Steam, wet-bulb hours and the bathroom fan
The closest NOAA engineering weather station to Killeen is Fort Hood/Gray AAF, about 6 miles west of town. In an average year there, NOAA counts about 1,309 hours with the wet-bulb temperature above 73°F and about 3,373 hours above 67°F. Wet-bulb temperature tracks moisture in the air as well as heat, which makes it a useful number to keep in mind when you plan how a new bathroom will get rid of shower steam.
A fan can only move the moisture in the room outdoors; it can't make the outdoor air drier than it is. That's why the details of the fan, the duct and the controls deserve as much attention on your plan as the tile.
A town laid out by a railroad
Killeen began as a railroad plat. In 1881 the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway bought 360 acres here and laid out a 70-block town named for Frank P. Killeen, the railroad's assistant general manager. When the first train arrived in May 1882, about 40 people lived in the new town. Whatever the age of your house, your remodeler should open the job by finding out what's behind your walls and under your floor before the price is final.
Picking and placing the exhaust fan
These points apply to any bathroom, and they matter more in a room that's showered in every day:
- Size for the room. Ask the remodeler how the fan's airflow was chosen for your room's size and layout, including any separate toilet or shower compartment.
- Duct it outside. The duct should end at a roof or wall cap outdoors, not in the attic or a soffit where moist air can drift back in.
- Keep the duct short and smooth. Every bend and every foot of flexible duct cuts airflow. Ask what route the duct takes and what it's made of.
- Use a control that keeps it running. A timer or a humidity-sensing switch lets the fan finish its work after you leave the room.
- Choose a quiet unit. People switch off fans that are loud. A quieter model is more likely to be used.
- Place it near the shower. A fan over the shower or between the shower and toilet usually clears steam faster than one across the room. Ask whether the unit you pick is rated for that location.
Waterproofing comes before tile
Grout and tile shed most water, but they aren't a barrier. A sheet or liquid-applied membrane behind the tile, or a foam-board system with sealed seams, is what protects the framing. Ask each bidder:
- which waterproofing system they use on shower walls, the floor and any bench or niche;
- how high on the wall it runs;
- whether they flood-test the shower pan before tiling, and whether you can be there for it;
- how they seal the valve, shower head and any window in the wet area.
Where Killeen's water comes from
The City of Killeen buys treated surface water drawn from Belton Lake and Stillhouse Hollow Lake, both in Bell County. It reaches the city through the lines of Bell County Water Control and Improvement District No. 1. If you want to know more about what's in the water before choosing a filter, softener or particular fixtures, read the city's annual drinking water quality report and consider a test at your own tap. Your plumber can tell you whether any treatment equipment you're considering needs a drain or extra space, which is easier to plan while the walls are open.
Licensing, permits and who touches the pipes
Texas has no state general contractor license. For the trades Texas does license, such as air conditioning and electrical work, look the contractor up on the license search run by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR). For other trades, ask for the city permit.
A bathroom job almost always involves plumbing, so ask the remodeler plainly:
- Who will do the plumbing work, and are they employees or a subcontractor?
- Which permits apply to this scope, and who pulls them?
- Who does the wiring for the fan, lights and outlets?
- When will inspections happen, and will you get copies of the results?
Ask every bidder for proof of liability coverage and workers' compensation, and keep copies with your contract.
Planning for years of use
Moving a toilet or shower drain usually costs more than leaving it in place, so ask for prices both ways before you decide. While the walls are open, it costs little to add wood blocking for future grab bars, and a hand shower on a slide bar or a low-threshold shower can make the room easier to use later. A comfort-height toilet and good lighting at the vanity are simple upgrades worth pricing.
Getting bids you can compare
Hand every remodeler the same written scope and ask for line items: demolition and haul-away, plumbing changes, waterproofing method, tile with sizes and grout type, vanity and top, fixtures with model numbers, glass, the exhaust fan and duct route, electrical, permits, cleanup, schedule and warranty. Ask how long the room will be out of service, how damage found behind the walls will be priced and approved, and tie each payment to a finished stage of work rather than to dates on a calendar.