Redesigning your shower

Redesigning your shower can be challenging and that’s why you need to determine the right approach! With that in mind, here are some of things that you need to keep in mind when you create a plan for this project!

Shower size

Usually the size is not that important if you want to redesign your shower, however it can be a challenge if you want to expand.

A regular size shower is around 3 by 5 feet. This is ok for most home owners. If you have 15 square feet for the shower that would be more than enough. Of course, if you have the space to work with, you can expand towards a 6 to 10 foot. Don’t design the shower too large if you don’t need that much space to begin with. If you are remodeling your home, you can work with an architect as he will be able to help you with ideas and he can make the necessary changes.

 

 

 

See where the glass will go

Most showers come with a full height solid wall. You can opt for the idea of adding in glass walls in the shower design if you want to. If you use glass enclosures you will be able to make the home more appealing and the design will also be more professional for sure. Unlike a tiled wall this does require some maintenance. This option might not be as expensive as adding tile after you build it. Adding in an enclosed shower created for privacy can be a very good idea, since it comes with just 3 walls. Even if you are unsure whether an all-glass enclosure might be worth it, you can opt for the half walls.

 

Tile design

There’s no shortage of tile designs. You can use glass, mosaics, marble, travertine or even ceramic/porcelain. The latter is actually very good since it will offer great water resistance and a very simple to maintain.

Since finding the right design can be challenging, a good one for starters would be the wainscot design. This is a very good one that helps combine a regular subway tile with a depth-bringing herringbone pattern in order to deliver the best results. If you want to add in a decorative touch, then you can run the mosaic border either vertically or horizontally. Don’t refrain from using natural stones, especially if you want to mix them up.

 

 

Should you add a bench?

Benches are great because they add in comfort. They also make the entire shower experience a lot safer since disabled or older people can remove the slipping issues that appear from time to time. Plus, a bench will add in that sense of coziness in your shower.

Smaller showers will not accommodate a large bench, but you can opt for a corner bench.  You can also add a handheld bench under the shower, this solution works great for the elderly.

 

The shower floor

In the case of a shower floor, you should focus on slipping resistance. This is a major priority for any home owner and you have to be certain that low maintenance is on top of your list. The material you use will definitely influence the overall quality, so you have to be careful in what you choose and how you install it. Textured porcelain, pebbles or travertine will provide some very good results. There are other types of shower floors that you can use such as wood and acrylic floors but these don’t provide good slip maintenance. On the upside they are easier to maintain.

Plumbing Fixtures

Plumbing fixtures are also important and the shower head is definitely the most important fixture. Some showers have a single shower head, others have 3. You have to figure out which is the best solution for you. Adding in rain heads can be a good option for you, but another great option would be a handheld shower head. It’s all about the lifestyle you have and your needs.

The fixtures you choose and their style will definitely make or break the experience. The sleek fixtures can bring in simplicity of design, whereas the ornate fixtures will add great style and make the experience more traditional. If you want a more contemporary style, then using chrome, brushed nickel or chrome is a very good idea. You can also add oil rubbed bronze and this will work great in the traditional spaces.

 

 

Planning storage options for shampoos and soaps

Are you preferring a wall mounted or built in storage for soap and shampoo? The built in options are better since they integrate in the design of the shower. They also offer great storage space, which in the end can be very exciting. In order to create storage you will have to focus on planning and may be more expenses. If you want to save money you can opt for the shampoo niches. They can save you up to $100 or even more, not to mention that you can save space as well. Either option is great, it all comes down to you and your budget!

 

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11 great bathroom renovation ideas!

11 great bathroom renovation ideas!

Some of us tend to move from one place to another during our life, but if you want to stay in the same home, it’s a good idea to renovate your bathroom. Keep accessibility and ease of use in mind because this is that place you will be using the most. You also have to consider safety as well because you can easily slip and fall. So, the main focus here is to reduce hazards and focus on quality with help from these 11 great bathroom renovation ideas!

Add a shower bench

If you want a bathroom design that will resist for ages, add a shower bench. It’s easier for your body since it removes strain but it also eliminates the chances of just slipping and falling. The designs differ, it can be free standing, tiled and built-in. If needed, you do have the option of adding in a cushion if you need a softer surface. Get a comfortable, large bench and the experience will be a lot better.

 

Handheld shower heads

These shower heads can easily be adjusted as you see fit. They can also be placed where you want without having to deal with a fixed shower head. It’s a very good idea that both you, friends, loved one and your guests will appreciate!

Place double duty grab bars

These will offer you the help you need when you enter or exit the shower. Adding one inside the shower and one outside will make it even easier for you. Plus, you can also use them as robe racks and towel racks if you want.

