Three top home upgrades to prepare for holiday guests

Home improvements that add both function and support when entertaining are key. Whether you'll be hosting a grand holiday party with out-of-town guests or an intimate affair with local loved ones, these top improvements will prepare your home for holiday merriment.

1.    Affordably add a guest bathroom 

Adding a guest bathroom will help make holiday guests feel more comfortable while also adding to your home's value. The problem is, this may seem impossible in spaces without below-floor drainage for plumbing — like a basement and garage, or perhaps when proximity to drainage is inconvenient for example if you would like to add a bathroom under the stairs or on a second floor.

Not to mention the cost of installing conventional plumbing for drainage.

A simple, affordable solution is above-floor plumbing systems from Saniflo that avoid the hassle and expense of busting through the floor or concrete to create conventional drainage or installing a sewage ejector system.

For example, the Saniaccess 2 is ideal for creating an additional half bathroom virtually anywhere, thanks to a 1/2-horsepower macerator pump system. Above-floor systems like this can process waste from sinks and toilets before pumping it to the nearest drain line that connects to the home’s septic tank or a sewer system.

When an up-flushing, macerating toilet — like the Saniaccess 3 — is used for the project, its comparatively low installed cost makes a bathroom addition very affordable. The stainless-steel cutting blades inside the Saniflo unit quickly break down and liquefy incoming waste, then discharging it through small-diameter piping into sewer or septic lines. Consequently, there is no need for the mess and heavy expense of digging through the flooring, especially the concrete variety in a basement or a slab foundation.

That was the case for DIY influencer Sammy Pampani, who recently converted an unused storage room into a bathroom. The remodel consisted of removing a pre-existing oil tank, cleaning up the space, and installing a toilet, shower and sink. The Saniaccess 3 was the best solution for Sammy’s planned bathroom.

Using Saniflo saved a substantial amount of money on the installation, she says. “The Saniaccess 3, compared with conventional plumbing, saved close to $2,000 and three days of labor. We just love it.”

Thanks to Saniflo, Sammy now has an additional bathroom in her basement to accommodate guests during the holiday season and beyond.

2.    Add a wet bar

The kitchen may be the heart of the home, but it's also the hub of the holiday season. The kitchen is a functional gathering place for your family and guests, from roasting that golden turkey to baking and decorating favorite holiday treats. Simple updates can make a big difference in functionality. You might consider adding an island with running water and a sink. Once again, an above-floor plumbing solution, like the Sanivite, can quickly and affordably create that functionality where no below-floor drain currently exists.

Small enough to fit inside a kitchen cabinet, the unit is designed to meet the toughest applications and is capable of handling hot water and grease. Dane Perkins of GMH Construction estimated that homeowners saved close to $2,500 on a recent sink addition to a basement bar when they chose to move forward with the Sanivite above-floor drain pump solution, rather than conventional plumbing. The homeowners wanted a basement bar for entertaining guests.

Check out this video to see the completed basement wet bar.

According to Perkins, connecting the Sanivite was an easy and straightforward installation: “The most beneficial aspect of the Sanivite is that the pump in itself is already quiet.”

Once installed, the system was practically silent due to bumpers included with the product to isolate the noise and vibrations. After multiple tests, Perkins confirms that the Sanivite “had plenty of power to do what it needed to do.”

3.    Add a basement kitchen

A popular hang-out spot during the holiday season is the basement. Why not add a full kitchen to your basement, including a sink and dishwasher?

The Sanivite is a drain pump for kitchen installation or for any gray water application. It can be used to pump gray water away from a variety of fixtures in commercial and residential applications. The system is able to discharge the waste up to 16 feet vertical and/or 150 feet horizontal. This unit is also small enough to fit inside a kitchen cabinet and was designed to sustain the toughest applications as it is capable of handling hot water and grease.

If you are planning a kitchen renovation, the reliable Sanivite is the ultimate choice to add a sink or dishwasher quickly and easily.

Questions about adding a bathroom, sink, or kitchen to your home? Email [email protected] with details about your installation to learn which products would best meet your needs