The post Thermostatic Valve vs. Pressure Valanced Valve Options appeared first on Handy Man Home Remodeling Center.

According to the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), almost 90 percent of seniors want to stay in their own homes as they age. To do so, modifications such as non-slip floor surfaces, wider doorways and bathroom aides must be considered. To meet the demand for universal design in the bath, Innovate Building Solutions’ “wet room” eliminates barriers, yet incorporates stylish design elements.
Wet rooms have been popular in Europe and Asia because of tight square footage, and the one-level design makes them an ideal solution for seniors. When comparing wet rooms to traditional bathrooms, significant differences include:

• In a wet room, the entire bathroom acts as the enclosure instead of an enclosed showering space, although a separate enclosure can be included if desired by the homeowner.

• The tile walls and floor of a wet room allow for more shower space.

• Lack of barriers makes it easy for wheelchair-bound homeowners to roll into the shower.

• A wet room is easier to clean.

• Wet rooms can be created in very small bathroom spaces (even smaller than 5 ft. x 7 ft.).

• Wet rooms can offer a spa-like experience, including extra features such as heated tile floors.

One factor to consider when renovating a home with a wet room is that a portion of the walls and the entire floor must be waterproofed.

The post What are Wet Rooms? (and Why They Offer Stylish Options for Senior Citizens) appeared first on Handy Man Home Remodeling Center.

Visit the Handy Man showroom and we will walk you through the process of creating a shower unique to your space. We will show you the different shower seats, floor styles, shelving units and wall textures that can be incorporated into your custom shower.  Don’t forget the 60+ different colors you can choose from to create a beautiful custom shower for your home.

We stand behind our custom Onyx Shower products.  They are guaranteed for life.

The Onyx Custom Shower Collection gives you a choice of over 60 colors and 75 standard base sizes so you can create a shower that fits your needs perfectly. For a distinctive look, several different trim options are available, as well as contrasting stripes and borders and even graphic inlays to enhance the beauty and uniqueness of your shower.

The Onyx Custom Shower Collection also provides a wide range of accessories including soap dishes, shampoo caddies, towel bars, shower seats and even foot shelves, displayed on the accessories page.

When planning your shower, it is important to order all the different components, trim and accessories at the same time, to assure proper fit and color match.  Customers who have ordered these one of a kind showers have been very pleased with their choices.  Come in to Handy Man today to create your own!!

— View more examples of Onyx Showers or design your own with the Onyx Shower Designer! —  

The post Custom Showers appeared first on Handy Man Home Remodeling Center.

The sink is an important feature in a wet bar. After all, it wouldn’t be a wet bar without one! It needs to complement the style of the bar and its accessories.

Bar sinks (or kitchen prep sinks) are generally smaller than the kitchen sinks, but just because they’re smaller doesn’t have to mean they have to be boring! In fact, when you are designing your bar, it is best if your sink has some personality! If you are looking for a traditional bar feel, choose a sleek stainless steel sink, which is generally the least expensive option and easy to clean. For a more colorful option, consider our extremely durable Blanco Silgranit® sinks. They come in many styles, shapes, and sizes so there’s an option for every bar. If you want something even more unique, our helpful staff can help you with a special order from one of our vendors. Find one made of hammered copper or get stylish with a small farm sink. We always say that a sink is a “bow-tie” of your kitchen (or bar) – meaning that it is the center of attention in the room. It’s where dishes are washed, hands are scrubbed, and glasses are filled. Get as wild and crazy with the sink as you will at the fabulous parties you’ll have at your bar!

While you’re at it, check out our post about choosing your bar faucet!

The post Different Types of Sinks: Bar Sinks appeared first on Handy Man Home Remodeling Center.

For your tub and shower faucet, you will have the option of choosing the spout style, finish style, panel style and handle style.  If you prefer a sleek and polished style, stainless steel can be a durable and practical solution.  Chrome and brushed nickel are very popular finishes and seem to be “trend free.”  You must also decide whether you prefer a traditional style or a more updated contemporary look.

Many of the new bathroom tub and shower faucets feature various safety measures.  You may wish to purchase a tub and shower faucet that utilizes a device to maintain an optimal setting.  One lever may adjust the water pressure while the other lever sets the temperature.  This type of faucet is more elaborate but can be a good investment and safety feature, especially if you have children.

At Handy Man, we carry many styles and finishes to choose from.  We often display our “families” together – where you can see the lavatory faucet right next to the design of the tub and shower faucet.  We pride ourselves in not only on our faucet selection, but also the various price ranges.  We have faucets for any budget and a knowledgeable staff that can “walk you through it”!

The post Bath & Shower Faucet Styles appeared first on Handy Man Home Remodeling Center.

Refreshing your bar faucet can really liven up your entertaining space.  The bowl of a bar sink is much smaller than the standard kitchen sink, because of this the faucet needs to be higher to allow access to the bowl.  Typically, bar sink faucets have a spout height from 8-13 inches.  A faucet that is too high for the depth of the sink will result in splashing when the water is turned on.  Likewise, a faucet that extends too far over the drain, or behind the drain will result in splashing and possible interference when the sink is used.  Some bar sinks are drilled for faucets with a distance of either 4″ (center-set) or 8″ (widespread) between the hot and cold faucet handles.  Some are offered with centered single-hole drillings to accommodate single-hole faucets.  Others do not have faucet drillings and the faucet is mounted directly onto the countertop.  Before purchasing a faucet, make sure it is compatible with the bar sink you already have at home.

Handy Man has a wide assortment of bar and entertainment faucets.  We have faucets that can match your current kitchen faucet or show off your style with a new faucet is one of a kind. Come on in… “We’ll walk you through it!”

The post How to Choose a Bar Faucet appeared first on Handy Man Home Remodeling Center.

The most elegant form of bathroom sink today is the vessel. Vessel sinks rise above the counter to create a focal point. Reminiscent of china washbasins with finished inside and outside walls; vessels are made from spun glass, lead crystal, glass, metal, rock, bronze, china, fireclay, earthenware, cast iron and stainless steel. They can be traditional or contemporary in design.

Vessels may be installed to rest above the counter top or with a wall-mount bracket. Some glass and cast iron vessels can be installed in a self-rimming application, or under-the-counter. If you want a vessel type lavatory, you must make this decision before construction begins, because the wall-mounted faucet pipes must be roughed in before the drywall is installed.

Some above counter vessel sinks come with holes for faucet mounting. Other vessels require tall counter installed faucets or wall mount faucets that will clear the vessel.

At Handy Man we carry a wide variety of one of a kind vessels to meet anybody’s needs.  If you cannot find one on our showroom floor to take home, browse through our various manufacturers and let us help you special order one for you. “We’ll walk you through it… we do it every day!” 

The post One-of-a-Kind Vessel Sinks appeared first on Handy Man Home Remodeling Center.