Showing posts with label bathroom remodeling. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bathroom remodeling. Show all posts

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Glass Shower Doors vs. Shower Curtains: Which Do You Prefer?



Many people prefer glass shower doors over shower curtains for many reasons. Glass doors keep water inside the shower more effectively than a shower curtain, they don’t omit the toxic smells that plastic curtains release, they don’t need to be replaced periodically like curtains and liners, and they can be easily cleaned and don’t build up mold like curtains do. Although, there are still many who don’t know who convenient glass shower doors can be!

Shower doors are made of safest type of glass, tempered glass. This is required by federal, state, and local building codes and it is designed to break into small pieces which lower the possibility for a very harmful injury. Tempered glass is resistant to direct impact, but can begin to shatter or fracture if it is hit on the edge or corner.

To ensure that your shower door is tempered glass, check to see if the two pieces of glass are sealed together with a clear piece of resin. Also, look for a label stamped on the glass. Often times, tempered glass is labeled to satisfy specific building codes.

One of the only ways tempered glass can explode is if the glass had a flaw in it and was under stress in the frame. To ensure your safety, periodically check your shower door hardware to make sure fasteners are secure and tighten them if needed. Also, inspect glass regularly for any chips or cracks, especially around the edges and notches. If you see any chips or cracks, replace the glass panel immediately. 

Need help with your glass shower door? Contact Lighthouse Shower Doors for all your installation, repair and shower door needs! For more information, visit LighthouseShowerDoors.com. 

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Tips To Remember When Choosing A New Shower Door!




Are you tired of your shower curtain? Do you think it may be time to install a shower door? Adding a shower door can be the perfect edition to your bathroom to give it that new updated touch that it may need! It can also add some simple beauty and value to the room!

Here are a couple basic tips and steps to adding a shower door to your bathroom!

First, you must decide what kind of door you want. Larger shower stalls usually use sliding-type doors, while standard shower stalls usually use swinging-hinge type doors.  Correct size doors is important as well.  Make sure you not only measure your stall height, but also be aware that you need two width measurements. You’ll need one for the top of the stall width and one for the bottom of the stall width.

Next, make sure the door frame finish matches the rest of your bathroom. Aluminum frame finishes usually come in bronze, nickel, brass and silver. Also, look for a shower door that is easy to install. Some quick-install type doors require no drilling of the shower walls at all!

Have you recently installed a new shower door? Let us know about your experience on our Facebook page linked HERE! 

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Homeowners Want Hotel Style Bathrooms!


Every year, there is an increase in the amount of people traveling and staying in many different hotels. Whether it is a family vacation, a business trip or a quick weekend getaway, there are always hotels involved. Individuals want to stay in a hotel that accommodates all of their needs in a clean atmosphere. However, many of us have had those “hit or miss” hotel experiences. One thing many people often say makes or breaks their hotel experience is the bathroom!

Wynn Las Vegas Bathroom VanityA recent survey concluded that the average homeowner wishes their bathroom was like one that is seen in a three to five star hotels. Homeowners are trying to replicate these style bathrooms in their homes. 90% of people wish they had a three to five star hotel bathroom in their home! It’s not because these bathrooms are over luxurious, they are simply made to budget and portray equipment that has great value!

Do you wish you had a hotel style bathroom in your home? Let us know what your dream bathroom would look like on our Facebook page linked HERE! 

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Installing And Repairing Shower Doors!



Are you thinking about making some installations or repairs in your bathroom? Consider Lighthouse Shower Doors for any of your installing or repair needs! Lighthouse is able to repair most shower doors as well as restore older ones.

Lighthouse Shower Doors is also a certified installer for Kohler, Century and Quality Manufactures!

Some of Lighthouse services include:
  • Measure to within a sixteenth of an inch, with lasers, to custom template your shower opening.
  • Having over 20 years combined experience fabricating and installing shower doors.
  • Install Framed and Frameless Shower Doors.
  • Install any shower door manufacturers stock and custom shower doors.

Contact Lighthouse today for an installation consultation and an estimate to service your shower door! Or, visit our Facebook page linked HERE! 

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

31% of Americans want to Remodel Their Bathrooms and Reduce Utility Costs...





In a survey conducted by Better Homes and Gardens magazine, a third of Americans or 31% reported they want to remodel their bathrooms while 25% reported wanting to remodel their kitchens. Bathroom remodeling has increased by 17% over the past two years and has become the most popular remodeling job.

Many people aren't interested in luxurious master bathrooms anymore. They would rather a bathroom that is practical, classic and basic. Whirlpool tubs are being removed and larger showers with a bench, a ceiling-mounted rain shower head and a hand-held shower is what is most commonly being seen throughout homes. 

Homeowner’s main concerns nowadays is reducing utility costs. Many are doing so by incorporating efficient LED (light emitting diode) fixtures and water-saving toilets seem to be an increasing popular demand as well. Besides conservation, some other popular trends include larger varied tiles and sunlight inviting windows.

Here are some space-saving tips for your next bathroom remodeling project!
  • Enhance space and storage by swinging the door outward. Use hooks or pegs to hang towels, put a storage cabinet or shelves above the toilet and use below-sink cabinetry and mirrored medicine cabinets.
  • In smaller bathrooms, create a larger, spa-like shower bygetting rid of the shower/tub combo. If a dedicated bather, go with a space-saving built-in soaking tub.
  • Install lighting that can dim as well as go off (along with exhaust fans) automatically after a period of time.
  • Separate the toilet from the sink area with a frosted glass wall, or if there's more space, with a toilet room (add venting for noise and odor control).
  •  To enhance counter space, use a single-bowl rather than a double-bowl vanity. If there's enough room, use two sinks and add privacy by separating them with built-in wall storage.


