As your bathroom décor becomes outdated and you prepare for a remodel, the old 70’s pink may have to go. You soon realize you can’t just remove the old one tub and replace it as easy as you would replace a sink. Most bathtubs have a flange that runs along the edge where the tub and tile meet. This makes it impossible to remove the bathtub without removing the grout and a portion of the tile on the wall. In addition to the plumbing and demolition, replacing a bath tub is a big job.
Category: Home Improvement
Cut Your Bathroom Remodeling Time in Half
Posted on Categories Home Improvement
Like kitchens, bathrooms tend to be an important upgrade whether you are selling, renting or or just improving your home. And, like kitchens, they can take more time to remodel than say a dining room or bedroom. You must consider the bathtub, toilet, cabinets, counter, floor, walls and tile – all in one small space. A typical small bathroom remodel takes an average of 3-4 weeks to complete. In this article, we’ll tell you how to cut that in half.
Changing the Layout
If you are changing the layout of the bathroom, this will add to your time and cost exponentially. One little change in the placement of a tub or toilet is all it takes. Those changes require plumbing alterations and often, a longer time to alter floors and tile walls.
If you must change the layout, and you want to minimize costs and time – try keeping the bathtub and toilet in the same, exact location. All bathroom fittings are connected to a downpipe by horizontal pipes placed at a slight downward slope. This is done to prevent backups. The sink, cabinets and other accessories are easier to move than your toilet and bathtub because they usually have a greater slope.
Changing the Bathtub
Replacing a bathtub will add to costs and time even if you keep it in the same exact location. Bathtubs can cost anywhere from $200 to $2000, however, the cost of separating the tub from the wall and floor and moving/disposing of the old tub will add to the cost and time.
Bathtub Replacement Alternatives
Many people consider bathtub refinishing to be a life saver when it comes to an old, stained, chipped or damaged tub. No need to separate, move or demolish the old tub and your get a bathtub that looks brand new. Some people even use tub refinishing to simply change the color of an outdated tub. By refinishing your bathtub, you can easily shave a week off of your remodeling schedule. Most refinishing projects take less than one day.
Replacing the bath fixtures for a quick change
After you refinish your tub, check out the many modern fixtures available. You can totally change the look of the entire bathroom with a new refinished tub and new shower or tub trim. Shower columns can add hand-shower capability and provide a fresh, modern look.
Keeping a tile wall intact
Tiled walls in bathrooms are common. If you are changing the size or shape of the tiles, you must demo the existing wall and re-tile. But, if you have a few damaged tiles and just want to make them look new, refinishing is a great alternative. We simply replace the missing or damaged tile with any tile that is the same size and refinish the entire tile wall.
This will shave at least a few days off your remodeling schedule as your tile wall can be refinished in the same time-frame as your bathtub.
Kitchen Makeover Tips For A Expensive Kitchen Look
Posted on Categories Home Improvement, Kitchen
Want to make your kitchen look expensive without paying the expensive price tag? There are plenty of ways to spruce up the heart of your home without digging too far into your savings. Check out these 10 cheap kitchen makeover tips to add luxury to your space.
Paint Your Cabinets with an Antique Glaze
Antiqued kitchen cabinets are all the rage now. These cabinets are beautiful to look at because they have texture, dimension and class. Rather than having a flat, one-dimensional paint on them, these cabinets are topped with an antique glaze that makes them look rich and rustic. You can antique your existing cabinets for very little money, as long as you’re willing to spend some time doing it.
Note that if you’re looking up tutorials for how to antique kitchen cabinets, you could also look up this kitchen makeover tips, distressing kitchen cabinets. We try to stay away from the term ‘distressed’ because it tends to imply that the finish looks worn and chippy. In this case, the finish looks sleek and professional – a perfect fit for any home.
