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Pros & Cons of Doorless Showers

When it comes to customizing your shower, design, accessibility, and price are among the many things to consider. If you’re considering a doorless shower, we’ve created this handy pros and cons list for you to make a better, more informed decision. 

Pros of a Doorless Shower:

A doorless shower is luxurious. A shower without a door can bring a modern look to your bathroom! 

 

Glass shower doors are a headache to constantly clean to avoid hard water spots. Without a door, you will have significantly less cleaning as part of your routine. 

 

Doorless showers are accessible. Without a glass barrier or threshold, people of all different ages and mobilities can easily enter and leave their shower without worrying about the potential risk of falling. A doorless shower will allow you to experience that oh-so-important peace of mind that you and your family will be safe in the wet areas of your bathroom.

 

A doorless shower is custom-designed to fit your specific needs as a homeowner. You can choose how many niches to include in your shower or even to install a shower seat

 

Last but not least, a doorless shower will open up your bathroom space and provide a modern, relaxed feel that you won’t get with a closed-off shower. Without a door, the usable square footage will increase because you don’t need to work around your shower door. 

Cons:

With no door to trap in steam and heat, you might get chilly in a doorless shower. However, an installer can solve this through some additional upgrades, such as towel warmers or heated flooring. 

 

Although the customizability of a doorless shower can be a significant advantage, having a shower custom designed for your home can be significantly more on the pricey side than other shower options. 

 

Additionally, if privacy is important to you, a doorless shower provides less privacy than its doored counterparts. 

No matter what you decide about the type of shower that’s best for you and your family, we at Home Smart Industries are staffed with a team of experienced professionals that are always here to help. Explore our safety shower options or contact us to learn more today!

4 Ways to Make Your Bathroom More Energy Efficient

Did you know that your bathroom is another area that can significantly impact your carbon footprint and your energy bills? You probably know that your water heater plays a significant role in your electricity bill, but did you know moving water to and from your home also takes electricity?

Don’t Forget About the Bathroom Extractor Fan

Extractor fans control odors within the bathroom and take away moisture from the space, preventing your bathroom and mirror from fogging up. While it’s helpful, it’s a big source of energy consumption. Unfortunately, after turning it on, it can be easily forgotten! Make sure that you’re using the fan only when necessary and for as short a time as possible. 

Over time, the effectiveness of older fans can diminish, so be sure to check that your extractor fan is doing everything you need it to. Switching to an updated fan can decrease energy consumption and help keep moisture away from your walls more effectively. This is a popular upgrade in our bathroom remodels.

Turn Down the Temperature on Your Water Heater

Water heaters are famous for being one of the most significant energy-draining appliances within your home! It regulates the heat of your water but works in the background, so most people don’t pay them much attention. The standard default temperature is set at 140 degrees, twenty degrees higher than what is recommended! Drop the temperature to 120 degrees to cut the cost of energy while also being kinder to your pipes and extending their life. 

If your home still has a tank water heater (they store hot water and run continuously to maintain the warm temperature), switching to a new, tankless water heater is another great way to conserve energy.

Switch to LED Lights

This may be the most effortless switch! If your bathroom is too bright, slightly unscrewing the extra bulbs will immediately cut down on energy use. If you want to go the extra mile, switching out your traditional CFL light bulbs for LED bulbs will lower your energy usage – plus, they can last more than 20x as long!

Save Water

Since moving water to and from your house also raises energy usage, saving water is another way to conserve electricity. Here are some changes you can make: 

  1. Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth 
  2. Install a water-saving showerhead 
  3. Jump in the shower as soon as it’s hot! 
  4. Install efficient faucets 
  5. Switch your traditional toilet for a low-flow toilet 
  6. Add a faucet aerator to save water without sacrificing water pressure 7. Fix leaks ASAP! 
  7. Unplug 

Anything you leave plugged in, even if it’s not on, uses electricity. Make sure you unplug hair accessories, electric toothbrushes, electric razors, etc. to avoid any extra power use. Also, be sure to check on them frequently if they need time to heat up. Make sure they are not just sitting around using energy! 

If you’re contemplating including these changes into your next bathroom remodel, we want to help! Click here to schedule your free quote and make sure to check out our special offers and see where you can save!

Tips for an Accessible Bathroom

Whether you or someone in your household is getting older or you need to accommodate a disability, an accessible bathroom is one of the most important areas in your house to remodel. More than 2/3 of emergency room visits are due to bathroom falls with the tub and shower being the most hazardous areas for young adults and most falls for the elderly occurring near the toilet. Here are some tips to consider when you’re thinking about making your bathroom more accessible.

Know Your Options

Whether you have limited or difficult mobility, or you have to accomodate for wheelchair access, a shower/tub combination makes it near impossible to shower easily. We recommend a walk-in shower with a rolling or fixed shower seat, a level entrance sloping to the drain, and a wide shower entrance or door. You can also opt for a walk-in tub – they have a super low step-in height, extra wide door options, and heated surfaces for optimal comfort. 

