Your bathroom is old and outdated? You might be thinking about a quick sale or a quick fix? The thought about price and upsetting your home has you considering a quick fix? A quick fix isn't always the answer and you might just be throwing your money down the drain. You might want to consider a full bathroom remodel that will add more value to your home and more peace in mind that all mold and mildew has been removed. Within 1-2 weeks you will have the bathroom of your dreams!!

Many franchise companies promise to reface your bathroom by covering up your old tub and shower walls. In the picture above, Rebath came for an estimate to put a cover over this old deteriorated tub. Thats like putting a cap over a rotten tooth!

Top reasons not to use franchise bath covering companies:

• Mold and mildew will be trapped and left to keep growing inside your walls and floors

• Any rotted wall studs and/or flooring cannot be detected and will just be covered

• Walls will eventually start to come loose as the adhesive breaks down

• Rebath is not cheap! It is probably the most expensive recycled plastic out there! 

• The end result is always a cheap look. You can spot a Rebath install a mile away

• Tubs and shower bases become smaller after capping

This is a before and after picture of a franchise company installation. I can see why people would like the idea because it gives instant gratification but most people aren't aware of the downfalls.

Besides appearance, what you don't see:

• Ceramic tile almost always has a glossy surface. Even the best adhesives have a hard time staying adhered. The walls will eventually start to pop off.

• New divertor was changed from a three hand diverter to a single hand diverter. Thats fine, the only difference is that it should have been moved up another foot minimum. As water hits your body it will tranfer onto the diverter at the lower height and eventually penetrate into your wall creating mold and mildew.

• The new drain was installed with a pop up. Your trip lever was discontinued and now if you want to take a bath you must push down on the drain. The only problem with this is that your old drain had a strainer cover on it for catching hair and other debris from entering your drainage system. Now your drain is wide open so look for major issues down the road.

• Notice you have lost any shelving and soap dish. They may equip you with a cheap built in shelf.

• The rest of your bathroom is still old and outdated so now you will still have to upgrade all the contents.

Here is another franchise companies cover up job. Makes you cringe to think all that mold, mildew and bacteria is still living under your new tub. Don't be fooled, these installations are nothing more than a quick cover up job.

Benefits of a full bathroom remodel:

• All of your old moldy and mildew contents are removed down to the studs

• New fiberglass insulation is installed and brought up to current R-values

• All your plumbing valves are changed inside the walls

• Electrical is updated and extra lighting can be installed

• Shower area walls, cement board will be installed and new moisture resistant sheetrock on the rest of the walls and ceiling of bathroom

• Opportunity to add in wall shelves or recessed vanity

• Freshly painted walls

• Opportunity to notice any unseen problems

Newly renovated bathroom with WMB Construction

When you think of the word basement it may come to mind of that dark gloomy area of your home. It is the area of your home you most likely dread going to do laundry, store some can goods, or maybe change the filter in your furnace once or twice a year. Open ceilings, exposed electrical wires, hanging insulation, exposed plumbing lines, etc......... Doesn't really sound like a fun place to be in your home.

Just imagine that area of your home remodeled with heat, lighting, and walls and ceilings. It is easily converted into usable living area and will most likely be the biggest room of your home. Most basements are the same square footage as your entire first floor. When you start thinking of remodeling your basement, the ideas become endless. You can go from a standard open floor plan to adding bathrooms, wet bars, bedrooms, closets, sauna room, weight room, kitchen; the ideas become endless.

Five key factors for remodeling your basement:

• Substantial amount of added living area.

• Added value to your home.

• By finishing you basement you eliminate most of the mildew and mold common in unfinished basements. Heat and light create a more mold free atmosphere.

• Basements are the perfect area to create a mother/daughter apartment.

• Added entertaining area. Basements with an open floor plan create great entertaining areas.

What you should know before your basement conversion:

• You are required to maintain a minimum ceiling height of 7 ft from finished floor to finished ceiling.

• You are required to maintain a minimum height of 6'-8" measured from finished floor to all beams, girders,ducts or other obstructions.

• You will be require to have some form of fire escape from your basement. Exit through a garage is not a legal escape. In some cases you will be required to install a egress window with a minimum net clear opening of 5.7 sq. ft.

• Note if your electrical system is up to date and can handle added circuits.