Going Green with Your Bathroom Remodel

Going green with a bathroom remodel is a major consideration today for many Indiana homeowners.  A green bathroom remodel is good for the environment, but it is also good for you because it will save you money on utility bills for years to come.  It also might qualify for some rebates and tax credits. The main opportunities to make your bathroom remodel environmentally friendly are in water conservation and in use of energy for heating/cooling and lighting.

Here are some tips for green bathroom remodeling:

1. Choose non-toxic building materials. These materials are better for your family and good for the environment.

2.  Choose non-toxic insulation derived from materials like soybean or cotton. These are safer to handle and install, safer for your family, and good for the environment.

3.  Choose tropical hardwoods certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.  These are rapidly renewable and protect the environment.

4.  Wood-based features should come from rapidly renewable sources like cork and bamboo.

5.  Choose VOC free (volatile organic compound) paints and sealants.  These materials are safer to install, safer for your family (especially if there are children in the home) and better for the environment.

6.  Purchase and install low-flow faucets and shower heads to reduce the amount of water used. Install an aerator in all faucets. This is a very significant water conservation step.

7.  Choose and install low-flow or dual-flush toilets.  These toilets can function with as little as half the water used by older toilets.  Dual-flush toilets offer the choice for a lighter flush or a more thorough flush as needed.

8.  Choose energy efficient light fixtures and use compact fluorescent bulbs in all light fixtures.  You will not need to replace light bulbs as often, and you will use only a fraction of the energy for your lighting needs.

9.  Use a window and skylight to provide natural light and natural ventilation.  This will make your remodeled bathroom lighter and brighter and save energy.

10.  If the bathroom is some distance from the hot water heater, consider installing a tankless water heater. If you are installing a whirlpool or soaker tub, install an in-line water heater.  This allows you to re-heat the water in the tub, saving both power and water.

If you want to make your bathroom remodel environmentally friendly and energy-efficient, these ten tips will accomplish a great deal.  Your new bathroom will be safer, more comfortable, and environmentally responsible.

Six Reasons to Remodel a Bathroom

Bathroom remodeling is one of the most popular remodeling projects undertaken by homeowners. Bathrooms are important rooms in any home. Whether you are considering the addition of a bathroom or remodeling or enlarging an existing bathroom there are many good reasons to undertake a bathroom remodel. Here are six of the most common reasons for bathroom remodeling.

1. It is a good investment in the value of a home. The size and adequacy of the bathrooms is often a major consideration in the decision to purchase a home. Outdated or inadequate bathrooms can have a significant effect on the perceived value of a home. In terms of return on your investment in the bathroom remodel when you sell your home, you can expect, in most regions, to recover the majority of your investment.

2.  The bathroom needs repair. All bathrooms show signs of damage, wear and tear, and aging of materials and fixtures over time. The need to make repairs is often a good reason to completely remodel a bathroom. While the repairs are the main focus of the remodel, other features can also be updated.

3.  The color of bathroom fixtures is not to your liking. Fads in decorating colors come and go. Decorating trends change every three to five years. Some of the colors used for bathroom fixtures and design in the past strike us as “ugly” or “date” the bathroom to some period in the past. Whether you dislike the color scheme of your bathroom or you just want a change, a bathroom remodel might provide the fresh appearance you want.

4.  The fixtures need to be updated or upgraded. Styles in fixtures and surrounds change over time. Builders often use less costly fixtures at the time of construction. Someone who owned the home before you might have redecorated the bathroom in a style that doesn’t appeal to you. These are popular reasons to remodel and modernize a bathroom.

5.  More space is needed in the bathroom. Big bathrooms are a definite trend in new home construction today. You might want to enlarge your bathroom to make it more appealing to potential buyers. You might just feel a need for more space. Whether the master bath is too small for two people or the second bathroom is too small for the three teenagers who share it, enlarging a bathroom is a very common reason for remodeling.

6.  The bathroom needs to be safer. Thousands of accidents and injuries happen in bathrooms every year. Whether you are thinking of your children, yourself, your parents, or your future needs, a safety upgrade is often the reason for bathroom remodeling.

If you are evaluating any of these needs or situations, remodeling your bathroom might be the right choice in your home.