Editorial standards
How we check our bathroom advice
BathroomRefresh is a set of practical guides, calculators and checklists for people who want a better bathroom without a renovation. This page says plainly what that means, so you can decide how much weight to give any single page.
What this site is
It is a research-based reference, not a testing lab. The guides summarize published guidance from standards bodies, government agencies, university extension services, trade associations and reputable publications, and turn it into steps you can follow. The site does not test products, and nothing here should be read as a hands-on review.
How a guide is checked
- Specifics are checked against sources. Heights, distances, airflow, humidity targets, lighting figures and similar numbers are compared with published guidance. If a figure could not be supported, it was softened or removed instead of kept because it sounded right.
- Sources are named on the page. Each guide ends with a "Where this comes from" section naming the kinds of sources it relies on.
- Each guide shows when it was last reviewed. The date under the title is the last full review, not just the publish date.
- Safety wording is kept deliberately. Anything involving electricity near water, plumbing, mold, chemical mixing, children, pets or a lease points you to the right professional or rule instead of improvising.
How prices work
Prices on the site are typical US ranges, worded as "typically" or "often", because they change by store, region and season. They are there to help you judge whether something is cheap, mid-range or expensive, not to quote a price. No guide names a brand or links to a seller, and the site earns nothing from what you buy.
What the tools do
The planner ranks fixes with a fixed set of rules, so the same answers always give the same plan. The fan size and vanity lighting calculators apply published rules of thumb. They give a starting point, not a design. Local code, the product's installation instructions and a licensed professional come first. Checklists save your ticks in your own browser only.
What we do not do
- We do not claim to have tested, installed or lived with the things we describe.
- We do not give legal advice. Lease and tenant questions are framed as "check your lease and local rules".
- We do not replace an electrician, plumber, landlord or inspector.
Corrections
If something is wrong, outdated or unclear, tell us through the contact form. Verified fixes are made on the page and logged on the corrections and updates page.
Related pages: About, disclaimer and privacy policy.