Bathroom Remodeling in Southwest Florida

Planning a Bathroom as One Room

In a full bathroom remodel, the decisions depend on each other. The floor tile size affects the shower floor transition. The wall tile height decides where the vanity backsplash ends. A niche in the shower wall has to line up with the grout lines on both sides.

When all of this is planned at once, the room reads as a whole. When it is decided piece by piece, you get the familiar problems: a thin strip of tile at the door, a grout line that does not meet the one on the next wall, or a shower curb that is a different color from the floor.

Where to Start: Layout and Use

Before choosing tile, think about how the bathroom is used. Who uses it every day? Is the tub used, or would a walk-in shower be more practical? Is there enough storage? Does the door swing into the toilet?

Moving the toilet, shower drain or vanity changes the plumbing and the cost, so it helps to know early whether you want to keep the current layout or rearrange it. Keeping fixtures where they are usually keeps the project simpler.

Materials for a Humid Bathroom

Southwest Florida bathrooms deal with heat, humidity and long periods of moisture. Materials that do well here share a few traits.

• Floor tile: porcelain with a slip-resistant finish is a common choice. Smaller tiles add more grout joints and more grip.
• Wall tile: glazed ceramic and porcelain are easy to clean and do not absorb moisture from the air.
• Grout: epoxy and high-performance cement grouts resist staining and mildew better than basic grout.
• Wet-area walls: cement or foam backer board with a waterproofing membrane behind tile in showers and tub surrounds, instead of standard drywall.
• Ventilation: an exhaust fan sized for the room and vented outside is one of the most effective ways to protect any bathroom finish.

Planning for the Long Term

A remodel is a good time to make a bathroom easier to use for years to come. A low or curbless shower entry, a bench, slip-resistant floor tile and solid blocking inside the walls for future grab bars cost little to plan for now and a lot to add later.

Lighting and outlets are worth thinking about too, because walls are open during the remodel. Plan these changes with the tile layout so fixtures do not land on an awkward cut.

What a Remodel Typically Includes

Every bathroom is different, but a full remodel usually moves through the same stages: removing the old finishes, repairing or preparing the floor and walls, rebuilding the shower or tub area with proper waterproofing, setting floor and wall tile, grouting and sealing, and then installing fixtures and finishing trim.

Your estimate should spell out which of these stages are included and which items, such as the vanity, fixtures or glass, are supplied by you or by others. Clear scope up front avoids surprises halfway through.