Remodeling a Bathroom (Taunton's Build Like a Pro) [Paperback]

Leon A Frechette (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2004 | Series: Taunton's Build Like a Pro

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, flooring, cabinets and countertops, tub and shower enclosures, and moldings; and more.

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Taunton Press (April 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1561586218
• ISBN-13: 978-1561586219
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 9.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #475,878 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars 15% Remodeling a Bathroom, December 30, 2005

By 

John P. Callan (Portland, Oregon, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Remodeling a Bathroom (Taunton's Build Like a Pro) (Paperback)

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.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good overview, light on a lot of details, January 18, 2007

By 

Mjollnir "Glen" (Bergen County, NJ, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Remodeling a Bathroom (Taunton's Build Like a Pro) (Paperback)

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....

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars ok but not great, May 28, 2009

By 

J. Kehoe - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Remodeling a Bathroom (Taunton's Build Like a Pro) (Paperback)

I've read some other Taunton "pro" books that were much better. This one was pretty superficial. The book was too focused on what the particular author's bathroom project was like. It also seemed like the author was trying to get in plugs for various particular products that most of us will not ever use. Particularly for electrical wiring issues, I strongly recommend that readers read an excellent book, Rex Cauldwell's "for pros by pros" electrical wiring book, the latest edition.