Finishing Touches

Bathroom finishing involves many little details. This section mentions items common to most remodeling projects.

Most of the work leading up to this point has already been done -- things like running electrical cable, framing, tiling.

All you really need to do is level and fasten in place accessories like grab bars, soap dish, shelves, towel racks/hooks, toilet tissue holder.

Wall mirrors are often glued to the wall with globs of strong epoxy. This glue really holds, and removing mirrors often involves breaking them off in pieces.

Cutting mirrors to fit isn't very easy, so we often work with a glass contractor. They measure the wall before cutting the mirrors and adjust for any irregularities -- like an uneven ceiling.

Millwork trims out the doors and floor. Usually, the door and woodwork are stained to match the cabinets. Our cabinets included a plywood toe kick that we notched to fit over the heat duct.

Trim pieces may also fit up against a mirror. This may create a reflection of the trim's back side, so stain it too, or add a little piece of black electrical tape to hide it.

Install light fixtures last to avoid breaking them. Feed the electrical cable through the fixture hole, position the fixture level, and if possible, attach it to wall studs.

Make sure to attach the ground wire to the fixture's case or included grounding wire when connecting the wires.