The Complete Guide to Bathrooms: Ideas & Projects For Building & Remodeling

by Black & Decker, Creative Publishing International

Bathrooms are one of the most popular-and expensive- home remodeling projects. Because of the expense, do-it-yourselfers can enjoy enormous savings over the cost of having the work done by contractors. In addition to the quality-of-life benefits offered by a new or remodeled bathroom, a new bath can add substantial equity to the value of a home-in some instances, the entire expense is offset by increased home value. A bathroom is one of the few remodeling projects for which this is true.The Complete Guide to Bathrooms is the only book homeowners will ever need on this important subject. It includes virtually every type of bathroom remodeling project, from the most cosmetic dress-up to the most complete renovation.

This comprehensive guide includes an impressive idea section to open readers' eyes to options. In addition to basic fixture replacement information, the book includes extended how-to information on creating a new master bathroom, basement bath, or half bath, from rough plumbing in exposed framing through final fixture connections. It also teaches how to install ceramic floor tile, install an adjustable slide-bar shower head, and create a glass-block divider wall. Finally, a section on Universal Design shows how to adapt a bathroom for someone with mobility limitations-an elderly family member, for example, or one with a physical limitation.

Genres: Nonfiction, How To

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Black & Decker Corporation is an American manufacturer of power tools, accessories, hardware, home improvement products and technology based fastening systems headquartered in Towson, Maryland.


Source: Wikipedia.

Reviews

[Nathan Albright · Rating 5 out of 5]

As one can probably imagine, there are a great many books about bathrooms that one can find.  Some of them focus on aesthetics, and the sort of fixtures and items that one would want to have in one's bathroom, and a discussion of the visual appeal that a good bathroom possesses.  There are other books that focus on going into detail on a single bathroom remodel job and looking at what is required to do it, with the knowledge that the remodel itself is a rather plain one in constricted and small space that is likely to mirror the sort of work that the reader is likely to do in their own situation.  This book is a mix between the approach of looking aesthetically (no surprise given the author's obvious talent in that area) as well as showing the nuts and bolts aspects of building and creating the sort of bathroom that is being designed, which makes sense given the fact that this book is published under the aegis of Black & Decker, a company known for its quality tools, many of which are shown in the pages of this particular book.

This book is about 250 pages long and is divided thematically into various sections.  The author begins with an introduction as well as the importance for a writer in planning and designing their restroom, showing a gallery of restrooms as well as different elements in a bathroom, namely bathtubs and jetted tubs, showers, sinks, toilets and bidets, cabinets and vanities, lighting, heating & ventilation, walls & ceiling, and flooring.  After this there are some discussions about getting started and the design principles for having a successful bathroom remodeling project.  The author then spends the rest of the book showing detailed remodeling projects to help inspire and inform the reader, with projects dealing with showers, tubs, and whirlpools (including some curbless showers I am very interested in given my clumsiness and occasional mobility problems), sinks & vanities, toilets & bidets, lighting & ventilation, wall & floor, and accessories and other upgrades.  Some of these jobs keep the footprint of the room the same but many show expansions and they are gorgeously rendered with photographs that show and explain the work that is needed to pull off such projects.  After this the author closes the book with a discussion on plumbing and wiring codes and permits in two appendices as well as measurement conversions, resources, photo credits, and an index.

One of the most intriguing aspects of this book is just how practical it is.  The author demonstrates the tools of Black & Decker in such a way that it would likely encourage someone to want to use those more.  I tend not to be a very crafty or technically proficient person when it comes to equipment, but I think that is due to a lack of experience rather than a lack of interest.  At some point it is possible that I may help out in some sort of work project or do some do-it-yourself work of my own on my future homes, and as that is at least a reasonable possibility this work is the sort of preparatory reading that I tend to like to engage in before acting upon such matters, similar to my reading in gardening and related subjects.  This book is definitely aimed at practicing such interests and for those who have the tools and the need to engage in such projects.  The author also points out a great deal of the legal as well as environmental and accessibility concerns that lead to a great deal of work in restrooms, and even gives people a reason to care about bidets, which is quite an achievement.

[Laurla2 · Rating 3 out of 5]

-3 stars. this book was more what i was looking for, ideas and info on how to redo a normal everyday bathroom.

-it showed multifunction shower/tub grab bars. which if i ever do get to redo my bathroom, i'd like there to be grab bars in there.

-most of the book contains information on bathroom building codes and standards, removal and demolition, and installation of all the various features of the bathroom. that was more info than i needed at this stage.

[Lynda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very useful resource for bathroom projects both very advanced such as installing a whirlpool tub and relatively simple such as hanging a shelf. It includes step by step instructions and vivid, clear, color photographs.

[Gabby · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good one, take this one back out when I get closer to the remodel...