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Avoid Remodeling Sticker Shock

June 27, 2019 By Tom Sweeney Leave a Comment

I’m lucky. I hate to shop, but my spouse loves it. So she buys groceries and I merely carry the bags into the house from her car. The downside is that I’m largely clueless about what food costs. For most people, the same is true with remodeling. They are unaware of what projects cost because they don’t have much recent experience buying them. That also may explain why remodeling sticker shock is so common.

Softening initial sticker shock

Remodeling sticker shock often comes in two stages. The first occurs when contractors provide ballpark estimates of what a project might cost based on similar projects they have built and a rudimentary understanding of the owners’ goals. The second occurs when the homeowners are presented the actual construction agreement quote that’s based on detailed plans and specifications.

You can soften the first jolt by asking friends what they spent on their projects and by consulting the 2019 Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report. Its prices are based on popular construction industry estimating software. I would steer clear of cost guides from Home Advisor and Angie’s List because they bear little relation to what established contractors charge.

Avoiding aftershocks

Clients play a big role in whether formal quotes exceed expectations (in a bad way). “It’s fairly common for a couple to start with a narrow project, get excited and expand the scope when they meet a qualified remodeler and designer who can make it all a reality,” explained APEX President John Biancini.

Biancini said couples should try to reach a consensus and prioritize elements up front so they can back out the least important things if the expanded lists exceed their budget.

APEX Designer Lisa Stoll advises clients to choose materials and fixtures from the options she presents because they reflect the allowances used in the initial estimate. It also simplifies the selection process. “Walking into a showroom can be overwhelming because of all the options. A good designer will narrow the field so the client can’t go wrong,” she said.

“Most people say, ‘We don’t need the most expensive.’ But if they end up choosing marble instead of granite or imported tile, it’s going the increase the cost,” she said.

Stoll also reminds clients to be sure to earmark money for appliances separately. “Buying your own appliances will save you money. Just be sure to set aside funds above and beyond the APEX contract to cover those costs,” she said.

Do your part

Biancini and Stoll agree on one thing: Clients who want the best pricing should take their own pre-construction tasks seriously and complete them as scheduled.

“Major remodeling is not a spectator sport, it’s a collaborative effort. Designs that drag on because clients delay decisions are the ones that tend to cost the most,” Stoll observed.

Closing the budget gap

Prospective clients also should understand that established remodelers set prices based on what they need to operate successful businesses. It’s not a negotiation like buying a car. If the price is too much, something will have to go. You can’t just take 5 percent off the gross amount. You will have to eliminate something from the scope of work or substitute less expensive materials.

One caveat: Cabinetry typically is the single biggest line item in kitchen remodeling budgets but standard-sized box cabinets are not necessarily cost effective because installation is extra and it can take longer to make them fit.

Biancini typically insists that clients use APEX’s preferred trade partners even if they think they know someone cheaper. “When you hear the horror stories about crews leaving a job for a week, that’s not APEX,” Biancini said. “Matt (project manager) sets back to back and, when possible, overlapping trade partner schedules to complete projects in the shortest possible time. We can count on our preferred trade partners to show up and do good work because of our long working relationships. When you are without a kitchen for a couple of months, that’s priceless.”

If you have remodeling questions, please contact APEX Construction Management. We’re committed to delivering great client experiences one project at a time.

APEX Manages North Star Lofts Condo Restoration

April 8, 2019 By Tom Sweeney Leave a Comment

Most APEX insurance claim projects are about restoring damaged surfaces or structures after a flood, fire or hail storm. This job was more like recreating a work of art during an epic Minnesota weather event. Thanks to our tough and talented trade partner, Valley Lake Flooring, the result is modern masterpiece.

Restoring Artistic Concrete Floor

The challenge was to repair and replicate a decorative concrete floor in a two-level condominium in the historic North Star Lofts at 117 Portland Ave. in Minneapolis. Before its premium residential conversion, the property had been home to the North Star Woolen Blanket Company since 1864. During the 1999 makeover, a continuous decorative concrete floor was installed that spanned two ground-level units. But when contractors jackhammered the slab in the adjacent condo to install wood flooring there last year, the vibration caused extensive cracking in the APEX client’s floor.

