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A private retreat like this one would help anyone relax at the end of a tough day.
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By Wayne A. Endicott
Spoiled by what they see in model homes and what they enjoy at their local fitness centers, today's homeowners long for a getaway spot within their homes where they can do more than just shower and shave. They are looking for a home spa.
The savvy remodeler, with a little imagination and a lot of planning, may hold the answer to those dreams. Two remodelers who have made a specialty out of turning drab bathrooms into glamorous spas are Alex Olsen, CEO of Olsen Homes & Renovation of Keizer, Ore. (www.olsenrenovation.com), and Paul J. Zuch, president of Capital Improvements (www.cimprovements.com), a division of Zuch & Associates Inc. of Allen, Texas. In fact, their handiwork has earned each of them recognition in the National Association of the Remodeling Industry's 2005 Regional Contractor of theYear Awards program.
Says Alex, "We almost always update the bathrooms in homes we are remodeling." That update frequently takes on the character of a luxurious spa, he adds. "We find that our clients want to enlarge their space—create a master suite. They are looking for a retreat."
Location, location, location
One of the main considerations when creating a spa, Alex points out, is finding the space for it. That can be accomplished in two ways, he says: "You can either steal space from somewhere else, like a little-used closet or an under-utilized bedroom, or you can actually build an addition. We've done it both ways."
Paul concurs. "In some cases, we reconfigure existing spaces by incorporating rarely used bedrooms or simply gutting closets and other small areas to create a large area. In our market it is also common to add square footage to the existing footprint in order to create the desired space." Whichever way that space is to be found, it requires careful planning and brainstorming with homeowners to determine just what amenities they envision for their new spa.
Adding bells and whistles
"We're talking about a luxury master bath," says Paul. "This would include amenities such as a whirlpool tub, walk-in shower with body sprays, separate his and her vanities, walk-in closets with built-in chests of drawers and a dressing area."
Alex adds, "We often include rainhead showers, large heated seating areas and steam showers. We frequently include both a tub and a double shower. And we're beginning to see a demand for compartmented toilets."
Bathroom areas also may include their own on-demand water heaters, Paul says, along with heated tile or marble floors and heated towel racks. High-end spas also can feature such amenities as fireplaces, wine coolers, laundry valets and, frequently, an adjoining exercise room with adjacent dressing area and carpeted floors.
Upgrading utilities
No matter what amenities are included, considerable reworking of such things as plumbing and electrical is required. Alex says, "We usually put a home spa on its own dedicated circuit. We sometimes find it necessary to upgrade the wiring to a 220- or 240-volt circuit to handle the loads. Because such rooms draw a lot of current, we often include DC-powered lighting. In one job, we might have four different types of lights, such as can lighting, vanity lights, DC lighting and even LED lights."
Particularly in older homes, remodeling a bath into a spa may require significant upgrading of electrical and plumbing just to meet modern codes, Paul points out. "In our market, because most houses are built on slab, it may require significant cutting and replacing to relocate plumbing." Typical half-inch water supply lines will not handle the demand for body sprays and multihead showers, he warns.
Likewise, adding a large whirlpool tub, for example, may require beefing up a floor to support the weight of the new unit. "Relocating and updating utilities can add significant cost to the project," Paul says.
Both Alex and Paul agree that the typical client wants everything in his or her new spa. They caution, however, that the remodeler must somehow point out the practicalities of the situation. Many homeowners, says Paul, must make compromises based on overall cost. It is the remodeler's job to guide those choices so that the finished product fulfills the client's dreams of bathroom bliss.
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