Resource
Bathroom remodel glossary
Plain-language definitions of the terms that come up during a bathroom remodel, waterproofing systems, plumbing configurations, tile substrates, and the specifics of Roanoke-area permitting.
- Schluter Kerdi
- A sheet-membrane waterproofing system from Schluter Systems that provides both a waterproof barrier and a tile substrate. Applied to the framing and folded into the corners; tile goes directly onto the Kerdi with thinset. Well-documented, extremely reliable, and the current industry standard for shower waterproofing on higher-end residential work.
- RedGard
- A liquid-applied waterproofing membrane from Custom Building Products. Rolled or brushed onto cement board or similar tile substrate. Effective when applied at correct thickness (60 mils wet, roughly two coats). Cheaper on material than Kerdi but more sensitive to installation quality. Common on tighter-budget residential shower work.
- Cement board (Durock, HardieBacker)
- A rigid tile substrate made from cement and reinforcement fibers. Used behind tile on shower walls, floors, and other wet-area applications. Needs a separate waterproofing membrane (RedGard, Hydro Ban) applied over it, cement board itself is not waterproof.
- Thinset
- The cement-based adhesive used to bond tile to the substrate. Different formulations for different tile types (standard, modified, unmodified, large-format). Large-format tile requires a specific "medium-bed" or "LFT" thinset because standard thinset cannot support the weight of large tiles during cure.
- Grout
- The material that fills the joints between tiles. Standard cementitious grout is common for most residential applications. Epoxy grout is more expensive but is fully waterproof and stain-resistant, useful for shower floors and high-durability applications. Grout should never fill wall-to-wall or wall-to-floor joints, those get silicone, not grout, because they need to flex.
- Curbless (or zero-entry) shower
- A shower where the floor is flush with the bathroom floor, no curb at the entrance. Requires the subfloor to be recessed 1.5 to 2 inches to allow proper slope to drain. Adds $1,500 to $2,500 versus a curbed shower but is the standard for aging-in-place remodels and increasingly common in higher-end primary baths.
- Linear drain
- A long, narrow shower drain (typically 24-48 inches) installed along one wall or the entryway of the shower. Enables a single-plane slope across the shower floor (rather than the four-corner-to-center slope required by a point drain), which makes large-format tile installation possible on shower floors.
- Point drain
- A traditional round shower drain in the center of the shower floor. Requires the shower floor to slope from all four corners toward the drain, which means the tile has to be small (mosaic or 2x2 typically) to allow the compound curves. Cheaper than a linear drain but limits the tile options on the shower floor.
- Comfort height toilet
- A toilet with a bowl height of approximately 17-19 inches (versus the standard 15 inches). Easier to sit on and stand from, the standard specification for aging-in-place remodels and increasingly the default in new residential construction. Also called "chair height" or "right height."
- Undermount sink
- A sink mounted from below the countertop, with the counter overhanging into the bowl. Cleaner look than a drop-in (self-rimming) sink and easier to clean because there is no rim to trap debris. Requires a solid-surface counter (quartz, granite, solid-surface acrylic) because the sink is supported by the counter cutout.
- Vessel sink
- A bowl-style sink that sits on top of the countertop rather than being mounted into or below it. Design-forward but requires a taller vanity to compensate for the sink height. Common in powder rooms and design-driven primary baths.
- Floating vanity (wall-mount vanity)
- A vanity mounted to the wall studs with no legs touching the floor. Creates the appearance of more floor space and is easier to clean beneath. Requires solid stud backing behind the wall, with blocking added during rough-in for floating vanities.
- GFCI outlet
- Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter, an outlet that cuts power immediately if it detects a ground fault. Required by the National Electrical Code (NEC) in all bathroom outlets. A bathroom remodel brings the electrical to current NEC code, which typically means adding GFCI outlets and separating the bathroom onto a dedicated 20-amp circuit.
- Rough-in inspection
- The building department inspection that happens after plumbing, electrical, and framing changes are complete but before drywall and finishes go up. The inspector verifies plumbing supply and drain lines meet code, electrical wiring meets NEC, and framing changes meet structural requirements. A failed rough-in inspection has to be corrected before tile can start.
