Bathroom Electrical Remodel in San Antonio: Implementing It
How far could we push smart home automation in an electrical remodel project?
As electricians in San Antonio, we carry out full-fledged electrical remodels in homes and apartments. Whether it is a kitchen, a bathroom, or a living room, most remodels are “routine” jobs for experienced electricians. We simply need to analyze carefully the project scope and its price tag, and implement it with excellent methods and genuine care for our clients.
Some of the remodel jobs are more challenging however. In some cases, it is our responsibility to come up with a plan based on just a general overview of what the homeowners want to achieve. They don’t quite have the full vision; they need us to help fleshing it out.
Sometimes homeowners want to make their home “smarter” with the integration of Internet of Things technology (IoT). This is a more edgy challenge. Though an increasing number of manufacturers bring new IoT-embedded products to the market, the technology is still largely in its infancy.
Our role then starts with working in tight collaboration with the architect or the GC to help the homeowners define what level of automation they wish to have. Then we source out the components of the project. The GC or architect presents the owners with options. As the electrical contractor, All Star Electric San Antonio finalizes the scope and cost of the electrical remodel project. We always want to make sure the owners are not overdriving their headlights.
The challenge
Let’s say the project consists in doing the electrical remodel of a large master bathroom in a single-family home. Our mission is to integrate the latest lighting technologies and Internet of Things (IoT). We will also rewire all systems in full compliance with applicable codes.
The installation of the fixtures is the job of the general contractor and the plumber.
The architect has presented a layout that includes:
- A long vanity counter with 2 large sinks facing a large rectangular mirror.
- A large glass-encased shower area, lit up from above
- A large standalone bathtub with massage jets
- Recessed LED lights in the tray ceiling
- Some additional electronics: hardware with LEDs, a flat screen TV facing the tub
Vanity mirror: Selection and installation
“Smart” mirrors, embedding touch buttons at the surface of the glass, are not common place just yet. They still are high-end fixtures with limited functions:
- Dimmable LED lighting to project a direct light on the face. This type of neutral light helps with make-up and beauty care routine.
- Light temperature selector (in Kelvin) to “set the mood” in the bathroom.
- Defogger to avoid having to use fog-free spray after a long soak in a hot tub.
- Internal LED lighting if the vanity mirror doubles up as a medicine cabinet.
With the progress of sensors, some technologists predict that vanity mirrors will soon be able to perform a skin surface diagnostic. These systems could advise users as to what exfoliant, skin clarifier, gel, and make-up to apply considering the state of their skin and the weather conditions that day.
We are not yet there however! For this electric remodel challenge we would have to rely on what is currently on offer on the market.
ExBrite, an importer of high-end bathroom fixtures, offers 2 versions of smart vanity mirrors with touch surface controls. On the photo on the left, a large one-piece vanity mirror (60×36). On the right, a slightly smaller mirror with 2 panels opening on a medicine cabinet.
The model on the left is backlit with LED strips. This creates an ambiance halo, adding an extra touch of modernity to the bathroom. We could install an LED strip around the model on the right, but unlike the other model, the dimmer switch wouldn’t be integrated in the glass.
Glass shower stall with light set-up and faucet control
In the course of this electrical remodel project, how would we plan the lighting set-up to compliment the high-end feel of a glass-enclosed shower stall?
What could be the role of the IoT? And what would be the risks of installing electronic equipment in the wet environment of a shower enclosure?
There are 3 main functions in a shower enclosure that homeowners can control via remote:
- The faucet: Start and stop, increase and decrease of pressure, water temperature.
- The lighting: Overhead LED lighting, or LED strips (in a cove ceiling) or alongside the glass enclosure.
- The ambiance: Voice-activated sound system
Bathtub: Lynchpin of a bathroom electrical remodel
The favorite area of most people in a bathroom is the bathtub: it is synonymous with relaxing and taking time out. This is the reason why bathtub manufacturers deploy treasures of creativity to make tubs that look inviting, organically shaped or classically lined, and often loaded with massage jets.
Unless a bathtub has jets or an IoT control board, this would not be a fixture of much interest for the electrician in an electrical remodel project. But in this project, we are pushing the boundaries of technology integration, so we will assume the architect has selected a full tub with massage jets.
Our mission is to connect the jet controls to a control board which will also control the temperature of the bath. The owners would use a remote controller or a smart phone to start filling up the tub and stop the fill at the right level.
Connecting hardware with LED
Over the past few years, manufacturers of bathroom hardware have come out with sleek products integrating LED lights or imitating a LED light effect. We found 4 types of products:
- Faucets with temperature sensitive LED light: The LED inside these faucets are powered by a small “turbine” (aerator) that rotates with the water flow to produce the power required to activate the LED and its temperature sensor. The temperature sensor controls the LED color as the temperature goes up and down. Typically, the LED will only display 3 to 7 light colors.
- Faucets with colored glass (no LED light): These are very simple (albeit very sleek) devices that simply play on ambient light to appear colored. They don’t change color, they are not temperature sensitive and have no LED light. They are durable, cheap to install (DIY or by a plumber), and give a cool look to a sink or a bathtub. However, they don’t change color, and if your taste change and you grow tired of the color, you will have to replace the entire faucet.
- Faucets with battery-powered LED light: These fixtures usually offer more flexibility in terms of aesthetics, as the LED lights can display a whole spectrum of light. A lithium battery activates the LED and needs replacement every 3-5 years, depending on the manufacturer. The LED may come associated with a temperature sensor that varies the color emitted by the LED, but it’s not necessarily the case. In some models, the owner controls the color via an app.
- Touchless faucets with LED light: These are more sophisticated devices, not often seen in the context of a residential bathroom electrical remodel. Motion-activated (or touchless) fixtures are now the standard in public places. They drastically reduce the risk of contamination and disease transmission inherent to any traditional faucet manually operated.
All these fixtures have an aesthetic appeal, adding a futuristic touch to a sink or a tub when you want your electrical remodel project to achieve a cool modern look. They do not have the same price point however, as the technology involved and its likely longevity vary widely.
Why select All Star Electric San Antonio for your electrical remodel project?
Having almost 30 years of experience as an electrical contractor, we are capable of handling absolutely all electrical remodel projects, from simple hallway re-wiring and lighting, to full-size kitchen and bathroom remodels. We work with your architect and and general contractor, making sure that we complete our mission on time for their teams to fulfill their obligations.
Call us at (210) 391-0274 to discuss what you have in mind, and bring our knowledge and experience at your service.