In addition to cleaning, many homeowners also begin
remodeling projects in the spring. After all, ’tis the season for renewal,
fresh starts and new beginnings, right? Spring is a great time to reconfigure
and re-create and remodeling fits right in.
Before you set out to remodel your bathroom, take a moment
to evaluate what you already have. Are
you content with the size of the bathroom?
If it seems too small, there are several options available.
One option, of course, is to make it bigger by simply rearranging
the contents. That means making better
use of the space by removing old, cumbersome fixtures that may no longer serve
you. Let's say you have an out-of-date,
fiberglass shower-surround that was installed when the house was built 40 years
ago. It definitely takes up much-need
space. However, with a little effort it can
be expertly removed and discarded. But
now, what do we replace it with? An
excellent option is to bring in a freestanding tub.
Photo Credit: tourfactory.com
There are several popular choices in today’s
market such as the elegant porcelain/cast ironClawfoot or Pedestal soaking
tubs. It might be the Slipper Tub design,
with its high back that resembles Cinderella's slipper, or the Dual-ended tub
that offers attractive, symmetrical slopes on each end of the tub. The Pedestal tub is also a contemporary favorite
as it replaces the Clawfoot designs with a cast iron skirt at the bottom. These cast iron/porcelain tubs all come in
various sizes and can easily fill almost any space. The point is, they won’t look like the
standard, run-of-the-mill combo fiberglass tub/shower you had before. Far from it. You are adding elegance and
making better use of space.
An alternative approach, one that’s very much in-demand
today, is the Safety Suite Shower. Available
in different configurations regarding drain orientation (left, center, or
right) and numerous colors/patterns, Safety Suite Showers offer a very open
design with either a low threshold (usually four inches high) or a zero
threshold so you can safely and easily walk or roll right in. This is indispensable if a person is
wheelchair bound or has trouble getting into a traditional bathtub. They are extremely attractive with high
tilewallsand matching floor. There are various options regarding what type of built-in seat one can choose as well (fold-down, molded, etc.) Along with the shower itself, you can also choose various bathroom accessories such as bathroom paper roll, towel rack, and self, all of which are equipped with handsome, yet sturdy safety grab bars. The shower itself includes several strategically placed grab bars as well. Safety Suite Showers come in sizes ranging from 48- to 60-inch lengths, so that they can accommodate any size bathroom.
Another way to make better use of the space you already have
is to consider doing away with the old laminate counter top and drop in
sink. Again, if your bathroom is 40
years old, the sink is usually large and takes up way too much space. The counter top is probably a laminate
variety that is already showing wear on the edges and maybe some lifting of the
laminate from the pressed board underneath.
You can take advantage of some beautiful counter top choices now
available. Take, for example “natural
stone.” There is organic beauty in every
stone slab. The variations in each slab are
unique and will amaze you. The colors
are spectacular. The polished
granite is highly stain- and scratch-resistant. Another interesting option, as seen in the photograph to the left, is a combination of stone, granite and wood. Talk about natural beauty.
Since I mentioned the sink, if you have a tiny bathroom, go for a
porcelain pedestal sink. There are some
slim, silhouettes out there that are perfect for a powder room or diminutive
bathrooms. The only drawback is that they offer almost
zero storage space and a small deck space.
To work around this, many homeowners are creating niches in the wall for
toiletries and other necessities. Unlike clunkyover-the-shower head
organizers, a recessed cubby in a tub or shower surround gives shampoo and soap
a permanent home that doesn't take up premium stall space.
If the floor of your bath looks bad, tear up that linoleum
and replace it with “no-regret” tile floors.
If you want an easy-care floor, go for porcelain or glazed tiles, and
avoid porous natural stone tiles such as limestone. Unless sealed it’s been vigilantly, limestone
(and other porous stone) will absorb drips and spills and become stained. If you want a non-slip floor, choose tiles
with textured surfaces, matte finishes, or sand-containing glazes. Another option would be “small” tiles with
lots of grout lines, as these offer better “grip” than the larger tiles.
When caulking around tubs, sinks or tiles, it’s best to choose
an acrylic caulk. It can be removed without the use of harsh chemicals so that
replacement is easier. And make sure it
is mold- and mildew-resistant.
Most homes that are 50 years old or older offer an
antiquated wiring service in the bathroom.
Over the years, the circuit has usually been abused by years of
high-power hair drying. So don't just
swap in GFI outlets. Replace the wiring,
too, with dedicated 20-amp circuits and plenty of outlets for all the
appliances you use, from electric razors, and toothbrushes, to
hair-straightening irons, hair dryers, etc.
