Category: Interior

Pros & Cons of a Walk-in Shower vs. Walk-in Tub: How to Decide Which Is Right for You?

When it comes to bathroom remodeling, one of the critical decisions homeowners face is choosing between a walk-in shower and a walk-in tub. Both options offer distinct advantages and some drawbacks. How can you choose which one’s right for you? Here’s a breakdown of the pros and cons of walk-in showers vs. walk-in tubs, so you can make a decision that reflects your lifestyle, needs, and preferences.

Walk-in Showers: Pros and Cons

Walk-in showers are a popular choice for modern bathroom renovations, offering a blend of style and functionality. They are especially suitable for those seeking a sleek, contemporary look and a more accessible bathing option. The pros of walk-in showers include:

• Space Efficiency: Walk-in showers are ideal for smaller bathrooms. They take up less space than tubs, so your bathroom can potentially have a more open, airy feel.
• Accessibility: With no high sides to step over, walk-in showers are more accessible, especially for those with mobility issues.
• Modern Aesthetics: Walk-in showers offer a sleek, modern look and can be designed with a variety of materials and finishes to match any bathroom decor.
• Easy to Clean: Without the nooks and crannies of a tub, walk-in showers are generally easier to clean and maintain.

Walk-in showers may not be the best solution for everyone. Some of the potential cons of walk-in showers include:

• Not Ideal for Baths: If you enjoy soaking in a bath, a walk-in shower won’t satisfy this preference.
• Potential for Water Splashes: Without careful design, water can splash out of walk-in showers, creating a slip hazard.
• Resale Considerations: Some buyers prefer having at least one bathtub in a home, which could affect resale value.

Learn More: Bathroom Renovation Mistakes to Avoid: Tips for a Flawless Makeover

Walk-in Tubs: Pros and Cons

Walk-in tubs are an ideal solution for homeowners who put safety and comfort first in the design of their bathroom. Walk-in tubs are especially helpful for the elderly or those with limited mobility. They combine the luxury of a traditional bath with advanced features for ease of use and added safety. Some of the pros of walk-in tubs include:

• Safety Features: Walk-in tubs often come with built-in safety features like handrails, non-slip flooring, and low-threshold entry, so they’re a safe option for seniors and those with mobility issues.
• Therapeutic Benefits: Many walk-in tubs offer therapeutic features like hydrotherapy jets, perfect for those with muscle aches or arthritis.
• Ideal for Bath Lovers: If you love a good soak, a walk-in tub provides this experience with added safety and comfort.
• Retain Resale Value: Homes with at least one bathtub tend to retain their resale value, especially in markets where families are common buyers.

Walk-in tubs can come with some potential drawbacks, too. The cons of walk-in tubs can include:

• Space Requirements: Walk-in tubs can take up more space, making them less suitable for smaller bathrooms.
• Longer Fill and Drain Time: It takes time to fill and drain walk-in tubs, which could be inconvenient for some users.
• Temperature Maintenance: During the longer fill time, water can cool down, requiring adjustments to maintain a comfortable temperature.
• Cost: Walk-in tubs can be more expensive than walk-in showers, both in terms of the unit itself and installation costs.

Making the Right Choice

As you choose between a walk-in shower and a walk-in tub, consider your current and future needs, bathroom size, and personal preferences. For example, if you have limited space and prioritize a modern look, a walk-in shower could be the best choice. Conversely, if safety and therapeutic benefits are your main concerns, a walk-in tub may be more suitable.

Learn More: Bringing Your Bathroom Design Vision to Life with Expert Services in Tampa, FL

Trust Your Bathroom Design and Renovation to Revive Design and Renovation

Ready to create the bathroom you’ve always dreamed of? Revive Design and Renovation specializes in custom bathroom design and renovation tailored to your unique needs and preferences. As the go-to contractor in the Tampa and Orlando area, we deliver value-driven solutions and exceptional service with every project, every time.

Whether you’re leaning towards a walk-in shower for its sleek modernity or a walk-in tub for its therapeutic benefits, we’re here to help bring your vision to life. We go the extra mile to create bathrooms that our customers absolutely love. Contact us today at (813) 605-1409 to start your journey towards a rejuvenated bathroom tailored just for you!

