Little Luxurious Add Ons

There are a few items that really can make your tile installation go from okay to wow! Each of these products has a varying degree of cost and additional time involved however we feel in the right application they are worth it.

Curbless Showers/Barrier-Free Showers

Curbless and barrier-free showers are a great way to give your bathroom a Spa-like look with the added benefit of helping you create a space that allows you to age in place or create a shower where a wheelchair or walker can be rolled into the shower.

The process of creating this type of shower has been simplified greatly by new products that have been brought to market by Wedi and Schluter.

Barrier Free Shower

Heated Floors

There are are few things that turn up the luxury factor then heated tile floors. When your feet are warm, you feel warm. That is why more and more customers are using heated flooring throughout there homes.

Typically we are installing an electric style of in-floor heating. This involves electric heating cables installed between the subfloor and the finished flooring. This wire is then connected to power through a thermostat that regulates the temperature according to your inputs or schedule. The wires then heat the floor and then that heat radiates throughout the room. The products we typically use here are Ditra Heat from Schluter or Nu-Heat. Both manufacturers have a great variety with 120v and 240v systems so that we can meet any requirements that the job may require.

Another option besides electric is water or hydronic heating. This type of system is best for a whole home or similar large area and can be installed in a retrofit solution with products such as Warmboard-R from Warmboard.

Shower Niche’s

In almost every tiled shower we build these days we install a tiled niche. This option allows for a space for shampoo and soap to be tucked away and somewhat hidden. This avoids a gunky shelf or a corner caddy that rusts away.

Most often these are installed in the space between walls however they can also be custom made to take any shape or size desired.

Aria Flush mount Heat Vent

Flush Mount Heat Vents

This a relatively new option when it comes to tile. Similar to flush mount Hardwood flooring heat vents, one company Aria makes both a retrofit option and a flush mount option that allows heat vents to blend in with their surroundings. This has been possible with other products or processes in the past however, the cost has been prohibitive. Aria has created an inexpensive option that is friendly to most budgets.

Moisture problems in bathrooms

We get asked to look at moldy bathroom tile and failing tub surrounds quite often. While we can make the tile waterproof and make it function like it should, what we find is that most people seldom use the fan that is in their bathroom. Or if they do use it, it is only used for the another purpose. To the point that HVAC installers have started calling bathroom exhaust fans a “fart fan”.

Yes, these fans do remove smells and odours. But the main purpose for these fans being installed in bathrooms is to remove the warm moist air that is in bathrooms while they are being used. Whether it is from having a bath or shower, or just brushing your teeth. That humid air needs to be removed to stop mold and mildew from developing and causing damage to your home or business. It is important to note that this air needs to be removed from the building, not just the room. Often times when we are completing bathroom renovations we find exhaust fans that are vented into attics or even down and into other wall cavities. This can cause a lot of damage in your home, by allowing moisture to build-up in areas where it shouldn’t.

Often times we see homeowners not using the fans properly because they are either loud or are not installed correctly.  Both of these problems can be easily fixed:

Sound: By installing a fan that is under 1.5 sones a fan is much more likely to be used.

Installation: A bathroom fan should be ran for 20 minutes after a bath or shower has been had in the room.  This means that a fan should never be installed on the same switch as a the light above a shower for instance because most people will shut the light off when they leave the room. We recommend using a timed switch that allows for 15 minutes of operation after you leave the room. That way you can set the timer and forget about it. Along with the timer, running the ducting properly so that the air is removed from the building is important. As well as making sure this ducting  is insulated to protect from condensation in unconditioned spaces.

Your bathroom exhaust fan is an important part of keeping moisture managed in your home to prevent mold.  Along with the waterproofing around your shower and on your bathroom floor you also need to control the moisture that is in the air.  With a high quality bathroom fan and proper installation you can ensure your bathroom and its finishing last a long time.

Check out this article from CMHC for more information on preventing moisture problems in bathrooms: https://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/co/grho/moaiprre/moaiprre_009.cfm