Remodeling a bathroom in Midland
A Midland bathroom has to live with some of the hardest municipal water in the country, dry air for most of the year and enough winter freezes to threaten pipes on outside walls. A remodel is the best chance to plan for all three.
Very hard water
The City of Midland says its water hardness ranges from 400 to 600 parts per million, about 23 to 35 grains per gallon. Water that hard leaves scale on glass, tile, grout and fixtures, clogs aerators and shower heads, and shortens the life of water heaters and valves.
- Choose finishes that are easy to clean. Large-format tile with fewer grout lines, sealed grout and smooth glass hold up better than textured surfaces.
- Ask about glass coatings for shower enclosures that resist water spots.
- Pick fixtures with replaceable cartridges and aerators, and ask how easy they are to get locally.
- Ask about a water softener or conditioner. If you plan one, the remodel is a good time to add a plumbed connection and a drain.
Where the water comes from
Midland's water comes from surface water bought through the Colorado River Municipal Water District, from reservoirs including O.H. Ivie, E.V. Spence and Lake J.B. Thomas, and from groundwater in the city-owned T-Bar Wellfield, which draws on the Pecos Aquifer in Loving and Winkler Counties. The mix can change, and so can taste and mineral content. A plumber can test your water at the tap before you choose treatment equipment.
Pipes and freezes
NOAA's engineering weather data for Midland lists about 46 freeze-thaw cycles in an average year. Supply lines in exterior walls, especially under windows, can freeze on cold nights. If the remodel opens a wall, ask whether lines can be moved to an interior wall or insulated properly, and where the shutoff valves will be.
Ventilation in a dry climate
NOAA counts only about 60 hours a year at Midland with the wet-bulb temperature above 73°F. The air is usually dry, but a bathroom still needs an exhaust fan vented outdoors. Steam from daily showers condenses in cold weather and grows mildew in corners. Ask for a quiet fan sized for the room and a timer or humidity switch.
Permits and trades
Texas has no state general contractor license, but it does license some trades, such as electrical work. Ask the remodeler who will do the plumbing and electrical work, whether each trade holds any Texas license its work requires, and whether the City of Midland requires permits for your scope. Get those answers in writing.
Planning the layout
Moving a toilet, tub or shower drain costs far more than keeping it in place. Ask the remodeler to price both options. Consider a curbless shower, grab-bar blocking in the walls and a comfort-height toilet if you plan to stay in the house for years.
Comparing bids
Ask every remodeler for the same scope: demolition, plumbing changes, waterproofing method, tile and fixtures with model numbers, ventilation, electrical, permits, cleanup, timeline and warranty.