Adding or remodeling a bathroom is one of the best ways you can increase the value of your home. Remove outdated fixtures and tilework; if necessary, replace the substrate with new waterproof materials, and install new tile. If you're adding on a bathroom, you can make room for features like a double sink or whirlpool tub. Extra bathrooms always make a house more marketable.

Here s another great tip from BobVila.com. Bathrooms are, like it or not, wet areas. Even if the rest of your house has gleaming hardwood floors, they re not the best choice for your bathroom. While some wood-look laminates can be glued and sealed to resist moisture, if water does get beneath the surface, the affected panels have to be replaced, which isn t simple or cheap. Cork flooring, properly installed and treated, can be a good alternative if you want that warm wood feeling. Cork is sustainably harvested, naturally anti-microbial and mildew-resistant. All it needs is a coat or two of eco-friendly acrylic binder to seal the joints and make it suitable for bathroom installation. Polished stone or glossy tile are slippery when wet, so if you re going with tile, look for a sandblasted or textured finish. Any stone or tile can be very cold underfoot, so consider installing a radiant heat mat beneath it. Stone and porcelain tile can be very expensive, but there s a huge variety of ceramic and glass tile available from $3 to $20 per square foot, installed. Tile installation is an advanced do-it-yourself job that can be physically demanding and time-consuming. But even if you hire a pro, it s a good investment. Some Realtors estimate that every dollar you spend on tile installation adds $1.50 to your home s value. For budget installations, vinyl tiles are the cheapest and easiest to work with. They don t last as long as sheet vinyl, though, and the gaps between them can be hard to seal. While it s a myth that sheet vinyl is an easy do-it-yourself project, there are lots of great new patterns and colors to choose from, costing between $2 and $7 a square foot. Find out more at BobVila.com: the ultimate home improvement web site! 2008 BobVila.com

Bob meets with the plumber to look at the air handler and then goes upstairs to check out a bathroom floor heated with radiant heat.

Here's another great tip from BobVila.com. It s important to make your home energy-efficient by sealing all gaps and insulating thoroughly. But don t overlook ventilation. Vent fans in the kitchen and bathrooms are required by code in most states, and they re a good idea everywhere. They help protect indoor air quality and get rid of excess moisture from cooking and bathing that can lead to mold problems and structural damage. In the kitchen, range hoods now come in all shapes and sizes to go with your cooking surface and d cor. They can be ducted through a ceiling or exterior wall. This often requires tearing out plaster or drywall and it s best done during a remodel. If you don t want a large hood, consider a cooktop with a downdraft vent ducted through the floor. Either way, ventilation fans should always be ducted to the outside, never into an attic or crawlspace. Bathroom ventilation fans have come a long way, too. Energy Star-certified models with built-in ceiling lights can do double-duty and save you money, especially since these are so often accidentally left on. And they re much quieter, too. Some installers recommend the roof-mount type of fan. The fan and motor are installed on the roof and ducted to the interior space. In some homes, this can make installation and service easier since the unit s out in the open instead of built into the ceiling. Find out more at BobVila.com: The ultimate home improvement web site! BobVila.com 2008

…adds elegant style to your kitchen or bathroom with long-term stain protection. For…
…Marble by Consentino For do it yourself bathroom vanities, counters, flooring, shower…
…beauty choose Marlique marble for your bathroom surfaces. Silestone MURO Silestone…

Kitchen Lighting Bathroom Lighting Bedroom Lighting…
…Selecting Light Fixtures Bob Vila Season 1 Installing a Porch Light Bob Vila Season 2 Installing Wireless…
…Interior Lighting Controls Bob Vila Season 2 Installing Exterior…

…for children, healthy bedding and clothing, and the custom Corian tub deck. First, Jay Martel of the International Association…
…In the master bath, Grant Garcia and Chris Dada install the Corian tub surround that was fabricated off site using digital-photo…

…announced an exclusive partnership with Bob Vila to leverage the Internet to match homeowners…
…contractors and home renovation experts. Bob Vila is one of the most beloved U.S. television…
…improvement. Under this exclusive arrangement, Bob Vila and Web.com will offer homeowners access…

…expert and "sweat equity" pioneer Bob Vila has been watching the mortgage crisis…
…Vila says. Two new articles on Bob Vila's popular Web site, BobVila.com…
…trusted name in home improvement. "At Bob Vila.com, we've tried to take the mystery…

During the course of his 25-year career on television, Bob Vila has traveled far and wide covering the home improvement industry…
…ever appeared in your area, you can check using the Official Bob Vila Google Map. The map shows project locations and includes appearances…