APEX oversaw the project and supported the insurance claim. Meanwhile, Valley Lake was responsible for repairing the cracks and restoring the surface. Adding to drama, the team was required to completed the bulk of the work in February at height of the Polar Vortex that gripped Minneapolis in record cold and snowfall.

Extraordinary Project

“It wasn’t an ordinary project and so I appreciate that APEX had the flexibility and the professionalism to handle a lot of strange and peculiar circumstances to get this done,” said homeowner Ben Whitney.

APEX client video

He praised APEX President John “JB” Biancini for his refined systems. “JB has put together a series of processes to make sure that things are on schedule and everything is disclosed. And so I would recommend APEX to my friends and anybody else who needs a good general contractor,” he said.

Before work could begin movers relocated all of the furnishings. APEX removed carpeting, baseboard moldings, closet systems and doors. And plastic curtain walls were erected to contain the dust.

Next, Valley Lake Flooring embarked on a 15-step restoration and finishing process that involved grinding, filling, moisture-proofing, leveling, topping, scoring, staining, sealing and waxing the floor.

Valley Lake’s Mark Sutherland observed, “It takes a lot of man hours, a lot of steps and a lot of patience to restore a floor like this.”

Biancini said he enjoys taking on difficult and unusual projects for clients with high expectations. “Nothing about this project was easy. This is a historic structure. Building access was limited. The weather was awful. Fortunately, we worked with an excellent trade partner in Mark and the clients could not have been more appreciative of everyone’s extra efforts,” he said.

“Construction management not only is part of the APEX name, it is entwined in our DNA.” Biancini added. “When you manage the process, you control the outcome.”

APEX Earns Angie’s List Super Service Award 6th Year

February 6, 2019 By Tom Sweeney Leave a Comment

Angie’s List has awarded APEX Construction Management its Super Service Award for the sixth consecutive year. The 2018 award once again honors contractors who have maintained exceptional service ratings and reviews throughout the year.

APEX recognized for exceptional service

“Service pros who receive our Angie’s List Super Service Award represent the best in our network,” said Angie’s List Founder Angie Hicks. “They consistently make great customer service their mission. These pros have provided exceptional service to our members. The companies absolutely deserve recognition for the exemplary service they exhibited in the past year.”

APEX was required to maintain an “A” rating in overall grade, recent grade and review period grade to be considered for the award. In addition, winners must be in good standing with Angie’s List and pass additional screening.

APEX core values drive service

APEX President John “JB” Biancini said the Super Service Award recognition is part of a pattern based on his team’s core values.

“When we start each APEX remodeling project, we tell the clients that we will give them a scorecard to grade our performance at the end of the job. Then every team member does his or her part to earn an A+ grade. We also use Guild Quality to independently survey our clients. The Guild Quality surveys gather feedback that helps us maintain quality control. Receiving the Angie’s List Super Service again illustrates that APEX takes its core values seriously,” Biancini said.

Angie’s List continually updates service company ratings as new, verified consumer reviews are submitted. Customers grade companies on an A through F scale. This includes multiple fields ranging from price to professionalism to punctuality.

Actually, customers have been rating APEX Construction Management on Angie’s List since 2005. APEX has 42 reviews on Angie’s List. It is “A” rated and Angie’s Certified. To be certified, a company must be an Angie’s member in good standing, pass a biennial criminal background report, receive an A or B reviews grade, have current reviews, attest that its license is up to date and have a verified profile.

Grateful for customer support

Biancini thanked APEX clients for taking the time to post online reviews and participate in customer surveys. He said sharing their remodeling experience with other homeowners helps APEX maintain high standards.

“APEX clients post reviews on Google, Angie’s List, Houzz, the Better Business Bureau and on our own website. Their positive comments help us grow and succeed. We are very grateful for their support,” Biancini said.

