Bathroom remodeling and Bathroom Design Articles

My Bath is in the process of opening a new Kitchen and Bath showroom in SW Florida.  We will be featuring our line of steam showers and walk in bathtubs as well as doing full kitchen and bathroom remodeling.  We are increasing our product line to offer a full range of affordalbe hardwood kitchen cabinets and range hoods.  We will also offer installation and discounted pricing on granite and tile.   My bath will also be adding the full line of kohler, moen and delta products.  We will be specializing in custom bathroom and kitchen design and will help clients from start to finish with:

 
Bathroom Layout
Countertop and Backsplash Selection
Space Planning
Budget Planning
Conceptual and Design Development
Flooring Selection
Hardware and Fixture Selection
Lighting Design
Paint Selection (including faux finishing)
Project Management
Rug Selection
Tile Selection

Introducing the Ariel Platinum line of steam shower sauna combos.  These inovative showers have built in infrared or finish style sauna.  The shower portion is also a fully enclosed steam shower offering the best of both worlds.  These Shower stalls, sauna combos are easy to install and utilize your exhisting water and drainage lines.  The steam showers have a wide variety of features not typically found in a standard shower such as an fm radio, sound system, chromo-therapy lighting and more.  They also have an easy to use computer control panel that allows the user to customize their steam showering experience.  No longer will you have to make a decision between a shower and a sauna with these inovative shower/sauna combos you can have the best of both words.

The WMK A-16 is one of the most luxurious showers offered by My Bath LLC.  Because this steam shower is so large and unique it is only available through special order.  Delivery takes about 21-30 days depending on the area you live in.  This one of a kind steam shower offers a relaxing reclining jetted bench seat.

The WMK A16 steam shower features a teak wood skirt that surrounds the unit giving it a distinctive look.  Its circular shape is also specifically designed with steam building performance in mind.  The unit also has several features not commonly found in a home shower.  The WMK a-16 comes with a built in telephone allowing you to recieve and make calls from the comfort of your bathroom.  They unit also has an integrated sound system with built in FM radio.

For a limited time only My-bath.com is offering this unit for 11,999.99 a saving of over 40% of the MSRP Retail price.

My-bath.com recommends cleaning your steam generator with a solution of (1) liter of warm to hot water, plus (2) tablespoons of citric acid powder.

Thoroughly mix this solution together and pour directly into the “Steam Out” connection of the steam generator. The steam hose will need to be removed from the steam generator to complete this process.

Continue to fill steam generator with warm to hot water until it is full.

Reconnect the steam hose to the steam generator and allow to sit for a period of 8 to 24 hours. If the gasket between the hose and steam generator is damaged, it can be purchased at your local plumbing/hardware store.

Start steam function until the unit starts to create steam, then power down the complete steam computer system from the keypad controller, inside the steam enclosure. This will allow the solution to drain out of the steam generator, along with any water deposits that may have accumulated during normal usage. Allow the steam generator to completely drain its contents with a 5 minute grace period; repeat this step, 2 to 3 times to flush out the steam generator.

This process should be done often or at least after every 25 hours of usage. Hard water or water with high mineral content/deposits may require more frequent servicing. This is why we recommend installing a carbon filter before installing your shower stalls.

The Royal B-602 steam shower is one of my-bath.com’s bestselling steam shower units.  This Shower stall is a great addition to any bathroom remodeling project.  Its neo angle design and sliding glass doors make it a perfect option for small bathroom design.   

The Royal B-602 has a wide list of features including a built in 3000 watt steam generator, FM radio (with optional cd hook-up), ozone sterilization, back and body jets, overhead rainfall shower, hand held shower wand, folding seats, teak shower floor, built in speaker phone, chorma therapy lighting, over head led lighting, self cleaning function, remote control and much more.  This unit is top of the line and reasonably priced at $3190. 

