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Must-have Toilet Features You Never Knew You Needed

Bathroom Remodels

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Here are some toilet features that you might not know about already, but which are useful enough that you’ll wonder how you ever did without them. (I hope that some of this information will serve to enhance your repertoire of potty jokes.)

Most people don’t think about the water surface area in the toilet bowl itself, but I always bring it up during a conversation about replacing a toilet. If you go to your grandma’s house and use her restroom, generally speaking, it’s going to have an older toilet. You’ll notice that there’s a ton of water in the bowl. When you flush it, it’ll seem like the water swirls around forever until it finally clears down. Those two characteristics (lots of water and long flush time) are very useful in bowl cleanliness.

If you look at a new toilet (especially if it’s on the cheaper side), the bowl will often get dirty and stay dirty fairly easily. It’s not surprising, because a greater surface of water would protect the actual porcelain from getting dirty. New toilets also have government regulations requiring only 1.6 gallons of water per flush. Thats why they are engineered not to swirl as much as the older toilets do, and the water just goes straight out of them. The sudden, direct movement leads to a dirtier bowl.

You don’t usually think about how silent a toilet is when it flushes, which is another noticeable characteristic of older toilets. Older toilets tend to be fairly quiet, while newer ones can get very loud. It’s not uncommon for bathrooms attached to the master bedroom to get regular nighttime use. Having a quieter toilet would definitely be beneficial in that case.

These next two features are fairly commonly known, but if you’ve never experienced them yourself, you don’t know what you’re missing. You won’t ever want to go back to a regular toilet once you get used to them. The first pertains to the shape of the bowl: toilets either come with a round shape or an oval/elongated shape. The elongated shape is much, much easier and more comfortable to use.

Next pertains to the height of the actual bowl that you sit on: it’s either standard height or slightly elevated. If you’ve ever used a handicap accessible public toilet, you might have noticed that it’s higher than the toilets in other stalls. It’s not a big enough difference for you to spot at a glance (about two inches), but it’s definitely noticeable in terms of how close to the floor you are while seated. I like to call them comfort height toilets because the higher position is just more comfortable to use.

To most people, a toilet is just a toilet. But in our world, there are definitely characteristics we look at when selecting the products we offer to our clients. It may surprise someone when we discuss these things, but these are definitely features with noticeable benefits. If it’s almost time to replace your toilet and you have any questions, just contact us today or give us a call at 540-483-9382.

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  1. How much does a typical bathroom remodel cost?

 

The investment will vary greatly depending on what selections you make to put into your bathroom. Keep in mind, a complete turnkey bathroom remodel will probably not cost less than $10,000. With a budget of less than $10,000 in mind, it wouldn’t be enough for an entire bathroom remodel—instead, it might just be something like the tub/shower.

 

Many times, homeowners will hear people (like HGTV hosts) who provide inaccurate or unrealistic information about someone’s actual real-world investment. They might portray a full remodel as costing only a few thousand dollars, when it isn’t that simple in reality. A master bath suite can even go as high as $30,000-$40,000. We can discuss your options to calculate an accurate figure, and the amount will depend on the kind of room. Keep in mind, complete bathroom remodeling can get expensive in a hurry, depending on what you want to do.

 

  1. Can you give a timeline of how long it generally takes, from start to finish?

 

Just like the investment, the time also varies greatly based on the size of the project and the scope of the work. Generally, a complete bathroom remodel can be done in as little as 8-10 days. It doesn’t have to take a terribly long time, but depending on how extensive the remodel is, it could possibly take up to 20-25 days.

 

  1. How much help can we get when it comes to selecting the items for our bathroom remodel? Do we have to pick everything ourselves, or will somebody assist us?

 

One of the great things about our process is that we help with the design as well. The selection process can be very intimidating, especially when it comes to picking all the colors and different types of materials. Our design consultant will help with all of that. During the shopping days, we’ll go select the colors and make sure everything is going to match up. That way, how you imagine your bathroom looking will end up being fully realized.