If your bathroom is simply too small for any changes except
expansion, then consider the following:
In most cases, the homeowner is not going to be happy with anything smaller than a bath that is 3 to 4 feet wide by 6 to 8 feet long. (Make sure to check with local codes for
additional requirements.) Some
homeowners have found that by just taking out an adjoining closet, they can
garner precious space without really changing the footprint of the house. But if you must expand, contact a remodeling
expert who can give you some viable options. If your lot is large enough, the
contractor might be able to add a bathroom without interfering with any property
lines or set-backs. It’s important that
he keeps the natural flow and design of your home. Look at the roof style that you have in your
home. Can a gable be extended? As you might expect, “expansion” remodeling
is not cheap. Just like new
construction, it will require several sub-contractors, such as framing, floor
covering, sheet rock, plumbing and electrical.
Ask for referrals, shop around and get several estimates, and then
decide what you can live with. Establish
a budget that you can afford before you ever begin.
In this article, I discussed several options for homeowners
to consider when remodeling their bathrooms.
I talked about replacing their current fiberglass tub/shower with a standalone
cast iron/porcelain Clawfoot or Pedestal tub and/or going with the Safety Suite
Showers. I also discussed various things to consider such as new sink and
cabinet designs, replacing linoleum floors, upgrading the electric wiring,
using acrylic caulk and more.
If you found this article useful, please share it with your family, friends and
co-workers. If you have a comment related to this article, leave it in the
Comment section of this blog. Thanks again for visiting with us.
Customer Testimonial for Cast Iron/Porcelain Tub from Tub King
If you’d like to receive a FREE Clawfoot Tub Buyers’ Guide,
fill out the form below.
If you’d like to receive a FREE Walk-in Tub Buyers’ Guide,
fill out the form below.
Have a question? Feel free to contact me at the number or
email listed at the end of this article and my brother, Alan, who heads up Tub
King, will personally get back to you. It’s been my pleasure sharing this
information with you.
Alan Knight has many years of experience in the
antique and senior bathtub industries. His companies not only provide superior
products, they are also multi-award winners, receiving the “Best of
Jacksonville Chamber Award” four years running. If you’d like to contact Tub
King, call (800) 409-3375 or (800) 843-4231; or send an email to Alan@tubking.com.
Spring is the season of new beginnings. Fresh buds bloom, animals awaken from winter
hibernation ― indeed, the entire earth seems to come to life again. Farmers and gardeners plant their seeds as
temperatures slowly rise. The degree of
weather changes varies depending upon location, because most equatorial regions
see fairly constant temperatures throughout the year.
What most people call spring, as well as the other three seasons, is due to astronomical occurrences between the spring equinox
and summer solstice. Caused by the angle
of the Earth's tilt toward the sun, astronomical spring is marked by the
equinoxes and solstices.
The equinoxes are special days during the year when day and
night are almost equal. There are two equinoxes, one the spring and one in the
fall. The spring, or vernal equinox
occurs around March 21st in the northern hemisphere and around September 21st
in the southern hemisphere.
During the summer solstice, in the northern hemisphere, the
North Pole is tipped at its greatest angle toward the sun, which occurs around
June 21st. In the southern hemisphere, it’s
around December 21st, when it’s the South Pole's turn to be nearer. (Yes, I
know. It seems peculiar to us northern hemisphere inhabitants that from
November through February is actually summertime in lands below the equator.
Similarly, June through mid-September is wintertime in places such as
Australia and other countries well below the equator.)
Warmer temperatures mean the ground, which may have frozen over
during the winter months, grows softer and more yielding to plants. Spring is often marked by increased rainfall,
which helps to water the infant seeds taking root in the ground.
Animals that spent the winter in hibernation come out of
their dens, while those that traveled to warmer regions return. Many animals give birth in the spring. Winter coats are shed by those animals that
sported them, and some animals may change coloration to blend in with their new
surroundings.
Many cultures celebrate the return of spring, or the rise of
the vernal equinox. Passover is
celebrated by those of Jewish faith.
Linked to the Book of Exodus, Passover commemorates when the Jewish
people were freed from slavery in Egypt.
The holiday falls on the first full moon after the northern spring and
lasts for seven days.
Celebrated by Christians, Easter takes its roots from the
Jewish Passover festival. The
celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ after his crucifixion, Easter usually
falls around the same time as Passover. The actual day changes because Passover
follows the Jewish calendar, which is different from the standard one we
commonly use. Today, many ways of
celebrating Easter ― Easter eggs, baskets, and bunnies ― have risen from celebrations
of the vernal equinox and the start of spring to combine with the religious
holiday.
