Bathroom Remodel in One Day!

Don't hassle with a bathtub & shower renovation when you can have a professionally installed acrylic bath liner in about one day. Sunshine Patio is your source for affordable, convenient, clean and durable Bath Liners!
Bathroom Remodeling Using Acrylic Liners
Bathroom remodeling is quick, easy and beautiful with acrylic liners. Acrylic liners are the smart bathroom remodeling option because they are the alternative to completely gutting your bath system, costly bathtub refinishing, and time consuming shower replacement. For most home improvement projects, acrylic liners can be installed in one day so instead of waiting for weeks for that beautiful new bathroom, you can enjoy it immidately. Best of all, acrylic bath liners can save you thousands by saving you from an expensive remodeling commitment. 
Benefits of Acryic:
1.Easy to clean
2.Will not stain, chip or peel
3.Comes in a variety of colors and styles
4.Economical remodeling solution
5.Installs in about 1 day

Tips For Purchasing And Installing Bathtub Replacement Shower Pans

Bathtub replacement shower pans, the foundation for all tub-to-shower conversions, provide a base for stone, tile, or marble. They are the basis for converting any old bathtub into a functional, appealing bathroom feature.Property owners choose to replace bathtubs for various reasons. Where ADA compliance is an issue, upgrading to a shower allows owners to add important features like balanced-temperature mixing valves that have levers that can be easily grasped, vertical safety bars, adjustable-height shower heads, and barrier-free entrances. For many, bathtub is less safe and less practical than a shower and lacks features like benches, shelves, and foot rests.

Superior product lines offer several important features. The pans are UL-listed and offer drains made of PVC, cast iron, or ABS to assist with code compliance in any locality. They also offer either barrier-free or single-curb entrances. In addition, they resist mold, odor-causing bacteria, and mildew and provide leak-free protection. Finally, they are pitched one quarter-inch per square foot toward the drain, preventing standing puddle that could cause slippage and therefore liability.The first step to installing a replacement pan is to remove the old tub and surround using a reciprocating saw or a diamond saw, depending on whether the tub and surround was made of acrylic or tile. Then, saw through the drainpipe and remove the old pan. Mark the drain hole on the subfloor and note any tile overlap on the floor. Remove the pan and use a hammer and chisel to remove any tile that extended under the pan.

The builder should next attach the strainer to the drain hole. The subfloor should be vacuumed so that all debris is removed. The floor may have to be shimmed to insure a level surface. Once that is complete, the builder should install the new pan and evaluate the level. The pan should be attached to studs with galvanized screws.After installing the pan, the builder should connect the drainpipe and strainer via a compression gasket and then add the screen. The final step is to install cement backerboard, and then tile or other material can be added to complete the job.

Bathtub replacement pans are ideal for large jobs including hospitals, senior facilities, student dorms, hotels, and condos. The pan can be installed quickly and, if pans are uniform in all stalls, the tile can be precut. For owners, replacing outdated tubs can add both functionality and value to any property.

How To Find The Leak In Your Shower Or Bathtub?

As the owner of Rocky Mountain Bathrooms I've diagnosed a lot of leaky showers and bathtubs over the years. Lots of relationships with customers have started with a phone call from an exasperated customer who has been suffering water damage from a shower or bathtub for years and is ready to fix it once and for all.

I'm going to show you how we go about diagnosing a leak. Leaks let you know they exist by water appearing and pooling, soaking or staining something. It could be a ceiling below, the floor next to the bathtub or shower or even in a hallway floor outside the bathroom. While the proof does let you know that you have a leak, don't read to much into the location. I've seen ceilings get water damaged not from the bathroom directly above them, but from a bathroom above them and 50 feet on the other side of the house. Water has a funny way of running down hill and finding the path of least resistance, it can leak from one area and run all the way to another place before it shows itself.

The first rule is not to jump to conclusions. Think logically of course. Bathroom directly above water damage, could be that bathroom is the culprit, but keep an open mind don't get to narrowly focused yet you could be on a wild goose chase and you don't ever want to start tearing open walls and ceilings until you are reasonably positive you are in the right place.