- Final inspection
- The building department inspection that happens after the project is complete. The inspector verifies fixtures are installed correctly, GFCI outlets function, and everything matches the plans on the permit. A passed final inspection closes out the permit and the remodel becomes an official part of the home's record.
- Combination building permit
- A single permit that covers multiple trades (building, plumbing, electrical) on the same project. The City of Roanoke and Roanoke County require a combination building permit for any bathroom remodel because bathroom work almost always involves at least two of those trades. The general contractor is required to pull the permit and list all subcontractors.
- Class A Virginia contractor
- The highest general contractor licensing tier in Virginia. Required for any project over $120,000 or for any general contractor pulling combination building permits regardless of project size. Class A licensees can also hold trade sub-endorsements (plumbing, electrical, HVAC) which allow the licensee's employees to perform those trades under the same license.
- PEX repipe
- Replacement of existing water supply lines with cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) tubing. Common in older Roanoke homes with galvanized-steel or polybutylene supply lines. Often done as part of a full bathroom remodel when the plumbing is already exposed. Adds $1,500 to $4,000 depending on the extent.
- Cast-iron waste stack
- The vertical drain pipe running from the bathroom to the sewer, made of cast iron. Common in pre-1970 Roanoke homes. Long-lasting but can crack, corrode, or clog over decades. Sometimes needs replacement as part of a remodel, especially if the tub or toilet drain shows signs of failure during demo.
- Subfloor
- The plywood or OSB layer beneath the tile or LVT floor. On older Roanoke homes with cast-iron tubs, the subfloor beneath the tub is often rotted from decades of minor leaks and needs replacement during a tub-to-shower conversion. This is typically discovered during demo and priced through a written change order.
- Blocking
- Solid wood pieces installed between wall studs to provide anchor points for grab bars, floating vanities, heavy tile, or other items that need more structural support than drywall alone can provide. Blocking is added during rough-in whenever the design requires it, a wall without blocking cannot support a grab bar rated for actual weight.
- Kerdi-Board
- A pre-waterproofed foam tile substrate from Schluter. Lighter than cement board and Kerdi-membrane-over-cement-board, and eliminates the separate waterproofing step. Common in modern shower construction because it saves 1-2 days of installation time versus the Kerdi-membrane-on-cement-board approach.
- Curbed shower
- A traditional shower with a low wall (curb) around the entryway to contain water. Standard height is 4 inches. Cheaper and easier to build than a curbless shower because the subfloor does not need to be recessed. Standard configuration for most hall bath remodels.
- Niche
- A recessed shelf built into the shower wall for shampoo, soap, and other bathing supplies. Sized and located during the design phase. Ideally located between wall studs at a comfortable height (48-52 inches from the shower floor). Tiled to match or contrast the surrounding shower walls.
- Bench seat
- A built-in seat in the shower, often at the end wall or the corner. Structurally framed and waterproofed like a wall. Can be full-width (bench across the whole shower) or corner-mount. Important for aging-in-place designs; increasingly popular in primary suites as a design element.
- Vanity backsplash
- The strip of material (tile, stone, or the same material as the counter) that runs up the wall above the vanity counter. Protects the wall from water splash and adds a design accent. Standard height is 4-6 inches; a full-height backsplash (running to the mirror) is a more contemporary look.
- Bull-nose tile edge
- A tile with a rounded, finished edge used to trim exposed tile edges (top of a wainscot, edge of a shower niche, etc.). Alternatives are Schluter metal trim (contemporary look) or mitered edges (highest labor cost, cleanest result).
- Coefficient of friction (COF)
- A slip-resistance rating for floor tile. A wet Dynamic COF (DCOF) of 0.42 or higher is the minimum for wet-area floor tile per current TCNA guidelines. DCOF is worth checking during tile selection; tiles below the threshold are best avoided, especially for hall baths shared with children or aging homeowners.
- Freestanding tub
- A tub that stands independently on the bathroom floor, not built into a wall or alcove. Contemporary design element for primary suites. Weighs 800-1,200 pounds when filled, so joist reinforcement is sometimes required in older Roanoke homes with undersized floor structure.
- Alcove tub
- A standard 60-inch bathtub built into a three-walled recess. The most common tub configuration in Roanoke homes built between 1940 and 2010. Cheaper and easier to install than freestanding or drop-in tubs, but limits the design options.
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