The Dean of Home Renovation & Repair Advice

Category: Bathroom


It’s All in the Flush! Low-Flow Toilets’ High Impact

Low-Flush Toilets - Niagara Falls

Photo: infoniagra.com

Average Americans are flushing money down the drain. Oh, maybe not literally money—but most US homes still have one or more older models that waste a phenomenal amount of water compared to today’s new low-flush toilets.

Toilets use more water than any other appliance or fixture in the home, with older toilets using between 3.5 and 7 gallons of water per flush, according to the Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense program.

The EPA estimates that if all of the inefficient toilets in homes were converted to WaterSense high-efficiency models, Americans could save more than 640 billion gallons of water per year—the equivalent to 15 days of flow over Niagara Falls.

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Bob Vila Radio: Vanity Lighting

Bathrooms are small rooms, but they require lots of attention to detail—and great lighting.

Vanity Lighting

Photo: houseconstructionindia.blogspot.com

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6 Simple Bathroom Storage Tips and Tricks

Bathroom Storage - Vanity cabinet

Photo: mymomohome.blogspot.com

My wife and I have a very small bathroom. The tub, toilet, and sink are lined up shoulder to shoulder along one wall. An in-swinging door assaults anyone foolish enough to linger in front of the mirror.

And this particular bathroom is the smallest in a long line of small bathrooms I’ve owned. For that reason, it may be that I’m the world’s leading expert on finding ways to increase bathroom storage.

Here are my top ways to find storage in a small bathroom:

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Bob Vila Radio: Low-Flush Toilets

Did you know that you could save 20% on your water bill just by replacing your toilet? Most conventional toilets hog 3 1/2 gallons or more of water. And the U.S. flushes nearly five billion gallons of this precious resource every day.

Low-Flush Toilets

Photo: waterawarenessmonth.com

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Bob Vila Radio: Tub Caulking

Even tiny gaps between your tub and the wall tiles can let enough water in to damage your walls and host mold. Since new caulking will not adhere to old, the only solution is to remove it and do over.

Tub Caulking

Photo: Popular Mechanics

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Bob Vila Radio: Replacing a Toilet

If you’ve got an older toilet, you’re probably paying for twice the water you need for each flush. But never fear: toilet replacement is usually a simple job for the do-it-yourselfer with basic skills.

Replacing a Toilet

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The Benefits of a Jack and Jill Bathroom

Jack and Jill Bathroom

Studio set of the Brady family's 'Jack and Jill' bathroom. Photo: fullofsnark.com

Do you know what a ‘Jack and Jill’ bathroom is? If you grew up watching The Brady Bunch in the 70’s, you may already know, because the boys and girls had one. It’s a bathroom shared between two bedrooms, with doors entering from each room. Mr. Brady was an architect, after all, so he understood the value of a Jack and Jill arrangement. For the uninitiated, here are some of this design’s best assets.

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Free-Standing Tubs: Pros and Cons

Jakabare.com-Admiral-bathroom-pictures-white-Cast-iron-bathtubs

Cast iron tub with claw feet. Photo: jakabare.com

To take the edge off the pressures of daily life, many Americans are cultivating ways to relax and de-stress in their own homes by turning their bathrooms into spa-like sanctuaries. New bathroom technologies—from steam showers, body sprays, and hydro-massage shower heads to towel warmers, chromatherapy components, and radiant-heat floors—have emerged in recent years to soothe tired muscles, relax the body, and calm the mind.

Central to many of today’s spa-inspired baths are freestanding soaking tubs, which have replaced the Jacuzzis and sunken garden bathtubs that were ubiquitous in design a few years ago. These old-style soaking tubs forego the noise and vigor of bubbling jets in favor of a deep, quiet soak. The tubs also come in a wide range of materials and finishes, such as wood, copper, and enamel, and often feature accents like old-fashioned claw feet or organic, modern shapes.

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Delta Innovation: Then and Now

Delta-Single-Handle-Faucet

Classis single handle, ball valve faucet from Delta

Recognize this faucet? Chances are you had—or still have one—in your home or apartment. Or perhaps you remember it from your parents’ home or (depending on your age) your grandparents’. Regardless of how you know it, the faucet has remained a classic and a staple of American kitchens since its introduction by Delta in the 1950s.

What made the faucet so revolutionary in its day was the ball valve that allowed for the stylish single handle design and smooth rotational operation. With no washers to wear out or require replacement, the faucet was essentially immune to leaks and drips. It quickly became a favorite of consumers and plumbers alike, finding its way into millions of homes.

As innovative as that faucet was, Delta has remained a leader in the category by continuing to develop products that are not only stylish, but smart.

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Biggest Bang for Your Buck? The Bath

If you only have so much time and money to spend on a remodeling project, you’ll stay more on trend by investing in the bath.

Bathroom Renovation Investment

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