Welcome to Issue 1 of the GO Projects Newsletter.
Having been a contractor for 25+ years (although only 4+ as a GC), I’ve come across so many ways I think I can help our past and future clients with their projects. Whether they are simply thinking about one, actively designing one or actually doing one. We have some good content to share with you. Interesting stories, client profiles, projects, tips, photos, product recommendations, design ideas and trends will be featured in this and future newsletters.
Hope you take something away from this first one where I discuss the beauty of freestanding tubs and their close cousin the tub filler.
Freestanding Tubs- Simple Elegance
We renovate a lot of bathrooms. Some are very simple cosmetic upgrades, some are complete guts including moving positions of the tub, shower, toilet and vanity. In a larger space, say over 90 sq ft, one of the most commons "asks" we receive is can we put in a freestanding bathtub. The simple answer, in most cases, is yes.
The big advantage to these tubs is one of aesthetics. They just look great. Unlike alcove tubs, they all have finished surfaces around the entire circumference. They also come in a much wider variety of shapes and sizes because they don’t have to fit in a standard 60” space that most alcove tubs are designed to fit into. In terms of materials, you’ll see mainly acrylic and cast iron in most shops but you’ll also see stone resins, bamboo or wood tubs. Very cool. Add to the fact you can install a floor mounted tub filler (or a ceiling filler ahhhhh!) and your bathroom is suddenly oozing in style.
Disadvantages- Two obvious ones come to mind. If you splash about too much (or you kids do) you may end up with a bit more water on the floor than you are used to. Its also means a few more square feet to worry about having to clean as you now have the area around and behind the tub to clean.
Number 2 is Cost- you’re going to pay a fair bit more than a standard tub. Freestanding tubs can be found as cheap as $700 an go wayyyy up to $7000+. Plumbing will also cost more as its likely the drain will need to be relocated as will the supply lines.
Small bathroom? While you might think fitting a freestanding tub into a 5 ft wide bathroom would be impossible, there are options that are less than 60” long, some as short as 49”. They can actually work well in tight quarters though it can limit the "stretchiness” factor with a tub that short. There is additional cost to re-route plumbing supply and drains but the end result is well worth it.
If you like a larger tub and want a luxurious soak, the babies do come in 75”+ lengths and depths, well, let’s say you may need a lifeguard on duty.
Tub Fillers - Beautiful and so, so Cool.
Tub fillers are not new, but like freestanding bathtubs, we are asked to install in bathrooms more often than not now. For good reason. They are one of the coolest features you can put in a bathroom. Available in an endless variety of styles and finishes, a tub filler can be installed at any position around the tub. This is a huge bonus when it comes to laying out the design of your new bathroom.
Not the easiest fixture to install, the roughed in position must be carefully thought out and calculated so that the water hits the tub about halfway to 2/3 up from the bottom, otherwise excessive splashing can occur.
Price wise…yes ,you will need to spend a few more bucks compared to a regular tub spout.
Dare to Dream Irwin, Dare to Dream
Sometimes people think about doing a reno for a long, long….very long time. Some people look at one magazine and think, I want THAT! Most of the time, decisions about timing , design and finishes are found somewhere in the middle of these two extremes.
Whichever way you do it, their is always a bit of “dreaming” involved. The reason for this dreaming??? ….well, you’re spending a fair chunk of change on a bathroom and you want it to be your own. The kitchen and bathroom are the two main rooms that can really allow you to show of some of your own taste, style and desire for function. The bathroom shown below is a project we completed last summer for a client who did a fair bit of dreaming.
From This…………….
To this amazing master bathroom……
This is a beauty of a design. The Jacobs of Steveston,BC took the plunge and completely dreamed up their master bathroom. We constructed a bulkhead around the perimeter as an architectural feature and to place lighting. Highlights are a custom shower with 10mm frameless shower glass, full height tile walls, double sink quartz vanity and the feature....a gorgeous freestanding tub with chrome tub filler and a handy quartz ledge to hold candles and maybe a glass of wine?