The Tub King Blog - Tub Talk: spring remodeling

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New Tips for Spring Remodeling

Noted American author, Tad Williams, once said, “Never make your home in a place. Make a home for yourself inside your own head.”

So you have some ideas you’ve been thinking about, and you're finally getting around to doing that remodeling job on your house. Spring is that time of year when most of us, after spending much time during the winter staring at the walls, decide to put some long-thought-about ideas into motion. This means you can now take your renewed positive attitude, motivation and home remodeling skills to good use. However, before tackling a major project, let's look at some ideas you may have overlooked.

Shower Design Power

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We have many customers that come to our showroom looking for remodeling solutions, especially in their bathrooms. One family wanted a very nice bathtub, but also wanted to include a separate, freestanding shower unit. The problem was they couldn't afford both. In the end, they chose to spend a little extra on the tub, a beautiful, deep-soaking Clawfoot tub, and economized on a separate shower with sliding doors. The wife dressed up the drab shower by putting a handsome, fabric shower curtain to hide the sliding doors.

Room for Expansion

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I’ve purchased many houses over the years, and one thing I always do is to make sure the property is expandable. By that I mean are the property’s boundaries and set-backs such that I could add an extra room in the future if I so chose? If the house is on a foundation with “crawl space” it could be rather expensive to expand the floor system. A slab would be a little easier to work with, but don't forget the cost of drawing up plans, pouring more concrete, and more importantly, making sure the addition fits the current footprint design. Many people have created an oddity with their home by randomly adding rooms and extensions that don't follow the original footprint concept. A once-beautiful home can become an “albatross” if over-all design is not taken into consideration. A wise choice would be to hire a professional designer to help with this before you start.

Kitchen Tops Our Discussion

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Let's talk about the kitchen for a moment. As you know, counter tops are a real focal point in any kitchen. The old style of laminate counter tops are being replaced with abandon by most homeowners. That style has never had a reputation for holding up very well over time. A “laminate” is just that, a shallow surface of vinyl or plastic that is laminated over pressed board. The corners are notorious for being easily damaged. The surface will start to lift over time, regardless of the care.

Thank goodness for innovation. Today, granite countertops are the craze. However, even newer are the engineered quartz counter tops. Two words about counter tops: remember resale. Spend a little and it usually pays off in the long run. In one of the houses we built some years ago, we decided on laminate counter tops to make sure we stayed within our budget. We took good care of them over the years and they still looked good after ten years of living there. But, when we decided to sell, and before we put the house on the market, we spent a little money and replaced them with granite. It was a wise decision. The house sold quickly and the new homeowners could only rave about how beautiful the new counter tops were.

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Another thing about kitchen remodeling, unless you’re a professional cook or money is no object, don't buy an expensive commercial-style range and fridge. There are many mid-priced, great looking appliances out there. Appliances can be plenty big for your needs, so start with what you can afford. When I was growing up in the 1960s, we always had the same Frigidaire refrigerator. It was more like an old-time icebox. The inside was about half the size of modern, regular size refrigerators, with a place for two ice trays in the top. There was no freezer portion to speak of and it was about two feet shorter than today's versions. So today, be practical. You can always move up to something larger and nicer later. Save your money for custom cabinets and countertops.

There is a trend now to make the kitchen and bathroom huge, but they needn't be — after all, they're also the most expensive rooms to build. Opt for functionality over size. A nice touch in a shared bathroom is a separate room for the toilet. It can be relatively small, but include a window to provide light and a feeling of connecting with the outdoors.

Curtains Up

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Choose shower curtains over custom shower doors. Glass doors cost about $1,500, and they require a good deal of maintenance. Soap film build-up is one problem, requiring the need to squeegee them every time you take a shower. On the positive side, great-looking fabric shower curtains are very affordable, plus they add color and design to the shower area. And, if you get tired of the curtain color or design, you can always change it for little money.

Here is another tip for the bathroom: Buy a good toilet ― the new ones are quiet and use less water. Most showrooms don't have working models, so be sure to check the reviews. Dual-flush models are a good option.

WW2: Walls 'n' Windows

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Throughout the house, keep the windows the same size, if possible. That said, you can also make a spectacular change with really big windows or French doors. Increasing natural light is always a good investment. If you have single glass windows ― even if they're in decent shape ― it may be worth replacing them with insulated windows, which will save money on heating and cooling and also help reduce noise. Also, insulate all exterior walls and ceilings. If you open any internal walls, put in insulation, particularly around bedrooms and bathrooms. It's cheap and it helps reduce sound.

Nuances Make a Difference

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Small areas to consider are door hardware and light fixtures. Many homes have the typical cream-colored light and receptacle plates. By simply upgrading to something as simple as pewter light fixtures will speak volumes about quality and elegance. Light fixtures in old houses are normally ugly, discolored and out of date.

Bedrooms nowadays are fitted with ceiling fans, which come with their own light package. It’s easy to catch a sale on ceiling fans. They sometimes run as low as $59or $69. If you’re ever considering a future resale, this is invaluable. And don't forget the porch, especially a screened-in porch. A ceiling fan that is rated for outdoor use can turn the porch into a key gathering spot.

Never underestimate the transforming power of color. Paint offers immediate gratification. Even the good stuff is relatively inexpensive, and a careful amateur can do a good job. Hate the look of your house? Try a fresh coat of new paint first.

These are just a few suggestions for keeping your home beautiful and functional. “There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort,” wrote English novelist, Jane Austen, in the 18th century. Her wise words ring true even today. Make your home a place of leisure that you can be proud to show off.

In this article, I discussed some useful ideas for spring remodeling such as adding a cast iron/porcelain Clawfoot tub, upgrading kitchen countertops, adding new ceiling fans, replacing electric plates with pewter, repainting rooms, and myriad other suggestions.

If you’d like some suggestions and professional advice about what type of bathing solution would work for your bathroom remodeling project, whether it’s a Clawfoot or Pedestal tub, a Walk-in tub or a Safety Suite Shower, Tub King’s experts are here to help.

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.

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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.

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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. To contact Tub King directly, call (800)843-4231 or email alan@tubking.com.

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Why is Home Remodeling so Ideal in the Spring?

By Alan Knight

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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