The royal 602 is spacious and comfortable.  The unit quickly heats up to a comfortable operating temperature in 5-7 minutes.  The steam function is fully controllable you can set your time and temperature with the built in LCD control panel.  Aroma therapy oils can also be added to the steam box for added health benefits. 

The installation of this unit takes between 2 ½ to 3 hours.  It utilizes existing water lines and drainage so installation is a breeze.  You can setup and enjoy your shower immediatley.  Below are some video’s of the Royal B-602 Overview

Royal B-602 Functions

Royal B-602 Steam Function

  

Bathroom remodeling is something many people avoid because of the stress and hassle that accompanies it. Trying to find the right vanity, picking out matching tile these are things everyone faces at one time or another. Small bathroom design is even more stressful because home owners have a limited space to work with making it harder to find plumbing fixtures that will fit. Although it can be stressful, with the proper planning and time structure you can make your small bathroom remodeling project quick and easy and you will be satisfied when reaping the benefits of having a new functional bathroom haven.
When planning the design of your small bathroom here are a few things to think about; storage space is one of the biggest problems designers face when it comes to small bathrooms. Recessed medicine cabinets and modern wall hung vanities offer great storage space without taking up valued floor space. Wall hung vanities are also sought after because of their contemporary look and it is also easy to clean underneath them. Conserving floor space is very important when it comes to remodeling small bathrooms. Having an open floor is a more efficient use of space then having a narrow channel to walk down (like the majority of small bathrooms). Neo angle showers are perfect for small bathrooms because they save floor space and typically have sliding doors which don’t suffer from interference from other bathroom fixtures. Corner vanities are also another great addition to the small bathroom for similar reasons as the neo angle shower. They are also rarely seen which gives your bathroom a one of a kind look.
If you have a standard sized bathtub in your small bathroom think about upgrading it to a modular steam shower, the Royal B-611 and Ameristeam P-205 both fit into the same dimensions of a standard sized bathtub with many added features that will transform your small bathroom into a personal spa getaway. The Royal B 611 features a whirlpool bathtub with air and water massage jets, as well as a steam generator, fm radio, chromo therapy lighting and more. Its ozone sterilization feature ensures that your shower is always sterilized after every use. The Ameristeam P-205 is a walk-in shower that also features a steam generator and fm radio. This large walk-in shower stalls comfortable seats two occupants and has programmable acupuncture jets which give an unmatched spa like massage. Both showers are perfect for small bathroom remodeling because they utilize the existing space of 80% of bathroom shower/tub combinations. These units will not only make your bathroom more enjoyable for you and your family but also potentially raise the value and appeal of your home to potential buyers.
When planning your bathroom remodeling project it is important to shop around to find the best deals on your fixtures. Buying them online will save you hundreds if not thousands on the entire bathroom remodel, make sure you leave extra time before you contractors show up incase something arrives broken or is temporarily out of stock. Giving yourself enough time to plan and purchase fixtures and appliances is the biggest key to a stress less bathroom remodeling experience.

The hottest trend in bathroom design is the steam shower. For years many have traveled to local health clubs and gyms to get the benefits from the steam room. Now with affordable prices and large advances in technology many consumers prefer to get their steam fix from the comfort of their own home. Until recently the cost of a home steam room was well over $10,000; however modular shower stalls were introduced to the United States about 3 years ago and ever since they have been gaining greatly in popularity, because they offer a wide variety of features at a fraction of the cost of custom steam rooms.
Home owners aren’t the only ones taking advantage of modular steam showers. There are many hotels and condos that are catching on to them installing them in their luxury suites. Hotel owners are realizing that steam showers are becoming more of a household amenity and their clients prefer rooms with spa like bathrooms.
Modular steam showers are popular for many reasons. The first would be their ease of installation. A typical steam shower installation shouldn’t take any more than three to four hours. They utilize existing water and drainage lines so they can be installed in virtually any application. The second reason they are so popular is the wide selection of units available. You can find virtually every size and style imaginable everything from modern glass units to traditional white acrylic units. Another reason for their popularity is the amount of features VS the price of the unit. If you were to build a custom steam shower with body jets, chromo therapy lighting, sound system, and ozone sterilization it would cost you well over $15,000; these are pretty basic features for a modular steam shower that starts around $2500.
The main problem that consumers face when it comes to buying a steam shower is their home only has one full bathroom. Having a ¾ bathroom as the largest or only bathroom in the home will lower the value of the property. The manufacturers of modular steam showers saw this dilemma. That is why they designed the steam shower, The best feature of modular steam shower is the ease of installation. These easy to install showers utilize existing water and drainage lines which can help save hundreds if not thousands on plumbing bills when designing your new bathroom. They are also free standing so they can be installed on your finished floor. These showers are so easy to install, the majority of homeowners assemble the unit and have a licensed electrician hard wire the unit costing do -it-yourselfers next to nothing.

