Imagine a group of kids ranging in age from four to ten years old. A wave of giggles starts in the back corner while you’re teaching, oblivious to the apparent two-dimensional offense. Yep. Somebody passed gas, or as one of the kids will inevitably shout, “He farted!” causing the rest of the group to erupt in laughter almost as violently as Mt. Vesuvius reigned down terror on Pompeii.
Hopefully, most of us have grown out of the giggles, but we have to do what we have to do. The thing is, we like to do it in nice places where we feel safe and clean.
Selling a restroom addition or upgrade to a home owner usually isn’t an insurmountable obstacle. The fact of the matter is that upgrading or adding facilities increases a home’s value. That’s money in the bank.
“According to RealEstate.com, a new full bathroom adds around 20 percent to a home’s value.” ~ Tony Guerra, “How Much Does a New Bathroom Increase the Value of a House?“
From pink marble bathrooms to full-spa accommodations, luxury bathrooms are not new. Not only can you buy a multi-function toilet from Toto for about $6,500, there’s even a water closet (that’s construction jargon for toilet) made out of gold that costs around $5 million. Now that’s a throne!
Homes, we get. That’s where we spend a lot of our time primping and prepping for the day or relaxing at night. But what about retail establishments and workplaces?
If you serve food, especially, you will be judged.
“Customers want to buy food at locations where they believe the food is prepared in clean surroundings, and a messy restroom calls overall cleanliness into question.” Erin Rigik “What Do Your Restrooms Say About You?“
ADA (Americans With Disabilities Act) Compliance triggers many of our restroom remodels for commercial buildings, warehouses, retail, and offices. In fact, over half of our projects include a restroom remodel to some degree. What that means for you is we can practically design and build them with our hands tied behind our back.
In Corporate Climates, because of the amount of employees, a full-scale remodel of all of a building’s restrooms poses a burden of inconvenience and logistics. That’s where phasing comes in.
We were fortunate enough to do a restroom remodel for a national company with offices in northeast Orange County (who will not allow their name to be used in advertising) two years ago. During this particular job, we remodeled the downstairs set (men’s / women’s) of restrooms and, when they were complete and ready to be used, we remodeled the set upstairs. Now that time has passed and their budget allows, they’re bidding another group of restrooms. We like that strategy.
Take a look at the before and after photos. They speak for themselves.
Upgrading your restrooms is a good way to not only stay code-compliant (boy, do those ever change) but to show your employees that you value them and care about their basic needs. For public-use (read: clients) restrooms, your branding is extended through the material and hardware choices in your facilities. Wahoo’s has a surfer vibe while Nordstrom’s is up-scale. Your restrooms will be used.
See our slideshare about this remodel here.
What does your restroom say about you? Do you need an upgrade? Let’s talk. We’re design-builders, after all. Call Tom at (714) 953-6333 or shoot him an email, mentioning this post.
My favorite sentence? “Somebody passed gas, or as one of the kids will inevitably shout, “He farted!” causing the rest of the group to erupt in laughter almost as violently as Mt. Vesuvius reigned down terror on Pompeii.” I liked the bit about Vesuvius and Pompeii. How often do you get to use that analogy? Never, that’s when!
Thank you Carol. That’s my favorite sentence, too. 😀
Just forwarded this to Daryl Cole. Thanks!
Respectfully,
Allen C. Buchanan, Principal Lee and Associates Commercial Real Estate Services 714.564.7104 office 714.624.3896 mobile Abuchanan@lee-associates.com Allencbuchanan.blogspot.com California Broker License #00870947
Thanks, Allen! : D