AW
Hobor & Sons has more than
55 years of experience providing a variety of
home improvement services
AW
Hobor & Sons can help you Design that new Bathroom that you have always
wanted. From start to finish, we have the builders, tilers, access to fixtures.
Maybe you want to go
all out with a Jacuzzi, Shower Stall and a separate Bath. Or would you want
the Bathroom setup for 2, with indiviual sinks and mirrors. Whatever you vision
might be, AW Hobor is here to design and build you that new Bathroom. Give
Us a call at 732-247-3827
AW Hobor & Sons ..... Remodeling
Specialists
Here's some Design Ideas .....
Tub
and Shower Surrounds
• Prefabricated
surrounds. Various manufacturers offer prefab surrounds made of fiberglass,
acrylic, vinyl, plastic laminate, or synthetic stone. When
remodeling, avoid buying a one-piece surround (typically
made of molded fiberglass) unless you
choose a unit that can be transported into the bathroom through
available openings. Multipiece surround kits, which can be assembled inside
the bathroom, are a
better option for existing homes.
• Solid-surface materials. Nothing beats this smooth acrylic surface
for ease in cleaning, and the material lasts a lifetime. Solid-surface
tub and
shower
kits offer easy installation. These kits generally consist
of precut panels and curved corner moldings. They are designed to go with standard
fixtures;
nonstandard installations require professional help.
• Ceramic tile is waterproof, durable, and easy to maintain. One drawback:
The grout can mildew, making it difficult to clean. Small
mosaic tiles (which measure
about 1 inch square) come bonded to sheets of 1x1-foot or
1x2-foot fiber mesh. These sheets go up faster than loose tiles, because you
don't have to set each
piece individually. Pregrouted sheets of 4-inch-square tiles have flexible
synthetic grouting. You stick the sheets to the substrate surface first, then
apply a thin bead of caulk around the edges.
• Fiberglass is waterproof, durable, and simple to clean. Many companies
manufacture three- and five-piece shower/tub surround
units
in various sizes.
Installing
these units isn't difficult if your walls are straight and
plumb and have been properly prepared. Most kits consist of two molded end
panels and one or more
center panels.
Bathroom
Flooring
When
choosing the material for the floor of your bathroom, avoid anything that becomes
slippery when wet. Keep an eye on costs: Finish materials demand a major portion
of the budget of a bathroom remodeling project.
• Vinyl flooring is easy to maintain and will last at least 20 years.
• Marble on the floor is also easy to maintain and will last a lifetime.
• Tile,
if installed properly, will also last a lifetime and is easy to clean.
• Laminate flooring will last at least a decade and requires only a
bit more maintenance than vinyl.
• Hardwood (oak or pine) floors are beautiful, warm underfoot, and
will last a lifetime in any room, including the bath. But
wood isn't a good choice
for a high-humidity bathroom unless you're willing to commit
to regular upkeep and occasional repairs or replacement of certain areas.
• Carpet lasts 11 years or so and is warm to the touch, but moisture
and carpeting aren't a great combination. Also, carpet
requires a lot of upkeep to maintain
its looks and nap in a high-traffic area such
as a bathroom. Washable throw rugs (with nonskid backing) are a better solution.
Counter
Tops
• Plastic
laminate is the most widely used bathroom counter material. It's available
in many colors, patterns, and textures. On the
downside, laminate can burn, wear thin, and dull over time. Hard blows can
chip or dent it, and
there's
no remedy short of replacement.
• Ceramic tile is available in many colors, designs, and finishes. Grout
lines that trap dirt and attract mildew can be troublesome,
but new grouts
and
sealers
help alleviate these problems. Getting professional
results with tile is a challenge for do-it-yourselfers.
• Solid-surface countertops offer many of the advantages of stone
with few of the drawbacks. Cast from acrylic
resin, this surface requires little
maintenance
and is extremely durable. Solid-surface material is available
in white, beige, pastels, and imitation stone.
• Marble and granite are unrivalled for their beauty, but marble stains
easily and granite can be stained by greasy products, such
as makeup.
Cultured marble consists of chips of natural marble embedded
in plastic. It's easy to clean but must be well cared for.
Once scratched, it cannot be resurfaced.
• Wood is an attractive, versatile, and easy-to-install surface. It is
also extremely vulnerable to water damage, and its porosity
makes it hard to keep clean. All
wood must be well sealed with polyurethane or marine varnish
for bathroom use. Special care should be taken to seal around the edges of
plumbing fixtures
so standing water can't seep in and cause wood rot.
Bathroom
Cabinets
Laminates
are made of three resin-saturated layers: a base layer of paper, a printed
and colored layer, and a protective transparent layer. Heat and pressure fuse
a laminate to a substrate, which may be particleboard, medium-density fiberboard,
or plywood. The weight of the substrate makes laminate cabinets heavier than
those made of wood.
Laminate is used to cover exterior cabinetry surfaces,
the fronts and backs of doors, and some interior surfaces. High-pressure laminates
are difficult
to damage, giving vertical surfaces the same durability as countertops. Low-pressure
laminates, also called melamine, are less impact-resistant than high-pressure
laminates and have a tendency to crack and chip. The use of better substrates
reduces these problems. Some laminates mimic the look of wood.
Solid wood warps easily as its moisture content changes. That's why it's
not the best choice for a bathroom unless you've got really good ventilation.
If you must have it, the wood should be finished on all sides before it leaves
the factory, or finished on site as soon as possible. Paint or stain are
both options for finishing wood cabinets.
Veneered cabinets have a thin layer of wood applied over a substrate. They
are more stable than solid lumber in high-humidity areas.
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