Rule #2 is the mind will play tricks on you. It's very easy to associate circumstances and confirm circumstances in your mind. I can recall one particular problematic leak that the homeowner swore was related to running the shower. The ceiling was damaged directly under the shower upstairs and they connected in their minds that every time their son who took a shower after work in the afternoon it would leak, but it wouldn't leak any other time. If someone took a shower in the morning it wouldn't leak. Well it turned out it was a plumbing vent pipe unrelated to the shower that went right up next to the shower and through the roof of the house. The roof around the vent pipe was damaged but the roof was configured in a way that rain wouldn't cause much water to get into the hole, but that winter we had a big snow storm and every day after it got warm the sun in the afternoon would melt the snow that had accumulated around that vent pipe and it would leak down and run all the way down that pipe and pool in the ceiling below the bathroom. It would take it 3-4 hours and sure enough it would coincide with about an hour after their son took his afternoon shower. So be careful what you assume and what you associate, the mind will try to find ways to confirm your suspicions.

The final rule is to confirm your suspicions. You must always test your suspicions. And think about how you are testing it, make sure the way you are doing it isolates any other possibility. This is the only way to truly find the leak. You must do isolated tests of each suspicious item one at a time.

So lets take a typical shower or bathtub with a tiled surround and either a bathtub or a fiberglass shower pan. You've got a leak of some sort showing up either outside the tub/shower and you've observed and eliminated that it isn't the kids splashing water over the side at bath time or water leaking out the shower door.The culprits are: 

1.The tile surround, which could be the grout, the corners or the connection where the tile meets the tub or the shower pan.
2.The drain, which would be the drain itself or the overflow in the bathtub
3.The valve in the wall.
4.The plumbing connections in the walls such as the hot and cold feeds to the valve and then the connection of the valve to either the shower head or the tub filler.

So we have only 9 individual things that it could be. So that at least makes it easy. 9 Is a lot but if we are systematic we now have a list and a process to find out which one it is.

Lets start with the drain.

Start with examining the drain itself and the area around the drain, are their any cracks is the drain loose or nice and firmly seated? Get in there and step around it, put some weight on it see if a crack shows up that you didn't see until you put some weight on it. If you see anything like that you might have your culprit right there. But like I said don't jump to conclusions we must test, test, test!

Let's isolate the plumbing that is attached to the drain. We need a rubber hose running to a water source not in the shower or bathtub (remember we need to always isolate our tests, you can't run the shower or tub valve to test the drain without running the risk of the problem is really the valve right?) Most home improvement centers will sell different types of rubber hosing by the foot. You can purchase a length of it that will be big enough to go over your vanity faucet aerator. So get your rubber hose and stick it into the drain and run the water for 15 minutes. Come back and see if you see your leak appear where ever it has always shown up. If it usually doesn't show up for an hour, wait an hour. If you see your leak, it's the plumbing attached to the drain and you are done testing. No leak, now it's time to test the drain itself, take your rubber hose out and run the water into the shower pan or tub and do your wait and check. If you get your leak it's something to do with the drain itself, or that crack you found. See how easy this is.

Now lets say no leak yet. Well, now we know that it's not the drain or the drain plumbing let's now move onto the valve and the plumbing in the walls. If you have a leak before the valve you would have a leak all the time. So obviously we don't have leak in the hot and cold water lines attached to the valve in the wall or you would know it by the constant leak. If it's a tub, lets test the tub filler, since we know the drain is not leaking, just turn on the tub filler and fill the tub. Let it run for 15 minutes and check. If you see your leak you've got a leak between the valve and the tub filler, there is probably a copper elbow or a joint that is broken. If you didn't find your leak let's check the tub overflow while we are at it. Close the drain and fill the tub up to the overflow and let it overflow into it for 15 minutes. Find your leak? It's the overflow connection where it is attached to the tub. 

