Bathroom remodeling questions
Short answers to what people ask about remodeling a bathroom. If yours is not here, call or send a request and we will answer it.
Planning
Where do I start with a bathroom remodel?
Start with what bothers you in the room today. Call or send a request, and we arrange a visit to look at the bathroom, measure it and talk through what could change and in which order.
Do I need drawings before work starts?
A remodel starts with a plan of the room. We measure it, draw the layout with you and confirm it before work begins, so that the shower, the vanity and the door agree with each other on paper first.
Can the layout of the bathroom change?
Yes. Moving a toilet, a shower or a vanity is possible, and it changes the plumbing in the walls and under the floor. That is why it is decided at the start, with the plan, and not halfway through.
Can I stay in the house during the work?
Usually, if you have another bathroom to use. We talk through the water shut-offs and the dust protection before the work starts, so that you know what to expect.
Showers and tubs
Can you convert a bathtub to a shower?
Most tub alcoves can hold a tiled shower. The width and depth of the alcove decide what fits, and a visit to measure the space is the way to know what the new shower can look like.
What is a curbless shower?
A curbless shower has no step at the entry: the floor of the bathroom runs into the floor of the shower, which slopes to the drain. It needs the floor under the shower to be lower than the floor around it.
Does a walk-in shower need a door?
No. Some are open or closed by a single fixed glass panel. A door keeps more water and heat inside, and a panel keeps the room more open, so the choice depends on the size of the shower.
Do I lose my only bathtub?
Converting the only tub in a home is worth thinking about before you start, because some households and some buyers want one. A second bathroom with a tub keeps the option open.
Tile, vanities and finishes
Can new tile go over old tile?
Sometimes, but in a wet area the old tile and the layers behind it should be checked first. Often the better answer is to remove it and start from a clean, sound surface, and we tell you which applies.
Which tile works on a shower floor?
A shower floor needs a grip and a slope to the drain. Small tiles and mosaics follow a slope easily, and large tiles can work with a linear drain and a single-plane slope.
Can the plumbing stay where it is when I change the vanity?
Often yes. A vanity that matches the old drain and supply positions needs the least change. A new layout may move them, which is done while the wall is open.
Do wall-mounted sinks need special walls?
Yes. A wall-mounted sink or toilet needs solid backing inside the wall, which is added while the wall is open, and the finish is built around that backing so nothing shows.
Accessible bathrooms
Does an accessible bathroom need to look institutional?
No. Curbless showers, good lighting and grab bars in a finish that matches the other fixtures read as ordinary design choices, and most visitors notice only that the room is easy to use.
Can grab bars be added later?
Yes, if the wall has solid backing behind the tile. We can add that backing while the wall is open, so bars can go wherever they are needed later without opening the wall again.
Request a design visit
Tell us which room and what you would change, leave your number, and we call you to set a time.