Add Corbels, Molding and Feet to Make Premade Cabinets Look Custom
If you want to give new life to premade cabinets, add some decorative trim to them. You could put crown molding along the top or add corbels underneath the upper cabinets. You can also add small feet in front of the kickboards to make the cabinets look unique. Add molding to the front of flat cabinet doors to make them look unique and personalized. Just paint or stain these trim pieces to match the rest of the cabinets, and you’re good to go!
Update Hardware to a Modern Finish
Do you still have those brass and white drawer pulls that were popular 30 years ago? It’s time for an upgrade. Change out your kitchen hardware for something with a more modern finish. Oil rubbed bronze and satin nickel are common colors nowadays, but matte gold is starting to be a trend. Choose a finish that matches the overall theme of your kitchen, and you’ll be amazed at the transformation.
Invest in Specialty Light Fixtures
You only have a few lights in your kitchen, so why not make them statement pieces? You may spend a little more for specialty lighting, but the results are astounding. If you don’t want to upgrade all of the lighting, focus on whatever pieces are most likely to be a focal point in the room. This will probably be above the bar or above the sink area. This is what’s going to make your kitchen look custom and high-end.
Replace Unused Upper Cabinets with Open Shelves
Why Countertop Refinishing Is Ideal for Rental Properties
Posted on Categories Bathroom, Home Improvement, Kitchen
Just about anyone can benefit from countertop refinishing. This is especially true for rental property owners. If you’re looking to update a rental property without paying a fortune, consider refinishing the countertops. The process is fast and easy, and the results will last for years. Your renters will love having a renovated home, and you’ll love how much money you’ll save. Here are just some of the many reasons why countertop refinishing is ideal for rental properties.
Update without Over-Investing
One of the biggest fears rental owners have is over-investing in their properties. Spend too much money, and it will take years to recover it in rent. It may also make the property difficult to sell if/when the time comes. With countertop refinishing, that is never an issue. You only spend a fraction of the money that you’d spend on new countertops, and you can update them to fit the most modern home trends. It’s the best of both worlds – a new kitchen or bathroom at a low price. That is a surefire way to make money with rental properties.
Cover Damage without Replacing the Countertops
Damage happens in a rental property. There is no way to avoid that. The key is to find affordable and durable ways to repair that damage so you can quickly rent the place out again. If you get new countertops, you have to go through the hassle of removing the old ones and pay for all new ones. That adds up fast. With countertop refinishing, you can cover the damage so the counters look good as new. Cover scratches, burn marks, and small cracks with ease and make the most of the countertops that are already there.
Affordably Repair the Countertops between Tenants
You don’t want your property sitting vacant for too long. In fact, you may not have much time from one tenant to the next. If you need to remodel the countertops quickly, this is the best way to go. The refinishing process only takes a few hours to complete, and it can be left to cure while your cleaning crew is working in the house or apartment. You’ll be able to get the new tenants in on schedule – no delays from long-term construction projects.
Quickly Renovate New Properties to Get Them on the Market
How To Choose Bathroom Accessories And Prototypes For A Tiny House
Posted on Categories Home Improvement
A Different Kind Of Living
The tiny home movement has revolutionized living in modernity, and for good reason: you can cut out tens of thousands from your yearly budget while experiencing very little diminution of your quality of life. As a matter of fact, with less to manage, you’ll likely find you have more free time.
There are many couples who vie for the tiny house movement perpetually, and there are many who just want to go the tiny home route for a season so they can conserve resources until a larger home can be acquired. Additionally, there are those who go the tiny home route as a means of reducing their environmental impact.
Whatever kind of individual you are, if you’re going to design and “flesh out” your tiny home, you’re going to want to think differently than if you were designing a conventional, larger domicile.
For $50k, you can build a substantially luxurious little property that can be moved by trailer or even driven away, if you’re going the motorhome route. Following are several considerations you may want to take into account pertaining to internal appliances and the like as you go about determining which tiny home ideas work best for you.
Energy
You can live entirely off the grid without paying any utility bills, or losing any access to energy. You don’t need a gasoline generator, either. There are wind turbines which can be used in a mobile capacity, and there are solar panels which can be installed affordably.
