Posted by Jason Gettum on Sun, Apr 14, 2013 @ 07:47 AM
Replacement of a tile shower corrects a problem and offers a chance to add luxurious upgrades
Problem:
A bargersville Indiana homeowner calls with a problem with his shower floor. In his words, the shower was "spongy". When weight was placed on the shower floor, bubbles and water came up through the tile floor. For some reason, water had pentrated below the shower floor tile and was trapped in the shower pan liner below.
Existing shower stall pictures:
Shower demo pics
To be sure to solve the problems correctly, the entire shower tile walls and floor were removed. While the shower could have been reconstructed, the blank slate offered a chance to add a few amenities. Namely, the shower floor was equipped with a Nu-Heat shower floor warming system with thermostat. The warming system not only feels nice on the feet, but evaporates water quicker.
Along with a floor warming system, a new glas block window unit was placed high up the exterior shower wall. Within the shower, a large niche and accessory shelves were added to added for maximum storage for shampoo and soap bottles.
Glass block shower window installation pictures
Completed shower pictures
New heavy clear glass swinging shower door with decorative handle
New shower features two shower faucets and accessory shelves
New decorative tile border features natural stone and glass mosaic tiles
New natural stone mosaic tile with dark stone tile accents
In summary, the original shower installation had many faults which could have caused more damage had it been left without correction. The removal and replacement of the shower allowed the homeowner to upgrade and improve upon the overall design and function of the shower. The new installation should provide an enjoyable and leak-free shower for many years to come.
Are you looking to upgrade your shower?
If your considering an upgrade to your master bathroom shower, or have a leaky existing shower, you can request a free, no obligation bathroom remodel consultation from Gettum Associates, an Indianapolis area home remodel contractor located in Greenwood, Indiana. Gettum Associates has provided award-winning design and remodel services throughout central Indiana since 1987. To learn more, click below:
Posted by Jason Gettum on Mon, Apr 01, 2013 @ 11:07 AM
A Remodeler's Guide to Flooring
Whether you're building a brand-new home or remodeling your kitchen for an updated look, new flooring is essential. Do you want a rustic and naturally luxurious hardwood floor that matches an organic interior-design theme? Are you focused on a flooring installation that tolerates the high amounts of traffic and camouflages dirt from your family? With so many extensive flooring options, from sheet vinyl to natural stone tile, selecting the right floor that meets your aesthetic and functional needs can feel overwhelming.
Use the following flooring guide to help you select an attractive, durable floor befitting for your home and lifestyle. Just like your talented and exceptional interior designer with that concept artist degree at Academy of Art who recommended the most beautiful, upscale decor, we'll serve as your knowledgeable and experienced flooring professional who can help you get started on selecting a premier floor.
Hardwood
Hardwood exudes elegance and luxury. A deep, rich cherry hardwood creates a dramatic, organic atmosphere. Choose country maple to lighten a space and reverberate sunshine. If hardwood meets your aesthetic vision, then you'll choose between two constructions:
- Engineered: Consists of hardwood, plywood or HDF and a top layer of hardwood veneer that is glued on the surface, according to BuildDirect.com. Engineered hardwood has maximum stability, versatility and moisture and heat prevention.
- Solid: Solid hardwood is characterized by its thick top wear layer that can be repeatedly sanded and refinished. HoskingHardwood.com also explains that solid hardwood's interlocking tongue and groove milling provides structural strength.
Vinyl
Vinyl floors can mimic the look of hardwood, stone and ceramic tile. Sheet vinyl is the most affordable and is easy to install. Vinyl tile also has a four-layer construction which includes:
- Urethane wear layer: Withstands scratches and scuffs
- Protective clear film: Protects from tears and gouging
- Printed design: Contains colors and patterns
- Structural backing: Provides strength and durability
Laminate
Laminate flooring has come a long way, with convincing grain and textures to mimic wood or stone tiles. It's an affordable and flexible material that can be installed in any space. If you're a young family maintaining a fact-paced household, laminate floors are an excellent choice because:
- They are low maintenance
- There is a wide selection of colors, styles and patterns
- They are resistance to impact, scratching, fading and stains
- There are many trim and molding options
Laminate floors can be installed with a floating technique. The planks aren't glued, nailed or stapled down, rather secured by the tongue-and-groove interlocking system.