What is it like to work with an interior designer?

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At Revive Design and Renovation we take the stress out of designing your kitchen or bathroom by offering design services from our professional interior designers! The best home design doesn’t just happen – it’s the result of a collaborative process involving both the designer and the client. After meeting with your designer she will get to work measuring and sketching layouts, creating mood boards and creating 3D renderings. They handle choosing final selections and purchase of all your materials. Check out this beautiful Master bath designed by Jessica Peña out of what was once an empty study!

Our client started with an empty study that she dreamed of turning into a mater bathroom.

Our designer came up with a plan to rearrange the space.

Based off our client’s goals and tastes the designer made selections.

Next, we made renderings!

Our team of talented contractors got to work!

Now our client has an elegant new bathroom!

HOW TO VET A HOME REMODELING CONTRACTOR

Hiring a contractor can be a stressful process if you do not know what to look for. Everyone has heard horror stories of contractors doing terrible work, walking off the job before finishing, taking forever to finish, and even stealing money and walking away without doing any work. All of these things actually are VERY common and they happen on a daily basis. 

This is why it is so important to thoroughly vet a contractor before you hire them. Before entering into a contract and trusting a contractor to remodel your home, you should do your proper due diligence. Most people do not take the time to do this, and that is why they get burned. 

An even worse scenario is that far too often homeowners know they are hiring unprofessional individuals to try to “get the job done cheaper” and it ends up coming back to bite them in the butt. It will actually cost someone WAY MORE money going this “cheaper” route…not to mention the severe headaches and time wasted that come with it. This article could also be properly titled, “Why to Usually NOT Go With the Lowest Bid.” 

I’ve seen it dozens of times, and I’ve lived it myself one too many times. After personally remodeling hundreds of homes for clients and some of the largest private equity firms in the country, I have built a clear-cut guide that works on how to vet a professional and trustworthy contractor. I’ve vetted literally thousands of contractors over the past seven years. Save yourself the hassle — really digest this article, and hire right the first time. 

HOW TO VET A HOME REMODELING CONTRACTOR:

1. Is the contractor a certified licensed contractor within your state? 

Verify that their license is active and they are legally allowed to do the type of work you are looking for. Note: there are different levels of licensure. For example, a handyman license does permit a full home remodel in Florida (or most other states.) The level of difficulty to get licenses differs by state. In Florida, it is very difficult to get a Certified Building Contractors License. However, in New Jersey, almost anyone can get a license. 

2. Does the contractor have General Liability Insurance? 

Verify the contractor has active insurances and and that their coverage amounts are sufficient. If not, the liability of the project is on you. Under no circumstances should you take on the financial and legal risks of injury, accidents and/or property damage for your home remodel. 

3. Does the contractor have the expertise and necessary experience to perform the exact type of job you want performed? 

This sounds obvious, but make sure your contractor is a proven expert at the work being performed. Do not try to make a handyman perform a beautiful kitchen or bath gut remodel. Just as you would not hire Jameis Winston to do Tom Brady’s job (no disrespect to Mr. Winston.) Check the contractor’s track record. A good place to start would be reading their clients’ reviews on Google and Facebook. Additionally, be sure to review their project gallery for examples of their recent work similar to your project. 

4. What is the company’s size, capacity, and stability? 

Make sure you are working with an established company that has multiple crews, works in your area often, and is showing no signs of financial distress. It is far too common for a contractor to underbid a job to win it, then jump from job to job as he gets new opportunities. These contractors often will leave one job to go work on another that is paying them more. Make sure your contractor has the manpower, project management expertise and financial stability to perform the remodel in a timely manner so that your project will not get unnecessarily delayed. 

5. Does the company guarantee their work? Are they bonded? 

Make sure the contractor will stand behind their work and is financially stable. It’s common for smaller contractors to not be able to cover additional expenses even if those expenses are a result of their own mistakes. That means more money out of your pocket to fix the issues. One great way to mitigate this risk is to hire a bonded contractor. Bonds serve as a great security blanket for homeowners. The bond offers protection that if the contractor fails to complete the remodel satisfactorily, the homeowner will be made whole by the bond company. 

