Here's another great tip from BobVila.com. If your bathtub has seen better days, make sure you know your options before you break out the crowbar. Bathtubs and their surrounding walls are one of the most likely places you ll find water damage. If you see cracked tile or failing grout or caulking, there s almost certain to be water damage of some sort to the wall, the subfloor or even your home s structure. If you know your tub surround has been leaking for a while, you should never just cover it up with a new tub wall and liner. Mold and mildew trapped behind the walls and floors can multiply and continue to damage your home s structure and your family s health even if you can t see it. Serious mold eradication may require the help of a professional to be sure it s completely gone before you renovate. Let s say you remove the old tile and substrate and find no water damage. You can renew your tub or shower area without the expense, effort and environmental cost of junking your old tub. If it s stained or chipped or you don t like the color, having your existing cast-iron tub re-glazed can save you 70 percent over the cost of buying and installing a brand new one. Acrylic or fiberglass tubs can also be repaired and re-coated for a fresh start. If you do decide to replace your tub, there are lots to choose from. Acrylic, fiberglass and porcelain on steel are the least expensive, and cast-iron is very durable and popular. Vintage clawfoot tubs are seeing a revival. If you ve got the space and the budget, you could sink a tiled roman tub into the floor. Or, check out the new designer stand-alone sculptural tubs. With champagne bubbles, hydrotherapy jets and even TV screens, your tub may become your favorite piece of furniture. Find out more at BobVila.com: The ultimate home improvement web site! BobVila.com 2008

Bob moves on to the third floor of the Melrose nursery remodeling project to review what has been done in preparation for the baby. The third floor will primarily be a kids' floor and, accordingly, at the top of the staircase a baby safety gate has been installed. Bob reviews the painting work done in the bedroom and then moves on to a room that was previously a home office but is now being renovated to become a child's bathroom. The room has the original beadboard and sits under the eaves of the roof. A small bathtub has been installed in front of the dormer window that has been replaced with a Pella window to prevent cold drafts. Bob reviews the unusual shape of the room. The new, freestanding Vintage bathtub has an antique style. A series of clips shows how the plumber installed the tub and connected the supply and waste lines. Bob then talks with Tara Dick of Vintage Tubs about the bathtub. Dick reviews features of the tub and explains how molds are made from older tubs so that new tubs of the same style can be manufactured. The porcelain finish is made to be one of the most durable in the industry and is capable of resisting cleaning chemicals. The ball-and-claw feet on the tub are made of solid brass with a chrome coating. Fixtures for the tub can be bought from many companies. Dick adds that free-standing tubs offer great flexibility in design and can accomodate any bathroom layout.

Bob disucsses the process and chemicals used to clean and restore the home's vintage bathtub. A new finish of synthetic porcelain is applied to the pedestal sink once it has been prepped.

Bob talks with Nick Beasley, owner of the Melrose home, about the layout of the home before and after remodeling. The house previously featured a half-bathroom off the master bedroom and a full bathroom off the hallway, so the layout was reversed during remodeling. Beasley reviews some of the work that had to be done for this including demolition, replacing the old plumbing, reframing, and re-leveling the floor. New Pella two-over-one windows were installed in the master bathroom, which are in keeping with this older home. Bob reviews the installation of the Corian tub deck in the master bathroom, which was custom made using a digital template. Appropriate colors were then chosen for the bathroom to create flow to the master bedroom. Because of the layout of the bathroom, a half-wall was installed at one end of the bathtub. Bob reviews how Classic Glass of Stoneham, Mass., worked with the tile to install the glass and mount the curtain rod for the bathtub. Bellacor lighting fixtures were selected to complement the home's character and style. A pedestal sink was installed and a beautiful hexagon tile floor helps unify the whole room. Beasley demonstrates how the new window shades can be raised from either the top or the bottom.

…Save Energy with RadiantGUARD® Radiant barrier products help you save energy and lower utility bills. Radiant barriers are easy for DIY homeowners…
…to quickly block the gain and loss of radiant heat during the summer and winter months…

…or heating job. PexSupply.com specializes in Radiant Heat and PEX Plumbing Supplies. PexSupply.com…
…com or give us a call at (888) 757-4774. Radiant Heat Modern radiant heat systems use PEX tubing to carry hot water through…

…environment and costs, there is Advanced framing for exterior and interior walls is based…
…Ferrier Custom Homes photo Advanced framing for exterior and interior walls is based…
…proven effective years ago. Advanced Framing Basics Advanced framing is the name…

Radiant Heating Systems Photo Credit: Wikimedia…
…a radiator in the corner of the room? Radiant heating systems, in which the warmth actually…
…underneath the floor, do just that. What is Radiant Heat? Using either electricity or warm…

…protection is adding bracing to gable end roof framing. This is something that only a licensed…
…contractor should do. Brace Gable End Roof Framing Gable end roofs are more susceptible…
…wind and receives its full force. If the framing of the gable end and the rest of the roof…

Advantages of Radiant Floor Heating Most people who own radiant floor heating feel that the most important advantages are comfort and quiet operation. Radiant floor systems allow even heating throughout the whole…