The key to either form of energy is the energy receptacle into which wind or solar power is directed. Ideally you want an array of deep-cycle batteries which you are careful to maintain in terms of water. You’ll want to refill them with distilled water every year or so.
A single 100-Watt/hour panel can deliver up to 12-volts sustainably during daylight. You can run laptops, phones, hand-vacuums, fans, miniature swamp-coolers and web routers from such a panel, and still run them when the sun sets through reserve battery storage. You’ll be pushing limits if you only have one panel, but then, a single panel is only $100 while the associated accoutrement (power inverters, surge controllers, cables, shipping, adhesives) will cost you less than $300.
For $3k you can install more than ten panels yourself with a minimum of hassle. That will give you 1000 Watts+ every hour, which is more than enough for most conventional power needs. A large enough battery array stores that power, and allows for more energy-intensive appliances like microwaves, heaters, or larger vacuum cleaners.
Water Utilities And Waste Removal
Many tiny homes use internal tanks to store water. Some connect directly to plumbing solutions. Which works best for you will depend on your situation. Are you living in a motorized, mobile tiny home? Or are you going the stationary route? If you’re going the stationary route, your plumbing solutions will likely be more traditional. If you are traveling, you may want to get creative.
Especially as regards waste, there are a number of schools of thought. What has become popular today is the cartridge approach. The way this works is that waste of a biological variety is stored in a cartridge which can be removed and evacuated with a minimum of hassle. This can be used to fertilize a garden, or it can simply be flushed into nearby sewage receptacles.
Sometimes when you’re developing a tiny home you’ll find that appliances for the bathroom in particular aren’t available in the proper proportions for the needs of your space-conserving living solution. Sometimes you can design your own prototypes for specific components in a cost-effective way which makes your tiny home unique, and properly fits your established plans. Injection molding can be integral in this type of prototyping.
As we read here, 3ERP offers considerable injection molding solutions: “…we provide top-quality mold tooling and injection molding services. We do high quality aluminum prototype tooling and hardened steel tooling for both low-volume and full-scale production injection molding needs, with quick turnaround time and competitive prices.”
Overall Mobility
One final thing to consider are the politics involved with the tiny home movement. Some regions have embraced tiny homes, some have not. Unfortunately, since the issue is prescient, laws may be unestablished for years as the courts iron them out, allowing you to invest in and complete your tiny home just in time to be evicted from the property patch you’ve purchased.
To get past this, many who are going the tiny home route are designing little cottages which are meant to be easily moved via trailer. Some are designing tiny homes out of RVs, and some are converting motorhomes into full-time tiny homes by parting out that which can’t stand continuous route, and parking strategically.
Whether you go the mobile route, or you’re designing a domicile that is meant to remain stationary, it makes sense—in the current political environment—to design something that can be moved if necessary.
Maximizing Your Potential Cost-Effectively
You can tile your bathroom like you would a normal house, or a manufactured home. You can install top-tier appliances, and build with the finest materials; all while remaining within your means. Additionally, a tiny home that is designed well enough can be sold for a profit at a single sum that is greater than that which you’ve put into it—provided you’re a savvy enough seller, of course.
There are many potential benefits to going the tiny home route, and much to recommend this mode of living. Chief among recommendable qualities of the tiny home movement are customization. Take your time and consider your options—you may be surprised at what you can do.
Why Countertop Refinishing Is Ideal for Rental Properties
Posted on Categories Bathroom, Home Improvement, Kitchen
Just about anyone can benefit from countertop refinishing. This is especially true for rental property owners. If you’re looking to update a rental property without paying a fortune, consider refinishing the countertops. The process is fast and easy, and the results will last for years. Your renters will love having a renovated home, and you’ll love how much money you’ll save. Here are just some of the many reasons why countertop refinishing is ideal for rental properties.
