Should I add electric floor heat in my bathroom?

Tile floors can be shockingly cold to the feet during the cold Winter mornings.  If this is your case then adding electric floor heat will dramatically improve the comfort of your bathroom or any tile floor.
Here are a few questions to help decide on heating your floor?
1. Is there room in your electrical panel to add a circuit?  Read the specs on the system you are using to see if it will require 120v or 240v.
2. Is your floor square or oddly shaped and chopped up?  If you have separate chopped up spaces then you made need the system that uses a continuous wire to place throughout the floor as needed.
3. Is the bathroom generally colder than the rest of the house?  The continuous wire system can have a gap as little as 2″ between each strip of wire as in the photo above which puts out a little extra heat for the space.
4. Do you want to warm the tile floor of your shower or the tile around your bathtub? There is a special wire to order for wet locations.
5. How accessible is it to run new wire from the electrical panel to the area you are installing the system?  Typically this would be the attic or crawl space.
6. Where would you place the thermostat? I suggest hiding it if possible, once you set the timer you will likely not use it often.

The images show the wire system in a West Linn master bathroom remodel which provides very flexible placement. You can see where it stops in the front of the toilet as your feet never touch behind it, although it is capable of being distributed evenly along small chopped up spaces, angled and curved walls.

Have a patio that gets used year round? Adding floor heat is possible outside.

Home Improvement under $1000 #2

Dress up your front entry or patio with tile on the floor. This photo is the entry outside of a front door but can be just as easily done inside. This is a natural slate which is good to use for an entrance as it shows less dirt that builds up and get tracked in. This can all be done for under $1000 depending on size, tile, and preparation. Be sure to select a dark grout that will not show stains and seal the whole surface with an appropriate sealer.

4 tips to reduce maintenance for your tile entry

Thinking of installing tile on the floor for the entry in your home? Here are a few must know tips.

1. Select a color or tone that is similar to the elements (dirt) outside of your house. This will reduce aging the tile from stains and decrease the amount of maintenance.   
2. Grout color should resemble and compliment the color of the tile. If the tile has variation then match the grout to the darkest and most prominent color of the tile to minimize visible stains. 
3. If a lot of dirt gets tracked in then look at tiles larger than 12"x12". This will reduce the amount of grout that is a pain to clean and may discolor.
4. Finally, if you have installed a Granite, Marble, or Slate tile then seal everything especially the grout with an approved sealer. If a porcelain or ceramic tile has been installed the hardened surface will prevent stains but the grout still needs a sealer. 

A good sealer will be at any tile store and be sure to read the instructions before application.

Before your tile is installed make sure......

Getting tile to look good takes more than just an experienced tile installer. It all begins with framing the walls perfectly and making sure the floor is level. If the floor and walls are not prepared properly an expert installer will have difficulties setting the tile and the end result may not look good. The following tips will help a finished product look perfect.
Floor tile: When installing tile on the floor be sure the surface is level and smooth before laying down the Hardibacker. Something as little as one nail head protruding could throw off the whole install leaving tiles uneven. If the floor is beyond repair by using shims then consider using a self leveling compound to smooth out any imperfections.
Wall tile:
1. If you have the walls stripped down to old studs or building a new wall check how straight the walls are with a level or straight edge, square and tape measure. Each stud should plane evenly on the side where you will be attaching the backer board. If not then adjust the framing member by moving it, trimming it, or adding furring strips.
2. Next, each perpendicular surface should be square. Or the degree it was intended to be, 45, 22.5 etc. If not then adjust the Framing members again by moving, trimming, or shimming them. Again check that the studs plane out evenly.
3. Lastly before attaching the backer board check the walls (or studs) with a 4' level if they are plum. If the walls are plum your tile will look square, straight, and professional. Otherwise you will be trying to fit square tiles onto a wall shaped like a trapezoid and have grout lines that look unlevel.
One extra tip before laying tile - I always inspect the tile for different thicknesses and make sure they are square, sometimes they vary in size and shape. This is only becomes troublesome when your grout joints are tight leaving little room for any adjustments. If you find the tiles to be inconsistent then make your grout joints 1/4" or larger depending on the variations.

