1. Budget
It is always important to work up an idea of the exact amount you would like to spend renovating your bathroom. A budget will guide you as you make decisions regarding what should be included in the remodel and what shouldn’t. After figuring out what you can spend and subtracting the amount allocated to labour, you will have a clearer idea of what you can spend on fixtures, tiles, and extras. And if you’re also renovating your kitchen, check out these kitchen worktop ideas.
2. Time
People often make the mistake of assuming that simply because it is a small bathroom remodel, it will take just a few days or at least significantly less time than if it were a larger one. However, that’s not necessarily the case. Depending on the number of items that you are changing in the bathroom your contractor will still need to go through all the same steps as you would with a larger bathroom.
Planning, however, doesn’t just refer to defining the duration of the renovation works but also various intermediate steps that include ordering and purchasing fixtures, tiles, custom-built cabinets, or vanity to ensure that they will be delivered by the time the contractor needs them.
Planning time is also important for those with just one bathroom in their house because they will need to make arrangements regarding where to use the toilet or even take a shower while the bathroom is being taken apart.
3. Work Sequence
If you complete your bathroom renovation in a specific sequence, you may end up saving yourself a lot of clean-up time and mistakes. Whether you are just repainting or demolishing sheetrock, you should always start at the top of the room. First, remodel the ceiling, followed by the walls, and finally the floors to avoid damaging your new components.
4. Hidden Issues
If you’re doing a major bathroom upgrade, consider doing a “full gut”. If done by a professional with experience, you will end up with a bathroom without any problems which not only functions flawlessly but also adds a lot of value to your home for many years to come.
Depending on how old your home is and how well it was built, water damage is the biggest problem you are likely to encounter, so look out for structural deficiencies in the floor framing, old corroded plumbing, plumbing that isn’t properly vented, non-waterproof tile shower/tub surrounds, etc.
5. Design Style and Functionality
Start by thinking about your preferred look for the bathroom when you first start out. You need to take many factors into account such as tile choices, paint colour, faucets, tubs, showers, vanities, etc. It can easily and quickly get overwhelming, which is why research is so important.
You can start piecing together elements that you like into what will become the bathroom’s final design or choose a design item that you would like featured in the bathroom and then work the rest of the bathroom design around it.
Design needs to work hand in hand with functionality, so always consider who will be using the bathroom and how, consider the eventual resale of the property and also take time to consider how the bathroom design fits in with the rest of the house.
6. Measurements
The three key limitations that really make size matter when it comes to bathroom renovations are the overall size of the bathroom, the location of existing plumbing pipes and electrical wiring, and the typical standard dimensions of bathroom fixtures.
So, always ensure that you have the right specifications and measurements when you go to the store. The only thing more frustrating than trying to shop without measurement is buying stuff that does not fit.
7. Contractor
Is it worth it to hire a contractor for a conceivably DIY task? Yes, it is actually the wise thing to do considering the complexity of the job and the difficult operations involved (plumbing, tiles, electrical, etc.).