Okay let's check the shower head plumbing. The shower head is connected to the valve by a copper pipe all we need to do is plug the shower outlet and turn on the valve, this will pressurize that pipe in the wall with water. To do this you will need to take off the shower head and cap the shower pipe stem with a threaded cap you can buy. Or remove the entire shower head and stem and insert a threaded pipe with a cap into the elbow in the wall. However you do it, just plug it and turn it on for 15 minutes, the pipe will be filled with water under pressure and now if you find your leak it's the connection of the valve to the shower head. 

Okay if you still haven't reproduced your leak it's pretty easy from here, you've eliminated everything else but the tile surround which by the way is usually the number 1 or number 2 most likely cause of leaks. So from here all you need to do is turn on the shower head and aim it at the walls, now this is not scientific and will not usually result in a very accurate locater of the exact spot. A better way is to take your rubber hose, hook it up to the shower head stem and hold that hose over each wall for 10-15 minutes apiece until you find your leak. This way you will know for certain exactly where it is. Examine the tile, look specifically at the grout, do you see any hairline cracking or missing grout in the area? That's usually all it takes. Press firmly is it spongy? 

The final thing to do is after you think you found your leak, is to wait a day and try it again. Double check it and make it leak again. Stop now and think about it, make sure you have it positively isolated. If you do all that and you are systematic you should now have found your leak!

The 15 Point Checklist Before Starting a Bathroom Renovation

A bathroom renovation is an exciting task. But before jumping to choosing the latest tile or bathtub design, there are some less exciting things to consider so your project turns out just the way you dream it. Because renovating a bathroom can be overwhelming, time-consuming and costly, we prepared a simple 15-point checklist to make sure that your project stays on track and the renovation runs smoothly.
1. Budget
If you don’t know already you should work up an idea of how much you want to spend on your bathroom renovation. Setting a budget will help guide you as you make decisions about what to include in the remodel. Once you’ve figured out what you can spend and substracted the amount allocated to labor, you’ll have a clearer sense of what you can spend on tile, fixtures, and extras.
2. Time
Many people assume that if they are remodeling a small bathroom it will only take a few days, or anyway it will take much less time than a larger one. This is not necessarily the case. Depending on how many items you are changing in the bathroom your contractor will have to go through all the same steps as a larger bathroom. However, planning refers not only to defining the duration of the renovation works but also certain intermediate steps such as ordering and purchasing tiles, fixtures, custom-built vanity or cabinets to make sure they can be delivered when your contractor needs them.  Planning time is also crucial for those with only one bathroom in their house as they will have to make arrangements where to take a shower and use the toilet while the bathroom is taken apart.

 3. Works sequence

When it comes to bathroom renovation by completing the job in a specific sequence you can save yourself from a lot of clean up time and mistakes. Whether you are demolishing sheetrock or simply repainting, you always want to start at the top of the room. Remodel your ceiling first, walls second, and floors third so you can prevent damage to your new components.

4. Hidden problems

If you are doing a major upgrade to your bathroom consider doing a “full gut”. When done by a professional with expertise you end up with a zero problems bathroom that will function flawlessly and add tremendous value to your home for many years to come. Depending on the age of your home and how well it was built the biggest hidden problem you may encounter is water damage, so look for structural deficiencies in the floor framing, not properly vented plumbing, old corroded plumbing, non-waterproof tile shower/tub surrounds, etc.

5. Design style and functionality

When first starting out start by thinking about the look you want for your bathroom. There are many factors to consider like paint color, tile choices, vanities, showers, tubs, faucets, etc. It can get overwhelming very quickly so start with some research. You can start to piece together elements that you like into what will become the final design of the bathroom or you may choose a design item you want to feature in the bathroom and then work the rest of the bathroom design around it.Design should work hand in hand with functionality so consider who will use the bathroom and how, consider an eventual resale of the house and also take a moment to think how the bathroom design will fit in with the rest of the house.