Ask Angie: Loose shower grout - KansasCity.com

Ask Angie: Loose shower grout - KansasCity.com

A good article from Angie's list on why your grout may be falling out. There are some good points listed in this article to get it done right the first time.

http://www.kansascity.com/2011/07/04/2992454/ask-angie-loose-shower-grout.html

Is your shower pan leak proof? 5 popular pan methods

Ask your contractor the method they use. There are several shower pan methods and you want to ensure yours will last and never leak. Each method can have a different look so to better understand the vocabulary of shower pans I have listed some descriptions below. Each pan has a critical criteria to provide proper drainage and prevent future leaking. An experienced licensed professional is recommend for each application.

1. Mud set shower pan- This pan is very common and uses a rubber liner over a sloped mortar bed directing moisture to the drain. This is used in many cases where a prefabricated pan will not fit because of the custom size shower. This method gets finished with a tile of choice for a custom looking shower.

2. Wedi systems or Schluter Systems- These systems are presloped water proof rigid panels that can be cut to fit any shower size. Material tends to cost more but labor can be less since it is a quicker and a simpler process. These are becoming popular because of the versatility with linear drain styles and curbless options for wheelchair access and modern design. This method also gets finished with a tile of choice and has prefabricated panels that accept custom drains for that contemporary look. 

3. Tile ready pan- Simple, quick, and durable. Designed to be waterproof and mold resistant they are however limited to certain sizes.  Plan accordingly and check that the sizes will work for you. I recommend purchasing these pans and having them on site before framing the shower. These pans have a built in curb and splash around the edges for a leak proof system. They are provided with an epoxy to set the tile for ensuring a good bond to the acrylic surface.

4. Fiberglass or Acrylic- This method is good if you are looking for a less expensive solution since it is a prefabricated pan that does not accept tile. That is right, this is the least expensive route and works great if you are not looking to put tile on the floor of your shower. You can however still tile the walls with the proper preparation and get that tile shower you are looking for.

5. Corian-  A certified Corian fabricator can custom build a pan and walls out of Corian if you prefer to have a shower with no grout and still a choice of several colors. While this method seems maintenance free the pan tends to be slick. I suggest adding a decorative mat to prevent any slipping.

After the pan is complete the walls must be prepared with mold resistant board (concrete board, Hardie Backer, or other approved board for showers) and sealed properly. Tile in wet locations should never be installed over Sheetrock. The moisture will breakdown the Sheetrock and build up mold and possible rot inside the wall.

Tags: Tile installer, Portland bathroom remodel, shower repair

West Linn marble shower in 35 seconds

3 low cost bathroom remodel ideas

If you are one who does want to spend $20,000 or $30,000 on a bathroom remodel but would still like to have a change and update the look then here are a few quick things we can do to help.

1. The floor: Floors take a beating and for little cost can be replace with a new surface such as tile, cork, or marmoleum. There is a lot to choose from and can be overwhelming so ask yourself what colors you like, is maintenance an issue, and how much do I want to spend?

2. Eye level: Change the mirror and light fixtures. Many times I have sent a client to an art frame shop to pick out a nice looking frame to put a mirror in. There are many selection to choose from but if none are jumping out at you then a custom frame can be built from mill work you see on doors and windows or even crown molding, then painted or stained to your hearts desire. Also, there are several light fixture styles out there to correspond nicely with the mirror you picked out.

3. Colors: Of course painting will always make a huge impact on the space. If lighting is dim then consider lighter warm tones that compliments the new floor. Remember contrast is good for adding excitement and detail. For example light tone floor with light color wall and a darker cabinet with dark light fixtures and mirror frame.

Another bang for the buck and one more step to a full makeover is locating a granite fabricator who has remnants that will fit your counter.

If interested in a low cost dramatic change from these three ideas contact me (Nathan Dunithan 503-650-3090) and you might be surprised on the cost. I will give you a free in home estimate.