Updating A Bathroom On A Budget
This article is about updating bathrooms, with information about less expensive choices that give you nearly the same look as more expensive bathroom fixtures & flooring.
Al’s Plumbing, Heating & A/C, in Plano, Texas provides full service plumbing maintenance, repairs and replacements for every plumbing component in your home. Al’s sells and installs Rheem Professional Series gas & electric water heaters, and tankless water heaters. Al’s Plumbing, Heating & A/C is near your home in Plano, Allen, and Frisco. We service all homes in southern Collin and Denton Counties with no additional travel charge.
Al’s also provides maintenance & repairs for all brands of Central A/C, Gas & Electric Furnace, and Heat Pumps. Additionally, we sell and install new HVAC Systems from American Standard (same company as Trane), Ameristar (same company as American Standard) and Coleman HVAC (same company as York HVAC).
Call Al’s today to discuss any concerns or problems you have with your HVAC System or Plumbing. We will arrange an appointment at your convenience and offer 24/7 Emergency Service.
Are You Updating The Toilet? See Our Post About Toilets: AlsPlumbing.com WaterSense & Standard Toilets
Image Source: Pexels.com
Today’s Stylish Bathrooms Have Updated Components
Perhaps you are considering updating a bathroom from what the home builder installed years ago. Home builders typically select “neutral” bath fixtures that go with any decor. Their “one size fits all” approach looks ok, but lacks anything considered to be a stylish today.
Replacing The Bath Mirror Can Go A Long Way When Updating A Bathroom
Image Source: Pixabay.com
Mirrors Are A High Profile Item When Entering A Bathroom (because they are at eye level). Often, Today’s Bathrooms Have Frame Mirrors.
TIP: If Your Bathroom Has A Large Mirror Glued To The Wall, A Simple Upgrade Is To Add A Wood Frame. Click here to see Specialty Mirror-Frame Kits in a variety of colors & styles + a brief installation video: HomeDepot.com Mirror Edge Frame Kits
The Next Upgrade Is Replacing The Bath Vanity Top (+ the base in many cases)
Updating a bathroom often requires a new bath vanity & top. Most older bath vanity tops are one-piece cultured marble, or a laminate counter top with drop-in porcelain bowls.
Updating a bathroom vanity & top can be an expensive undertaking. You can lower the cost notably with a, acrylic, solid surface vanity top. Styles are offered that look much the same as granite with porcelain bowl(s) — and about 1/3 less expensive.
Al’s Sells & Installs Faucets. Or Buy A Faucet, Bring It Home, And Al’s Can Install It For You.
Image Source: Pixabay.com
Older Cultured-Marble Vanity Top
Image Source: Pixabay.com
Older Vanity Top With Drop-In Porcelain Bowl
Solid Surface (Acrylic) Vanity Tops Offer
A Less Expensive Option To A Granite + Porcelain-Bowl Top
Image Source: Pixabay.com
Shown: Traditional Style Vanity With Granite Top & Porcelain Bowls
Do you love the look of granite vanity top with porcelain bowls, but can’t justify the cost? The solid surface, acrylic vanity tops are around 1/3 less expensive than the granite & porcelain top, and they look nearly identical. The longer the top you need, the more savings you can achieve by buying solid surface.
Just below we have links to: 1. Granite & porcelain & 2. Solid surface, acrylic. Solid surface means color runs all the way through and will not wear away. Most are not harmed by acetone nail-polish removers, hot curling irons, makeup or hair dye.
Click To See The 61″, Solid Surface, Acrylic Top: Lowes.com 61″, Two-Bowl, Solid Surface Top
Click To See The 61″, Granite + Porcelain Top: Lowes.com 61″, Two-Bowl, Granite + Porcelain Top
Alternate Vanity Top Bowl Styles
Images Sources: Pixabay.com & Pexels.com
Today, Vanity Tops Come In A Variety Of Bowl Styles.
Updating A Bathroom With Solid Surface Vanity Tops Offers A Variety Of Bowl Styles. We provided links above to the most common bowl style above. Below are links to different bowl styles & colors.
Click To See An All White Solid Surface Top For 48″ Vanity With An Inset Bowl: Lowes.com 48″ Solid Surface Vanity Top With More Stylish Bowl
Click To See A Solid Surface Top In all Gray or Beige Granite Pattern: Lowes.com Solid Surface Top In All Granite Pattern
Click To See A Solid Surface Top With Square, Inset Bowls: Lowes.com 61″ All White, Two-Bowl, Solid Surface Top With Square Inset Bowls
Solid Surface Tops Can Also Be Purchased As A Top + Base Package
You are not limited to buying a vanity top & base separately when updating a bathroom. If you wish to keep your existing vanity, all you need is a new vanity top. If you are wanting a whole new look, or feel the existing vanity-base won’t go with the look you are wanting, buy a top & base package. This also allows you to select combinations that the manufacturer likely had interior-designers help create.