Contact Biancini directly to discuss your remodeling needs.

2019 Remodeling Cost Benchmarks

January 18, 2019 By John Biancini Leave a Comment

“What will my remodeling cost?” is one of the first questions many homeowners ask APEX when considering a project. That’s fair. It’s not like they can go on Amazon and compare prices and features for a new kitchen or room addition. And how could they possibly know remodeling labor, materials and project management expenses.

Fortunately, Hanley Wood LLC, the nation’s biggest construction industry publisher, issues a report each year that estimates costs and resale payback (value) for dozens of common remodeling and replacement projects. The Remodeling 2019 Cost Vs Value Report draws on a leading construction estimating tool to price the jobs. Then it asks experienced Realtors from different regions to score how each project would impact the home’s resale value so it can calculate payback.

Kitchen and Bath Remodeling Costs

Here are a couple of examples. The report prices a mid-level quality major kitchen remodeling for our West North Central region at about $64,400 (62.1 percent payback) and an upscale kitchen at about $128,700 (59.7 percent payback). It pegs a mid-level bathroom remodel at about $19,600 (67.2 percent payback) and an upscale bath at $62,500 (60.2 percent payback).

I think this independent cost/value benchmarking provides APEX Construction Management clients with a valuable frame of reference. We share the link to the annual study because well-informed homeowners are our best clients.

Basis for Remodeling Costs

Like the study’s publishers, APEX doesn’t pull a big number out of the air based on what a similar project cost last year. Rather, we tally all of the tasks and materials that must be completed and add overhead and a reasonable profit. We build each estimate from the ground up, just like our award-winning additions.

As expected, the latest report shows that both project costs and values increased last year. Steel tariffs, skilled labor shortages and strong demand will do that. For instance, the authors noted that the cost of replacing a steel door increased 24 percent from the previous year. That’s also why our design estimates come with expiration dates.

You Come First

The value or payback part of the annual remodeling study reflects its source: Realtors. Once again, exterior facelift projects such as garage doors and stone veneer accents retain the most value because their costs are relatively low and they help to make a good first impression among prospective homebuyers. Realtors say this enhanced curb appeal raises price expectations.

Payback should be considered if you are improving your home to sell. In that case a minor kitchen remodel at $21,900 may be worthwhile. Realtors in our region say it should retain 80.5 percent of its value. But, in reality, most APEX clients tell us they plan to stay in their homes and are remodeling for themselves to improve their quality of life. As the study suggests, the composite deck will cost more than wood, but what is it worth to avoid sanding and re-staining every couple of years?

Download Complete Report

To learn more, download the complete Remodeling 2019 Cost Vs Value Report free here. Be sure to review the scope for each project so you understand how it compares to what you plan. If you have any questions, please contact me.

Practical Meets Pretty in Woodbury Bath Remodel

September 11, 2018 By Tom Sweeney Leave a Comment

APEX handshower photo Linda didn’t need a bigger master bath remodel, but she wanted it to look special, function better and be easier to clean. Like many APEX clients she opted for a large, accessible tile shower in place of the old tub shower. She chose a wall mounted, horizontal woodgrain vanity for a modern twist and was inspired by a bathroom she saw in California to add undermount LED lighting for safer after dark navigation.

Linda admitted she is not a fan of cleaning grout, so she requested extra large tile for the shower. She also opted for rain glass rather than clear glass for the shower door to avoid meticulous daily squeegeeing to prevent water marks.

She credited Designer Lisa Stoll for her deft design advice and Matt Grudzielanek for his professional project management performance.

Arden Hills Kitchen Collaboration

July 26, 2018 By Tom Sweeney Leave a Comment

After 32 years in an Arden Hills home that the previous owner had built to learn construction, Chris and Mark were ready for a new kitchen and bath and squeak-free floors. First they joined more than 400 fellow dreamers to tour the award-winning kitchen and bath project that APEX Construction Management displayed in the Parade of Homes Remodelers Showcase last spring. Then they hired APEX for their own project.