May Day is a spring festival born from a Celtic festival,
though as Christianity spread through Europe, some of the older pagan elements
were dropped. Celebrants might wind
ribbons around a May pole as they dance around it.
Mark Twain wrote, “It's spring fever. That is what the name of it is. And when you've got it, you want ― oh, you
don't quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart
ache, you want it so.”
Robin Williams ― oh, how we miss him ― once quipped, “Spring
is nature's way of saying, ‘Let's party!’”
So here we are.
Spring has sprung! We have so
many thoughts, plans, wishes and desires that go through our head. We, too, want new beginnings.
Let's take “remodeling” for example. The term identifies a need in many homeowners
take their “model” home to make it even better ... to redo the home they
initially loved and add new concepts to make it even more fantastic.
Recently, Tub King, Inc. participated in the Spring Home and
Patio Show here in Jacksonville, Florida.
Held in early March, tens of thousands of people were there to see the
newest ideas that might inspire and motivate homeowners to desire something
more for their homes. Tub King was there
with its award-winning array of bathtubs and showers. As many as 80,000 people
came through the H&P show, all eager to see something new that could
address their remodeling desires.
At Tub King’s frequently visited booth, there were several
different models of its elegant porcelain/cast iron bathtubs, offering Slipper Tubs,
Double Slippers, Dual-ended, Pedestal tubs, deep soaking tubs and traditional
designs.
The safety-featured Walk-in tub brought attention to the
needs of our current senior population who have special needs in their bath tub arrangements. Along with available hydrotherapeutic features such as water jets and air jets, and ergonomically
controls, the Walk-in tub can serve as anyone’s personal Jacuzzi.
Tub King’s newest product was its trendy Safety Suite Showers. Available in different
configurations that can be custom-ordered, such the type/color tile, placement
of grab bars, the type of in-shower seat, height of the entryway, these showers
offer a total safety bathroom package, especially focusing on the open concept
of a walk-in shower, and convenient grab bars throughout the bathroom.
Take time this spring to visualize how you can make your
home more special. Adding a new bathtub or shower in your home will make a
positive impact in your life, that’s for certain. Spring can be an exciting time. Harriet Ann Jacobs, the celebrated
abolitionist speaker and reformer once wrote, “The beautiful spring came, and
when Nature resumes her loveliness, the human soul is apt to revive also.”
Party on!
The Tub King Difference
In this article, I discussed why spring time is a season of
renewal, for animals and humans alike. I shared information about the
astronomical causes of spring, and highlighted two of its major holidays. I also talked about Tub King’s recent
appearance at the Jacksonville Spring Home & Patio Show this past March,
discussing its three main products: porcelain/cast iron bathtubs, Walk-in
bathtubs and its new Safety Suite Showers.
If you found this article useful, please share it with your
family, friends and co-workers. If you have a comment related to this article,
leave it in the Comment section of this blog. To find more articles like
this type in “walk-in tubs,” “cast iron tubs” and/or “Safety Suite Shower” in
the search box.
If you’d like to receive a free copy of our Walk-in Tub Buyers’ guide, fill out
the form below.
If you’d like to receive a free copy of our Clawfoot Tub
Buyers’ guide, fill out the form below.
Alan Knight is the owner of Tub King, Inc., and SeniorBathtub.com in Jacksonville,
Florida. He has many years of experience in the antique and senior bathtub
industries. HIs companies not only provide superior products, they are also
award winners, receiving the “Best of Jacksonville Chamber Award” four years
running. If you’d like to contact them, call (800) 409-3375 or (800) 843-4231;
or send an email to alan@tubking.com.
How many people are really out of work? The accurate answer is surprisingly difficult
to ascertain. According to the U.S.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, the official unemployment rate as of February 2015,
is 5.5 percent. For reasons that are
highly political, official unemployment figures are greatly
under-reported. There are other factors that should enter into the reporting. For
example, there are discouraged workers (those who have given up on looking for
work.) There are those employed part-time
but not able to secure full-time work, and there are others who are marginally
attached to the labor force. In reality,
then, the actual U.S.unemployment is up around 11 or 12%.
Those who are fresh out of high school and college are
finding full-time employment more difficult to find. Many are educated but over-qualified for the
few entry-level positions that are available.
While many professional careers do require formal education
and years of experience, there are high-paying jobs out there that don't
require a college degree or prior experience.
Let's look at some of the better paying jobs that don’t always require a
college degree or vast amounts of experience needed:
Working as a security guard can mean a lot more than just
patrolling the local mall for unruly punks.