Update without Over-Investing
One of the biggest fears rental owners have is over-investing in their properties. Spend too much money, and it will take years to recover it in rent. It may also make the property difficult to sell if/when the time comes. With countertop refinishing, that is never an issue. You only spend a fraction of the money that you’d spend on new countertops, and you can update them to fit the most modern home trends. It’s the best of both worlds – a new kitchen or bathroom at a low price. That is a surefire way to make money with rental properties.
Cover Damage without Replacing the Countertops
Damage happens in a rental property. There is no way to avoid that. The key is to find affordable and durable ways to repair that damage so you can quickly rent the place out again. If you get new countertops, you have to go through the hassle of removing the old ones and pay for all new ones. That adds up fast. With countertop refinishing, you can cover the damage so the counters look good as new. Cover scratches, burn marks, and small cracks with ease and make the most of the countertops that are already there.
Affordably Repair the Countertops between Tenants
You don’t want your property sitting vacant for too long. In fact, you may not have much time from one tenant to the next. If you need to remodel the countertops quickly, this is the best way to go. The refinishing process only takes a few hours to complete, and it can be left to cure while your cleaning crew is working in the house or apartment. You’ll be able to get the new tenants in on schedule – no delays from long-term construction projects.
Quickly Renovate New Properties to Get Them on the Market
10 Tile Refinishing Ideas to Modernize Your Bathroom
Posted on Categories Bathroom, Home Improvement
It’s no secret that tile refinishing can save you a tremendous amount of money. If you’ve decided to refinish your bathroom tiles, you’re now left with the task of picking a design for them. Do you want a crisp white finish, or would you prefer speckled stone? What colors will best compliment the cabinets and other elements in your bathroom? Use these tile refinishing ideas to inspire your bathroom renovation.
Keep It White and Bright
White looks great in any bathroom. It’s clean, fresh, bright and vibrant. If you are refinishing your bathtub as well, the white on the tile will blend seamlessly with the tub. Because our tile refinishing process covers the grout, you won’t have to worry about stained grout lines that detract from the beauty of white tile. Best of all, you will have far less cleaning to do in the future!
Use Stone Finishes to Create a High-End Look
One of the most popular tile refinishing ideas in Maryland is the use of stone-like finishes. We can make even the most inexpensive tile look like natural stone. You could get something in a soft color that barely contrasts your white fixtures, or you could get a dark stone finish to create a sense of warmth and coziness. Most of the homeowners that we have worked with have chosen a pale grey or beige stone speckle for their tile, but we can create just about any look you want.
Modernize Your Bathroom with a Simple Color Swap
Do the colors in your bathroom scream 90’s, 70’s, or even 50’s? Baby blue, olive green, clay brown, and mustard yellow were all on trend at some point, but they are now definitive markers of eras gone by. You can make your outdated tile look like new again just by changing the color. If you only need to do this in an isolated area, such as the shower surround or the pedestal sink, we can do that. Why replace it when it just needs a facelift?
Make Mis-Matched Tiles Look Cohesive
Replacement tiles aren’t always easy to find. In fact, sometimes it’s impossible to find a perfect match for your tile. If your bathroom went through repairs at some point, you may have a patch of tile that doesn’t look like its surroundings. This is the beauty of tile refinishing. It covers all the tile, no matter what color it is. As long as the tile’s shape is consistent with the rest of the wall, you won’t be able to tell where the repairs were.
Add Extra Tile in Select Areas
Top 10 Kitchen Refinishing Ideas for 2018
Posted on Categories Home Improvement, Kitchen
Kitchen remodeling doesn’t have to cost a fortune. The key is to make the most of the features you already have. This is why kitchen refinishing is so effective. It uses the cabinets, tile, or countertops that you already have and transforms them into something new. Check out these top 10 kitchen refinishing ideas for 2018, courtesy of Maryland Tub and Tile.
1 – Paint or Stain Your Kitchen Cabinets
If your kitchen cabinets are in good shape, all you need to do is paint or stain them. Sand or strip any existing paint or clear coat on the cabinets, and then add the color of your choice. You could stain your honey oak cabinets to a rick walnut color, or you could brighten a dark kitchen with a coat of white paint. One of the hot kitchen refinishing trends of 2018 is using two-tone cabinets, where the bottom cabinets are a darker shade than the top cabinets. Paint your upper cabinets white and the lower cabinets a light grey tone. This will add visual interest to the space and instantly modernize your home.