Chris says the APEX team members of John “JB” Biancini, Lisa Stoll and Matt Grudzielanek were consummate collaborators. They absorbed ideas she and Mark had been noodling for years and melded solutions and product suggestions of their own. Ultimately, they agreed on cherry cabinets and display shelves, deep drawers and pullouts on full extension slides, soft close door hinges, granite tops, undermount stainless steel sink, spray-in-spout faucet, luxury vinyl plank flooring, muted subway tile backsplash and LED lighting.

“They nailed it,” Chris remarked, adding that she would not change a single thing.

Quality of Life Upgrade

“JB stated from the first meeting that his intent was to improve our quality of life at home. It was evident throughout the project that it truly was his goal, and he did it!” Chris said. “APEX is a very different company from others we contacted. Some didn’t even call us back. JB and Matt were always easy to reach with questions and concerns. They provided reassurance and guidance throughout the project.”

While many of the elements are familiar, some are unusual by design. For instance, the couple specified dark laminate base cabinet because they are impervious to their pawing cat, Jack. The feline also got his own protected pet dish nook.

Other benefits are less obvious, starting with the luxury vinyl plank floor used in the kitchen, hall, dining area and family room. “Matt was instrumental in screwing down the subfloor so we don’t have squeaks anymore,” Chris explained. She also noted that visitors routinely mistake the flooring for real wood. “It fools everyone.” And she credits Lisa for the idea to paint the end wall cabinet to match the wall so it makes the space feel larger. “It blends into the wall,” she said.

As I emerged from the home after touring the new kitchen and bath, I was greeted by a flock of large wild turkeys parading through Chris’s yard. Clearly no one warned them about her new double oven and range hood.

APEX Past Clients Value Small Projects Services

July 25, 2018 By Tom Sweeney Leave a Comment

Many reputable contractors, APEX included, are too busy managing big remodeling projects to take on smaller ones. The exception might be for past clients who had used APEX for larger projects.

Gary from Plymouth is a great example. The Honeywell accountant hired APEX to remodel a main level bathroom on his Gleason Lake home several years ago and was impressed by John Biancini’s emphasis on meeting schedule while maintaining high construction quality standards. This year, he needed French doors installed in a seldom-used lower level bedroom before guests arrived. APEX got it done in time, despite discovering hidden plumbing in the wall during demolition.

“Sharon had a big push. We had a couple of guests coming in. She said I want this done and I want it done by this date. I immediately called John and he was able to get the job done,” Gary said. “When I contacted John I didn’t know. I said up front it might be too small a job. He said he would be in the area and would stop by and give me an estimate and got us on his schedule.”

Gary and Sharon initially contemplated pocket doors, but they opted for French doors to avoid the cost of removing the entire wall. They also stuck with the more traditional look vs. trendy barn doors. “The cost probably would have been the same, but we were concerned that barn doors might be a fad,” he explained.

Gary said adding the French doors has made the interior room much more pleasant with its new view of the Plymouth lake. “Before, it was like a big cubbyhole in there. There was no light. No atmosphere,’ he said. “We had two guests who stayed there for three nights each after the remodeling and they were very pleased. The French doors have opened up both rooms,” he said.

APEX Enhances Quality of Life at Home

Gary says having a good relationship with a trusted contractor is a real benefit as one approaches retirement. We suspect Sharon and their guests would agree.

“I wouldn’t have had time to get it done myself. It would have taken me five times as long,” Gary added. “I could have gotten it done eventually, but Sharon said, ‘ Save yourself the trouble. You can’t take it with you.’ She’s right.” When I spoke with him he had just returned from playing tennis.

Meet Designer Lisa Stoll

May 23, 2018 By Tom Sweeney Leave a Comment

APEX design partner Lisa Stoll isn’t your typical interior designer. She had a successful career as a mechanical engineer designing plants and warehouses for 3M before getting her degree in interior design and shifting to home design. Lisa makes the design phase of the APEX design-build process efficient and fun.