 

  1. Can I do the painting myself?

 

Absolutely! We have various pieces of our project separated out. Clients commonly decide to do the painting of the bathroom themselves. If they want to do this, we can simply take the painting portion out of our list of tasks and the client can do it during the project schedule at the appropriate time.

 

  1. If someone has a bad experience remodeling, the whole ordeal can be extremely stressful. What sets Wisler Plumbing and Air apart from other companies? How do you make the remodel go smoothly?

 

Remodeling can be very challenging due to unforeseen circumstances. Some companies are competent in one area, but they end up opening a whole other can of worms under the floor. Just make sure that you hire someone competent and professional in the bathroom remodeling industry.

 

Wisler Plumbing and Air specializes in bathroom remodels. In fact, we’ve done hundreds of bathrooms over the years. We’re familiar with the different circumstances someone might run into during the course of a remodel. We differentiate ourselves by doing the best we can to ensure we’re respectful and careful in our clients’ home. We try to set up clear parameters and lay down the protection necessary for completely effective dust control, for instance. We also carefully vet the personnel who are entrusted with your home’s care. Finally, we differentiate ourselves by making it a point to be upfront with all of our costs. Sometimes other contractors will lowball the job. All of a sudden, the cost ends up ballooning to many times what was originally promised. We, on the other hand, are very upfront and use change orders extremely sparingly.

 

If you are entering the remodeling phase and your bathroom is next on the list, make sure to reach out to the experienced team at Wisler Plumbing and Air. Contact us online or give us a call at 540-483-9382.

 

 

 

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Cyndi DeNeal Remodeling Sales at Wilser Plumbing

Some homeowners in the area don’t know that we do bathroom and kitchen remodeling. We actually do quite a bit of these kinds of projects (around 90 a year). Let’s highlight some of what’s involved in the process that we take from start to finish.

 

We start off with a remodeling specialist, Cyndi, who comes to the home. She’s actually a certified interior designer as well, so she’s very much in tune with the aesthetics of what makes a home look nice. When she comes over for the first time, she does what we call a discovery visit. This is when she gathers information about the needs and wants of the client. (We wouldn’t want to jump right out of the gate and start giving recommendations because it’s very important that we listen to our client first.) At that initial meeting, we would schedule a return visit to come back and present several different options that fit the needs and wants of the client.

 

When it comes to remodeling, sometimes a husband and wife might have different ideas about what they want. We try to blend options together and make the best of both worlds if there are different people involved. We would want to bring back drawings or sketches to give a visual representation of what the options look like. There would also be a preliminary contract or budget set, and we would hope that the client would be able to narrow their choices down to one option along with some small changes.

 

After narrowing the choices down and giving a commitment to one of those options, we like to follow through with a selection day. This is where Cyndi would go out with the client to pick out colors and materials. It would be the time to select cabinets, plumbing fixtures, tile, paint, etc., and Cyndi is immensely helpful in this area. Then we’ll do our final project layout, which is where we finalize the contract and proposal, making sure that we have the final drawings completed. We’ll come back to the client’s home and present these items, making sure that there’s nothing missing and everyone is on the same page about the project.

 

After that, we do our handoff meeting, which is where Cyndi hands everything off to our project manager, Tom. They will meet onsite at the customer’s home, walk through the proposed project with the homeowner, and make sure that all the details are covered. This is when the project’s execution happens and the project manager completes the entire remodel. Then there’s a completion walkthrough that Cyndi will perform after the project to make sure that everyone is satisfied with the overall results. The project should have met the expectations that the client and designer had in the beginning.

 

Homeowners experience a significant benefit by doing remodeling projects with a plumbing company. It allows you to get some peace of mind in knowing that all the components added to your home will fit together. A big part of a bathroom or kitchen is water and electrical. Being able to do the project with a trade-based company can be very advantageous. If you’re thinking about doing some remodeling in your home and you want to work with an experienced team, reach out to Wisler Plumbing and Air by contacting us online or giving us a call at 540-483-9382.

