When your bath remodel begins, the very first thing our team will accomplish is setting up a clear path through your home. We do this to protect your existing floors from scuffs, moisture, and debris, and provide a safe and unobstructed walkway.
Starting at your preferred entry, we’ll place flooring protection all the way into the bath being remodeled, along with any other areas we’ll be accessing. This may require us to temporarily move furniture or rugs. We’ll also look for sensitive wall-mounted items that could potentially be impacted, and suggest that these be taken down.
For your base floor protection, we use products made specifically for your flooring type, instead of a “one-product-fits-all” approach. Our primary floor runners are self-adhesive, waterproof, non-slip, and pet-safe. They won’t leave a residue on your hardwood, tile, carpet, or laminate, and won’t discolor the varnish on any wood flooring, as we don’t need to tape them.
This floor protection stays down until your bathroom is finished, at which time we’ll remove it.
Depending on the situation, we may also place canvas drop cloths on top of our primary floor runners, as an additional layer of protection.
Once we’ve established a protected path through your home, we’ll begin unloading and staging equipment and materials for your project. We’ll place these items in a pre-arranged staging area we can access throughout the project. This is often, but not always, a portion of your garage.
We usually don’t need more than a 6′ x 10′ space to stage a small bath or shower remodel, but larger projects do require a more room for staging. Our staging area is temporary, of course, and we want it to be as convenient as possible for you.
In the first video below, you’ll see our special hardwood flooring protection set up from our client’s front door to the primary bathroom.
In the second video, you can see the typical garage space required to stage a complete bath remodel. If your garage is full, don’t sweat it! We can use a spare room in your home, a covered rear patio, or even your front porch – whatever works for you. See the pictures below the videos for examples of various on-site staging areas we’ve used for our client’s projects.
We’ll clean up any on-site storage areas at completion.
KEY TAKEAWAYS: Our team sets down floor protection and performs a careful “setup” routine at the beginning of every project. We’ll ask you about parking, your preferred entry point, where our teams can use the bathroom, and where we can temporarily stage your materials on-site. If the plan needs to be adjusted as we proceed, just let us know. We’ll tidy up the staging area and remove your floor protection at the completion of your project.
Inadequate dust control is one of the biggest satisfaction-killers for homeowners living through a remodel.
Even though your bathroom is only one room in your home, unmanaged dust from a bath remodel can find its way into all other areas, FAST. If your contractor doesn’t have a set process to contain the work space, dust will get out of control.
At Simplicity, we use a careful system to contain, control, and reduce as much dust as reasonably possible, to keep your home clean and livable through the remodeling process.
Our dust containment includes the following measures:
The most dust-producing portions of your bath remodel involve work which requires cutting.
This includes demolition activities such as removing your drywall and tile – especially any mud-set tile (as seen in this video) – along with concrete slab modifications such as moving a drain on a first floor, as well as paint prep work like sanding, texturing, etc. These generally occur early in the process.
Once we’re ready to cut and set your tile, stone, or solid surface, our teams will only cut outside. This will help minimize additional dust. Limited dust from our outside activities can still make its way back inside, as we continuously enter and exit your home.
You don’t have to leave your home during demolition. However, if you’re very sensitive to noise or potential dust spillover, being away from the home during demo may be helpful. We recognize how irritating dust can be, which is why we take these careful steps to manage and contain it.
For larger and more tile-heavy bath remodels, you may want to change your HVAC furnace filters, and set up a cleaning crew to give your entire home a nice “once-over,” once your project is complete. Most of our clients don’t do this, but, it’s still a good idea!
Once our dust control measures are in place, your demolition can begin. Above are a few pictures of adjacent room preparation with plastic, to protect sensitive items from dust. Below are photos and videos of what you can expect to see when your demolition is complete, depending on the scale of your project.
At the bottom of this section we have “before” and “after” demolition pictures of a large bathroom in Richmond.
KEY TAKEAWAYS: Dust protection is essential, and we take it seriously. We’ll carefully set up plastic and do our best to keep extra dust out of your life. Some dust will escape into your living environment, so it’s important to plan accordingly. After demolition, we’ll haul away all items that aren’t going to be part of your new bathroom. You won’t have to stress over trash or untidyness, but, you should plan to lightly clean your home at completion.
Proper plumbing and waterproofing are integral parts of your bathroom. As such, they can only be expected to perform when built to code with quality components, and tested thoroughly.
Plumbing and waterproofing that aren’t tested can end up failing the real test: your daily showering. Many contractors find this out the hard way. Net result: you cannot entrust your plumbing to just anyone.
At Simplicity, we test all of our plumbing work, on every project. This includes any new drain and supply connections, water tests for tubs and showers, and flood tests for tile shower floors.
Ensuring you have an A+ finished product, and avoiding any and all errors (we’re human!) are our TOP priorities. In 12+ years as a bathroom-only specialist, we’ve found most plumbing issues to be avoidable by simply following code, planning ahead, and, as mentioned prior, testing everything. Often, our remodeling work includes correcting items that prior builders and remodelers have done wrong. We may also suggest additional work to head off potential future issues.
