Build Bath & Shower

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 ...

How to Organize a Bath Safety Remodel Jul 01, 2009 Bath safety is a key element of home access. Simply put, patients of all sorts need to use the bathroom throughout the day. But for bariatric, geriatric and mobility patients, bathing can pose both frustration and safety hazards . For instance, stepping into a shower stall or tub poses the risk of falls for geriatric and bariatric patients , and for mobility patients, bathing comes with even more complications due to their mobility limitations. And if bathing complications result in reduced frequency of bathing, this can mean that a patient risks hygiene issues that can cause sores and infections. This is especially a concern with bariatric patients , who are sometimes left with sponge baths as their only real bathing options . Fortunately, HME providers are in a position to help. There is a multiplicity of bath safety offerings available to help them ensure patients of all stripes are able to bathe safely. The key is to get started...

When designing a bathroom, the key is to look beyond this space. Does the style blend with the rest of your house? Now, keep in mind, you don’t have to be matchy-matchy and blending doesn’t have to be boring. But if your door knobs and hardware throughout the home are oil-rubbed bronze and you choose nickel for a hall bathroom, the change in finish could be distracting to the eye. Same goes for color scheme, except for the powder room, where drama reigns. If the master bedroom walls are painted a cheery yellow and you go for a burgundy wine colored bathroom , the jarring contrast will create a choppy feel, not the smooth transition you’re after. Unless you plan on renovating the bedroom and changing the colors there, you want an adjacent bathroom design to go with the flow. “If the bathroom is part of a master bedroom, it needs to tie in with color or texture—something,” says Eileen Kollias, designer/owner, Eileen Kollias Design , Boston, Mass. “If the bathroom is in the hallway a...