6. Measurements

There are 3 major limitations which really make size matter in bathroom renovation: the overall size of the bathroom (usually the smallest room in the house), the location of existing plumbing pipes and electrical wiring and the typical standard dimensions of bathroom fixtures. Therefore make sure you have the correct measurements and specifications when you go to the store. More frustrating than trying to shop without measurements is to end up purchasing stuff that doesn’t fit.

7. Contractor

Hiring a contract for a conceivably DIY job? Well, yes, that is a smart thing to do given the complexity of the job and difficult operations involved (electrical, tiling, plumbing, etc.). Therefore do not overlook the advantages of hiring a contractor and save yourself a load of misery and time.

8. Plumbing fixtures and features

No renovation is complete without remodeling or repairing fixtures and features, which could very well make a separate checklist themselves: shower, bathtub, toilet, bidet, sink, faucets and shower heads. You should also update or repair your mirrors and shower doors. You can also change the look of your bathroom very easily by changing out door handles, drawer pulls and the hardware for your shower doors. If you have the budget a new set of shower doors can completely change the look of your room.

9. Cabinets, storage and shelving

Planning cabinets, shelving and storing solutions is a tricky problem in most cases. In small, irregular shaped rooms like the bathroom, it is even more so. They need to be functional and accomodate all your stuff while keeping everything easily reachable, they must fit into the available space and make the most of it and on top of it all, they need to look stylish.

10. Walls and flooring

Virtually any material can be used to surface walls and floors in the bathroom as long as it’s waterproof, either naturally or by means of an impervious finish. Depending on your budget and style, ceramic, marble, and granite tiles make handsome and highly durable flooring and wall surfaces for baths. For flooring additional options may include cement (painted or stained), sheet vinyl or vinyl tiles which are inexpensive and look better than used to. Whatever your choice, always mind another key criteria for choosing your bathroom flooring: durability and slip-resistance.

11. Lighting

A bathroom can be rendered impractical or downright dangerous without adequate lighting so plan for design lighting that is functional and also creates atmosphere. Plan for maximizing natural light first, whereas for artificial light it is adviseable you should have least 4 watts of incandescent lighting per square foot.

12. Accessories

Although apparently insignificant in the bigger picture of the overall project, no remodel is complete without new accessories. And surprisingly enough, the small stuff like new towels, wash clothes, soap dishes, mirrors, towel racks, bath mats do add up to the final bill. If you are on a budget, new hand towels will be better than nothing.
13. Ventilation
Ventilation is crucial in a wet room like the bathroom. It is also a tricky task which needs good planning: choosing the right fan, the right position for its installation and dealing with the electrical wiring. Poor ventilation can leave your bathroom damp, mouldy and can even harm your health. A well-ventilated bathroom, however, isn’t just a healthy bathroom. Continual airflow can also prevent both the decay of any wooden trim or fixtures and the saturation of building insulation.
14. Going green
Even if you personally don’t care about going green one way or the other, the market is trending toward this so it’s something to consider. And there are many budget friendly options for adding a green touch to your bathroom: a low flow toilet that uses less water and saves you money in water bills; low-VOC or no-VOC paints; vanities made from sustainably harvested wood; recycled glass tile surface countertops, etc.

15. Final clean

The final clean should include a thorough cleaning of all cabinetry, inside and out, ductwork, walls, floor, windows, and light fixtures. Although often overlook in the planning phase, in the case of a major renovation you may want to consider contracting a cleaning service which means additional costs that impact your budget. If you feel up to doing it yourself, you may need to add a day or two to your initial timing.

6 Contemporary Bathroom Design Ideas

The sleek, minimalist style of a contemporary bathroom features a streamlined, uncluttered look with an emphasis on textures, materials, lines, lighting, and cutting edge design. The overall color tone is generally neutral - whites, blacks, creams, earth tones and grays. Some people like to include a color highlight (such as painting a wall in an accent color) to make the room "pop" without disrupting the overall clean simplicity of the contemporary bathroom.

An important component of a contemporary bathroom is consistency of design. This is not where you want an eclectic look. So whatever materials appeal to you, everything should work together to create a sophisticated modern space.

