Remodeling a Bathroom (Build Like A Pro) (Paperback)
February 11, 2010 by admin
Filed under Remodeling Books
After kitchen renovations, bathroom makeovers rank second in popularity. This book tells readers everything they need to know to remodel a home bathroom, from planning the renovation and choosing materials and fixtures to putting in the finishing touches. Step-by-step photo essays, pro-level advice, and insider’s tips cover every step in the process. The reader is guided through designing a floor plan; framing walls; roughing in the plumbing and electric supply; installing drywall, (more…)
Remodeling a Bathroom fails at delivering on its title subject…bathroom remodeling. The book’s focus is so broad, so wide, as to spend little time talking about things specific to bathrooms, no more than about 10%-15%.
Every other trade skill required to remodel a bathroom gets only a little less coverage. But there are better, much more focused books available specific to framing, plumbing, drywall, electricity, tiling, and trim carpentry. The Taunton Press offers complete and thorough books on these subjects I fully recommend.
Most people will DIY part of the remodel work and subcontract out work they’re uncomfortable with or feel unqualified to tackle. Planning the remodel and subcontracting out work get some mention in chapter 1, but far too little.
There’s little information on building mud-set showers or shower pans, but considerable information on tiling that shower.
There are chapters devoted to framing, doors and moldings, drywalling, but no mention of removing or refinishing or installing a traditional steel/cast-iron bathtub.
Page 59 illustrates a solderless copper pipe joining system and describes its advantages; It pictures the required electro-hydraulic installation tool, but then goes on to same that this is a system for professional installation only. The same chapter purports to teach copper piping system design and soldering technique on page 56 to 58.
Most of Taunton’s “Build Like A Pro” series are really good, but this one misses the mark.
I agree with the other reviewer that this book glossed over a lot of things, but I don’t find that too big a problem. I’ve gotten other books on electrical, plumbing, and tiling that fill in a lot of the missing details. What I liked about this book was the top-down project management view it gave, which is helping me strategize what to do when on my bathroom overhaul. I read through it once at the beginning, now I’m part way through the job (demolition done, plumbing roughed in, and subfloor fixed) and still find myself checking back as I get to each next step. That’s giving me an idea of what to look out for as I get to each next step (electrical, tub, vanity, and tile), from there I just go to my other books and the internet with my questions….