The difference between an error that’s caught and corrected, and a leak or other plumbing problem that’s left unchecked for some time, can be tremendous. With this in mind, our standard is ALWAYS zero errors, code-compliant work, and clear communication regarding anything we find that could present an issue.
In the pictures below, you’ll see examples of our bathroom remodel plumbing, and a video of a drain test. We run this test any time we’ve modified drain pipes, to ensure the drain is clear and free of clogs. If the drain backs up, we know there’s a problem somewhere in your line.
As with plumbing, waterproofing is also “mission critical” for your bathroom. If water gets under your floor or inside your walls, the consequences can be disastrous.
The hard truth is, MANY Houston contractors get waterproofing wrong, in a variety of ways. We see rushed work, “frankensystems” hobbled together with improperly mixed components, manufacturer guidelines ignored, and a complete lack of knowledge altogether – all over town, all the time. Houston may have many “willing” workers, but very few are trained and able, these days.
There is a “right” way to do this – and that’s called following TCNA guidelines.
The TCNA is the Tile Council of North America, and they’re the PREMIER standards-setting body for the tile industry.
TCNA-compliant installation methods are the gold standard for waterproofing and tile. Sadly, most tile installers will give you a blank stare if you ask them what TCNA standards are. That’s because the industry has moved towards cheap, fast “bidwork” for residential properties, instead of high-quality, artisan work that doesn’t leak.
Quality waterproofing takes time and effort, and it doesn’t install lightning fast.
To the right is a photo of a tile shower remodel in progress, with our Schluter®-KERDI waterproofing system visible behind the niche and in the upper corner on the left wall, and ready for tile on the large right wall.
Schluter®- Systems manufactures multiple versions of their KERDI materials, and we use them all in our shower waterproofing. You’ll see their trademark orange color on any Simplicity Bath tile shower project.
Below are two videos of fully-waterproofed KERDI showers we built. One video shows a flood test that’s just been started, while the next shows you what happens when the test concludes successfully. Your flood test is the “proof” step that determines whether or not your new shower pan will do its job.
If your new shower has a solid surface base, or a tub, your flood test (AKA water test) will look different than what you see in the videos above. Here is what will happen when we perform a fill test on a new freestanding tub or a replacement bathtub in your home.
Quality waterproofing does take time – it’s definitely not “done in a day.” But, it doesn’t have to be inordinately complicated.
Schluter has complete system manuals in both English and Spanish, and they put on seminars multiple times a year. And, their territory reps are on it – we’ve worked with several, and they understand what is needed from an installer’s perspective. We’ve found that if we take our time, and paint by numbers, these systems are generally robust and trouble-free.
There ARE other systems that work, but we feel Schluter is the least human-error-prone of the bunch – particularly for tile.
Similarly, if your project includes solid surface shower walls instead of tile, we’ll use a different waterproofing method, built with different materials.
With Onyx, Swanstone, and other solid surfaces, individual walls are comprised of 1 – 3 pieces, whereas with tile, individual walls are made of many smaller pieces. Tile is “attached” to your waterproof backer with a concrete adhesive known as thinset mortar. The seams are then grouted, and silicone is only applied in corners and changes of plane, above the tile (not behind it).
Conversely, with solid surface walls, silicone adhesives are used to attach the backs of the panels to face of your new waterproofed backer. Silicone adhesives do not bond well to thinset. This makes Schluter KERDI boards and sheet membranes a less optimal choice as a substrate, as these products have some exposed thinset on their faces once installed and prepared. FYI- thinset is the white patches you see, covering the orange Schluter material, in the videos above.
For this reason, we use a different backing system for solid surface walls like Onyx and Swanstone. With solid surface, we first install concrete backer boards with alkali-resistant fiberglass mesh tape over the seams and corners. This must sit until cured; with our rapid-setting thinset, this is usually between 2 – 4 hours. Once this special thinset has cured, we can then apply two coats of RedGard or similar waterproofing membrane, with appropriate dry time between each coat. The dry time will vary based on temperature and humidity conditions on site.
In the pictures below, we show you what to expect regarding waterproofing for your new shower walls.
KEY TAKEAWAYS: After demolition, we’ll start on your plumbing work. Plumbing includes modifying, then testing pipes where your water comes in goes out, to ensure any new modifications are up to snuff for a lifetime of use. After plumbing, we begin preparing your walls for their new waterproofing. Your waterproofing system will depend on what hard surface covering your new shower will have; most often, this is tile or solid surface. Both plumbing and waterproofing are VITAL!
At Simplicity Bath & Shower, our tile setters are trained to make sense of the entire layout of your tile, including where cuts will land, before we begin cutting and setting any tile. For clients who want input on this stage, we’re happy to get you in to examine the proposed layout, and we can change it to suit your preference.
As with waterproofing, we file TCNA standards regarding tile setting.