Raise the vanity height

Usually, the vanity height is around 31½” if you don’t take the countertop into account. It’s not that high to begin with. This is why you should try to raise it with up to 3 inches, as it can be very helpful. Add in a 1½” countertop here and you will see how much better the entire experience will be in the end. But this is not mandatory. Some people like the original height of their vanity, if that is the case for you just don’t make such a change. If you want, you can also make the vanity accessible via a wheelchair, in which case you need to have a counter height of 34″.

Get a comfort height toilet

Usually the toilet has 16″ in height so a comfort height one might be better for some since it can be anywhere from 17″ and up to 19″. As you can expect the strain on your knees and back is reduced, not to mention that you can stand and sit a lot faster and better.

 

 

Get proper glass

Glass can come in handy since it helps open up the space and offer better lighting and visuals. But there are situations when adding walls and doors out of glass might not fit at all. Not only are they in need of maintenance more often, you can also break them fast. A good investment would be a heavy duty shower as it can help you boost the beauty of your home. Keep in mind though that this type of expensive can have a higher pricetag than what you expect.

Good lighting

Finding the right lighting options will help remove the eye strain. You will also have the ability to remove any wet spots. You can opt for natural lighting, vanity lighting, lamps and even recessed lighting. It all comes down to you to choose the right option. Of course, you can even add in lighting in the shower if you want!

Opt for floor tiles and walls made out of porcelain

The reason behind such an option is that porcelain can last for a long period of time. There’s no need to replace it and cleaning it is very easy. With just a rag and some water you can easily keep it clean in the long run. If there are any concerns about grout, you have to get porcelain tiles with the rectified edge. There’s also the option to get presealed grout if you want.

Textured flooring

Textured flooring is very interesting but the true challenge here is finding a floor that offers great slip resistance. This allows you to increase safety and it’s also great looking as well. Just try and find the types of flooring which have a dense texture. The more texture it has, the better slip resistance you will get. Tiles are usually measured based on the friction coefficient, while floor materials have other measurement types. Try to find the right one based on your needs.

Get a flat curbless shower entry

If you opt for this type of shower entry you will have less chances of tripping not to mention that you can also enter with the wheelchair. You will have to slope the shower floor so that the water will be able to drain properly. Steps can be added but the idea is to avoid making them bulky and large as it’s counter intuitive and it will not work as you expect it to. Aftermarket thresholds have to be added from time to time due to the configuration of your shower.

 

Try to make the tub entrance lip narrow

This works if you want a tiled tub surround. If you have a larger entrance in this situation, you will have to deal with falling and tripping a lot more often since you will encounter balance problems. The narrower lip will make it easier to maintain the legs close to one another and thus you will not have any balance issues.

 

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Remodeling Your Home

Remodeling your home

Remodeling your home offers quite a lot of interesting options and you get to be as creative as you can. On the other hand, there’s plenty of responsibility to be had because you are making changes you will have to live with for the next decade/s! that’s why it’s important to ensure that you get the design right, all while sticking to your budget and obtaining an amazing ROI. The best option you have here is to remodel the bathroom first!
But even here you have to face some challenges. You have to think about having them function for multiple people. Not only that, but bathrooms need to be beautiful and you also need to have a lot of space in them. There are plenty of design blunders that might lower the appeal, but as a whole you can get an immense value if you focus on using the space efficiently and in a way that suits your needs.
Having no view outside

Let’s face it, we all want to have a bathroom that has a view outside. It’s not fun sitting between 4 walls, that’s why you need to have a wall with windows. If you just can’t add in windows due to the way your bathroom is located, at least opt for the idea of installing a skylight as that can provide you with the light and fresh air that you need! 

Keep the bathroom away from other important rooms where there are plenty of persons. Bathrooms should be retreated and in a place that doesn’t stand in the way. So, keep them away from the dining room or the living room for that matter. Sure, you don’t need to place it at the end of a hallway, but you do need to separate it in one way or another. It’s a little tricky to get a good result here so try to keep that in mind.

Just focusing on the toilet
Sure, the toilet might be important, but let’s face it, you’re not going to use just your toilet when you are visiting the bathroom. There are other important portions of the bathroom that you should focus on. Try to leave some space all so that someone can use the toiler while a person showers. You can add in a wall between the shower and the toilet if you want and if the space allows it. At the end of the day it all comes down to the amount of space you can work with, but just avoid keeping the toilet as the centerpiece of your bathroom because it’s not right.

 

Curbed-shower
The shower is a solid investment because it gives that feeling of greatness and a stellar visual appeal to the room as well. It’s integrating some interesting universal design ideas and it focuses a lot on helping old homeowners to acquire some great results. If you can’t install the curbed shower on your own talk with professionals as they can help you get a good plan immediately.
Bigger can be better.