You might work as a protective sentry for an embassy, a secure cash
transporter for firms such as Brinks, or even a member of the Homeland Security team at an airport. A high school diploma is sufficient for most
of these jobs, but requirements vary and could include passing a drug test,
having a clean criminal record, and perhaps even obtaining a firearms license. Annual SalaryRange: $18,000 - $39,000.
You don't need a formal education to work as a bartender,
but you should go to a bar tending school. Working behind a bar can be difficult, as each shift requires dealing
with an imbibing public from different walks of life. Some locales have laws in place where a bar
or bartender can be held responsible if a patron drinks too much, so there is
the added pressure of monitoring how much alcohol your customers consume. The ABC Bar TendingSchool lists locations
around the country.
Delivery Drivers
Whether national, regional, or local, companies need
delivery drivers. As long as you have a
clean driver's license, you’re eligible for these jobs. You sometimes don't need prior experience for many of
these jobs, and they often offer a lot of scheduling flexibility. Starting with a company as a driver can also
help you get your foot in the door, with opportunities to work towards a
higher-paying position such as in sales, a shift manager, a terminal manager,
etc. Annual Salary Range: $17,000 - $46,000.
Experts project the employment rate for bill collectors to
grow by approximately 19% in the next 10 years,and most of these positions
only require a high school diploma. Job
requirements include effectively communicating over the phone and having good
customer service skills. Previous bill
collection experience is sometimes not required.
Annual Salary Range:
$22,000 - $48,000.
Sanitation Worker
Garbage collection may not sound as attractive as some other
non-degree jobs, but the pay is good and the opportunities are abundant. You’ll need to wake up before the crack of
dawn to start your work day, but you get most holidays off, receive good
benefits, and you get to exercise a bit on the job when you work as a garbage
collector. Requirements include being
physically fit, capable of lifting heavy items, and the ability to drive a
garbage truck. You can begin looking for
a job in this field on a waste management company's career site. Annual Salary Range: $20,000 - $60,000.
You must have the patience of a saint if you want to drive
children to and from school every morning and afternoon. Additionally, you need a clean driving and
criminal record. Bus drivers usually
work twice a day, in the morning and in the afternoon, and get all the same
holidays and days off that students enjoy. Oftentimes no previous experience is required to become a school bus driver, and
the job can come with benefits as well as a decent salary. Annual Salary Range: $16,500-$40,000.
Cable TV Installer
Cable TV and Internet installers can make decent
salaries. Previous experience is not
required for employment, and on-the-job training is provided. A good rapport with the public certainly
helps make this job easier. Annual
Salary Range: $21,500 - $52,000.
The majority of your time will be spent away from home, but
being a truck driver certainly has its rewards. These jobs offer good pay and benefits, and little or no previous
experience is required for employment.
You have to get trained and licensed to drive the big rigs, but most
trucking companies pay for your training and assist you with getting your
commercial driver's license. Medical
exams and background checks may also be required, depending on what substances you
might be hauling. Annual Salary
Range: $27,500 - $67,000.
The most successful brokers have established a large
referral network and have return business.
In other words, it takes at least a few years to make significant income
in the field. But the potential is there to earn a great deal of money, and you
only need an agent license to get your foot in the door at a real estate
firm. To become eligible for a license,
you must take an approved pre-licensing course and then pass the state
exam. You can then affiliate with an
established broker and work your way towards getting your own broker's
license. Annual Salary Range: $30,000 - $200,000+
Specific licensing requirements for taxi drivers vary from
state to state, but include being over 21 years of age, having a clean driving
record, several years driving experience, and passing a background check. Generally, taxi drivers pay to lease their
cabs from a cab company, keeping all the income they receive from their
fares. Work hours can be long and often
include nights, weekends, and holidays, and the work can even be dangerous at
times. But with no previous experience
needed and the ability to set your own hours, being a taxi driver can make for
a relatively comfortable career choice. Annual Salary Range:
$17,000 - $67,000.
Years ago, the idea of painting a bathtub for a living would’ve
been considered a ridiculous notion, but today the business of bath and kitchen
refinishing has grown into a multi-million dollar industry. In reality, it involves much more than just painting.
The concept is to replace a worn-out finish on a bathtub, sink, or kitchen
counter top with a new finish. The
activity is highly detailed, with specific steps to properly clean and etch the surface, and then apply the new finish through the use of a
professional spraying process utilizing specialized equipment. It enables the homeowner to save quite a bit of
money and annoyance by avoiding having to tear out the old fixture and replace
it with a new one. It could save a
family up to 70%. Annual Salary
Range: $20,000 -$200,000.
