There are many steps to updating your old bathroom. From getting rid of old tub and shower combos to increasing your storage space, there are likely several items on your checklist that you want to cover. But, have you considered whether it’s time to update your old countertop material and replace it with something newer?

While you might not realize it, an older countertop material can date your bathroom significantly, taking away from the modern look you’re hoping to achieve. At Surface Bella, we understand how important it is to find a countertop material that fits the aesthetic of your space, while also fulfilling your needs. If you are on the fence about what countertop material is best for your home, keep reading to see what we recommend.

Laminate Counters

Laminate counters are a countertop material made of layers of plastic, secured to particle board to create a solid surface. Laminate materials are an incredibly popular choice among homeowners due to their low upfront cost and customization. Additionally, many homeowners like them because they are DIY-friendly, making them easy to install without training.

However, there are a few drawbacks to choosing to invest in laminate counters that you might want to consider before purchasing them. Laminate counters cannot be refinished, meaning that when they reach the end of their lifespan, there is no chance to restore them. They also do not add a substantial amount to your resale value, meaning they might not be the best investment in your counters.

Marble Counters

When thinking about upgrading your countertop material, you might want marble. Many homeowners love the elevated appearance these countertops add to your space. These counters also do a great job of increasing your home’s resale value, making the upfront cost of installing it worth the money.

While they are beautiful, marble counters don’t come without some drawbacks. Homeowners who’ve installed marble in their homes often come to find that these counters are incredibly porous. Whether you spill water, cleaning solutions, or cosmetic products, the material will absorb it. Additionally, your marble may etch or scratch after prolonged exposure to acid, making it a sensitive stone choice for your countertop material.

Quartz Counters

If you like the appearance of marble but aren’t a fan of how finicky it is, quartz might be the right countertop material for you. This material is also known for being crack-resistant and adding to your home’s resale value. With its ability to fit a variety of spaces, quartz might be a great addition to your bathroom.

Although quartz comes with many benefits, there are a few drawbacks. One of the biggest drawbacks is the upfront cost. On average, quartz counters cost between $1,500 and $12,000. It is also incredibly heavy, making it difficult to move into a space without help, and may require additional professional help.

Tile Counters

Tile countertops are an inexpensive and DIY-friendly way to upgrade your current countertop material. No matter what your bathroom looks like, these counters are often easy to customize to perfectly fit a variety of spaces. Additionally, they are easier to clean than some other, more high-maintenance countertop materials.

While these counters might come with several benefits, there are some drawbacks. When you invest in a tile countertop material, you will need to regrout them as the grout fails. They are also not the most durable, meaning you may deal with cracking if you accidentally drop anything on your counter.

How to Choose the Best Countertop Material

With so many countertop materials on the market, you might not know which is the best addition to your space. If you are on the fence about which is best for your home, you should consider speaking to a home remodeling contractor. They can talk to you about the benefits and drawbacks of installing each material in your home, and help make recommendations based on what you want and need of the space. They can ensure your chosen material blends well with the space and creates a cohesive overall appearance. When you work with a remodeling contractor for your bathroom remodel, you can trust that the finished product will be beautiful.

Upgrading Your Countertop Material at Surface Bella

When it comes time to install a new countertop in your bathroom, it is essential that you work with a reliable and experienced home remodeling contractor. If you are looking for a contractor in the Greenville, South Carolina, area, turn to our team at Surface Bella. For years, we’ve provided a variety of home remodeling services to homes across the area.

With years of experience, we can help you find the best countertop materials for your upcoming bathroom remodeling project. In addition to our bathroom remodeling services, we can help you upgrade your windows, outdoor entertaining spaces, and much more to create the home of your dreams.

If you would like to schedule a bathroom remodel for your home or if you have any questions about the services we provide, don’t hesitate to contact our team today.

Many homeowners agree that they enjoy spending time in their backyards. However, they may not use this space very often due to a lack of privacy or exposure to the elements. If you have an outdoor living space that you aren’t using very frequently, incorporating a patio cover may be a great way to increase your usage.