Hear how she got her start.

Focus on Living, not Aging

May 14, 2018 By John Biancini Leave a Comment

JB talks accessibility with NARI speaker Louie Delaware. (Photo courtesy NARI MN.)

Although I earned my CAPS (Certified Aging In Place Specialist) credentials many years ago, I was eager to hear Louie Delaware from the Living In Place Institute in Colorado speak at the NARI MN meeting last week. I wanted to learn what’s new to help people live comfortably and safely in their homes for as long as they like.

While the information was very familiar, marketing of the design principals certainly has evolved. If Louie is right, it’s more about what you don’t say to get homeowners to adopt and invest in accessibility upgrades to their homes.

Making Accessible Design Appealing

He expained that the movemement toward barrier-free living started in the 1950s. The American Standards Association published the first acessibility standards in 1961. By 1973 some 49 states had adopted their own rules. Federal guidelines came in 1984.

The initial Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements applied to public spaces and businesses, not private homes. And many of the products designed to achieve accessibility looked decidedly institutional. The first focus was on people with physical disabilities. Later, the concept of Universal Design broadened the scope to benefit people of any age or ability. The idea was that accessible design could look attractive and make life easier, safer and more comfortable for everyone. That was followed by the “Aging In Place” buzzword, which spoke to the enormous Baby Boomer generation that wants to continue living independently in their private homes.

According to Louie, the trouble is that most people don’t want to focus on aging; they prefer to think about living. Which is why he founded the “Living In Place Institute” to teach and certify contractors and designers.

The principles are the same whether you call it Universal Design, Aging In Place or Living in Place. Good design is about more than good looks. It also should improve your quality of life at home, however and whenever that life changes.

Here’s just one example from Louie’s talk. Install a GFCI-protected electrical outlet behind your master bathroom toilet when remodeling the space. Use it for a nightlight now. But it will be available to support a bidet toilet seat down the road. Louie claimed inability to take care of personal toileting is what causes many people to enter a nursing home.

Bottom line, you can count on APEX to keep an eye on the horizon even if you a focused on the here and now.

Complete Shower Design Guide

April 6, 2018 By Tom Sweeney 1 Comment

If recent trends are any indication, bathrooms should be renamed shower-rooms. Busy families not only prefer showers to tubs for their daily bathing. They also are investing careful thought and money to design and equip them for exceptional beauty, functionality and safety.

Shower Design Checklist

Designing a shower involves much more than choosing tile. To specify the ideal shower, you also need to consider:

Size and shape
Pan/curb vs. curbless/drain
Enclosure/door style
Surfaces
Showerheads choice and position
Hand showers choice and position
Shower controls and placement
Grab bar design and placement
Lighting
Ventilation
Steam
Sound

I interviewed leading plumbing supply showrooms and Twin Cities bathroom designers for their best shower advice. Here’s what they shared.

Size Considerations

Marble tile shower photo Small bathrooms can only accommodate small showers. Shower size also may be pre-determined when replacing a tub/shower. However, small showers often can be enlarged during remodeling. This especially applies if you are willing to reposition fixtures or move a wall. Many homeowners gain shower space by jettisoning a jetted tub. Out with the noisy Jacuzzi that seldom gets used.

Generally, larger showers are more accessible and comfortable than smaller ones as long as they are shielded from cold drafts. Larger showers also are great if you occasionally share the space with a partner and have more than one showerhead. Designer Lisa Stoll from Sparrow & Stoll considers 3X4 feet the minimum for a shower that gets regular use by tall people. “While those larger showers are very nice, sometimes we just don’t have enough room for them,” notes JB from APEX. He considers 3×3 feet an absolute minimum.

Large shower with glass enclosure.

