Q. The remodeling project will include double sinks w/ granite counter tops, tile on floor and in shower, upscale faucets/shower head, new toilet, etc. We are not sparing much for expense and I think it will look great, I just wonder if it will look as nice to other potential buyers down the road without a tub. We do have another bathroom with a shower/tub combination.

A. It depends on the price range of your home. Upscale buyers will expect a master suite with a tub. This can have an impact on the ability to sell although with this market not much is selling anyway....

Q. I am just getting started with remodeling my bathroom. I went to home depot and saw several faucets and shower heads etc. What i didnt see was a complete set with all of these part matching (ie, all stainless steel of the same type/look). Basically I would like my faucet and shower heads, handles etc to match. It seems like they should be all sold together but it isnt. Is that too much to ask? Does anyone know any companies that sell these parts as a set so they match?

A. Go to your local bath specialty store. Many many sink and tub/shower taps are matched. Definately get them to match. They will have displays and catalogues to look at. Choose a tap you like and then have them find the matching tub/shower tap.

Q. I am remodeling my Master Bath and removing the tub and want to put in a large walk in spa-like shower that doesn't require a door. I need photos for the contractor!!! Help.

A. Tile ideas are endless for remodeling a master bath. Photo ideas sources are over the internet of showroom galleries of bathroom designs http://www.homeplansforfree.com/Free-Bathroom-Floor-Plan-Design-Layout-Pictures/index.php and pictures - This picture idea of a master bath walk in shower shows three tile styles http://www.homeplansforfree.com/Free-Bathroom-Floor-Plan-Design-Layout-Pictures/displayimage.php?pos=-133 but I remember when we were remodeling our master bathroom I had the same question wanting door-less tiled shower ideas such as there are in schools bathroom and could not find design ideas to fit our home design and ended up going with a glass door. Could you check back with the best tiled shower photo ideas you find.? Thanks! Wishing you Remodeling Success!

Q. The house is built on a cement slab. The contractor claims the shower pan is incorporated/ built in to the slab; and is not meant to be replaced. The house is 25 years old, and the existing shower pan does not leak.

A. On a few rare occasions they don t need to be replaced, but I would always replace it if your doing a ceramic, custom shower stall with a vinyl membrane pan. If this is a base unit that is preformed, you don t always have to replace it. But I m curious to know what kind of shower unit is built into the slab. Any questions you can e mail me through my avatar and check my qualifications there. GL

Q. I am referring to those advertised shower refit coverings supposedly completed in a one day installation. Are the walls of the retrofit sealed to the floor of the retrofit sufficiently to ensure that shower water goes only down the existing shower floor drain and does not leak thru onto the existing shower pan? If so, are the retro fit shower claddings available to fit any size shower enclosure? In effect, does the retrofit cladding effectively seal shower water away from the existing shower pan?

A. Yes to all your questions . If installed professionally it will not leak at all to anywhere except down the drain .

Q. We moved into the house I grew up in. We're fixing it up and remodeling a number of things. The bathroom is the current project, and we don't want to put another tub in. From what I've been hearing though, I may not be able to sell the house without it. The house is 2 bedroom/1 bath. Is there anyway around this? Like maybe building in a tiled bench into the shower?

A. I don't think a tiled bench in the shower is the way to go, you might as well just put a tub in there. It all depends on how you do it. If the shower is just a regular shower and there is nothing special about it, it has curtains, etc, then that is the same as an apartment and will hurt people liking your bathroom I would say. If your shower is nice and big, with sanded glass door and panes around it, then I wouldn't see it being a problem with no bathtub. People don't really take baths anymore, usually for just small kids. I would say, if the shower is a cut above, a very nice shower, then go for it, you don't really need a bathtub. I wouldn't recommend a tiled bench, as this may be costly, timely, not turn out the way you thought, may collect mold, etc easily. Realistically, do whatever you want to do with the remodel unless you are possibly downgrading from what is currently in there. I know that the tub issue will hurt whether or not people like your bathroom or not, but as far as resale, people care about the NUMBER of bedrooms and bathrooms, not what they have, overall area of the house, area of the land, location within the community (safe, accessible?), year house was built, monthly fees. If someone doesn't like your bathroom they will just redo it the way that they want to. It's why artists paint their paintings and simply paint the sides instead of framing them, or they frame them in pretty generic frames. Because they don't want to waste precious money or time when the next owner may just change the frame themselves no matter how nice or expensive the original frame that came with the painting was.

Q. I jus wanna txt while im in the shower lol

A. You want to text while you're in the shower? How long do you shower for, hours? Seriously it takes like 10 mins to shower you shouldn't be sitting thinking.. "Oh if only I had my phone and could text right now" Another option is to bath instead of showering, that way you can text.

Q. Im tiling the shower and coming out of the shower to meet the top of the backsplash on my new vanity and continue around the walls.Do i install the vanity first,then tile up to it,or do i tile first,then install my vanity over the new tile?

A. Vanity first... Because you need to make sure your vanity top is level then work off that surface.