When it comes to bathroom renovation, material selection and accessibility may make a major impact.
Keeping safety in mind while upgrading may make places like restrooms usable for longer, even as inhabitants age, in the midst of “aging in place” trends.
“My 65-plus customers are wanting to downsize from much bigger houses and/or homes with stairs to single-level homes with wide doorways and readily accessible baths,” Century 21 Realtor Associate Edna Kimble said in October. “The purchasers want to make one last transfer and not have to abandon their properties in the future because they are not wheelchair-accessible.”
In her Daily Press editorial on home safety, Heather Winn, a Cherokee County Oklahoma State University Family and Consumer Science educator, advised putting grab bars in high-risk places where a slip or fall is more likely.
“Even a small amount of water on a tile or linoleum bathroom floor can be hazardous,” Winn warns. “With soapy water, bathtubs and showers may also get slippery. Consider utilizing a shower seat if there is adequate space. When combined with a hand-held shower head, this provides additional bathing stability.”
Bathroom floors and walls may be covered with everything from tile to linoleum, but some outperform others in the long term, according to experts.
“Ceramic tile is extremely chilly and rough to the touch. “It’s the most expensive and lasts the longest of all the [flooring kinds],” said Keith Guyette, a Green County Floor Covering floor installer. “Vinyl is great since it is one solid piece.”
Guyette believes that all of these solutions are appropriate for any bathroom, although she advises against one popular option.
“A lot of people adore carpet, which is a major no-no,” he explained. “It becomes damp and begins to mold.”
According to Christian Cruz, manager of Tahlequah Lumber Co., vinyl flooring has gone a long way.
“It used to be built of particle [board] beneath, so it swelled when it got wet,” Cruz explained.
He claims that new vinyl planks are now entirely watertight once placed.
“Vinyl has completely replaced rolled linoleum,” he remarked.
Cruz stated that there are other vinyl possibilities available, including snap-together types. Many are designed to seem like wood floors.
“It appears to be a piece of wood. It is simply simple to maintain and waterproof. “We ripped out all of our carpet and placed it in our house,” Sarah Haney, owner of Moore Brothers Floor Covering, said in April.
Cruz has heard of individuals tiling over everything in their bathrooms to create a “wet room.”
“It’s all tile with a central drain,” he explained. “It sounds weird, but from what I’ve seen, it looks fantastic.”
Cruz has seen several individuals turn ancient dressers into bathroom vanities for cost savings and a customized design in other bathroom trends.
“They’ll take off the top two drawers and replace them with a vessel-style sink,” he explained. “It significantly reduces the price.”
from Salem – Salem Local News https://bit.ly/3YomGw3
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