 

 

 

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Here are 10 things that you can do to spruce up your kitchen or bathroom without breaking the bank. Of course, breaking the bank is different for each family. When I think of low-cost items, they are priced at around $500 and under. Compared to a full-blown bathroom remodel which will probably run you about $8,000 plus, that’s quite a bit less.

1. Faucets

Replacing a bathroom or kitchen faucet can really spice up the area. When it comes to the bathroom, you can replace a polished chrome faucet with a brushed nickel faucet, which is much more common today than it was ten years ago. In the kitchen, a nice pull-out spray really adds a nice look.

2. Toilets

Most people think that a toilet is just a toilet. But a lot of times you don’t realize how dingy and grungy a toilet can get until you put a new one in its place. It really makes a big difference. Some larger toilets start to look faded, and putting in a brighter toilet can really spice up a bathroom quickly.

3. Accessories

Accessories could be items like a toilet paper holder, a hand towel ring, or a hand towel bar. Those types of things can be installed very easily into most homes. You might also want to get them with a finish that matches the decor that you have in the bathroom (e.g., brushed nickel).

4. Framed Mirror

In some bathrooms, there’s a plain mirror that’s stuck to the wall. If that mirror was removed and a framed mirror was put in its place, it could add another item that complements the decor in the room.

5. Cabinets

Cabinets don’t always have to be removed or replaced. Sometimes (if you take your time and really work through the process) you can paint the cabinets along with the rest of the bathroom.

6. Countertops

Kitchen countertops do get a little bit more expensive, but bathroom countertops really aren’t that costly. You can get a cultured marble countertop that already has a sink in it with many different finishes and colors to choose from. They aren’t only available in the marbly look that was very common around ten to fifteen years ago. In my house, for example, we have a brownish speckled honed cultured marble countertop that isn’t shiny. It looks really nice and it’s actually way more economical than most people would think.

7. Kitchen Drains

People often use the kitchen sink more than two or three times a day. As a result, the drains get worn and they just don’t look very nice after a while. Replacing those drains can be an economical way to spice up that kitchen sink area.

8. Tile Backsplash

In the kitchen or bathroom, you could put in a tile backsplash. It would only be four or six inches tall in the bathroom, but you could use decorative tile there. In the kitchen, the backsplash would take up the distance between the countertop and the upper cabinets. It can really set off the kitchen, especially with a little bit of painting. The cost will depend on how large your area is or what kind of material you use for the backsplash.

9. Appliances

Some appliances, like a refrigerator or stove, are really expensive. Dishwashers sometimes aren’t as expensive and might be a somewhat economical choice to improve the look of the kitchen. If the dishwasher is old and grungy from being used often, putting in a new one might be a great option.

10. Lights

Lights can set off any area, whether it’s a kitchen, bathroom, or bedroom. One of the neat things about lighting is that you can really brighten up the room by shining light into a darker corner. You could also put recessed can lighting in a bathroom or kitchen and light up areas around the cabinets. Adding new lights can drastically improve the overall look of the room.

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It’s really exciting whenever you remodel any part of your home (especially the bathroom). But it can be very stressful, too. Bathroom remodeling isn’t a small task to take on, and it definitely takes longer than a weekend. It takes a significant decision just to get started with the remodel, and there’s also many different decisions that need to be made throughout the process. Here are the top 3 things you should think about before diving in.

  1. Choose the right people for the job.

A remodel can quickly become difficult if you weren’t thoughtful about who you chose to do the job. Are they competent? Have they done a good job in the past? What kind of reputation do they have? There are lots of people who will hire a Joe that doesn’t have experience with this kind of project. Sure, they might know a little bit about carpentry. But there’s also electrical, plumbing, framing, trim work, cabinets, flooring/tile, etc. Those skills are all part of completing the project. The person needs to be competent in all those areas in order to be successful.

