Owens Corning

Transforming a Dreary Bathroom with Light

One of the brightest ways to transform a plain bathroom into a bathing beauty is with light. Without a doubt, almost every bathroom that you have admired in decorating books and magazines shimmers with light, both the natural and artificial kind. The right kind of light makes a room appear bigger. Even better, the appropriate combination of artificial and natural light makes us feel better and look better.

Natural Light
Daylight is, for the most part, the most appealing form of illumination because it naturally contains a broad spectrum of color. Interior designer Paula Jhung, of Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., notes that the bathroom "is the one room in the house that is often windowless. Yet, according to guidelines published by the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA), at least 10 percent of the wall surface in a bathroom should be constructed of glass. This formula can be achieved in most baths by the use of some combination of windows and glazed doors, skylights, and glass block.

Windows
Windows are the most common way to admit natural light into a room. Before you start shopping for new windows, make a list of what you like and dislike about the windows in your existing bath. How do they perform for you? Which direction do they face? What size and shape are they? Do they offer a view, too much, or too little shade? Do they admit noise, or threaten your family's privacy? A careful evaluation of your needs and goals will help you and your designer choose the right type of windows for your new bath.

Types of windows
Nowadays, windows come in many styles, and almost any one of them is suitable for a bathroom, depending on the style of your house. The traditional double-hung window is fine for any installation. The clean-line casement window offers a more contemporary look, and can be used in single or double-unit installations, or in a grouping of up to 5 units.

A pretty fanlight unit alone, or paired with another style, brings a classic element to the bath. Another replacement option is the greenhouse window. This unit can act as a solar collector and make a wonderful spot for plants. All these window types are available in a number of standard sizes and are easy to install within the structural frame of an existing window.

Of course, today energy efficiency is an important priority. So look for windows with a Low-E glass rating and vinyl-clad wood frames. Consider buying windows with double or triple glazing for extra protection from both heat and cold. Just remember that proper sizing and installation are important.

Location, Location, Location Remember that natural light varies by the time of day, the seasonal orientation of the sun, and by the architecture of the space. For the greatest amount and the best control of sunlight year-round, orient a window to the south, says Nick Geragi, CKD, CBD, and director of education for the NKBA. From this vantage point, the room stands to gain maximum heat and light in winter, and minimal solar heat in the summer. One note of caution: If you plan on using a lot of glass in the bathroom, a southern exposure may create a greenhouse effect in a room that does not have proper cooling and ventilation equipment. A northern exposure, on the other hand, is the least appropriate room for a great deal of glass because it never admits direct sunlight.

If your bathroom is adjacent to an outdoor spa or hot tub, pool, garden, deck, private courtyard, consider installing glass or French doors. These glazed units will provide access to the outdoors and preserve the view.

A Room with a View
Whether or not you intend to open your bathroom to an outdoor area, consider how much privacy you have. You may dream of a bubble bath with a view of the flower garden; but your gardener, postman, and neighbors may not take kindly to observing daily ablutions. However, your desire for more natural light in the bathroom does not have to come at the loss of privacy. One solution is to install windows high up on a wall. Fanlight or casement windows are ideal for this. Because they are small, you may want to use several of them.

Glass Block
Glass block is another popular option because of its dramatic decorative effect, as well as its opaque quality that allows light inside while maintaining privacy. There are pros and cons to the choice, depending on your circumstances. First of all, it is not energy efficient, with an R value of 1.79 (R values insure insulating capabilities of a product experts consider an insulating factor of R-38 ideal for windows.) Second, glass block is heavy, and may require structural accommodations. Plastic "glass" blocks may be an alternative, but, says Geragi, "they are not really practical for a wet area because plastic retains moisture, and they scratch easily and discolor."

Skylights
If there is no exterior wall for installing a window, which is often the case, look up. A skylight may be the solution. Do not despair if the bathroom is not directly under the roof. A shaft or skylight tunnel can be constructed to extend from the ceiling all the way up through the attic to the roof. This makes it possible to bring in light from the top floor.

For optimum advantage, the NKBA recommends that the size of a skylight equal at least 15 percent of the bathroom's total wall surface. But the dimensions of the shaft will affect light gain, too. Don Boico, CKD, CR, of Classic Kitchen & Bath Center in Roslyn, NY, suggests installing a shaft that flares out toward the bottom to extend the pool of sunlight that fills the room. "You could begin with a 4 ft. by 4 ft. skylight at the roof, for example. At the bathroom's ceiling level, extend the shaft's opening to measure 6 ft. by 6 ft., and you will increase the amount of light that enters the room."

There are 3 basic types of skylight to consider: fixed, venting, and roof windows. Fixed skylights cannot be opened, so they are not always practical for a bathroom where moisture build-up is a problem. "A fixed skylight is fine," explains Boico, "as long as there is a good exhaust system in the bathroom that is vented directly to the outdoors."

On the other hand, a venting skylight opens to let in air and let out moisture, operating via a crank (or sometimes a motor). A roof window is the most expensive skylight, but probably the most convenient one. It not only provides greater ventilation, but the 180-degree pivoting action around the frame permits cleaning the outside face of the unit from the he inside. Skylights have been known to leak, but if the flashing around them is installed correctly, and the joints are tightly sealed with caulk, it should perform well. The NKBA warns however, that there must be a minimum distance of 5 ft. between the unit and any waste vent, or else sewer gases can be drawn into the house through an open skylight.

Again, the energy efficiency of the model (check the R-rating) must be considered or else condensation will form on the window. This is a special concern for fixed units that sometimes feature a plastic dome instead of glass. Since plastic holds moisture, proper use of an exhaust system is important.

Written by Kathie Robitz
Reprinted with permission, HouseNet, Inc.

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