6. Can this contractor help me with design? What about an architect? 

Your contractor should have an in-house team of professionals or third-party professionals they work with often to ensure your hard-earned cash is put to work correctly. Do not overlook the importance of good design in making your project really come to life. Be sure to work with competent professionals, preferably those with a college degree and real-life work experience in their profession.

7. If you get more than one bid, are they “apples to apples?” When comparing bids, make sure each contractor is bidding the same scope of work. Rarely does this happen. Some contractors give an all-in-one price, but many will give you a low price and then come back with many change orders to make up for that first low bid. When considering bids, it’s important to consider and ask whether the bid includes:

• All labor 
• Cost of materials 
• Purchasing and transporting of materials 
• Design consulting 
• Construction consulting 
• Project management 
• Price of permits 
• Management of inspections 
• Management of permits 
• And all management of jobs from A to Z 

8. Does this contractor offer financing? 

This one is not a must for all people, but it is certainly a bonus if your contractor can offer you great financing options to make the project more affordable and/or offer you favorable payment terms. 

9. What are the payment terms? 

Be especially wary of contractors who want large sums of money or large percentages of the total payment up front. Deposits and down payments are an industry standard. However, if they are demanding large amounts of money before any work is being done, this could be a sign of financial distress or ill will. It is a best practice to divide the payments into a draw schedule that includes draws at: signing of the construction/design agreement, material purchasing, job start, a major construction progress point such as cabinets/ tile installation, and at completion of the project. 

10. Do they have a detailed and professional contract? 

Make sure that everything discussed is clearly in writing and signed by both parties. The contract should at minimum include a detailed scope of work, payment terms, and a basic overview of how the two parties will work with one another. Want to change something? Great, put it in the contract! It’s too easy to get in disagreements over “who said what and when.” Use a change order addendum that ties back to the original contract for changes after the original contract is signed.

Kitchen Remodeling Cost Report 2022 – Tampa Bay Metro

Kitchen Remodeling Cost Report 2022 – Tampa Bay Metro

 

Homeowners who want to remodel a kitchen or bathroom have several factors to consider before undertaking a remodel. How much the home improvement project costs is often one of the leading determining factors in whether or not homeowners decide to remodel or not. 

 

The cost to remodel a kitchen has continued to rise due to steady price increases in materials and labor. The rising cost of remodeling is primarily driven by a consistently high demand from consumers for the past several years as well as high inflationary pressures affecting the entire country. 

 

The Remodeling Magazine publishes an annual report titled the Cost vs. Value Report detailing the average costs of various home improvement projects. This report subdivides the data into regions of the country and furthermore into metropolitan areas throughout the states for more accurate cost comparisons. 

 

This article will dissect the average cost to remodel kitchens and bathrooms in the Tampa Bay Metro as this where Revive Design and Renovation performs their design and build remodeling services. According to this report, the Tampa Bay Metro is between 6-11% more economical than the national cost averages for kitchen and bathroom design and renovation depending on the project. 

 

MID-RANGE KITCHEN DESIGN AND RENOVATION

According to the 2022 Cost vs. Value Report, the Tampa Bay Metro average for a major kitchen design and renovation with midrange finishes costs $75,227. The national average for the same type of work costs $80,809. This kitchen design and renovation includes the existing cabinets with 30 linear feet of semi-custom wood cabinets including a 3×5 foot island. In addition, this remodel includes laminate countertops, standard appliances and midrange finishes of sinks, faucets, flooring and lighting as well as painting. 

 

It is worthwhile to note that out of the hundreds of remodels Revive Design and Renovation has performed over the last 12 months, we have not had even one client choose laminate countertops as they are significantly less quality than their more popular quartz and granite countertop material alternatives. Of course quartz and granite countertops are more expensive, but given the quality difference it is certainly worth investing the extra dollars into better materials. The functionality, quality and design will pay dividends throughout the lifetime of the countertops. Revive Design and Renovation is able to utilize our extensive network of countertop suppliers to find economical countertop solutions that our clients love without breaking their budgets.