Pan, Curb and Drain Choices

Curbless showers eliminate the barrier between the bathroom floor and the shower pan for unobstructed wheelchair access. It requires the shower floor to slope away from the shower door or entry, usually with the drain along the far wall. The catch is that the main bathroom floor needs to be a bit higher to stay dry. That can create a transition issue between the bathroom and the adjacent hall or room.

Preformed shower bases speed installation and reduce costs, but they limit shape and drain placement. With the waterproof membrane approach such as Schluter Systems, custom tile showers can accommodate any footprint and drain configuration.

Tip: When choosing a drain, try to mimic the shape of the fixtures. For instance, a square drain would coordinate better with a big square rain showerhead than a round one. Square or rectangular drains also are much easier to tile around.

Shower Door and Enclosure Decisions

With fancy custom tile designs so popular today, it’s no surprise that frameless, clear glass enclosures are a top choice among remodeling clients. Although clear glass is higher maintenance and provides no privacy, it makes any bath look larger and showcases one’s tile investment. To avoid water spots and soap buildup, Pappas suggests treating the glass with Rain-X, rinsing the surfaces with a hand shower and drying surfaces with a squeegee. Alternatively, Stoll specifies seeded glass to obscure water spots.

Frameless glass shower enclosure photo

Selecting surfaces

Tile is the preferred shower surface because of its design and installation flexibility. Horizontal patterns are more tradition, vertical more contemporary.

Stoll notes that horizontal patterns also are more relaxing, adding to the spa feeling that that so many people want to achieve.

Pappas notes that a mid-wall, horizontal accent strip not only breaks up a tile surround but also helps bathers maintain balance by orienting them after they open their eyes or turn. “Think of it like a horizon line,” she explained.

Many designers prefer the updated look of larger tiles, but subway tile remains a classic for period decors.

Designer DeAnne Koppendrayer of Designs by D favors 12×24 tile on the shower walls, installed in a subway tile pattern or straight stack depending on the look of the room.

“I like to use a pattern or shape on the shower floor, like penny, hexagon or shaved rock stones. I also like to incorporate accents like repeating the shower floor tile in the shampoo niche or doing a waterfall of a coordinating tile or the same tile but in a different pattern.”

Koppendrayer also encourages clients to integrate tile accents with countertops. “Whatever I choose for the vanity top I use it to cap the shower knee wall, the curb, the bench and the corner shelf. It helps to tie the whole room together and makes it easy for the tilesetter to pitch the surfaces for drainage,” she said.

Meyer, too, prefers large format tile. “The bigger the better for fewer grout joints,” she said. “Horizontal pattern is considered transitional because it can be tradition or contemporary. Vertical pattern is contemporary.” If large tile is used for the base, she often carries it up the wall. Meyer specifies porcelain tile rather than natural stone because it is easier to maintain.

Showerheads Can be Tricky

At one time, showerheads would reliably emerge from an interior sidewall, perpendicular to the door. Now they also may extend down from the ceiling or even be installed flush with the tile ceiling.

This placement freedom owes at least part of its success to flexible plastic PEX tubing that allows plumbers to effortlessly snake supply lines practically anywhere. However, it still is preferable to avoid installing plumbing within exterior walls where freezing can be a problem. If you must install fixtures on an outside wall, build out the framing to maintain effective insulation behind the supply and waste lines.

Showerheads offer a variety of water patterns that change the force, footprint and feel of the spray. Showrooms such as Ferguson’s and Aspire have shower walls with functioning showerheads so you can see difference and at least feel it on your hand. They are only plumbed with cold water and offer no privacy so don’t count on a full shower experience.

To conserve water while maintaining a decent shower experience, look for the WaterSense badge. These fixtures use 20 percent less water than standard showerheads without compromising performance.

Hand Showers Have Many Uses

Hand showers have become ubiquitous in today’s showers and for good reason.

Facilitates cleaning the shower itself
Great for pet washing
Enhanced body rinsing
Hydro massage
Flexible positioning and improved accessibility

Hand showers are most effective when mounted on a vertical bar so both the height and the angle of the spray are adjustable. A lower position is ideal for small children, pet washing, and elderly or disabled users who may need to sit when bathing. If the shower has a bench, the hand shower wand should reach a bracket within reach of the seated user.

