for you.

The price of a fixture depends on a great deal of options. The type and quality of the valve; the variety of finishes; the quality of the finish; as well as the length of the warranty. Better faucets will have ceramic cartridges and be made of solid brass. The most costly units will have outstanding design and be available in such exotic finishes as antique or polished copper; stainless steel, etc. If you are looking for value, keep in mind that the working parts of any brand’s fixture are pretty much the same. The additional cost for the cosmetics may be worthwhile if you appreciate the visual improvement, but you are not improving the mechanics by adding a brass finish or choosing a “classic” toilet or tub.

Don’t overlook the wall space above the toilet. A full 30 inch high, 12 inch deep cabinet can be used there. Shallow niches built between wall studs can hold a multitude of small bathroom products inside the shower area. Niches add slightly to the cost, more so than “Over-the-John” cabinets, but can add a great deal of functionality as well as a distinctive look.

We’d be more than happy to come out and talk to you about increasing the storage space in your bathroom. Just call us at 561.719.8627 to schedule a free, no obligation visit today or click here and we’ll contact you!

First, remember, most bathrooms today are using larger tiles. 8″ x 10″ tiles have 38 inches of groutable edge, while the old style 4″x 4″ tiles would have 80 inches of groutable edge, so you’d greatly reduce the grout area and the maintenance.

Grout is porous giving it the ability to absorb liquids, including those that can leave behind a residue stain. A silver or beige floor grout can help to make staining less noticeable. For walls, white tends to have the “cleanest” look.

Sealing of the grout can help reduce staining as well. Sealing should be done a few days after the project is completed to prevent trapping moisture in the grout or setting materials. The homeowner can do this with a bottle purchased from Home Depot or Bonnie Tile or anywhere you might buy tile. There is even a new spray on, self dispersing version, that, according to the label, does not even have to be wiped down.

If your shower is leaking, you will have one or more of the following symptoms:

• The baseboard and/or wall in the adjoining room gets wet or moldy
• The bath floor shows moisture long after you have finished showering
• The walls outside the ends of the curb (the step into the shower) are swelling or rotting or the paint is bubbling up
• The bathroom or adjoining closet has a constant foul moldy smell
• If your shower is on the second floor, the ceiling below is getting wet

We’ve been dealing with leaky showers for more than 20 years. We can get it under control and back in proper working order in no time. Just call us at 561.719.8627 for a free, no obligation quote today or click here and we’ll contact you.

If your grout is falling out or turns black almost as soon as you clean it, the grout is not your problem. Most grout will either last a lifetime or, if installed improperly, come out soon after it is applied.

Re-grouting is one of those myths made famous by handymen. Your grout’s failure is a symptom, not the problem. When grout begins turning black, usually the wall behind the tile is rotting and the mold is “bleeding through” to the top. You can clean with the most powerful antibacterial solution and it will only make the surface mold disappear for a few days, then it grows back from the wall through the grout.

Likewise, you can caulk or apply grout over spots where grout has fallen out and it will slow the tiles in their eventual fall from the wall but, one day, you will touch the wall and tiles will end up at your feet.

You need a new Durock cement board surround in your shower/bath area. After your old wall has been replaced with a quality cement board like Durock, we can set beautiful new tile and your bathroom will not have mold or grout loss problems for many years.

Please click here for more information on the importance of using Durock.

Call us at 561.719.8627 for a free, no obligation quote today or click here and we’ll contact you!

As you can imagine, it all depends on what you want to have done.

Most bathroom remodeling projects can be finished in a few days. Even a major bath renovation project requiring that we strip the room down to the studs will not take more than two weeks at the most.

We take a great deal of pride and make a great deal of effort to finish all projects on time. And, barring some rarely unforeseen exceptions, we finish precisely on budget. Not only does this keep you happy, it allows us to move on to future projects.

Please note there are some exceptions, almost always involving special order items. For example, if you have your heart set on tiles handcrafted in Italy or a custom made tub or shower fixtures, we are all going to have to be patient and wait for them to come in.

However, we offer a wide selection of beautiful tiles, tubs and fixtures that are available locally with no delays and we encourage our customers to make their selections with these issues in mind. The vast majority of our customers do choose the locally available products and are extremely satisfied with the results. We think you will be, too.

Call us at 561.719.8627 for a free, no obligation quote today or click here and we’ll contact you!

We hate to be the bearers of bad news but no one — NO ONE — can do a complete bathroom remodeling project in one day. It’s simply not possible. The companies that “offer” these “services” actually mean they will come measure your tub/shower enclosure, charge you at least $3,000 dollars and in about a month (or two) they will come back with a cheap piece of plastic to cover your existing tub and maybe walls. The installation of this item may take a day, maybe two, and it won’t do anything for your bathroom floor tile, commodes, vanities, light fixtures, fans or anything OUTSIDE the tub area.

You can get a completely remodeled bathroom — not just the tub area — from us for a little less than you’d pay for flimsy plastic. But, no, it can’t be done well in a day.

Call us at 561.719.8627 for a free, no obligation quote today or click here and we’ll contact you!

It’s not the kind of job you would want to do yourself or even have a handyman do for you. While it is complicated and tricky to do well, we’ve been ripping out tubs and creating showers for nearly 20 years. We know how to do it efficiently and effectively and can have you showering in just a few days.

Call us at 561.719.8627 for a free, no obligation quote or click here and we’ll contact you!