Page 432 - 2018 National Home Improvement

2018 National Home Improvement Estimator, All Rights Reserved Page 345

Chapter 13, Bathrooms

There are two types of bathroom jobs. The first simply makes better use of the available space. The
second is adding space, either by enlarging an existing bathroom or by adding an entirely new
bathroom. Both types will be expensive when calculated on the basis of cost per square foot of floor.
But real estate professionals agree that money invested in bathrooms is generally money wisely spent.
A home with three or four bedrooms and only one and a half bathrooms has a major defect worth fixing.
That’s especially true when the home is in a neighborhood where most homes have two or more
bathrooms.

Counting and Naming Bathrooms
Here’s an explanation of what determines a bath type, if you’re not familiar with bathroom naming
conventions.
Full bath – Three or more fixtures including at least one lavatory, toilet and bathtub. Expect to see a
showerhead over the tub.
Three-quarter bath – Three fixtures including a lavatory, toilet and stall shower (but no tub).
Half bath – Two fixtures, a lavatory and toilet.
Powder room – A two-fixture bathroom located near the front entrance.
Mud room – Same as a powder room but located by a back door or laundry.

Notes: When adding up the bathrooms in a house, round three-quarter baths up to a full bath if there are
other partial bathrooms. You’re sure to confuse someone if you claim a house has two and a quarter
baths (full bath, three-quarter bath and half-bath). Instead, call it two and a half baths. Likewise, ignore
the benefit of a second lavatory or a bidet in a bathroom. Those fixtures get no extra credit when it
comes to what counts in a bathroom.

Adding a Bathroom
Older homes seldom have enough bathrooms. But the bathrooms in those homes are often much larger
than the modern 5' by 7' standard for a three-fixture bath (toilet, lavatory and tub). With a large
bathroom, remodeling options will be obvious: extra storage cabinets, a double-bowl vanity, more
mirrors, a lighted dressing table, separate tub and shower units, or even a bathroom divided into
compartments. If an entirely new bathroom is needed, the most obvious issue will be where to find the
space. Keep in mind that a bathroom addition outside the existing perimeter wall is seldom a good
choice of location.

Generally, bedrooms and bathrooms go together. Access to any new bathroom should be directly off
either a bedroom or a central hall connecting bedrooms. Avoid any floor plan that requires walking
through another room to get to the new bathroom. An exception would be if the new bathroom is a
two-fixture half-bath (powder room) designed to serve a relaxation area. A good bathroom plan
minimizes plumbing and electrical runs and locates plumbing fixtures on one wall. This arrangement
allows the fixtures to share a common waste line and roof vent.