Shower Fashion

When it comes to renovating your bathroom, it might be time to change your frame of reference. In fact, it may be time to go frameless.

Recession worries have some homeowners hesitating about whether now is the time to redo their outdated bathroom, and toying with the temptation to opt for the cheapest solution instead of getting what they yearn for—beauty, design, and quality.

“Even with the economy seemingly improving, people are cautiously optimistic and keeping a close watch on their spending,” says Terri Downs of CB Showers in San Carlos, an award-winning specialist in custom frameless shower enclosures since 1986. “Whether homeowners are updating a tired bathroom or remodeling a small bathroom into a larger space, it is important to look for the best value, which isn’t always the lowest price.” Fortunately, there are times when what’s best for your pocketbook and what’s best for your soul agree. A bathroom renovation is a prime example, especially one that includes a frameless shower enclosure.

According to Remodeling Magazine’s Cost vs. Value Report for 2010-2011, (www.remodeling.hw.net/2010/costvsvalue/division/pacific/city/ san-francisco—ca.aspx) a bathroom remodel is still one of the best investments Bay Area homeowners can make in their home, offering on average a 79.6% return on investment if they were to sell their home within one year. And one of the biggest bangs-for-the-buck in modern bathroom renovations is the frameless shower enclosure. Made of tempered safety glass, frameless shower doors last three to four times longer than a framed shower door, are easier to clean, and look equally at home in both traditional and modern décors.

“A basic frameless door costs just a few hundred dollars more than an old-fashioned framed door,” says Terri. “But it gives you a much nicer, more updated look. Beautifully tiled or marbled walls are enhanced, and, like a mirror, clear glass opens up the space making the room look larger.” All that makes a bathroom—and the whole home—more desirable in today’s buyers’ market. But value isn’t just about what you can get out of your home or bathroom in the future. It’s how you feel living in it every day.

“We use our bathroom as our oasis,” says Terri. “We all need a place where we can go chill. In these tight economic times, spa visits are often an unaffordable luxury. Renovating your bathroom is a real mood lifter. It makes you feel so good about where you live, because your house is a reflection of who you are.”

That need to personalize your space is why CB Showers—which has been Diamond Certified since 2003—goes the extra mile to help each homeowner create an enclosure that uniquely fits their personal style. “Our enclosures are custom ordered, and we carry a huge range of products, with glass and hardware options in all different colors, textures and designs,” says Terri. In the San Carlos showroom, shoppers will find matching door hardware and bathroom fixtures ranging from oil-rubbed bronze and antique brass to sparkling chrome and polished brass. The company also carries colored glass for backsplashes and shower walls; framed and sliding enclosures for smaller spaces; mirrors for vanities and walls; even bar glass shelves.

“There are more choices now than there have ever been,” says Terri. “Frameless shower enclosures are our main focus and have been from the beginning. Other glass companies have added frameless to their product line in the last decade or so, and there are a few who claim they can do what we do cheaper, but they may be using inferior materials. It is important to check the credentials of any company you are considering doing business with.” In contrast, CB Showers, which is fully insured and licensed, introduced the frameless shower enclosure concept to the Bay Area 25 years ago, uses only the finest quality materials, and stands behind all their installations 100%.

For more information on the value of going frameless, visit CB Showers, Inc. at 1160 Industrial Road, #10 in San Carlos, or (650) 593-6997