| The very first thing being offered as an upgrade is | | | | they ring like a bell. When you start getting into the |
| the plumbing fixtures. | | | | mid level home or condo they'll offer drop-in cast iron. |
| Bathrooms | | | | Which as said before is tough, naturally sound |
| Bathroom faucets - The standard faucet offered for | | | | deadening and has great heat retention properties. |
| a bathroom in a mid level spec home is a single | | | | Cast iron sinks come in a variety of shapes and |
| handle lavatory faucet in chrome. Not a lot of style, | | | | colors. (You can get an enameled steel sink, it is also |
| function is paramount. The counter top drilling for this | | | | an entry level sink and has the same pro and cons as |
| type of faucet has a single hole or three holes. Three | | | | the steel bathtub) Laminate counters have drop-in |
| hole 4" center sinks or counters have drillings that are | | | | sinks meaning they are self rimming. When the home |
| equidistant from the center with a total spread of 4" | | | | owner upgrades the type of counter tops to granite |
| across. The first thing offered for an upgrade would | | | | or a synthetic aggregate, although you can still use a |
| be the finish. Polished Brass, Stainless Steel, Brushed | | | | drop in sink most choose to buy an under-mount sink. |
| Nickel are just a few of the finishes available. The | | | | The sink is mounted underneath the counter using |
| finish selections on entry level faucets are more | | | | clips usually pre-drilled by the counter top supplier |
| limited however recently the faucet manufacturers | | | | installer. Upgrading to an under counter mount |
| have been offering more current finishes i.e brushed | | | | stainless steel sink is the most popular choice when |
| nickel and oil rubbed bronze. The next upgrade would | | | | the counter tops are also upgraded. Stainless gives |
| be to install a mini wide spread (4" centers) or a | | | | you an attractive color contrast between the |
| widespread faucet (8" centers). These types of | | | | counter and the sink and as said before is extremely |
| faucets have separate hot and cold handles and | | | | durable. Please take note, several years ago |
| separate spout and tend to have a full line of finishes | | | | upgrading to an under counter mount stainless |
| and styles to choose from. Most faucet | | | | assured you of a heavy gauge sink with superior |
| manufacturers now offer very high end single handle | | | | sound deadening and a lustrous finish, there are many |
| faucets and regardless of which upgrade you choose | | | | that have taken advantage of the sinks' popularity |
| those faucets should be solid brass, have PVD | | | | by making a cheaper sink. Beware. If you have any |
| (Physical Vapor Deposition) finishes with a lifetime | | | | questions regarding a certain type sink leave the |
| guarantee and have a upgraded cartridge usually | | | | question here and we'll give you an honest answer. |
| made of ceramic. | | | | When installing a Corian or another acrylic based solid |
| Toilets - The standard toilet offering is 1.6GPF | | | | surface counter top the kitchen sink can be integral, |
| (Gallons Per Flush) round front toilet in white. (A | | | | meaning it is fused to the counter top. The sink can |
| round front toilet has well...a round front. It's design is | | | | be the same color as the counter or more preferably |
| compact and any man over 185lbs can't stand them. | | | | a contrasting color. Finally and fairly recently quite a |
| They may never complain but they have a pretty | | | | few manufacturers have begun manufacturing quartz |
| small toilet seat.) The first level of upgrade would be | | | | based drop in and under counter mount sinks. They |
| to get a toilet with an elongated bowl. The elongated | | | | are available in a very limited selection of colors |
| bowl gives you a few extra inches in front, however | | | | white, black, granite (gray/beige) are the only ones |
| some bathrooms don't have the space to | | | | available at the present. They are extremely durable, |
| accommodate the bowl so check your dimensions. | | | | some are up to 80% quartz and their sound |
| We have seen extremely high end homes have | | | | deadening is on par with cast iron. Most builders are |
| round front bowls and it still boggles the mind. The | | | | calling this an upgrade to cast iron when in fact they |
| next standard upgrade and it's becoming more and | | | | are very similar in price and in some cases less |
| more popular is having a "comfort high" bowl. This is | | | | money. |
| essentially an ADA height bowl measuring 17" from | | | | Kitchen Sink Faucets - The entry level faucet is a |
| the floor to the rim. It's easier on the knees both | | | | chrome single handle faucet without a side spray. |
| sitting down and standing up. Toilets come in myriad | | | | You can obviously request the same faucet with a |
| colors however most china manufacturers have | | | | side spray and it would be an upgrade but only about |
| reduced their color offerings dramatically over the | | | | $25.00 list. Similarly to the lavatory faucets you can |
| last five years. The most popular colors are white, | | | | upgrade the finish and again even the entry level |
| bisque/linen, bone/almond, gray and black. Most | | | | faucets have a few of the popular finishes. The first |
| standard toilet seats are made of laminated wood, | | | | real upgrade to the faucet comes in the way of a |
| over time the lamination and layers of wood | | | | pull out spout. These faucets are manufactured by |
| separate and the seat begins to break down. You | | | | almost every major plumbing fixture company and |
| can upgrade the seat to molded plastic to sharply | | | | are pretty convenient. You can buy entry level |
| increase the life of the seat. Other toilet upgrades | | | | faucets with pull out spouts or again upgrade and |
| involve the flushing mechanism. Pressure assisted and | | | | these upgrades will affect the finish, durability and the |
| HET(High Efficiency Toilet)/dual flush are a couple of | | | | cartridge material. The selection of finishes and styles |
| such upgrades. | | | | for kitchen faucets are many so be sure to look at |
| Showers - The shower or tub/shower in the mid | | | | the manufacturer's website to find the right faucet |
| level spec home is commonly a single handle pressure | | | | for you. |