There are many options to buy base & bowl as a package. Typically the package is- less expensive than buying them separately. There is a huge selection of vanity top & base choices. Here Are 5 That Look Notably Different From Each Other:
Click To See an All White, Traditional Style Top, Base + Mirror: HomeDepot.com Traditional Style, All White Vanity Top + Base + Mirror
Click To See A Similar Model With In A Dark Finish (no mirror): HomeDepot.com Traditional Style Top + Base, In Dark Wood
Click To See A Gray, Contemporary Style Top + Base: Home Depot Gray, Contemporary Style Top + Base
Click To See The Same As Just Above In Dark Finish: HomeDepot.com Dark Color Contemporary Base + Top
Click To See A Gray Contemporary Style Top + Base + Towel Storage: Gray, Contemporary Vanity With Towel Storage
Doing A Complete Bathroom Renovation? Refinish The Bathtub & Tile
Depending on its age, a bathtub’s finish is worn out if it does not shine when just cleaned. Does this mean you should replace it? Not necessarily. If there is a shower head over the bathtub, chances are you have a shower curtain closed all of the time so it can dry out between showers.
If It’s A Porcelain (not plastic) Bathtub, It Can Be Refinished And Will Look New Again. Ceramic Tile Can Also Be Refinished At The Same Time
Image Source: YouTube Imbeded Video
This Job Is Best Left To Professionals. A DIY effort exposes you to toxic gasses. If the prep-work is not done correctly, the new finish will peel. Hire a company that specializes in bathtub & tile refinishing.
Updating a bathroom with bathtub and / or ceramic tile refinishing is less expensive and can be done in one day. The existing tub & tile don’t have to be white, you can also update out of date colors. They will repair chipped bathtub porcelain and chipped ceramic tiles as part of the refinishing. In many cases, there is nothing wrong with the existing bathtub or ceramic tile that prevents it from being a candidate for refinishing.
Refinished ceramic tile no longer has exposed grout. All the problems associated with grout (cleaning, mildew, staining & falling out) no longer exist.
If you have a 1950’s to 1960’se home, the bathtub style is likely matched to the age of the home. While updating a bathroom, perhaps you would like to keep the existing bathtub that’s correct for the period of time the home was built. Click Here to see an example of a 1950-60’s bathtub: 1960’s Bathtub & Sink
Add A Retrofit, Shower-Spa Faucet For Under $125
Retrofit Shower-Spa Faucets Require NO Alterations To Existing Plumbing!
This product connects to where the shower head was. Your existing faucet handle(s) continue to be used.
Click On Image To: View Product, See Details, or Purchase From Amazon.com
SHOWN: Stainless Steel Finish — Matches Brushed Nickle Hardware. There Are Several Styles To Choose From.
Click On Image To: View Product, See Details, or Purchase From Amazon.com
SHOWN: Mirror-Finish Tempered Glass — Matches Chrome Hardware. There Are Several Styles To Choose From.
Replacing The Flooring? Here’s A Inexpensive, DIY Vinyl Tile Product
Image Source: Pixabay.com
Shown: 12″ x 24″ Ceramic Tiles With Grout Between Tiles
Perhaps you have seen the ceramic 12″ x 24″ tiles used in today’s bathrooms. You can get nearly the same look with Floating Vinyl-Tile Flooring. These tiles stick to each other, not to the floor.
Updating a bathroom floor with TrafficMaster brand vinyl tile is much less expensive than with ceramic tile. TrafficMaster vinyl tile does not require any glue or adhesive, plus it’s floating floor (not stuck to the floor below). TrafficMaster can be installed over existing; concrete, wood, vinyl, linoleum and ceramic tile. ** Traffic Master also comes in wood plank styles & colors.
** Quoted From Home Depot Website
Click Below To See Traffic Master Brand Floating Vinyl Tile Flooring In 12″ x 24″ Tiles:
What appears as grout lines in the photos are actually beveled edges. Once installed, it appears there is grout between the tiles. You get the look of ceramic tile for a fraction of the price, and without the cleaning required for ceramic, grouted flooring. It’s also a lot warmer in winter.
Scroll Down & Click On “Vinyl Tile Flooring” Section — To See 12 in. x 24 in. Luxury Vinyl Tile Flooring (24 sq. ft. per case)
OR, Click Below To Go Directly To One Color & Pattern Of This Vinyl Tile:
Traffic Master Ivory Travertine (color & pattern) Vinyl Tile Flooring
You Can See The (gray) Adhesive-Strip Alongside A Tile In The Same Group Of Photos
Click Here To See An Installation Video That Shows How The Tiles Stick To Each Other (instead of stick to the floor)
This article was about updating a bathroom. Al’s Plumbing, Heating & A/C, in Plano Texas, provides full service plumbing maintenance, repairs and replacements for every plumbing component in your home. Al’s sells and installs Rheem Professional Series gas & electric water heaters, and tankless water heaters. Al’s Plumbing, Heating & A/C is near your home in Wylie, Murphy, & Rowlette Texas. We service all homes in southern Collin and Denton Counties with no additional travel charge.
Al’s also provides maintenance & repairs for all brands of Central A/C, Gas & Electric Furnace, and Heat Pumps. Additionally, we sell and install new HVAC Systems from American Standard (same company as Trane), Ameristar (same company as American Standard) and Coleman HVAC (same company as York HVAC).
Call Al’s today to discuss any concerns or problems you have with your HVAC System or Plumbing. We will arrange an appointment at your convenience and offer 24/7 Emergency Service.