UPSCALE KITCHEN DESIGN AND RENOVATION

According to the report, the Tampa Bay Metro average for a major kitchen design and renovation with upscale finishes costs $148,336. The national average for the same type of work costs $158,015. This kitchen design and renovation includes the existing cabinets with 30 linear feet of top-of-the-line wood cabinets and stone countertops. In addition, these upscale kitchens include: backsplash, higher end appliances, an upscale sink and faucet, tile or upgraded flooring, as well as an upgraded lighting package. 

 

KEY COST CONSIDERATIONS – KITCHEN DESIGN AND RENOVATION

Other common cost considerations that may effect the cost of a project include:

• Are you moving or removing any walls? If yes, is the wall load-bearing?
• Are you moving a significant amount of plumbing or electrical?
• Is your current plumbing and electrical up to current building codes?
• How many cabinets are you installing? What quality of cabinets are you installing?
• How much stone/countertops are you installing? What is the quality or rarity?
• Do you need permits for the work? Is the work being performed in a condominium?
• Do you want or need professional design help?

 

CAN I FINANCE MY REMODEL?

Many homeowners prefer to finance all or part of their home improvement projects. Revive Design and Renovation helps our clients make their remodeling project afforadable as we are a preferred vendor for the top home improvement financing companies in the country. In just a few minutes, our team can get our clients with approved credit financed to make their dream kitchen or bathroom design and renovation a reality.

 

BEST REMODELING COMPANY IN TAMPA BAY

Revive Design and Renovation is an award-winning design and build firm servicing the Tampa and Orlando area. Our firm, which was voted the Best Home Remodeler in Tampa Bay in 2021 and 2022, takes a client-centric approach to every project to ensure a 5 star project every time. Revive provides a concierge-type remodeling service allowing our customers to enjoy a stress- remodel and receive the kitchen and bathroom of their dreams.  The remodel process starts with a in-home complimentary consultation to devise a project plan and give you a detailed pricing breakdown. 

 

If you are interested in learning more about how Revive Design and Renovation may be of service to you, please give us a call at 813-680-4103 or visit our website ReviveKitchenAndBath.com to schedule your in-home complimentary consultation now!

Citation:

©2022 Zonda Media, a Delaware corporation. Complete data from the 2022 Cost vs. Value Report can be downloaded at www.costvsvalue.com.”

Standard Progress of Construction Bath Remodel

Bathroom Design and Renovation Construction Progress

Revive Design and Renovation assigns an expert project manager to each remodel site to ensure your project runs as efficiently and smoothly as possible. Our clients are updated daily on the progress of work so they can maintain a stress-, hands-off approach throughout the project. Our quality control processes and professional project management ensures that our clients receive five star quality craftsmanship and a superior customer service experience!

Standard Progress of Construction Bath Remodel

Step 1: Demolition.

Our team will  typically demo the entire project in two days. We provide trailers and haul away all materials. We do not leave dumpsters on site, but instead haul away and dispose of all waste.

Step 2: MEP rough-in (mechanical, electrical and plumbing).

During this time our team is moving all the plumbing and electrical needed. The timelines for this process vary greatly depending on the scope of work and whether or not the job is permitted and we need inspections.

Step 3: Tile Installation.

This is oftentimes the longest and most labor intensive part of a bathroom remodel. The timelines for this process vary greatly depending on the scope of work. Specialty patterns such as a herringbone design may lengthen the time needed to complete installation.

Step 4 (if applicable): Semi-custom cabinetry is to be installed

Vanity cabinetry installation typically takes 2-3 days depending on the size. Followed by: Countertop installation. It usually takes 10-14 days for the countertop fabricators to measure the countertop template and install the countertops. There will not be much other work going on during this time besides waiting for the countertops as they are necessary to complete much of the remaining work. 

Step 5: Trim out 

Paint, drop-in vanity installation, plumbing and electrical fixture installation, bath accessories, etc.

Step 6: Punch List. We create a final punch list with the client and complete 100% of the scope of work to leave you with a beautiful new space! 

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