| balanced valve with a chrome finish. As with the | | | | Garbage Disposals - You either ask for one or you |
| lavatory faucet, function and value is more important | | | | don't, if not used properly they can be a pain for |
| then style. The type of finish is the first line of | | | | your lucky plumbing professional. As a general rule of |
| upgrades, polished brass, stainless steel, and brushed | | | | thumb as the price of the disposal increases so does |
| nickel are a few. On most occasions the shower | | | | the horse power rating, the quality of the housing |
| faucet match the lavatory in style and finish. Another | | | | material increases and the sound insulation gets |
| common upgrade would be to add a hand held | | | | better as well. |
| shower on a holder or on a slide bar. The valve could | | | | Miscellaneous upgrades - The next upgrades that we |
| be changed to a thermostatic mixing valve (unlike a | | | | will list will be to the entire plumbing system. |
| pressure balance valve that protects the user by | | | | Cast Iron Waste Piping - There will always be a |
| cutting off water depending on the water pressure a | | | | debate about which material is superior but this we |
| thermostatic valve protects the user from scalding | | | | can say with certainty, cast iron is quieter piping. |
| by sensing the temperature of the water. If the | | | | However it's heavier, more difficult to cut, prepare |
| water gets too hot the valve slams shut.) Most | | | | and install so we'll call it an upgrade. |
| thermostatic mixing valves have a separate volume | | | | Copper Water Piping - PEX plastic tubing is code |
| control. You can also get complicated and add | | | | approved in just about every state however most |
| diverters, body sprays and rain dome shower heads. | | | | plumbing professionals would agree that copper |
| Steam generating units can also be installed to a walk | | | | water pipe and fittings is a superior installation. |
| in shower to enhance the shower experience. For the | | | | However the disparity in skill level needed to install a |
| ultimate in showering experience Kohler manufactures | | | | copper water distribution system is huge. Copper is |
| a product called the DVT valve. It is the most | | | | expensive and the labor to install is expensive so for |
| advanced shower system readily available to the | | | | arguments sake we'll call it an upgrade. |
| consumer, it combines steam, water, sound, light and | | | | Water Softener - Depending on the hardness of the |
| even the web in a wall mounted control unit | | | | water in your area you may want install a water |
| combined with an digitally controlled set of valves. It's | | | | softener. It is our recommendation to have your |
| expensive but for the customer with no budget it's | | | | water tested so you can install the correct softener. |
| awesome. | | | | Softened water is easier on clothes, skin and the the |
| Steam Generator - A steam generator can be | | | | plumbing piping in your home. The only downside to |
| installed in a walk in shower. | | | | having a softener is maintaining the salt that needs |
| Tubs - Most entry level homes get a 5ft or 6ft | | | | be added to the system for proper function. |
| bathtub they can be drop in or fit in the tub space | | | | Whole House Water Filter - This is a water filter that |
| with a front apron. They are made in enameled steel | | | | removes the the taste, odor and sediment from the |
| or better they are made in cast iron. Enameled steel | | | | entire house water supply. How often the filter |
| tubs are lighter than their cast iron counterparts but | | | | cartridge is changed is dependent on the quality of |
| are thinner and don't have the same heat retention | | | | the incoming water. If the quality of water is poor |
| properties. We suppose getting a cast iron tub would | | | | and the water has a high amount of suspended solids |
| be considered an upgrade but they are offered in | | | | the cartridge gets clogged and the water pressure in |
| quite a few new homes. Enameled steel tubs are | | | | the entire house drops off drastically. It can be |
| very popular in apartment buildings. With regards to | | | | inconvenient but at least you are certain when the |
| real upgrades, tub depth is one, requesting a drop in | | | | filter needs replacing. |
| soaker tub is another and you can get that soaker | | | | Water Heater - Most average homes are installed |
| tub with whirlpool jets. Tub color and length are | | | | with either a 40 or 50 gallon water heater. You can |
| upgrades to choose from but the tubs' construction | | | | upgrade to a larger storage tank or even go with a |
| and material are where the real upgrades begin. Steel | | | | tankless. Be advised tankless heaters work superbly |
| is by far the cheapest and least durable, gel coat | | | | if installed correctly, but are usually more than double |
| fiberglass can be made pretty cheaply and in any | | | | the installed cost. |
| color but if scratched will show the white undercoat. | | | | Hot Water Recirculation Pump - If a home has a long |
| Upgrading to acrylic is the way to go when choosing | | | | footprint the hot water may take awhile to get to |
| a fiberglass backed tub, the color is all the way | | | | the farthest plumbing fixture, having a recirculating |
| through the surface material so its scratches are not | | | | pump installed decreases the wait time for hot water |
| as apparent. Again if budget mean nothing Kohler | | | | dramatically. |
| makes several cast iron models that have therapeutic | | | | Pressure Booster Pump - Depending on the water |
| jets, bubble massage jets and jets that just the | | | | pressure in a municipality, the owners of a home with |
| water fill with bubbles for ascetics only. These tubs | | | | higher than average water demands may want to |
| can be bought with LED lighting and remote controls | | | | look into installing a pressure booster pump. These |
| for added please and convenience. | | | | pumps come in two basic models, manual; you flip a |
| Kitchen | | | | switch when you need higher water pressure and |
| Kitchen Sink - Drop in stainless steel sinks in 20 or 22 | | | | variable frequency which turns on, on demand. |
| gauge are building standard. They are naturally stain | | | | Obviously the later is the more expensive of the two |
| and corrosion resistant but they are thin, the finishes | | | | but it is a more convenient system. |
| aren't very good and if you drop something in them | | | | |