Home improvement: Bath & plumbing
March 15, 2012
One-piece shower gets the grout out
With sleek glass doors and gleaming chrome pipes, showers are usually shown in catalogs and magazines with tiled walls. They have unique designs, intricate patterns and contrasting accents that look great— but not for long after you turn on the water.
October 7, 2011
Hot tips for preventing frozen pipes
Chilly autumn mornings are the perfect reminder that when winter arrives, it can be sudden, often leaving homeowners unprepared for the plumbing problems associated with cold weather.
May 18, 2010
Tile goes 3-D, high definition
What's new in tiles can be summed up in buzzwords that seem more akin to TV talk: ultra thin, 3-D, HD and green.
February 5, 2010
Guide to repairing tile floor, step by step
Perfectly prepared homeowners save a sample of every material used on the house: paint, wallpaper, trim, shingles, you name it. And when someone drops a bowling ball on the tile floor it's no problem: you've got extras.
December 12, 2008
CHOICES
Make a playful statement with designs
If you're tired of picking roofing materials and deciding where wall outlets will go, put aside the mundane decisions and have fun with options that can have big payoffs in personal comfort and enjoyment.
October 31, 2008
Plumbing repair primer
A dripping shower or balky drain may seem like problems that need professional repair. But as you look over the plumber's shoulder and watch the five-minute fix, it dawns on you that you could have fixed it yourself. It pays to leave big projects to the pros, of course. But many minor plumbing problems qualify for DIY repair.
October 17, 2008
Putting the ahh in spa
Settle in and have your achy muscles caressed. Breathe fragrant aromas of eucalyptus, lavender, sandalwood or grapefruit. Listen to Bach, Beethoven or cool jazz, and melt away stress in a steam shower.
October 17, 2008
How bold will you go with color?
Bright colors have moved into the bathroom in a big way, offering a fresh alternative to bland beiges.
October 17, 2008
REMODELING
Upgrades take bath from bland to grand
Tell me if you've had this problem before: You're enjoying your shower, someone in the house flushes a toilet, and all of a sudden it turns from heaven into Hades.
April 24, 2008
Standing room only
Lincolnwood homeowner Deb Machalinski still hasn't tried the luxurious steam shower she installed in her first-floor bathroom last summer.
April 17, 2008
The case of a tub cover-up
Is your bathtub dull, chipped, rusty or just plain dreary? There are alternatives to hauling out that 800-pound elephant and replacing it.
April 6, 2008
High-tech toilet seat brings bidet experience to small bathrooms
Technophiles rejoice: High-tech gadgetry is aiming for your backside.
March 21, 2008
CHOICES
Not all bathroom plans are grandiose
Want an upscale bathroom without the high-end price? Here's a look at how to create a unique design on a small budget.
March 16, 2008
Bathrooms fall for that spring-shower feeling
If you rather like the sensation of raindrops falling softly over you, then you don't have to wait for Mother Nature. Instead, install a rainfall shower head to reproduce the similar soothing feeling.
March 2, 2008
Seeing bathroom in a new light
The right bathroom lighting can switch an image in the mirror from beast to beauty, but it often ranks way below a luxury tub, modern fixtures and stylish tile on the priority list.
February 21, 2008
It's a tankless task to heat water
Some plumbers still are cold to the idea of tankless, or demand, water heaters, but the variety on the market seems to get wider every day. With help from the Energy Department and the manufacturers listed, here are specifics.
January 31, 2008
Consider a bidet in your bathroom
Bidets -- basins that stand alongside toilets so people can cleanse themselves after doing their business -- have long been common in Europe. Toilet seats with bidet functions are popular in Japan.
December 20, 2007
ENERGY CHECK
Slow the flow of wasted water
Q. I don't read much about ways to save water, but our home's water bill has been growing steadily for the past few years, and now isn't a whole lot less than our electric bill. What are the best ways to cut these water bills?
December 7, 2007
CHOICES
Shower evokes ultimate in luxury
The shower stall is taking over the bathroom.
October 11, 2007
HOME REMEDIES
Fiberglass insulation helps pipe down noisy plumbing
Q. Our house has back-to-back bathrooms, one of which adjoins our bedroom. When guests use this bathroom the sound of running water and toilet flushing is so loud it can wake us from sleep. How can we deaden this noise?
September 6, 2007
SPECIAL BATH TRENDS ISSUE
How green is your bathroom?
For some people, green isn't just a color; it's a word to live by -- one that will help them lead healthier lifestyles for themselves and the environment.
May 11, 2007
CHOICES
Faucets with flair add luxury to bathrooms
Selecting a bathroom faucet is more complicated than it used to be.
April 20, 2007
CHOICES
There's no end to bathroom add-ons
Luxury continues to shape today's bathroom design, as hot tubs, fancier showers, rustic stone tile and high-end fixtures rule the day.
April 13, 2007
CHOICES
The right vanity can add glamor
Want to add a "wow" factor to your bathroom? Start with a rich wood vanity with furniture detailing. Then top it off with a sleek stone countertop.
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