Design #1-Brushed Metal

Metal is often used as one of the major components of a contemporary bathroom design, especially brushed metal. It's a popular material choice for people who want a strong, urban edge to the look of their bathroom. Metal can be used as an accent material for bathroom hooks, shelving and towel bars, or it can be used as a major theme for the sink, shower and bathtub. Popular metal for contemporary bathrooms include nickel, brushed steel, stainless steel and chrome. Many people who choose contemporary bathrooms like metal because it coordinates very easily with a wide range of other design elements.

Design #2-Fabrics and Textures

Fabric and texture can be used to attractively offset a contemporary bathroom design that features a lot of metal.  Fabric and texture can also serve to soften noise levels in a metal bathroom. Material such as batik, linen, cotton velvet, raw cotton or waffle-textured cotton can be used for towels, bathroom rugs or shower curtains. Just be wary of patterns, particularly busy or intricate fabric patterns, because everything needs to harmonize with the overall look of sleek simplicity.

Design #3-Natural Stones

Natural stone is another popular material that lends itself to contemporary bathroom design, especially in large, oversized stone tiling for the floor that continues up the wall and the interior of the shower. Natural stone in muted earth tones such as gray, taupe and warm browns give the bathroom space the tranquil feel of a resort or spa. 

A contemporary bathroom design with natural stone walls and oversized tiling can be offset by a bathroom suite with strong, clean shapes, and by installing sleek mirrors.

Design #4-Wall-Hung Appliances

If your bathroom walls have been checked for sufficient sturdiness and strength, you might consider choosing a wall hung sink basin/vessel and a wall hung toilet, which will enhance the modernist appearance of a contemporary bathroom. The wall-hung installation clears floor space and simplifies bathroom cleaning

Design #5-Free Standing Bathtub

You might also want to consider a free-standing bathtub. Free-standing bathtubs are more commonly associated with the vintage bathroom look and familiar "claw foot" bath, but there are many streamlined, extremely contemporary free-standing bathtub designs available, and choosing the right one can create a striking, contemporary bathroom design element.

Design #6-Lighting

When it comes to bathroom lighting, recessed lighting, sleek sconces, and track lighting are logical lighting options for a look that both highlights and integrates well with contemporary design. Strip lighting over areas like the bathroom sink can serve as task lighting. 

Some people like floor lamps in compatible materials such as brushed metal, or in a bold color such as turquoise.  Others take a different approach and choose a pendant chandelier to highlight the spare and spacious-looking design of the rest of the bathroom space. Whatever your preference, the key idea to bear in mind is that lighting for the contemporary bathroom is an essential design element as well as a practical necessity. 

Tone and Textures

It's not uncommon to create attention-commanding focal points in compact spaces. This powder room vanity is crafted with smooth, flaxen veneer and is topped with a cast bronze basin and patina counter. Recessed lighting around the large mirror illuminates any reflection.

Designer: Lori Carroll, Lori Carroll & Associates, Tucson, AZ
Tone:

Salt harvested from the Himalayan Mountains is unlike any other salt, unique in both its majestic beauty and in the benefits it provides. If you add pure and natural Himalayan salts to your bath you will notice the difference immediately. When mixed with water, these salts create an environment that mimics the most ancient seas on Earth, bringing the magic of the Himalayas right into your own home. When you soak in a Himalayan salt bath, the minerals and nutrients in the salt are delivered to your cells in the form of “ions”,  making it easier for your body to absorb and utilize them. Himalayan bath salts can improve the texture, tone and appearance of your skin, combat water retention, promote sinus health, prevent muscle cramping and soreness, regulate sleep, and even decrease stress.