Our Surface Bella team understands that the addition of patio covers can greatly improve more than just the aesthetics of your home. But, you might not realize all of the benefits you can get out of this investment. If you want to learn more about how the addition of a patio cover can transform and improve your outdoor living space, keep reading.

What is a Patio Cover?

A patio cover is a versatile structure attached to your home designed to provide ample shade for your patio. You can incorporate a variety of patio covers into your outdoor living space, allowing for customization and adaptability. Depending on the amount of shade you are hoping for, you may choose to incorporate an awning or pergola into your outdoor space.

Pergolas are patio covers with minimal coverage. They traditionally have beams or rafters that are usually left open, exposing you to some sunlight throughout the day. Awnings, on the other hand, are more similar to the roof of your home. They offer complete overhead coverage from any sun exposure.

How a Patio Cover Transforms Your Outdoor Space?

Investing in a patio cover is a great way to transform your outdoor living space into a space you’ll use every day of the week. Some of the most amazing benefits of investing in a patio cover for your outdoor space include:

1. Increasing Your Usable Space

If your home’s square footage no longer meets your needs, incorporating a patio cover into your outdoor living space is a great way to increase your livable space. In some cases, you may be able to leave your backdoor open, allowing for easy movement between your indoor and outdoor living space. This increase in livable space may be especially beneficial if you love hosting friends and family.

2. Enjoy Time Outdoors, No Matter the Weather

While you may love spending time outdoors, the weather year-round isn’t necessarily the greatest for enjoying outdoor time. If you’ve ever had to cancel parties or move them indoors at the last minute because of inclement weather, a patio cover is a great way for you to ignore the weather forecast. Patio covers like an awning are a great way to keep yourself completely protected from rain, hail, or extreme sun exposure.

3. Provide Ample Shade

Although you may enjoy spending time outdoors, you may not be the biggest fan of sun exposure. Not only does excessive sun exposure lead to an increased risk of skin cancer, but it may also make spending time outdoors uncomfortable. If you want to continue enjoying time outdoors without dealing with excessive sun exposure, a patio cover will provide you with ample shade and keep you protected while you hang out outdoors.

4. Protect Your Outdoor Furniture

Your outdoor furniture is designed to withstand a great deal of weather conditions. However, excessive exposure to moisture, sunlight, dirt, and debris can begin to degrade these materials. If you don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars every year replacing your outdoor furniture because of this degradation, incorporating a patio cover into your outdoor space is a great way to keep it safe. This coverage will help you keep your furniture safe from any overhead debris and weather.

5. Add Necessary Privacy

Not every backyard living space is going to provide as much privacy from your neighbors and other intrusions as you would like. If you want to add a little more privacy from the prying eyes of your neighbors or a second-story window, a patio cover is a great way to do this. A pergola will provide you with a minimal amount of privacy, whereas an awning should provide you with complete overhead coverage.

6. Create Dedicated Living Spaces

When you move into a new home, it might not even have the outdoor living space you’re accustomed to. By adding a patio cover to your backyard, you can begin creating an established outdoor living space. With the addition of stone or brick flooring, some furniture, and a patio cover, you can create a dedicated space so you can begin enjoying your new backyard.

Create the Perfect Patio Cover with Surface Bella

If you are interested in installing a pergola or awning in your Greenville, SC, backyard, our team at Surface Bella can help. We’ve provided homeowners across the area with the most comprehensive home restoration services. With this experience, we’re confident that we can help you find the perfect patio cover for your home.

In addition to our patio cover services, our team provides vinyl window installation, bathroom remodels, vinyl siding, and much more to help you achieve the home of your dreams. If you are interested in learning more about our patio covering installation services or you have questions about the other services we offer, don’t hesitate to contact us today.

A small bathroom can pose a major challenge when it comes time to remodel the space. However, with the right approach and some creativity, the smallest bathrooms in your home can be transformed into a space you’ll love. In fact, even these small spaces can be turned into your modern dream bathroom.

At Surface Bella, we understand the major difference an updated bathroom can make to your home’s aesthetics. But when you’re working in such a small space, you might not know what changes are realistically possible. If you want to learn more about some of the best updates you can make to your small bathroom, keep reading to see what our team recommends.