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KEY TAKEAWAYS: After demolition, we’ll start on your plumbing work. Plumbing includes modifying, then testing pipes where your water comes in goes out, to ensure any new modifications are up to snuff for a lifetime of use. After plumbing, we begin preparing your walls for their new waterproofing. Your waterproofing system will depend on what hard surface covering your new shower will have; most often, this is tile or solid surface. Both plumbing and waterproofing are VITAL!
One of your most common questions is “what happens when you find something unexpected during my bath remodel?”
This is a valid question, as many homes have hidden issues behind the walls or under the floor.
The short answer is, we’re hoping you don’t have any issue, but if you do, we’re going to call them out to you. When issues are discovered, you face one of two possible decisions:
Once we determine you have an issue that could affect work, we’ll contact you and provide photos, where possible.
KEY TAKEAWAYS: After demolition, we’ll start on your plumbing work. Plumbing includes modifying, then testing pipes where your water comes in goes out, to ensure any new modifications are up to snuff for a lifetime of use. After plumbing, we begin preparing your walls for their new waterproofing. Your waterproofing system will depend on what hard surface covering your new shower will have; most often, this is tile or solid surface. Both plumbing and waterproofing are VITAL!
One of the most common complaints we hear regarding our clients’ previous contracting and remodeling experiences is poor communication.
When prior Houston contractors don’t set proper expectations, don’t maintain the schedule, and don’t communicate what’s going on with your project, this is incredibly frustrating.
KEY TAKEAWAYS: After demolition, we’ll start on your plumbing work. Plumbing includes modifying, then testing pipes where your water comes in goes out, to ensure any new modifications are up to snuff for a lifetime of use. After plumbing, we begin preparing your walls for their new waterproofing. Your waterproofing system will depend on what hard surface covering your new shower will have; most often, this is tile or solid surface. Both plumbing and waterproofing are VITAL!
Most of our clients have pets, and you probably do, too. Whether you’re a dog or a cat person, or you love them both, our setup in your home is designed to be as pet-friendly as possible, while minimizing opportunities for Scout (or Spot) to escape and/or get in trouble.
Please help us keep your little guys safe by keeping them in a restricted area where they can’t escape. The last thing we want is a beloved pet running out the door while our teams are hauling in materials and equipment – which has absolutely happened before! Our teams are entirely “project-minded” and will be going in and out many times before the project is finished. So, we highly recommend you take our advice and eliminate the chance of loss by keeping pets locked up during our work. They’ll survive, even if the (temporary) new routine is a bit taxing!
More importantly, you’ll need to keep any and all of your precious children or grandchildren away from our work area. We have a strict “no access” policy for all work areas for any person under age 15. This applies both during and between our work days, until your bathroom or shower is finished.
One reason we do this is to preserve the integrity of our jobsites, which helps keep us on schedule and eliminate potential out of pocket costs for inadvertent damages.
Below is an example issue which occured during a project in Katy, TX. We were rebuilding a master shower that was leaking, and had set up out waterproofing to cure over a long weekend. When we came in Monday morning to set up our flood test, we saw the minor damage in the picture below, at left.
As it turns out, unbeknownst to the homeowners, their 10-year-old had walked on top of our waterproofing, causing it to set up in a damaged state. This curious little boy didn’t mean any harm. He was just wondering what all the orange was about – and wanted to check it out.
The result, however, was that we ended up having to remove some of our careful waterproofing. We then had to reset the shower floor to cure again, costing us significant time and money. This is a prime example why our “No Access” policy always applies with all children (and other family members, as well!).
Once your shower is finished, it’s PARTY TIME! until then, please help us keep the work area from potential inadvertant damage like this.
KEY TAKEAWAYS: After demolition, we’ll start on your plumbing work. Plumbing includes modifying, then testing pipes where your water comes in goes out, to ensure any new modifications are up to snuff for a lifetime of use. After plumbing, we begin preparing your walls for their new waterproofing. Your waterproofing system will depend on what hard surface covering your new shower will have; most often, this is tile or solid surface. Both plumbing and waterproofing are VITAL!
In the vast, vast majority of cas
In the interest of accuracy, we cannot provide formal estimates until we’ve had a site visit to nail down the details of your project.
Your photos help us understand the space you’re working with, so we can have a more informed initial discussion about your bathroom project.
Initial project calls are conducted by the company owner, Brian Horton.
Bath projects can take from 4-6 days (solid-surface shower remodel), to 8 weeks or so for a large, full-scale primary bathroom remodel.
If you prefer that no one use the restroom inside your home, please let us know up front, and we’ll arrange to have a Port-O-John at your property for the duration of your project.
No. Tipping is not expected, in any way, at any time. Some clients feel compelled to give our guys food or cash tips, and that’s OK if you’re inclined to do that. However, we pay our teams well, and tipping is not necessary.
Simplicity Bath & Shower specializes in high-quality bathroom and shower remodels in Greater Houston, with a focus on careful design and craftsmanship.
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