After purchasing a steam shower you will want to get the most performance and life out of your unit. Cleaning a steam shower is different then cleaning a standard tile or bathroom enclosure. Protecting the acrylic finish and internal components of you unit is import to keeping its beauty and luster.
Our first suggestion is a preventative measure that will not only expand the life of your fixtures and steam, but also eliminate potentially harmful toxins that can become airborne during steam generation. Installing a simple carbon filter before your shower will eliminate mineral build up in the fixtures and generator as well as remove chlorine which can be harmful in gas form.
If you have a glass steam shower using Windex or other ammonia based glass cleaners is best, although you will need to be careful not to get any on the acrylic portion of your unit, this will harm the finish of the acrylic making in more susceptible to staining. The acrylic finish is so smooth that it can be wiped when dry, if this does not work a light detergent mixture is best. You will want to avoid using abrasive scouring pads or green scrubbing sponges. A soft terry cloth or sponge is best.
When cleaning an acrylic unit you want to avoid using harsh cleaning chemicals such as bleach or ammonia based products, these ruin the protective finish on the acrylic making it dull and more susceptible to stains. Using car wax on the out side of the unit such as the front skirt or base is a great way to protect it and keep it looking new.
When is comes to steam generator maintenance there are manufacturer guidelines. If you steam generator becomes clogged from calcium build up a citric acid solution is typically used. Some units have a built in cleaning mechanism that allows the user to clean the shower from inside the steam room. However there are some units that may require you to access the steam generator to pour the cleaning solution directly into it. Although you can virtually eliminate this cleaning if you install the carbon filter before your steam room. Purchasing a steam shower with ozone sterilization will keep mildew or mold from growing in the shower, reducing the amount of necessary cleaning.

A common concern many consumers have when it comes to buying a shower stalls is possible water damage caused by excess steam in the bathroom. Our steam showers actually emit less steam than a standard shower with a shower curtain because the units are completely sealed. All of our steam showers have a built in ventilation fan which you have the option to vent to an outside wall or connect into your bathroom duct using dyer hose. However the ventilation fan is used for temperature control purposes not to vent steam after a steam room session, since our steam shower units are completely sealed 95% of the steam actually condenses down the drain. We highly recommend when installing a steam shower that you also replace your bathroom fan with a more powerful unit especially if you are not venting the exhuast fan.

Before choosing a fan you will need to know the air volume in your bathroom. This is calculated by multiplying the length, width and height of your bathroom to get the total cubic feet of air. When purchasing a fan you will want one that completely replaces the air in the bathroom at least 10 times per hour. Having too much circulation can never be a bad thing to little can be. Another thing you will want to look into when purchasing a bathroom fan is the noise rating. Bathroom fan noise levels are measured in sones. Cheaper models tend to be noisier because they aren’t insulated as well as more expensive models being in the 4-4.5 sone level vs a quiter fan being rated at 2-2.5 sones. Chances are if you buy a noisy fan you will not use it as much as you should.