After completing the second floor bathroom, the homeowner’s hired us to remodel their first floor bathroom. The cast iron tub was removed along with the existing plumbing fixtures and drywall. The wall where the shower is now located was framed to fit a standard size shower pan. New drywall, beadboard ceiling, wainscoting, and moulding was installed. The shower surround has a traditional 3×6 porcelain tile that includes a double niche with a hybrid shower enclosure. Sherwin Williams color of the year, Naval, was selected as the wall color, and provides a beautiful contrast against the bright white trim. A custom sized linen cabinet was installed to provide extra storage. The room was trimmed out in brushed brass fixtures and hardware. LVP flooring was installed to finish the look.
The homeowner’s were referred to us by an existing client. The second floor bathroom ended up being the first of three remodels that we completed for this client last year. They wanted to remove the claw foot tub and install a walk in shower. We were able to get creative by utilizing an existing plumbing chase to give them a better layout for the room. The tub, pedestal sink, toilet, drywall, flooring, beadboard ceiling and moulding were all removed. We reconfigured the bathroom by framing a new wet wall. This allowed us to not only create the space for the shower, but also provide privacy for the toilet area. The corners were softened by adding 45° angles. New drywall was installed throughout. A bench was framed for the walk in shower. 12×12 porcelain tile was used for the shower surround with a custom hybrid shower enclosure. A beautiful piece of leathered granite was used for the bench and vanity top. 12×24 porcelain tile was selected for the wall tile finished with a mosaic tile that doubles as the vanity’s backsplash. We chose a matching custom vanity and linen cabinet. A soothing Conservative Gray by Sherwin Williams compliments the tile and stone for the wall color. The bathroom floor is an LVP by Shaw. The room was finished with brushed brass hardware and fixtures.
We are absolutely loving the new shower trend! The style that everyone is asking for is a glass enclosure shower with a bench and TWO shower heads. Having two sources of water in the shower is so luxurious. The shower heads can be a rainfall shower head on the ceiling, and a traditional or handheld sprayer on a side wall, or any combination of the three. How boujee do you want your shower to be?
A question we receive quite often is whether or not hardwood floors can–or should–be installed in a bathroom. Many of our clients want to match the floors in their bathroom remodel to their hardwood in other areas of the house, but worry that the wet environment of a bathroom would damage their brand-new floors.
While maintaining hardwood floors in a bathroom can be tricky, it’s not impossible, and can even have its benefits. Here are some pros and cons of installing hardwood floors in your bathroom, and a few tips for care and maintenance to make sure your new floors will shine for years to come.
Whole home remodel, after
These days, many homeowners are taking a pass on tile and vinyl flooring in favor of hardwood. Not only is hardwood a very attractive option for any room in the home, it can add significant value to the home if maintained properly. However, solid hardwood has one major drawback: it’s porous, and therefore absorbs water and humidity. This forces the solid wood into a cycle of swelling and contracting, which can cause warping and cracking over time. A high-quality sealant applied at installation can help to reduce this swelling, but eventually, any solid hardwood in a high-moisture environment will succumb to this problem. While solid hardwood might stand up well in a small, low-traffic bathroom like a half-bath, we don’t recommend using solid hardwoods in a high-traffic or humid environment, like a family bathroom with a tub or shower.
So what options do we have for those high-risk areas? If you still have your heart set on wood floors, engineered hardwoods are the way to go. Engineered hardwood flooring is made of a top layer of hardwood, joined to a base layer designed to increase stability and reduce moisture retention. The result is a material that can be refinished, just like natural hardwood, but stands up well in wet and humid areas. These engineered floors come in a variety of premium hardwoods, including oak, maple, hickory, and dozens more. This means you can find a similar match to the hardwoods in other areas of the house, right down to the finish.
But what can you do if you truly have your heart set on solid hardwoods? Well, if you’re willing to take the risk, then proper care, maintenance, and a little risk prevention can extend the life of your bathroom hardwood floors.
Use a high-quality, moisture-repellent sealant at installation. The harder it is for moisture to penetrate the sealant and reach the porous hardwood underneath, the longer your floors will last before beginning the cycle of swelling and contracting. Also, check the warranty on your hardwoods to make sure they’re approved for humid areas.
Make sure your bathroom is well-ventilated. If moisture can dissipate out of the room quickly, it will reduce the risk to your new floors. Use bath mats around your sink, tub, and shower, and clean up spills immediately.
Finally, consider incorporating tile into the design. Using tile around sinks, tubs, and showers will help prevent water from contacting your hardwoods, reducing the risk of water damage.