The more space you allow for the bathroom the better it will be all the time. Sure, you might want to sacrifice some of the space from your bathroom for the other rooms, but let’s face it, the bathroom is indeed important. Offer it enough space and ensure that you come with a suitable design that matches your lifestyle and ideas. Plus, a good bathroom design is not only about the looks of your bathroom, it also integrates the functionality it has as well. If you have a great design for it, then your house will function a lot better as a whole. Combine that with the fact that suitable designs will be inexpensive and offer easier maintenance, then you will see why a good bathroom design is crucial for any home remodeling!

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Sophisticated looking modern Showers

Sophisticated looking modern Showers

Frameless glass showers add a sophisticated look to modern bathrooms. The use of minimal hardware shower glass is certainly all the rage these days, and there is a good reason for it. The seamless appearance of frameless glass is appealing to both homeowners and potential buyers due to the fact that it makes smaller spaces appear far larger. Eliminating clunky mounting hardware provides an even sleeker look, especially in crowded areas. Technology in the shower industry is constantly evolving providing installers with new and innovative methods of securing glass to walls without the use of channels, massive headers, and unyielding clips. These days the use of  sleeve over clamps and support bars are able to replace visible headers. As a result of eliminating the headers, the exposed glass edges may now be polished, providing an even smoother, sculpted appearance. In addition, removing the header from the equation also does away with the appearance that the room is divided by the shower. This creates a far more open and flowing floor plan, which is always a plus no matter how many square feet the bathroom is comprised of.

Homeowners that choose frameless glass showers with minimal hardware have far more freedom regarding both the design and decoration of their bathroom. Since the glass is custom designed and manufactured in essence the enclosure is able to fit into any existing space. The same certainly cannot be said of the pre-manufactured framed versions that are only made to fit specific spaces. Most frameless shower enclosures are manufactured from either 3/8-inch thick or ½-inch thick tempered glass. The 3/8-inch thick is less expensive, and to most eyes appears the same. That being said, it is vastly important to check with your installer regarding this matter. In some installations, the ½-inch thick tempered glass is required in order to provide superior support for long glass walls, and pivot doors. A cost effective method is to install the 3/8-inch glass in combination with the ½-inch glass in the required areas. When installed correctly it is virtually undetectable and can save the homeowner money. Glass happens to be highly resistant to mold and mildew which can become a tremendous problem for showers made of other materials such as tile and wallboard/plaster. In addition, frameless glass shower enclosures are extremely easy to clean. All it takes is a weekly spray with some basic glass cleaner to keep the enclosure sparkly clean.
A Cut Above Glass is the leading designer and installer of frameless glass shower enclosures in Scottsdale, Arizona and surrounding areas. Please contact us today for an initial consultation regarding minimal hardware shower glass, and any other of your glass related needs.

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The Top Five Fashionable Options For Modern Shower Enclosures

The Top Five Fashionable Options For Modern Shower Enclosures

When people step into a residential bathroom one of the first items they notice is the shower. That being said it is important that your shower enclosure actually accentuates your bathroom. It needs to match your personal style as well as serve as a functional bathing area. There are many options in which to choose from, so without further ado here are the top fashionable options for modern shower enclosures. They are all popular choices; it just becomes a matter of personal taste.

The Frameless Glass Shower Enclosure

There is a good reason that frameless glass shower enclosures are such a popular choice with homeowners in this day and age. We spend a tremendous amount of time in our bathrooms on a daily basis, yet they tend to be the smallest rooms in the house. Glass shower enclosures provide openness, fluidity, and flow; thereby creating the optical illusion that there is more square footage or space in the bathroom. They are also extremely easy to clean and maintain. Most are treated with special finishes that help to repel those nasty water spots and soap scum.

The Glass Block Shower Enclosure

Glass block shower enclosures are both stylish and adaptable since they can be built into pretty much any size or shape imaginable. Modern glass blocks contain various textures and etched patterns that provide the homeowner with a personalized style. Glass blocks also provide strong architectural lines that give residential bathrooms a clean, yet stated design. There are a plethora of options available regarding the blocks themselves including various colors, styles, and thick nesses. Most of the glass block shower enclosures of the past did not include a door. However, the more modern designs now include stylish, frameless glass doors in order to effectively keep the water from escaping.

The Sliding Glass Shower Enclosure

Many people would like to include the modern look of glass, but simply do not have the space in their bathroom for a swinging door. This is where a sliding glass shower enclosure comes into play. They are not only saving, but also extremely fashionable. From a design aspect, sliding glass shower enclosures have the ability to be customized in order to fit any space. They are the perfect solution to showcase your shower while still providing you with enough room for other bathroom related activities.

The Textured Glass Shower Enclosure

The textured glass shower enclosure is perfect for homeowners that would prefer privacy while in the shower stall area, without having to incorporate the frosted look. As a tremendous bonus, the gorgeous textures of the glass are vastly enhanced when the water runs down them. People relate this feeling to being in an expensive spa. In addition, textured glass does provide some see through aspects, which gives the bathroom the aspect of having more space. At the same time the texture masks specific details, so it does provide privacy.