2 – Replace Outdated Cabinet Doors
If you have ornate cabinet doors, they may not fit the style of today’s kitchen designs. Thankfully, you can replace the doors without having to replace the cabinets completely. This will cost more money than painting the doors you already have, but it is a good option if you are not pleased with your cabinet door style. You will need to make sure the new doors are the same size as your current ones, and that they can easily attach to your existing cabinets. Once you find the right fit, all you have to do is paint or stain them to match.
3 – Refinish Your Kitchen Countertops
Countertop refinishing is a great way to save money on kitchen remodeling. It requires significantly less time than replacing the countertops, and it’s less than half the price! If your countertops are slightly damaged, we can repair them before applying the refinishing coat. The end result will be a smooth surface that adds years to the life of your counters.
Choose from a variety of countertop refinishing styles, all designed to mimic natural stone. If you would prefer a solid color instead, we can do that too. The stone finishes look elegant, and they disguise dirt better than solid colors. This makes it easy for you to keep the counters looking clean. Contact the experts at Maryland Tub and Tile to schedule a free quote for kitchen countertop refinishing.
4 – Update Cabinet Door Hardware
You could update your kitchen with a simple hardware swap. Replace your door knobs, drawer pulls and hinges with a new, modern style. For instance, if you have brass and white door knobs, you could replace them with brushed nickel. You’ll be amazed at the difference this makes! If you’re replacing a piece of drawer hardware with multiple holes, make sure the holes in the new hardware line up. You can take one of the handles into the store as a reference. If you get something with different hole spacing, you may need to drill new holes to accommodate it.
5 – Use Tile Refinishing to Update Your Backsplash
How Long Do Refinished Countertops Last?
Posted on Categories Home Improvement, Kitchen
Countertop refinishing is an affordable way to renovate your kitchen and extend the life of your counters. Instead of removing your existing countertops and paying for new ones, our experts can make your counters look like new, real stone. The process is much faster and less expensive than countertop replacement, which begs an important question: how long do refinished countertops last?
In this discussion, we will explore the lifespan of refinished counters, along with tips to keep your counters looking their best.
How Long Do Refinished Countertops Last?
The average lifespan of refinished countertops is 5-7 years. However, we have seen some homeowners have beautiful looking countertops a full decade after refinishing. It all depends on how much you use your counters and how well you care for them.
This is not to say that the countertops can no longer be used after 7 years. This is just the time when you might see chipping, scratching, and other damage because the top coat has started to wear away. You can still use your counters just like you did before.
How to Preserve Your Refinished Countertops
If you want to keep your countertops looking flawless, follow these tips:
- Use hot pads or trivets when placing a hot pan on the counter. Setting a hot pot directly on the counter could create a heat spot or burn an indention into the counters. This applies to any laminate countertops, not just refinished ones.
- Use cutting boards to slice meat and vegetables. Do not use the surface of your countertop as a cutting board.
- Avoid abrasive cleaning products. You can clean most stains and spills with paper towels, dish soap, or antibacterial surface wipes.
- Clean spills as quickly as possible. While your refinished countertops will be resistant to stains, it’s best to avoid them as much as possible. This is especially true after a few years because the clear coat on the counters will be thinner and more susceptible to penetration.
- Lightly wipe grains and granules off the countertop. Do not scrub the counters when salt, rice, or other particles are on the surface. Gently wipe those off first, and then scrub. The grains can create tiny scratches in the counters that could lead to damage later on.
- Place a surface protector near the stove for spoons and spatulas. Not only will this protect your counters from heat, but it will also prevent them from getting scratched with frequent use.
- Repair damages before refinishing the countertops. We will do this as part of our countertop refinishing process. The repairs ensure that the end result looks as smooth as possible, and it will reduce the risk of damage in the future.