“Many of my clients primarily want a hand shower for cleaning the shower, said Meyer. “Hand showers on a vertical slider also are popular among women who don’t wash their hair every day. They adjust it so it hits their bodies and not their heads.”

Zsavonne Perryman from Ferguson is a huge hand shower fan. “Hand-held showerheads offer complete flexibility. They work great for all ages. Also, cleaning become a breeze.”

If you plan to use a vertical hand shower bar as a grab bar, be sure that it is rated for such support. Many aren’t.

Some hand showers operate off diverter valves that shift the water supply from the main showerhead to the auxiliary head. Hand showers with separate controls are better because they allow you to use both heads at once. When installed opposite or at a right angle to the main showerhead, it can eliminate cold-side showering and increase comfort when sharing.

Make Room for a Bench

Fold up teak bench

All of the designers recommend benches in showers for accessibility, safety and convenience if space allows. Integral tile benches should be sloped slightly for drainage. When space is limited, consider a stylish fold-down teak seat. Most designers are not keen on freestanding seats because they are less stable than fixed ones.

Even the smallest shower can incorporate a toe rest (think low shampoo niche) for use when shaving legs. Simply position a small niche a foot above the shower pan. Include a vertical grab bar for stability.

Mission Control

Shower controls often align vertically with showerheads to create a balanced look and simplify plumbing. However, it’s important to be able to reach the controls to turn on the water without getting wet. For a large shower, consider positioning the controls within reach of the door.

Photo of open shower with low niche and forward controls

Accessible controls and low footrest niche.

Shower controls have temperature and pressure balance features that can be set to prevent scalding when someone flushes a toilet or goes full hot. Make sure the plumber checks the high temperature limit during installation. The most sophisticated shower controls feature digital displays that enable individual users to set (and see) their preferred temperature for an ideal shower experience.

Perryman says parents with young children like the Delta Temp2O fixtures because they display the temperature digitally and have an easy to understand color indicator (blue for cold, purple for warm and red for hot). Stoll notes that the color displays also are good for people with poor vision.

But Pappas says many of her clients “are not into gizmos.” Most people know where to position the lever for their preferred showing temperature,” she said.

Grab Bar Placement

A grab bar should be positioned vertically where you can hold on comfortably when entering and leaving the shower. Stoll says a second horizontal bar is helpful along the long wall perpendicular to the showerhead. Avoid configurations where the bar and hand shower hose would conflict. You should be able to grasp the bar without having the hose in the way.

Most remodelers install solid blocking behind shower surfaces to anchor future grab bars, but designers suggest you don’t wait to incorporate this proven safety feature in your new shower. Just be sure to coordinate the bar design and finish with the other fixtures so it looks like it belongs.

Moisture, Steam & Ventilation

Hot showers produce enormous amounts of moisture in a small confined space. Many designers turn this into a plus by installing steam generators for a spa experience. Whether you have a steam shower or a regular shower, a properly sized exhaust fan is essential to remove excess moisture and avoid mold. For maximum effectiveness, the fan should be installed just outside the shower.

Many bathroom fans have become so quiet that manufacturers suggest they be controlled by timer switches. This enables you to set the fan to run after you finish a shower and never forget it on. Stoll notes that the larger the bathroom the longer the fan should run. “I tell clients 20 minutes minimum,” she said.

When choosing a steam shower, install the steam generator where it will be quiet but accessible for servicing.

Modular Enclosures and Curtains

Many of the designers agree that there still is a place for prefabricated shower enclosures and shower curtains for basement or secondary showers.

Shower curtains provide privacy and can add a splash of color to a bathroom with plain surfaces. And panelized shower enclosures are affordable and easy to clean.

If your budget is tight, it might make more sense to splurge on the new kitchen and skip the fancy tile and glass in the bathroom,” one designer observed.