Bathrooms

What’s at the Show... Bathrooms

Homeowners renovate their bathrooms for numerous reasons: to match current trends, keep up with a growing family, update before putting a home on the market, or even to accommodate an aging occupant.

Chris Bowie, who co-owns Beautiful Baths Renovations with his wife Tori,

has been remodelling bathrooms for 20 years. His qualified team has completed a vast portfolio of renovations meeting a variety of tastes and needs.

“We find that many people are using more colourful products now,” Bowie says. “A big trend is to make things look more luxurious – a lot of granite and

marble-like products. Groutless, easyto-clean, stone impression shower walls have become very popular in a variety of colours such as travertine. We are also doing a lot of acrylic simulated tiles (also groutless) that are available in about 20 popular colours.”

Bowie adds they are frequently converting bathtubs to either walk-in showers or walk-in bathtubs to make them more accessible for those with limited mobility. Beautiful Baths will be showcasing some accessible showers at the Real Home Show.

Lee Castle of Lee Castle Plumbing Ltd., certified in both plumbing and heating with 40 years in the business, also completes a lot of new and upgraded bathroom projects. In fact, bathroom renovations are one of his specialties.

“Every bathroom is different,” Castle says. “We can design a bathroom in variety of layouts and styles. People often have preferences or ideas for what they

want to have, but a professional can go into a room and help provide advice on the best way to lay it out.”

While professional installers like Bowie and Castle will be able to help with suggestions on how to turn your bathroom dreams into reality, suppliers and retailers will be on hand to provide inspiration for your new or upgraded bathroom. For example, Better Baths will be showcasing numerous pieces like vanities, toilets and faucets, as well as some interesting new items for kitchen projects, too.

As Better Baths’ Showroom Consultant, Tamara Stein is in touch with what clients want in their bathrooms. “We are still seeing the trend towards chrome as a faucet finish versus brushed nickel and contemporary fixtures with very clean lines versus the traditional style,” she describes as examples. “Freestanding tubs with large showers are very popular as well.”

Whether you are considering renovating one or all of your bathrooms, or planning for your new home, come to the Real Home Show armed with your questions to ask the experts as you take in their displays of products and designs.

Gerald Mitchell

Contracting LTD.

Quiet, Pretty treed A simply peaceful community superb country living in Fall River experience #ImMovingtoKingswood #ImMovingtoKinloch #ImMovingtoWentworth your new home is waiting here

Ask CMHC... “Green” Bathroom Reno Tips

Bathroom renovations are one of the most popular home improvement projects in Canada. Creating your dream bathroom can add greatly to both the value of your house, as well as your family’s enjoyment of your home. But bathroom renovations also offer a number of opportunities to include several features that can dramatically improve the energy- and water-efficiency of your house, while making your home healthier and more comfortable.

If you’re thinking about renovating your bathroom, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) offers the following tips on how to make sure your renovation is as efficient, green and affordable as possible:

Install low-flow faucets, showerheads and fixtures, as well as ultra-low flush toilets that consume 6 litres of water or less per flush. Bathrooms account for about 75 per cent of the water used in the average Canadian home. Water-efficient fixtures can significantly reduce the amount of water your family sends down the drain on a daily basis.

To conserve resources and minimize your environmental footprint, select certified forest flooring and cabinetry, recycled countertops and tiles, and locally-sourced products and materials. Plus, choose materials, products and finishes that are low-emission, low-polluting, easy to clean and maintain, and which will remain in good condition for years to come.

Plan for future renovations by making sure your bathroom will be able to adapt to changes in your needs as you or your family members get older. For example, make sure the controls and fixtures are within easy reach, install grab bars beside the toilet and bathtub, use a non-slip surface in the bathtub or shower, and install a shower head on a vertical slide bar so it can be set at a variety of different heights.

To cut down on your monthly utility bills, choose low-energy lighting and exhaust fans, install more energy-efficient ENERGY STAR® windows, insulate the hot and cold water pipes, and improve the insulation in the walls and ceiling wherever feasible.

Prevent the growth of mold by using moisture resistant materials and finishes, such as ceramic tile, natural stone or laminates. Also, make sure your bathroom has adequate ventilation to ensure that condensation, moisture and odours will be vented directly to the outside.

If you will be replacing any cabinets, fixtures or materials, plan in advance for how you can reuse, recycle or safely dispose of the old fixtures.

To keep costs to a minimum, avoid potentially expensive rework by identifying and addressing any concerns that might arise before you begin construction. Use quality, durable and longlasting materials. And select a timeless, efficient design that will extend both the life of your bathroom and the time until your next renovation.

For more information about CMHC’s online Renovator’s Green Guide or for the answers to any other questions about buying, owning or renovating a home, visit our website at www.cmhc.ca or call CMHC at 1-800-668-2642.

CANADA MORTGAGE AND HOUSING CORPORATION

Home renovations make it possible to improve energy efficiency, indoor air quality and comfort; reduce environmental impact and resource consumption; and make a home more affordable to live in, operate and maintain. For more information, consult CMHC’s online Renovator’s Green Guide: www.cmhc.ca/renogreenguide For information on how bathrooms can be designed to accommodate the functional needs of everyone, consult CMHC’s fact sheet Accessible Housing by Design - Bathrooms: www.cmhc.ca/accessible