Tile
Ceramic, stone and porcelain tile flooring can create an upscale look. Natural stone is a beautiful and versatile flooring material. From a grand foyer to a luxurious-looking kitchen, the following natural stones will provide an beautiful element to your interior space:
- Granite
- Marble
- Travertine
- Limestone
- Onyx
Because of its high durability, smoothness and low maintenance, granite is a premium choice for kitchen floors that experience high traffic and impact. Install marble in formal spaces and hallways for its refined and cultured qualities.
Author Bio:
Peter Hill-Pete is a freelance writer who lives in Virginia.
Posted by Jason Gettum on Fri, Mar 22, 2013 @ 03:25 PM
Tile floor warming for your shower
While interest for bathroom remodeling has always been high, the past few years the requests for such projects have increased noticeably. As an Indianapolis home remodel contractor, Gettum Associates has recognized a trend in creating larger, walk-in type showers. In many cases, homeowners are removing once popular but seldom used, garden or whirlpool tubs and reconfiguring the space to accomodate a more spacious shower.
Larger showers can sometimes seem like an unnecessary luxury, however in many cases they serve a need for many busy families. A larger shower can accommodate more than the standard one shower head and space for one person at a time. In many of the newer walk in tile showers, there is enough space to add a second shower head or faucet. The ability of a shower space to allow more than one person to bathe and get ready in the morning can help with a family where both parents work full-time jobs and have children to get ready in the morning.
Along with greater space for efficiency, larger showers now come equipped with many options. Not only are the design options infinite with special tiles, borders, trims etc, many showers utilize corner shelves, bench seats and niches for convenience. Another convenience that could be conceived as a luxury is that of in-floor, heated shower floor tile. Heated tile floors have been around for a long time, but the idea to install beneath a shower floor is a welcomed trend! Gone are the days of stepping onto a cold shower the first thing in the morning!
There are many manufacturers and brands of heated floor systems and most offer a solution for heated shower floors. One brand that Gettum Associates has experience with is the Nu-Heat, heated floor system. Nu-heat, like other brands, offers a heated shower floor system. Nu-heat utilizes a mesh mat with heated wires that connect to an electrical supply and a thermostat. The thermostats sets the temperature to your liking, eliminating the shockingly cold feeling on your feet when you step into your shower to wake-up/shower in the morning. Not only is the warmth welcome to your body, but it also helps dry up water and moisture on the shower floor when you are done. A win-win for you and your shower!
To find out more about creating a functional, larger shower for your next bathroom remodel consult Gettum Associates, an award-winning Indianapolis area home remodel contractor located in Greenwood, Indiana.
Posted by Jason Gettum on Sat, Jan 21, 2012 @ 12:25 PM
How to clean your tile grout
Question: How do I clean the grout between my tiles? - Jim Kennedy
Answer:
Hi Jim, thanks for the question. And it's a popular one! Here are the steps to take to clean your tile grout, brought to you by the Indianapolis home experts, Gettum Associates Inc.
- Step 1: While cleaning (steps 3 through 5), be sure to wear rubber or latex gloves and safety goggles, and throw open the windows to avoid exposure to the harsh chemical fumes of bleach-containing solutions.
- Step 2: Spray on a commercial grout cleaner or a heavy-duty all-purpose cleaning solution with bleach. Wait for several minutes
- Step 3: Scrub the grout with a stiff scrub brush or a grout brush, then rinse thoroughly.
- Step 4: Blast mold, mildew or stubborn stains with a bleach-containing cleanser, or make your own using 1/4 cup (2 fl oz/60 ml) chlorine bleach and 1 qt. (32 fl oz/1 l) warm water. Let the disinfectant sit at least 10 minutes to thoroughly kill the mold and mildew.
- Step 5: Scrub the grout with a stiff brush or a grout brush, rinse, then dry with a white towel or paper towels.
Do you have questions about how to maintain your Indianapolis area home? If so, you can ask the Indianpolis home experts by clicking below:
