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Do you reside in the Scranton PA area or surrounding places? Would you like to fully renovate your bathroom? Or maybe you might be interested in a light makeover? Depending on your budget and creativity theres many options and approaches you could possibly take. Sometimes all thats needed to make a bathroom look new again is painting the walls and cabinets, installing  new fixtures, and installing new handles. A new floor in a bathroom is always a great way to make the room look great. Vinyl and tile flooring are my favorite option in wet areas because of their water proofing qualities. Another topic of discussion when it comes to bathrooms is what type of shower/ tub choice will be made? Do you want to tile your walls, or do you want to install a prefabricated fiberglass, vinyl, or other type unit? Leaky plumbing, drains and outdated faulty plumbing  are another common problem we see throughout new and older homes. Regular maintenance of plumbing fixtures by tightening loose connections or replacing old valves  can usually solve most minor plumbing issues. Clogged pipes and drains can be easily addressed by home owners with some basic tools and knowledge, saving the home owner significant amounts of money compared to hiring licensed plumbing professionals.  Electrical fixtures, new lighting, GFIs, and other type electrical outlets and supplies always need to be up to code and water appropriated according place of installation. Cabinetry and countertops should be chosen with proper care for proper fit and spacing as to ensure no encroachments upon toilets, shower basins or tub installations. Medicine cabinets and shower mirrors have the option of being installed in a flush mount position or cut into the wall and recessed in order to give a more flush type appearance. 

Vanity Options Scranton Pa 18504  

Wall mounted vanities are a very modern type of vanity that mounts directly to the wall with a space underneath. They also refer to these types of vanities as floating vanities. These vanities are great for smaller bathrooms. They have the effect of making the bathroom feel much more spacious. 

Double sink type vanities are great for busy families with kids who need an extra sink for family members to take care of their business. They also provide much added cabinet space for bathroom storage and supplies. Extra countertop space is a huge plus too for multiple users occupying the area at the same time. 

  Corner vanities are great for small bathrooms and are most commonly used in small apartment situations. They can be triangular in many instances or also can be purchased in rectangular or square type units. 

Freestanding vanities rest on four legs directly on the ground and are one of the most popular types of vanities on the market. The cabinet and the sink usually come together and the option types are many. 

Vessel vanities are built with a bowl resting on top and are most often found in restaurants and cafes. Definitely a more fancy look which people like in their homes as well.

Undermounted vanities are when the sink and countertop are all one piece. Home owners love this option because of the seamless, lipless look it provides. 

Countertop material types

 Wood countertops provide a natural look with many different species options. Can be stained or left natural wood grain. Wood countertops require regular sealing to prevent warping and water damage. 

Glass is a great choice for a modern look that makes for a very sleek look. Its easy to install and is extremely stain resistant. 

Ceramic is a strong option, very easy to clean, easy to maintain, endless amounts of styles and variations. Ceramic countertops do require being sealed at regular intervals. 

Stone countertops offer the most high end luxurious option but comes with the highest price tag. Regular polishing and sealing will be also be a must with your stone countertop option. 

Vanity material types

Wood vanities vary in construction grade materials depending on ones budget. The most common building materials for vanities would include solid wood, plywood, particle board, and fiber board. Wooden vanities are properly painted for water resistance and water proofing industry standard practices. 

Stainless steel vanities are naturally water proof  and extremely long lasting and durable. They provide a very sleek look to your bathroom environment but are known to show finger and hand touch marks easily. 

Vanity Sink Fixtures

Wall Mount Faucet- Provide a clean and modern appearance with the benefit of allowing easy space around the area for cleaning.

Single Handle Faucet- With one handle these faucets are great and easy straight forward design that requires only one hole to be drilled. 

Centre set Faucet- Two separate handles and a separate faucet piece. This faucet option requires three separate holes to be installed.  

  Bridge Faucet- Provide and old school style with modern style. The levers and the faucet are all combined into one single part above countertop. 

 Shower Enclosures

Frameless - If your looking to showcase your tile to the best of its ability than frameless shower doors are for you. Frameless shower doors are easy to clean but are also very heavy and costly compared to other options. They also give the room a more open and spacious feel. 

Framed Doors- These framed units are usually built with metal framing on either side and are a much more standard cost effective choice when it comes to purchasing shower doors. 

Sliding glass doors-     Usually installed in an alcove, the doors slide on track and keep water inside the shower unit. One bad thing about sliding glass doors is they accumulate a lot of gunk around bottom track.

Shower Wall Options

Solid surface panels- Come in easy to install single panels. Easy for home owners to install. Very inexpensive.

Vinyl wallpaper- Come in an endless variety of options and colors. They need to be properly sealed at regular intervals and are definitely a high maintenance wall option. 

Laminated wall panels- Very easy to install, lower budget option, with stones and marble type print options. Very real looking option.

Single sheet plastic- These panels glue straight to the wall and are super easy to install. Their very easy to maintain, come in many styles, and are highly water proof. 

Natural stone walls- Natural stone shower walls are a high end expensive option for a more luxurious look. Common stone slabs like travertine, marble, granite, and onyx can potentially last you a life time. With heavy weight stone slabs make sure your bathroom floors and joists are equipped to withstand the added wall weight.

Porcelain tile walls- A more cost effective option than natural stone. With a wide variety of colors and types, this wall tile option can give your shower unit a timeless type of feel for decades. 

Ceramic tile walls- A more cost effective solution to stone and porcelain. DIY people can easily install these types with a whole lot of textures and choices from different manufactures. 

Acrylic/Fiberglass shower walls- Both very affordable and easy to install, minimal sealing required, many options with different shelving features. Acrylic is the more expensive higher quality longer lasting option. Fiberglass walls are easier to repair though. 

Glass tile walls- Glass tile options provide a high quality elegant look to your shower walls but would need specific type glass cutting blades and tools and usually require a professional contractor to install. 

Grout types

Acrylic grout- is mildew resistant and is best choice to be applied into wet areas.

Epoxy grout- a more difficult material to work with. Its most often used on countertop installations.

Sanded grout- used for wider gap tile installations providing. Highly durable cement type grout.

Unsanded grout- Best used in wet type areas with thin joints. Bathrooms and kitchens. 

Furan resin grout- For industrial kitchen type installs with high heat resistance, resistant to stains and acids. Professional installs only. 

High performance polymer cement grout- has latex polymers for added strength and durability, best used for high traffic areas. 

Pre mixed polymer resin grout- Great option for those who do not want the added step of mixing. Good for bathrooms and kitchens, moisture and stain resistant. 

Bathroom floor tile types

Ceramic floor tile- made of clay, subway ceramic a very popular choice. Glossy and glazed ceramic tiles can be very slippery when wet and are best suited for wall type installations. Smaller penny type ceramic tiles are recommended for floor applications with many more grout lines which provides much needed floor traction. 

Cement bathroom tiles- Cement type bodied tiles with high durability ratings

Stone natural stone- strongest most durable floor tile option, easy to clean with rough non slip surfaces. Stone tile is resistant to scratching as well as moisture.

Cork- With many styles to choose from and with a good amount of softness, cork flooring is a great option for walking barefoot on. You will have multiple color options to choose from. Cork flooring will also need  polyurethane in order to properly seal. Cork floor adhesive will be used for installation, typically installed by a professional.

Vinyl floor- Easy to install by DIYs with high durability, water proofing, highly resilient, and with many different budget options.

Porcelain floor tile- much more highly durable than ceramic tile. The color of porcelain goes all the way through unlike ceramic which leaves more room for error if the tile happens to get chipped.

Linoleum- more expensive than vinyl and also inhibits the growth of microorganisms. Made from recycled materials and environmentally friendly.

Glass tile flooring- a textured glass tile option in a smaller type size with lots of grout is the best for bathroom floors for a non slip area

Bathroom Fan Types

Turbine Fan/ Centrifugal- kinda like a hamster wheel with a rotating cylinder. Blows out exhaust air through ductwork.

Inline fan- less common fan with fan housing located in attic or crawl space.

Ceiling insert fan- sometimes has the  option with a built in light. Most easiest to install and most common type on the market.

Axial extractor fan- has propeller type fan blade similar to an air plane.

Fan power- determine the fan size and power capacity needed for your particular size bathroom.

Ductwork- bathroom fans need ductwork with either ridgid or flexible type runs. Four inch flexible duct runs are good for smaller length runs, while ridgid four to six inch ducts are recommended for longer duct runs.

Lighting- for smaller bathrooms fans with built in lights are very common. Other type bathroom fans have heat lamps, others have built in night lights for the children at night.

Operation and activation- switch, a timer, humidity sensor, or motion sensor. 

Housing- make sure theres proper clearance above the ceiling between framing.

Medicine Cabinet Types

Surface mounted medicine cabinet- these types of wall cabinets have the option of being much deeper. Their mounted directly onto the wall with decorative framing wrapping around the outside.

Recessed medicine cabinet- these type units are installed directly into the wall which saves space. They can only be as deep as the wall cavity which is normally four inches deep.

Medicine cabinet material type- Plastic, stainless steel, wood, MDF, aluminum.

Many bathroom medicine cabinets have the option of a built in mirror as well a lighting installed.

Best bathroom paint types

A mold resistant primer will be your best choice for initial preparation. Typical bathroom paint sheens include semi gloss, satin, eggshell, sometimes gloss. 

Best time of year to remodel bathrooms

Winter- Materials are typically less expensive during the winter months, and contractors are usually much less busy. Keep in mind that days are shorter because of the limited daylight which could potentially cause for longer renovation times.

Spring- Longer days, contractors are less busy, and with natural light, spring can be a great time of year to have your bathroom remodeled. 

Summer- May be a good choice to get the job done before the kids go to school.

Fall- Would be one of the most busy times of year for contractors. Many people are rushing to finish renovations before the arrival of the holidays. 

Waterproofing Walls before Tiling

Make sure when hiring a contractor to install your new tile shower that they properly waterproof your walls with a rubber coating application which insures peace of mind and long lasting satisfaction.