Baby, there are choices out there!

Unless you customize or upgrade your selections when you’re building a new home, you get lower grade cabinetry, basic tubs, toilets , and faucets. Builders get these products at wholesale prices because they buy in bulk. When it’s time to remodel, most people replace these items with better quality products.



Bathrooms with poor quality tile walls and floors wear out fast due to constant moisture . Of course we all know that mold can grow fast and furiously if there is not adequate ventilation such as a window or exhaust fan nearby. Grout is the first place where mold is noticed but many people don’t realize they have mold growing behind their shower walls until they take the old stuff down.


A smart alternative to tile is granite or cultured marble shower walls. The panels are glued onto the wall on top of moisture resistant green board and only require a line of silicone along the joint and bottom edge of the shower base. It’s easier to clean, and there is no grout where mold can grow. Porcelain tile which is non-porous and made for outside areas is great for bathroom floors . Grout is now made with a sealer mixed into the product and has been very popular for the last few years. It costs about twice the amount of regular grout but well worth the expense in the long run.


There are also a lot of options with shower doors. With pricing all over the place, a shower door can cost anywhere from $400.00 - $3,000.00. There are various finishes, glass designs, glass widths, framed or frameless doors and a new product called “aqua glide” that repels soap scum and makes shower doors easier to clean.


Cultured marble vanity tops are being replaced with granite tops with under mount bowls for a cleaner quality look. Vanity faucets now come 8” on center (called “wide spread”) making it easier to clean in between the spout and the handles with chrome always being the least expensive finish.


Most toilets now have water saver flushing systems and come in a variety of colors and styles.


There are so many choices out there it can make your head spin. The biggest problem seems to be making a decision!

Fran Siegel/Siegel Remodeling and Design
9016 Sutton Pl.
Hamilton, Ohio  45011
513-874-7636
http://www.siegeldesigncenter.com/