Making your Bathroom Handicap Accessible

Unfortunately, there are over 48 million disabled people in the United States alone. Whether it is your parent, sibling, child or friend that is handicapped, the bathroom is often a tricky place. Make it easier on yourself and more importantly on them. Check out these helpful tips for remodeling your handicap bathroom: 

Shower Accessibility Tips: 

The seat- The ideal height for a handicap accessible shower seat/bench is between 17” and 19”. There are various options but the presence of a bench or stool will allow for the disabled person or persons to feel more comfortable in the shower. 

Roll-in shower- The curbless shower provides easy access for people using a wheelchair or transfer chair. 36” in width is recommended for transfer chair users. This leaves ample room to maneuver the chair and position the disabled person in the most comfortable fashion. 

Grab Bars- For a shower, grab bars should be tested and installed on all three walls. Do not place a bar at a height until you have ran it by the person who will be using them first. 

Vanity Accessibility Tips: 

No Cabinets- A vanity needs to be mounted on the wall with no cabinets underneath. This will allow for a chair to be rolled into place underneath the sink. The minimum sink height for a standard transfer chair is 27”. 

Single Hand Faucets- If the disabled person has trouble with one arm or both, this tip will save them the hassle. It is easier to reach and adjust a single handed faucet when seated. 

Toilet Accessibility Tips:

Adding Height- The average toilet is around 18” off the ground. This height could be a little low for a disabled person but don’t worry you can leave your toilet as is. Buying a thicker seat could add as much as 6” to your existing toilet and it is more cost effective. 

Grab Bar- The safest grab bar placement is on both sides of the toilet to aid with balance. The toilet should be placed in between the two grab bars at 36” apart.  

Remodeling your bathroom can be a hassle, so make sure the plumbing is done right connect with Nassau Plumbing and Sewer Rooter on Facebook and Twitter! Give us a call at 516.874.7937 or visit us on the web to learn more about our services.

How to Update Your Old Bathtub

The bathtub can either make or break your bathroom depending on how you maintain it. If your tub is looking dull, make it a summer project to brighten things up! Here are four ways you can update your old bathtub:

Build a beadboard. Make your bathtub look new again by building a beadboard. This quick pick-me-up can make your bathroom appear more like a spa for you to retreat to after a long day. Go for recycled wood and decorative molding if you want to achieve a coastal, rustic feel for the season.

Pick up some paint. The cost of a new cast-iron tub can go over your desired budget, so opt for paint unless you detect some serious damage. For easy cleaning, you’ll want to use either semi-gloss or glossy paint. Then, let your imagination go wild with stencils to design a bold pattern. Feel free to change it up when you want a new look!

Reglaze and restore. Give your bath a facelift by coating the surface with a bonding agent and finishing coat. This reglazing project will work on porcelain, acrylic, and fiberglass tubs - an ideal option if you love the look and style of your old tub, but need to get rid of dirt and stains. 

Cover it up with a liner. Liners are an effective way to cover up a dull bathtub. What you’ll need is a heavy-gauge plastic material, which might make your tub appear smaller but will make it shiny again. If you choose to go with a bathtub liner, be wary of getting water trapped in between. The moisture caught behind the liner can cause potential mold and mildew problems. With that being said, call your professional plumber if you need a little assistance.

If a decorative tub or a facelift doesn’t serve your old bathtub justice, contact the experts at Nassau Plumbing & Sewer Rooter! We offer tub repair and installation services to give your bathroom the update it needs. Call us today at 877.713.8136 for emergency services or visit our website for more information.

Tips for Choosing a New Bathtub

There is a lot more that goes into choosing a new bathtub than you might think! Since today is National Bathtub Day, we're laying it all out right here for you so you can pick a new bathtub worth celebrating in.

Type
You might be looking for simple or you might be looking for extraordinary. Will this tub be used for quickly bathing all of your kids or do you want one for evening and weekends that you can relax in? The four most common types are listed below and they each serve a different purpose. Start here:

• General Purpose
• Soaking Tub
• Walk-In Bathtub
• Whirlpool & Air Tubs

Material
You'll also need to decide what you want your tub to be made out of. Acrylic offers a high-gloss look that is commonly used for whirlpools and air tubs while cast iron is more durable and a good choice if your looking for a long-lasting fixture. A complete list of material options are as follows:

• Acrylic
• Fiberglass Gelcoat
• Composite
• Cultures Marble
• Porcelain on Steel
• Cast Iron
• Wood

Installation
How is your new bathtub going to be mounted? if your replacing an old one this might already be decided for you, however, if you are starting from scratch you'll have more of a choice. The right installation depends on the dimensions of your bathroom and how you want the tub to be framed.

• Alcove
• Platform
• Undermount
• Free Standing
• Corner

Learn more at Better Homes and Gardens »

At New York Plumbing and Sewer Rooter we can rework all of your plumbing when it comes to your bathroom remodeling needs. Call us to install or repair your tub, toilet or sink at 516.874.7937. Visit our website for more information.