Build Bath & Shower

Whirlpool bathtubs are a perennial favorite for new homes and remodeling projects alike . And while not particularly difficult to install, they do involve some procedures uniquely their own. While whirlpool tubs are available as a tub/shower combination, which comprise a fiberglass bathtub with a three- sided shower enclosure , you’ll find the biggest selection is in bathtubs by themselves. Most of the tubs are designed for platform mounting, meaning that they are open and unfinished on all four sides and are installed by placing them into a site- built wooden platform . Some types of tubs also have an optional finished front panel , allowing the tub to be mounted into a three-sided alcove like a conventional bathtub and have the finished panel facing into the room. Platform installation To install a platform- mounted whirlpool tub , you first need to construct the platform. There is no set way of doing this, as sizes, configurations and on-site conditions will vary widely. You’ll nee...

Older homes often lack bathroom exhaust fans . In the old days, if the bathroom was smelly or steamy, you were supposed to open a window to air it out. This isn’t a very logical ventilation method , especially when temperatures are below zero, or when the weather is 90°F and humid. Yet this time-honored method of bathroom ventilation is still enshrined in our building codes. According to the 2009 International Residential Code (sections R303.3 and M1507.3), a bathroom with an operable window does not need to have a bath exhaust fan . Why do we need exhaust fans? In spite of the code’s archaic loophole, builders should install an exhaust fan in every bathroom or toilet room — even when the bathroom has a window. A bath exhaust fan can perform several functions: It can exhaust smelly air , allowing fresher air to enter the bathroom. It can exhaust humid air , allowing dryer air to enter the bathroom. When operated for 24 hours per day or when controlled by a timer, it can act (in so...

Hotel Review: After the 25th "I'm exhausted and I can't keep working these crazy hours," I decided it was time to force my husband to take a vacation, and although he was (and is) a classic workaholic, he sheepishly agreed. Knowing that I travel somewhat extensively for my job, he left the destination up to me. My choice — a magnificently restored hacienda in the Yucatan region of Mexico, known simply as Hacienda Petac. After a short flight from our home in South Florida, we began our journey via rental car to the tiny village of Petac, about 30 minutes outside the city of Merida. I should probably explain what I mean by tiny. I mean two streets, a soccer field, a basketball court, two churches of different denominations, a corn grinding factory , known locally as a tortillaria, as well as three corner stores known as tiendas. That's what I mean by small. In truth, the village of Petac exists because of the Hacienda. Consisting of roughly 170 residents, m...

I’ve seen some unfortunate bathrooms in my time as an interior designer. The ones that require the biggest overhaul and investment are those that lacked planning for important things like adequate lighting, ventilation and plumbing. Before you think about the colour of your tiles and the latest shower screen , consider the fundamentals. Take time to plan the space. Establish where your electrics will go, siting the extractor fan and your high-level and mid-level lighting. Plan your plumbing and underfloor heating. Lastly, factor in ample storage – my mantra, you can never have too much storage. With some clever advice from the experts, your bathroom will be a sanctuary. Here are my top tips for a better bathroom: 1. Keep a bath if you can. The bath is often the first thing omitted when people consider a re-design of their bathroom space . Installing a bath/shower is one solution, but you could also try freeing up space for a stand-alone bath by changing the way the bathroom door opens...

Overview Let’s face it. Showers are the bathing choice of just about everyone. So if your bathroom has become a family bottleneck because you don’t have enough shower stalls or the one you have is leaking, read on. We’ll show you how to replace a leaky base, replace a tub with a shower only or install an additional shower to handle demand. Preformed shower bases have vastly simplified the installation process. They’re virtually leakproof and are vastly easier to install than traditional solid mortar bases . Still, setting a base can be challenging, especially when you’re remodeling older plumbing . In this article, we’ll show you how to rip out an old tub and replace it with a one- piece fiberglass shower base . We’ll walk you through the tricky parts, first how to relocate the drain just right, then the necessary venting. Next, we’ll show how to set a rock-solid base—one that won’t crack or leak down the road. Our step-by- step instructions will take you right up to the point where ...

Ted Marules' new bathroom is neither subtle nor cheap. "We had visions of grandeur," he says of the $20,000 renovation to his Houston-area home. "We planned to have some wonderful moments in there." Marules and his wife sprung for all the frills: special- order Spanish tile , marble floors, gold faucets and the Texas- sized whirlpool bathtub . "We got some really nice, fancy stuff, and we spent the damned money for it," says the 53-year-old accident reconstruction expert . "Looks like a Roman whorehouse, but it's beautiful." The centerpiece of Marules' marble palace is the hourglass tub, a 10- jet Jacuzzi mounted like an acrylic altar at one end of the room. It set him back $1,897.70. In its promotional materials, Jacuzzi says the tub Marules bought , the Real model, "surrounds the bather in sumptuous curves for an exceptional bathing experience ." Through the Magic Touch controls and PowerPro jet system , it promises ...