1. Update Old Tiles

If you aren’t a fan of more vintage styles, updating old tiles is the perfect addition to your bathroom remodeling project. Many older tiles may be colored, which can, in some cases, make your small bathroom feel even smaller. When planning your remodeling project, talk to your contractor about swapping out old tiles with bright, white tiles to open up the space and make it feel more modern.

2. Upgrade Your Shower Door

Shower curtains or old shower doors may create a visual block in your bathroom. To help open up the space and improve the appearance of your bathroom, you might want to talk to your contractor about upgrading your shower door. Whether you opt for a framed or frameless shower door, using glass to separate the shower space from the rest of your bathroom can help open up the space and make it feel much larger.

3. Remove Old Wallpaper

Wallpaper seems to slowly be making its way into the mainstream once again. However, this doesn’t mean you should keep your decades-old wallpaper. If your small bathroom has old, dingy wallpaper, ripping it out during your remodeling project might be the perfect first step in your project. This can help make the space feel less busy and allow you to apply a fresh coat of bright paint to freshen up the space.

4. Add Under-Sink Storage

One of the biggest complaints homeowners have about their small bathroom is that there isn’t nearly enough storage space. Many smaller bathrooms lack closet space and shelving for all of the things you store in your bathroom. If you are planning to start a bathroom remodel, this provides you with the perfect opportunity to add under-sink storage to provide you with ample room to fit your belongings. This under-sink storage gives you a place to store cleaning supplies, hair tools, and more to keep them out of sight of your guests and allow you to maintain a tidier space.

5. Replace Linoleum Floors

While linoleum flooring is strong enough to last up to 40 years, there are more durable flooring options on the market. When you plan your small bathroom remodel, you should consider tearing out old linoleum flooring and replacing it with tile or natural stone flooring. These stones are far stronger and more resistant to damage over time, making them the perfect base for your bathroom. If you are tired of dealing with a less durable flooring option, replacing your floors should be the first step in your remodeling project.

6. Improve Lighting

The last thing you want to deal with in your bathroom is poor lighting. A lack of proper lighting can be especially frustrating to deal with in smaller spaces, as it makes them feel more cramped. To avoid this and make a significant difference in the appearance of your small bathroom, you should consider investing in improved lighting. Whether you’re updating the overhead light or adding lighting over the mirror, this can make the space feel much brighter and more spacious.

7. Get a Bigger Mirror

One of the easiest ways to make a space feel larger is by incorporating mirrors. While your small bathroom likely has a mirror, it might not be big enough to open up the space. When you start your remodeling project, look into finding larger mirrors to sit on top of your vanity. This will give off the illusion of a much larger room than you are actually working with.

8. Add a Shower Niche

If you don’t have much storage in your small bathroom, then you might also resort to putting your shampoo, conditioner, and body wash on the floor in your shower. With very little floor space, you might make your small shower feel even smaller by using the floor for this. If you want to avoid making your space feel even smaller, you should speak to your remodeling contractor about adding a small shower niche. This niche will take up very little wall space in your shower but provides you with the perfect space to store your hygiene products.

9. Utilize Wall Space

If adding storage under your sink isn’t realistic, you might want to consider using the vertical space in your bathroom. Talk to your contractor about adding shelves or cabinets above your vanity or toilet to not only add more storage space to your bathroom but also make the space feel much taller. This will help you keep clutter out of sight while giving you an opportunity to show off your decorating abilities.

Small Bathroom Remodels from Surface Bella

If you are looking for a team to help you with your small bathroom remodel in the Greenville, SC, area, look no further than our team at Surface Bella. We have years of experience helping homeowners design the bathroom of their dreams, and we’re confident that we can do the same for you.

Whether you’re interested in starting a bathroom remodel, updating your windows, or investing in a pergola or awning for your outdoor space, our team does it all to help you achieve the home you’ve always dreamed of. If you would like to learn more about our bathroom remodeling services or you have questions for our team, don’t hesitate to contact us today.