For Best Results, Avoid DIY Countertop Refinishing
If you’re trying to save money on kitchen or bathroom remodeling, you may explore the ideal of DIY tile and countertop refinishing. There are paint kits you can buy fairly inexpensive at big box stores, and they claim to provide “long-lasting results.” That is simply not the case though. These kits are usually a nightmare to use, and their results only last for 1-3 years (regardless of what the box may say). We had one homeowner use chalk paint to DIY refinish her counters, and the paint started scratching in the first week. Trust the professionals like Maryland Tub and Tile if you want to get the most from your investment.
The Affordable Way to Follow Current Kitchen Trends
Top 10 Up-and-Coming Bathroom Renovation Trends
Posted on Categories Bathroom, Home Improvement
Looking for inspiration for your upcoming bathroom renovation? There are tons of opportunities to add style and personality to your bathroom, no matter how extensive your budget is. In this guide, we will explore 10 rising trends in bathroom remodeling for you to consider for your home.
1 – Colorful Flooring
We always recommend neutral colors for bathroom renovations because they transcend design trends. That doesn’t mean you have to completely avoid color though. One way to add color in a bathroom without completely overwhelming the space is to install a fun mosaic on the floor. Get something that will match the neutrals in your bathroom – cool tones with cool tones, warm tones with warm tones. If you decide that you do not like the color later on, all you will have to do is replace the flooring or refinish the floor tile.
2 – Wood Tile for Bathroom Renovation
Wood tile isn’t an up-and-coming bathroom renovation trends because it has been around for a few years now. However, the diversity of wood tile has grown tremendously over the last few years. You can get almost any style you want. Many homeowners are using this in place of laminate flooring because it is equally affordable and much more durable. If you have wood tile in other parts of your home, such as the living room or kitchen, you should consider installing it in the bathroom.
Note that you don’t necessarily have to keep the wood tile on the floor. Some homeowners use them on their shower walls as well, especially if they have a rustic theme for their home. You could also use them for an accent strip or storage compartment in the shower. The designers here at Maryland Tub and Tile will help you find the perfect fit for your home.
3 – Metallic Tile
Metallic bathroom tile looks luxurious, show-stopping, and far more expensive than it actually is. Think about how amazing stainless steel appliances look in a kitchen. Metallic tiles provide that same effect in the bathroom. Modern metallic are mostly in dark bronze, copper, and steel grey tones. Some flakes of gold look nice, as long as they do not verge on brassy. You could do an accent wall in the bathroom covered in metallic tile, or you could just add it as a subtle border. As long as you use it tastefully, you can add a ton of class and appeal to your bathroom.
4 – Open, Floating Shelves
Open shelves are perfect for storing towels and décor pieces in the bathroom. Floating shelves are an up-and-coming bathroom renovation trend that combines practicality and design in one. If you use wood tile in your bathroom, you can choose a similar wood for your shelving. Dark espresso and chocolate tones are popular, but so are reclaimed wood shelves. You can buy premade floating shelf systems from most hardware stores, or you could even build them yourself.
5 – Unique Tile Patterns
Want to make boring tile look a little more unique? Try arranging it in a different pattern. For instance, you can combine diamond and rhombus shaped tile to form a creative geometric pattern. You could use hexagon and square tile to create a unique mosaic specifically for your home. This also gives you the option to add subtle accent tile, like a pop of color or glass. Think outside the basic rectangular patterns, and you never know what you’ll come up with.
6 – Industrial Accents
Your bathroom doesn’t necessarily need to look prim and proper. You could add some industrial elements to give it character and add a different dimension to the space. If you’re going to commit to industrial bathroom renovation though, you need to do it whole-heartedly. Don’t just change out the lighting and call it a day.
Exposed piping, metal bars, aged wood, copper fixtures – these are just some industrial design elements you could add to your bathroom. Combine these with modern tile and wall coverings to create a special bathroom all your own.
7 – Tile Refinishing