Those who have been truly successful have taken the time to
learn the trade by attending a professional Refinishing School. There they can get not only classroom time,
but precious hands-on instruction, so that when they go into a customer's home,
they can provide professional results. Tub King, Inc., in Jacksonville, Florida provides such a
course one weekend each month.
For the past decade, people from all over the world have
traveled to Jacksonville, Florida to attend its bathtub and kitchen refinishing class. Previous participants
have hailed from Canada, Colombia, Spain and Germany and, of course, from throughout
the U.S. Typically, the class runs
Friday and Saturday, unless the class size is larger, in which case, it is continued into Sunday. The class usually runs for a full eight hours each
day with a free lunch included. It's taught by Tub King’s Operations Manager, Mike Turner, who has been instructing the class for well over a
year.
During the class, participants learn about the entire
refinishing process, repairing damaged bathtubs, spraying the tubs to make them
look new, refinishing countertops, and more. The students are taught the
various skills and then are able to practice in real-time during the class.
It’s here they’ll actually get hands-on experience in learning how refinish a
variety of Clawfoot bathtubs, countertops, sinks, cabinets, etc. Furthermore, the course offers hands-on instruction in:
An Overview of the Refinishing
Industry
How to Select the Right Equipment
Proper
Preparation
What are the Most Reliable Coating
Products
How to Refinish Porcelain (sinks and
tubs)
Striking Gold in Antique Clawfoot
Bathtubs
How to Refinish
Fiberglass
How to Do Spot Repairs
What are the Most Effective Cleaners
How to Refinish Kitchen Countertops
How to Refinish Appliances
How to Refinish Ceramic
Tile
How Refinish Kitchen & Bathroom Cabinets
How to Create Multi-speck Patterns
How to Refinish
Concrete
Bathtub Conversion (for Walk-in Tubs) for
seniors
Truck Bed liners (which is a separate business all in
itself)
How to Properly Set Up Your Business
A Review of the Best Marketing & Advertising
Strategies
At the conclusion of the class, students are awarded a Certificate
of Completion as a trained refinishing professional. After receiving a Certificate of Completion from Tub King's
course, students can start their own bathtub and kitchen refinishing
business. With the purchase of a professional spray rig,
approximately $700 of materials, they're now a professionally equipped,
well-trained contract laborer. Not only are they now skilled to refinish
tubs, but also counter tops, ceramic tile, appliances, sinks, and
cabinets. Whether as a part-time or full-time job, this could expand your
income far beyond just being able to refinish your own tub.
Tub King’s well-lauded refinishing class empowers students
to work for themselves to change and improve their lives as a qualified,
certified refinishing professional. Upon completion, students can “put up their
shingle” and earn a decent income by providing their professional services,
whether it’s in commercial, residential or doing antique work.
Equipment and coating materials can be obtained inexpensively and there
are many avenues for advertising that are affordable. In fact, Tub King also offers
its students discount pricing on requisite equipment and materials as well as advertising
assistance; so in addition to offering expert hands-on training, the class also
addresses marketing techniques to help its students’ get started with their
refinishing business. We offer marketing assistance in the form of brochures,
advertisements, and flyers.
Tub King also has a very active referral program. Every
class graduate is added to Tub King’s database of certified refinishers. When
someone from another state contacts us to find out if we’d recommend a
professional for any of their refinishing projects, we help them get in touch
with one of our graduates who’s nearby them.
Learn More About Tub King's In-Depth Refinishing Course
In this article, I provided solutions to the issues
surrounding our nation’s current unemployment figures. I then recommended several
possible non-degree career tracks such as security guard, truck driver,
etc. I especially discussed Tub King’s
internationally acclaimed Bath and Kitchen Refinishing course, going into
detail about the once-per-month course’s hands-on curriculum, and also
mentioned some of the things Tub King does to facilitate our graduates’
business success. If you
found this article useful, please share it with your family, friends and co-workers.
If you have a comment related to this article, leave it in
the Comment section of this blog.
If you’d like to receive a Free Walk-in Tub Buyers’
Guide, fill out the form below.
If you’d like to receive a FREE Clawfoot Tub
Buyer’s Guide, fill out the form below.
Have a question? Feel free to contact me at the number or
email listed at the end of this article and I’ll personally get back to you.
It’s been my pleasure sharing this information with you.
Alan Knight is the owner of Tub King, Inc., and SeniorBathtub.com in Jacksonville,
Florida. He has many years of experience in the antique and senior bathtub
industries. HIs companies not only provide superior products, they are also
award winners, receiving the “Best of Jacksonville Chamber Award” four years
running. If you’d like to contact them, call (800) 409-3375 or (800) 843-4231;
or send an email to alan@tubking.com.