We hope we’ve been able to answer some of your questions and concerns regarding using hardwood floors in your bathroom remodel. As always, feel free to contact us at 336-644-5600 with any questions about your upcoming or ongoing remodels. Good luck, and take care!
One of our long time clients came to us with a very specific request. She had come across peacock themed shower curtain that she loved so much, she wanted us to remodel her bathroom to match it. We happily obliged her request.
She got a new kohler alcove tub with a tile surround. New vanity and vanity top, new baseboards and stunning bright green paint. Additionally, we installed all new plumbing fixtures and a new vanity mirror to complete the fresh new look.
Spring is one of the busiest times of year for contractors and remodelers. As Spring gets closer and the days get longer and warmer, many of our clients start to think seriously about the changes and improvements they’ve dreamed of making to their homes. However, one of the most important parts of renovating and remodeling a home–and one that is sometimes overlooked–is finding the right contractor for the job. Many unlicensed or predatory companies and individuals know that Spring is a busy time for the construction industry, and will try to take advantage of homeowners looking to hire someone to help them make their dreams a reality. Before you sign on with a contractor, make sure to do your research to make sure you’re protected.
When searching for a contractor or remodeling company to help you with your home renovations, it’s important to check whether or not the company is properly licensed and insured. All businesses and individuals performing construction work over $30,000 in North Carolina must be licensed with the North Carolina Licensing Board of General Contractors in order to operate legally. To check whether or not a company or person is licensed, you can visit www.NCLBGC.org, and use the “Search” function to look them up by company or individual name. Also, be sure to ask for proof of insurance before signing on with any contractor. If they’re properly insured, they will be able to provide paperwork to prove it.
After you’ve made sure your potential contractor or remodeler is properly insured and licensed, you should also do some research into their business reputation. Many contractors have some kind of online presence, including reviews or complaints on the Better Business Bureau, Yelp!, Angie’s List, or Google Business. Many reviewers will also post pictures of the contractor’s previous work. When checking out reviews, keep an eye out for contractors that respond to negative reviews, and what kind of response they gave. Did they try to work with their customer and find a solution? Did they give a dismissive answer, or not respond at all? You should always prefer to work with contractors that value their customers, and good contractors will respond to both their positive and negative reviews. As for the BBB, you may want to think twice about any company with a rating less than “A.”
When discussing the scope of the work with a potential contractor, take the time to ask them if they have a website. Many contractors do, and they will often include examples of their work, testimonials from previous clients, and further information about themselves, their company, and their mission. Also be sure to ask how long the contractor or company has been in business; while newer contractors aren’t necessarily bad, a company that’s been in business for ten or more years indicates a company that has been able to stick around due to quality work. If the contractor doesn’t have their own website–which is getting rarer these days–ask if they have any pictures or examples of their work they can provide.
When looking for a quality contractor to help you realize the changes and improvements you’ve dreamed about making to your home this Spring, always research the company you’ll be working with beforehand. You, as a homeowner, deserve the absolute best when signing on with a contractor, and should do everything you can to make sure you’re protected against scammers and sub-par craftsmanship. We at Custom Construction and Renovations, Inc. take pride in our work, our reputation, and our wonderful client base, so feel free to call us with any questions.
Good luck with all of your projects this coming Spring!
Proudly serving: Greensboro, Jamestown, High Point, Summerfield, Oak Ridge, Lake Jeanette, Browns Summit, Kernersville, UNCG, and surrounding areas
Locally owned and operated we pride ourselves in creating or re-creating any home space you desire. Whether we assist in building your vision or we work together to create an original design, we promise to deliver a quality product with excellent customer service.
How to find the RIGHT contractor for your home improvement?
Do your homework
Verification of the NC state license can easily be done online
Check the Better Business Bureau rating
Read reviews of the contractor online
Get an idea of the project budget
Ask for references
Get 2 to 3 quotes
Recognize a sales pitch versus a contractor who is able to speak intelligently about your project.
Estimates are rarely apples to apples, but this will allow you to pick the one you feel is the best fit for you and your project.
Does the contractor ask you to pull the permit – if so the company may not be licensed or the license may not be in good standing with city or state
Ask questions, and take notes
NC state license?
Does the general contractor use licensed subcontractors?
Insurance? Not just auto, how about general liability
Ask for pictures of previous work – are they just “after” pictures or do they have before and after?
Will you deal with the same person throughout the remodel or just the day you sign the contract and the final walk thru?
What kind of warranty? Tail light warranty or the industry standard.