 

Walk in Showers are a great option for any home. You won’t have to worry about remodeling in the future! Walk-in showers from Home Smart can feature low-threshold or barrier-free bases, built-in bench seating, safety grab bars, and more. Want to learn more about our accessible showers and baths? Keep reading! 

 

Walk-in baths are designed with you in mind to create an effortless and independent bathing experience. Kohler walk-in tubs feature accessible control panels that will activate and adjust massaging jets, handheld shower wands, and easy-access door latches so you won’t have to worry about potential leaks and future slips. Kohler walk-in baths feature extra wide doors, ultra-low safe-step entrance, and handrails for added security. 

Prevent Slips

 

Slipping in the bathroom is a danger for everyone regardless of age or mobility. You want to ensure that you install slip-resistant tiling, like a textured tile or pebbled floor, or use a slatted wood mat in the shower to prevent falls. Make sure all areas in the bathroom are clearly lit and that you have overhead lighting in the shower. Again, installing grabbing bars is an essential safety feature.

 

Grabbing bars should be installed in all bathing areas. If optimizing for wheelchair access, you’ll want to think about the turning radius and width of the chair to customize shower depth and door width as well.

 

Safety grab bars and bathtub handrails give you places to hold so that you can maintain your balance and help you maneuver around your shower or bath safely. Grab bars ideally are found both at the entrance and the back or side of your shower. A slick floor or wet tub can increase your risk of falling, so safety bars are a must for any bathroom. Home Smart offers a wide variety of safety bar types, designs, and finishes, so it can complement your personal style. 

Safety Features

 

Your shower or bath model options depend on whether you need wheelchair access. If you are accommodating for a wheelchair, you’ll never have to sacrifice style for safety with Kohler walk-in showers. Home Smart offers barrier-free, accessible shower options so you can regain independence. 

 

Built-in bench shower seating enables you to bathe while seated without having to lower yourself down to a bathtub floor. This is a comfortable, safe, and stylish option for anyone, regardless of age or handicap. 

 

There are plenty of other safety features that can be added to your new walk-in shower, including shower lockers for soaps and shampoos, and shower controls for easy adjustment. 

Takeaways

 

Think about the width of your bathroom door, how low light switches need to be, and the general layout of the bathroom – especially if it needs to be wheelchair accessible. Take into consideration the turning radius of the chair in key areas like the shower, toilet, and vanity. Storage options should be adjusted to accommodate low reach or limited mobility. The location and height of other items like towel hooks, soap dispensers, outlets, etc. will also need to be customized.

 

We understand this is a lot to think about, but the good news is you don’t have to do it alone! As the area’s only exclusive Kohler walk-in bath and LuxStone shower dealer, we take bathroom safety seriously and want people to feel comfortable and independent.  If you’re ready to take on this project, we’d love to come out and give you a free quote. Give Home Smart Industries a call at (855) 646-4000 or fill out our contact form today!

A Simplified Way to Start Your Bathroom Remodel

Getting a price for your bath or shower replacement is easy!

Consultation

Schedule a consultation with our expert Design Consultants to explain what is in your bathroom and how we can improve your bathtub or shower experience. You design your dream bathroom and we give you a down to the penny price. No surprise costs and we honor that price for 1 year GUARANTEED!

Transformation

We complete 90% of installations in1-2 days with a focus on respect for homes and homeowners. Home Smart’s Kohler Certified Installers will professionally install your bath or shower and with our 100+ year of combined remodeling experience, your Kohler installation will offer you -and your home- the value, style and safety you deserve.

Relaxation

Relax and enjoy your new bath or shower with the peace of mind that the work and products are covered by both the Kohler Warranty and the Home Smart Exclusive Labor Guarantee. All products are made in the US so be confident your new bathroom will provide you a safe space to age-independent in your home.

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Why Home Smart?
Bath Remodelers Dedicated to Your Satisfaction

Since our founding in 2001, Home Smart Industries has served homeowners throughout Pennsylvania,  Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey and Virginia helping them upgrade their bathrooms to better suit their needs. Our customers appreciate that, as a certified Kohler dealer, we’re backed by the industry’s leading manufacturer. And, since we focus exclusively on remodeling the “wet area” of the bathroom, meaning tubs and showers, we have more specialized knowledge than companies that provide many other services in addition to remodeling baths. This expertise translates into better design advice and a more precise installation for you.

By always putting our customers first, Home Smart has received numerous forms of recognition within the industry, such as Remodeling Magazine’s Big50 Award and an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. But above all else, we take pride in knowing the difference we’ve made in the lives of the homeowners we serve.

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I was most satisfied with the two installers, they were very good at what they did. It was not an easy job and they had to take a lot of stuff out, but when they left you couldn't even tell anyone had been there. They left the site clean and orderly, they really did a great job.

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