  1. Set a realistic budget.

There can be a pretty wide perception about what kind of budget it takes to do a bathroom remodel. It’s a bit similar to buying a car—you might have $5,000 to spend, but the car you really want ends up being twice that amount.

I would encourage you to do some research online to find out what’s a realistic budget to get the whole bathroom done. Unfortunately, I think that HGTV shows have dumbed down the process. These shows can be very misleading, and give you an unrealistic idea of the remodeling budget.

  1. Consider how much you’ll be involved in the project.

Most homeowners are going to be involved in some shape or form with the bathroom remodeling project. Pay serious consideration about exactly how you’ll be involved. Do you have the time to make decisions about colors and styles, for example? Those things can sometimes take a significant amount of time. Of course, if you do your own demolition or painting yourself, it can also be extremely time-consuming.

Don’t bite off more than you can chew. Seriously think about the extent of the time and involvement you’ll need before you commit yourself to getting started.

Remember, it could become a huge inconvenience if your home only has one bathroom.  Having it torn apart can get you into deep trouble if you don’t have the knowledge to do the job or the money to pay for what really needs to be done. Be sure you’re able to get it back in service in a timely manner.

If you consider these things before you get started, you won’t be stuck with a significant part of your home torn up. If you have any questions, contact us online or give us a call at (540) 483-9382.

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My name is Cyndi DeNeal. I’m an interior designer and I’ve worked with Brian Wisler for several years. When I found out he needed another designer, I was happy to come onboard. I have a background in residential interior design. Because every job is different, I try to be very creative with everyone. I’ll find out what each individual prefers instead of relying only on my personal taste. I like to get to know our clients and then make a design that truly suites their style.

If you’re thinking about getting a design for your home, the first step in the process involves being asked a bunch of questions. The goal is to find out exactly what your needs are. That way I’m more prepared when I come to visit your home. From there, I’ll take my measurements and get to know you a little bit better. Once I find out what your likes are, I’ll come back to the office and price everything. I’ll present it to you in a perfect little package.

After the selection process, I’ll meet up with a job supervisor so we can walk through the job together. I’ll explain exactly how everything is going to happen and I’ll also check on the job periodically throughout the process. At the very end, I’l go back to do a walkthrough with the client to make sure everything is exactly how they expected it to be.

I’m in a different division from James, so after the job is sold we’ll have a day of shopping. I’ll take the client out so we can make all the selections. I’ll help guide them throughout the way so that they’re not stuck trying to figure things out by themselves. It’s a fun day and we might end up having lunch together, too.

After our day of shopping, I’ll come back and do a revised proposal based on the actual selection process. A lot of times, the prices can come down based on the original quote due to the selections that were made. We really try to quote the job realistically and not hide things or cut corners. We don’t want to surprise people with anything unexpected.

Why Work With a Designer?

People sometimes don’t realize exactly what they’re getting into. There are little details that might not even cross your mind. For example, there are behind-the-wall considerations. If a wall needs to come out in the bathroom, there might not be the correct insulation behind it (or the insulation may fall out). If you’re picking tiles, we need to make sure you have the correct amount before the job is started. It wouldn’t be good if you got into the middle of a project and then realized there wasn’t enough tile.

If a client wanted a regular shower head, they might end up realizing that they would have preferred a handheld. There are even cases where I’ll point out that as people get older, they’ll tend to add a grab bar for comfort. We’d need to prepare for that by blocking the wood behind the walls where the tile’s going to go so that a grab bar can be properly fitted. These are some of the things that you’d have to think about beforehand. If you work with a knowledgeable, caring interior designer, they’ll be able to make all the recommendations that end up making a world of difference.

If you have any questions about what Cyndi can do for you and your home, contact us online, check us out on Facebook, or give us a call at (540) 483-9382.

 

 

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