Knowing how to prepare for a hassle-free bathroom remodel can be challenging. To make it easy, certain factors must be put into consideration before beginning the process. Such factors may include noise, dust, foot traffic, and a lot more. This kind of inconvenience can be very demanding.
Knowing what measures to be taken before a bathroom remodeling is crucial. You can’t wake up one morning and start demolishing your bathroom. Some steps must be followed to ensure the project gets done according to plan.
To maintain your sanity and keep the interruptions in the home to a minimum, you have to prepare yourself. You can do this without losing the original layout of your home in the process.
Measures To Take When Planning a Bathroom Remodel
Do you plan to remodel your bathroom? Are you finally installing that sleek walk-in shower or a luxurious tub? Whatever your plans are, a bathroom remodeling project can be an expensive affair. So you must be sure that it’s worth the cost. Otherwise, you risk ending up with an expensive mistake.
It’s important to understand the steps to follow in a bathroom remodel. And what’s your reason for the home upgrade? Is it about increasing the home’s resale value or is it just time for an upgrade? Whatever your reason is, ensure to involve home remodeling professionals.
So what are the measures you must take before you begin the remodeling project?
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- Get a Realistic Budget
The first step in a home remodeling project is to create a realistic budget. It should be able to address every expenditure. When it comes to bathroom remodeling, consider the labor and material costs. This may include new fixtures, fittings, and surfaces.
Remodeling a bathroom is a complicated process. It’s also costly and requires meticulous planning and a lengthy timetable. Don’t forget that it needs careful coordination of various trades.
The best way to create a budget is by hiring a professional designer. Alternatively, you can hire a remodeling service to design a new bathroom. You will also be guided through every step of the remodeling.
Keep in mind that your budget will include the cost of the designer. But note that this cost will vary depending on the size and scope of the project. If you decide not to hire a professional designer, use a dedicated notebook. It will help you to keep track of all expenditures, including separate materials and labor.
Ensure that contractors and suppliers give you price quotes in writing. And, remember that most quotes are only valid for a specific period. After adding up all the costs, including an extra 10-20 percent to cover unforeseen repairs.
- Choosing Bathroom Faucets
Bathroom faucets may seem like simple pieces of plumbing hardware. But they’re functional elements of the bathroom design that you’ll see and use quite often.
When planning a remodeling, ensure you find the best fit for your budget and aesthetics. You should start with the basics by keeping in mind the most important faucet features. Be sure to measure the faucet centers. This refers to the distance in inches, between pre-distilled holes in the faucet sink. It’s from the center of the left hole to the center of the right hole.
The center points must correspond to the center connections of the faucet bathroom sink. It’s also crucial that you measure the distance between the holes in the wall. This enables you to account for any obstructions such as mirrors.
Note that various pieces of hardware must complement each other during your remodeling. Keep the vessel sink faucet reasonable and proportionate. Ensure that the spout reaches the middle of the sink basin. It should be high enough, up from the vanity or deck that someone can stand with their hands under the water flow.
- Deal With the Demolition
Demolishing your old bathroom is important if you plan to remodel it. It’s not a time-consuming process and two people can clear out an average-size bathroom in about two days. The only problem you might have is that it’s a dirty, dusty, and noisy job.
If you decide to do the demolition by yourself, make sure to wear protective equipment. The equipment can include eye goggles, work gloves, hearing protection, and a dust mask. You can also rent a small dumpster for the demolition debris.
Begin the demolition exercise by removing the old vanity and sink. Disconnect the toilet, take up the floor and strip off the wall tiles. But be careful not to cut into plumbing pipes and avoid tampering with electrical cables. Protect your existing standalone tub or shower with plywood if you plan to keep it.
- Purchase the Remodeling Materials Early
A lot of fun comes with purchasing new materials like light fixtures and the showerhead. You must purchase them in good time. That’s because nothing brings a remodeling project to a standstill like missing materials.
It can cause your plumber or electrician to walk away because there’s nothing for them to install. And there’s no being sure that they’ll be available when the products finally come.
Also, an interruption in the construction schedule has a negative effect. It throws off the work sequence of other contractors. And before you know it, a four-week timetable is stretched to eight weeks or more.
- Timing
A lot of people think remodeling a small bathroom takes a few days compared to a large bathroom. That’s not always true. If you need to upgrade more than one item, the procedure is similar to a large-scale job.
So ensure to work out the duration of the remodeling work during the planning stage. You must consider the order and purchase of custom cabinetry to ensure it’s possible. Taking a shower would be a challenge during the demolition process if you only have one bathroom.
In such a case, ask the contractor to set up a makeshift bathroom for you. This isn’t that difficult to do. The contractor can simply put up a temporary fiberglass unit in your basement. A brief shower and toilet may add extra costs to your budget, but it’s worth it.
- Consider the Functionality and Style
Consider how you’d like the bathroom to look before selecting the type of fixtures to put in it. There are various things to think about like do you want to go with tubs, tiles, and paint-color choices. If you research for a while, you’ll find the results bewildering.
It’s easy to select a specific feature, one that you’ll use to formulate the rest of the design. You can also piece together the items you prefer into an overall look for the bathroom.
Note that functionality must go hand-in-hand with design. If you intend to resale the house, think about whether the design will work for others. Things like water monitoring and water recycling systems can help you go green. This will help in increasing a buyer’s interest.
- Ask About the Licensing, Certification, and Insurance
Not every contractor maintains licensing in a home remodeling project. But the lack of certification might be an indication that the contractor isn’t qualified for the job. Asking contractors for their licenses ensures you get the best results.
Remember that things can go wrong during or after the remodeling. This can happen even if you hire the best team for the job. If a contractor has liability insurance, it will help to protect your home against possible snafus. So be sure to ask your designer ahead of time if they’re covered. Then find out how much insurance they carry.
Final Take Away
Budgeting, logistics, and demolitions are important aspects if you plan to remodel your bathroom. But before you begin the remodeling, do some research to know what to put into consideration. Come up with a checklist of what must be accomplished to avoid making mistakes in your dream bathroom.