The Tile And Glass Shower Enclosure

The tile and glass shower enclosure combines a frameless glass shower door with walls that are tiled with various materials such as stone, ceramic, or even glass tiles. For an added punch of style and function a tile surround with frameless glass windows may be included. This design aspect allows light to enter into the shower space, which in turn makes the interior feel much larger.

If you are located in Scottsdale, Arizona or surrounding areas please contact us today for all of your glass shower enclosure needs. Our team of expert designers and installers are here to serve you.

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Custom Glass Countertops

Custom Glass Countertops Add Elegance To Your Home

If you are looking to add a dose of elegance to your home, than custom made glass kitchen countertops will certainly add that beautiful, eye-catching, and unique design aspect that you have been searching for. Although Granite has been the standard high-end kitchen countertop of choice for years, other quality materials are beginning to push this dinosaur into the background. Glass is definitely leading the charge based on its distinctiveness, durability, and flexibility of design. In fact many clients relate their glass kitchen countertops to a piece of fine art with the added benefit of being extremely functional.

Due to their translucent splendor, glass surfaces in general leave quite the impression. This is especially true when incorporated into large, impressive surface areas such as the kitchen. Custom glass countertops are available in a plethora of colors and textures. These features allow for a design that is based on your exact specifications. It is not out of the ordinary to see a color palette chock full of a mix of blues, browns, greens amongst many other colors. They tend to introduce your kitchen to a combination of the brightest and lightest surfaces available on market today.

Glass countertops are stain resistant and extremely durable. Many people are surprised by this revelation based on their experiences with the fragile nature of other glass objects such as mirrors. In fact, glass countertops are sturdier, and even easier to maintain than their granite counterparts. Speaking of granite, according to the National Kitchen and Bath Association the costs are relatively the same. It is not like you need to break the bank when you make the choice to install glass.

If the glass countertops are colored or translucent, textured or smooth, they may be easily combined with other materials in order to make an even more unique design. For example, glass is the only countertop material where LCD lighting can be installed beneath the counter in order to provide a backlit ambiance. This feature adds an entirely different look and feel to the room. Of course the lighting enables the countertop to change colors and or brightness whenever it suits you. Imagine having the ability to change an opaque clear look into whichever color you want, whenever you chose to by simply flipping a switch or changing a light bulb. In addition, homeowners greatly appreciate the fact that they will never tire of the permanent material because they have the ability to constantly change the look with absolute zero effort or additional costs. Now imagine if you were able to do that with your wall colors, or flooring. This aspect provides an added artistic, and customized touch to the material that you simply cannot achieve with granite. Accents of aqua, turquoise, and various other shades of blue are popular choices these days.

Glass countertops are available in a variety of thick nesses, with a range of 3/8-inch to 1/2-inch being the most popular for daily kitchen use. They are typically constructed out of annealed or tempered low iron clear glass based on the durability and safety aspects that this type of material provides. Homeowners often decide to include a polished edge in order to further enhance the natural materials. Unlike natural stone, custom glass countertops have the ability to be designed without unsightly seams.

A Cut Above Glass is the leading designer and installer of glass in Scottsdale, Arizona and surrounding areas. Please contact us today for an initial consultation regarding glass kitchen countertops or any other of your glass related needs.

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Discount Shower Bites Homeowner in the wallet

Discount Shower Bites Homeowner in the wallet

Although the phrase “you get what you pay for” may be a bit of a cliché, it certainly rings true in regards to your bathroom shower door hardware. Many homeowners do not realize this fact, which is why we are writing about it today. Although the less expensive knock off products may be stylish, and look great when first installed they tend to wear out quickly. In some cases the inferior materials actually cause expensive damage. Here is an example of what can happen when your builder or home improvement contractor installs shower door hardware that is simply not up to par.

We received a call recently, and the customer explained that he needed us to replace all of his shower door hardware. Apparently both of the hinges had failed. They were loose and popping causing him to rightfully worry that the glass door would fall of and break. In addition, the finish on his bathroom hardware had worn off. Our company was more than happy to help. We ordered the new hardware, and schedule an appointment to install it.
When our field technician arrived at the house, he was able to see that the builder had installed a frameless glass shower door on cultured marble, and failed to secure it properly. The hardware, including the failed hinges was of extremely poor quality and could not stand up to the moisture created by the shower. We replaced all of the hardware with brand new CR Laurence hardware, replaced the door seals, and properly cleaned the door.
The lesson to be learned here is that you need to make sure that your contractor is installing quality hardware in your new shower, and not that inexpensive Chinese knocks. Please contact A Cut Above Glass for any of your glass related needs in Scottsdale, Arizona and surrounding areas.

 

 

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