Friday, May 25, 2012

Remodeling Your Beach House



Are you an owner of a beach house? If so, there are probably a couple of remodeling ideas on your to do list. Here are a couple of remodeling tips for you to take into consideration this summer.
First, enhance the spaces where you spend the most time. Kitchens and screened porches seem to be the biggest hangout spots in beach homes. Therefore, consider making the porch bigger and add an extra bat stool to expand your kitchens island.

Second, accommodate technology. To prevent rooms full of power cords and chargers sticking out of every wall outlet, think about adding built-in charging stations in the bedroom closets.
Third, replace dated or flimsy doors or doorknobs. Doors and doorknobs are constantly being used throughout the home and could always use some touchups or repairs!
Fourth,rethink the height of the bathroom vanities. The standard height for bathroom vanities was 30 inches in bathrooms and 36 inches in kitchens. Most people find 36 inches to be more comfortable. Consider making this change to keep your house as up to date as possible.

And lastly, start a construction blog! Starting a blog is a great way to share pictures of your home and poll your family members on project ideas and details. You can then turn all of your before and after photos into an album on the coffee table!

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Bathroom Remodeling: Often the Hardest & Most Expensive Room to Remodel



When looking to remodel your home, the bathroom in particular, this is often one of the hardest and most expensive rooms of the house to remodel. Plumbing lines are set to certain spots and the sink and toilet are set in a specific space. Also, if your bathroom is on the smaller side, there is very little you can do without spending a huge chunk of change to renovate!
If your bathroom falls into the small space category, here are a few “space-busters” you can try to make your small space appear larger.

  • Swap out the vanity. If your cabinet is a vanity, consider switching or replacing it with a pedestal sink. It will minimize the storage potential in the bathroom and make the bathroom appear to be more spacious.
  • Ditch the shower curtain. Fabric or patterned shower curtains tend to make bathrooms look smaller. Think about installing glass shower doors, they will keep the view open and light. If you are relatively handy, installing glass shower doors yourself is relatively easy.
  • Clear the clutter. Baskets, bins and shelves can help to keep a small space stay tidy. Consider installing wall-mounted or built in storage to keep your bathroom looking neat and clean.
  • Paint it. A simple coat of paint can transform any room. If your bathroom lacks natural day light consider adding lighter and more neutral colors to give your bathroom a new look. Lively colors allow for bathrooms to look more spacious.
  • Let there be light. If your bathroom is on the older side, it is easy to assume you have outdated light fixtures. There are many options out there for new bathroom lighting and a modest investment is certainly worth the cost in the end.


Thursday, May 10, 2012

Remodeling Your Home Can Be Overwhelming! Keep It Simple With A New Color Scheme!


Remodeling your home can be an overwhelming and stressful process. When thinking about what to change, start by walking around your home to find out what basic things you can change that will make the biggest difference. 
Often times, a new color scheme will make the biggest difference in a home remodeling project. Choose a color scheme that you like and match it with something in the house that doesn’t have to be changed. For example, if you have countertops that are in good condition or kitchen cabinets, leave those intact and change up the color and decoration to spice things up!

Don’t be afraid to add some color and add some light to your house. When picking colors, be sure that they complement each other, especially if the rooms open up into each other. Once you have your color scheme picked, you can then add other accents around the room including carpets, area rugs and picture frames.

If you’re looking to remodel your floors, rip up any old carpets and see what you find! Often times, your floors can be sanded and stained and it can save you a lot of money! 

If you want some simple but noticeable changes to your bathroom or kitchen, try replacing handles, towel racks, toilet paper holders and drawer pullers to add some new touches. 

Checkout the Lighthouse Shower Doors Facebook page for some bathroom remodeling ideas!

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Where Does Your Garbage Go?







Have you ever wondered where your garbage goes after tossing it to the curb? Well, a team of researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology decided to find out.

These researches started out by attaching a transmitter chip to thousands of pieces or ordinary garbage. They then tossed this so called “smart trash” into the bin and then sat back and watched the torturous, unsettling path that our garbage takes on a daily occurrence.

This clever experiment shined a light about something we may have never thought about, our ignorance of how much we produce, what it contains and what happens to it once it leaves our hands.

The average American tosses out about 4.4 pounds of trash per day! About a third of that trash gets recycled and the rest goes to landfills.


Here are some key numbers from the emerging science of garbology!

At 7.1 pounds of trash a day, each of us is on track to produce a staggering 102 tons of waste in an average lifetime.

Trash has become America’s leading export with mountains of waste paper, soiled cardboard, crushed beer cans and junked electronics.

According to the U.S. Census data on municipal budgets, American communities on average spend more money on waste management than on fire protection, parks and recreations, libraries or schoolbooks.

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Spring Home Repairs That Will Save You Money


 
An interesting article published in The Wall Street Journal this week highlighted a few Spring projects that will actually save you money in the long run. Some improvements will help save money off home-insurance premiums, while others will save you big expenses through little fixes in advance.

With the recent warm weather, homeowners are starting their Spring Cleaning a bit early, and tackling those post-winter home repairs they've been waiting to get to. Some projects should take top priority, for example the ones that will not only make your home safer, but will save you money down the road.

Here are seven spring inspections and repairs The Wall Street Journal suggests homeowners to consider in the upcoming weeks:

  • Clean and repair gutters
  • Check the roof
  • Prepare for bad weather
  • Clean out the vents
  • Repair the deck
  • Improve home security
  • Check appliances
For detailed descriptions on how to inspect each repair, click HERE. If you're looking to add on a few projects, like remodeling your bathroom or updating that shower door, contact Lighthouse Shower Doors at  516-543-8672. For more information, visit LighthouseShowerDoors.com.