Hacienda-Style Bath

This guest bath features a custom miniature sideboard topped with a rich red travertine counter and copper vessel sink. Rich shower draperies and handmade tiles add to the charm of this space, showing that patterns used selectively as accents will not overwhelm a small room.Designer: Leslie'Ann Cohen, CKD Leslie Cohen Design, Cardiff, CA
Hacienda Style:
In the distance, steam is streaming from Volcán de Fuego, the imposing and still active "fire volcano." The air is filled with the scent of tuberose, and all around are the gentle sounds of water splashing from a tributary of the El Cordoban River and from fountains in the courtyard. Five thousand acres of hillsides beyond are covered with fig, guava, walnut, pine, mango, and pistachio trees as thick as rainforest. Butterflies drift between intricately landscaped flowergardens.

There are many places around the world that define tropical serenity, but it is hard to imagine anything better than this hotel in Mexico, the Mahakua Hacienda de San Antonio. The grand 19th-century hacienda in the western state of Colima was built between 1879 and 1890 as the manor of a successful plantation (which at its height produced world-renowned coffee). Last August, Amanresorts founder Adrian Zecha took over the hacienda under a ten-year management deal and fine-tuned everything, opening it to the public in October. This sprawling, 66,000-square-foot mansion, with its vibrant colors (pink on the outside, apricots, reds, vivid yellows on the inside), romantic arched courtyards, and singular, handcrafted furnishings, may truly be one of the most beautiful places in the world.

Everything about this casa grande is luxurious, starting with the sense of space, including the 26 bedrooms with 15-foot vaulted brick ceilings and generous bathrooms. Even the furniture is oversized, adding a note of fantasy and glamour. Suede lounge chairs, intricate Mexican silver mirrors, hand-loomed carpets and tapestries--each room is different, all with sublime views. One side of the house faces the volcano (best view, not surprisingly, is from the Volcano Suite); the other side overlooks the formal gardens, designed to resemble those of Spain's Alhambra Palace (corner room 23 is tops). French doors and windows graciously facilitate the vistas. Volcanic stone fireplaces in each bedroom come in handy at night, when the 5,000-foot elevation brings on a chill, even in summer.

The public rooms are similarly massive and packed with exquisite details—the large statue of a bird constructed of silver from Guadalajara, the hand-carved table with inlays of silver talismans, the gilded 18th-century mirrors.

Immediately surrounding the house are 470 acres on which to wander. In addition to the fruit trees, there are ornamental plants from all of Central America that attract a wide variety of birdlife. And the pool is on an epic scale—115 feet long. It seems conceivable that even if all the guests plunged in at once they could swim laps without touching.

Being surrounded by all of this space and all of this beauty has a lulling effect—it's difficult to imagine leaving the grounds. But for those who do want to venture out, excursions are quickly arranged by the deft household staff, led by managers Char and Henry Gray (formerly of Amandari). Enriching possibilities include a visit to the pre-Columbian 120-acre archeological zone (15 miles from the hacienda) and horseback riding on the adjacent ranch (which grows coffee and organic vegetables for the kitchen). Or there's the visit to the neighboring town of Comala for the afternoon ritual of listening to the dueling mariachi bands in Los Portales, the lineup of outdoor restaurants across from the main square—you buy the margaritas, the restaurants spring for the botanas, or hors d'oeuvres. (The best restaurant bet: Fundador, the one closest to the main road.)

Mostly, though, days here might be spent wandering the gardens with Lupita, the naturalist-in-residence, trying to swim an entire length of the pool, dining on Australian chef Craig Wheate's delicious fusions of Asian (he was previously chef of the Eastern & Oriental Express train) and Mexican cuisine. On nights when there are few guests, dinners are held in the blue-and-white Mexican-tiled kitchen—an intimate, rewarding touch.

On your last day, the thought of leaving is excruciating. One reason, of course, isthe arduous trip back to the airport (a two-and-a-half-hour drive north to Guadalajara or nearly two hours southwest to Manzanillo). But the real reason is separation anxiety—parting from the ease and perfection here, the sensory euphoria induced by just looking around.

Room rates: $750-$1,400, including meals and airport transfers.

Municipio de Comala, Colima, Mexico; 52-331-34411; fax 52-331-43727; e-mail: reserve@mahakua.com.mx.