Home improvement in King of Prussia, PA

Local homes

Bathrooms in Upper Merion's ranches, split-levels and colonials

King of Prussia grew fast after the Pennsylvania Turnpike and Schuylkill Expressway opened, and a large share of the township's single-family homes are ranches, split-levels and two-story colonials from that postwar stretch. Each type brings its own bathroom quirks. Ranches often have a basement below the bath, which makes it easier to move a drain for a walk-in shower. Split-levels frequently put the upper-level bath over an unheated garage or crawl space, so the floor runs cold and the joists may be shallower than you would expect. Colonials in neighborhoods off Henderson Road and around Gulph Mills tend to have a hall bath and a small primary bath stacked over the kitchen or family room.

Original bathrooms from that era were frequently tiled in a mortar bed, a thick layer of cement behind the wall tile. It is durable but heavy, and it hides the condition of the studs and supply lines until it comes out. Homes built before 1978 may also have lead paint on trim and window casings, so we treat demolition in those rooms with lead-safe work practices. Upper Merion Township administers permits under the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code, and whether your project needs one depends on the scope, such as relocating plumbing or changing electrical circuits. We confirm that with the township before work starts.

Communities we cover from King of Prussia

• Gulph Mills
• Bridgeport
• Swedesburg
• Valley Forge
• Wayne
• Norristown
• Conshohocken
• West Conshohocken
• Plymouth Meeting
• Audubon
• Radnor
• Phoenixville