Like any other home project, it is important to take the necessary steps to plan a bathroom remodel. The bathroom is one of the most important rooms in the home due to how often it is used for both health and comfort. This guide will go over everything you should know about preparing for a bathroom remodeling project.
Choosing Your Bathroom Design & Style
Before you do anything at all, you need to choose what kind of bathroom style you want. Decide if you want similar theme to your last design, or if you want to transform it completely. This is an important step because it will dictate how you will go about your bathroom remodel. Once this is decided, you will be able to make a list of fixtures, accessories, colors and other preferences that you want in your bathroom design.
Shopping for Bathroom Products
After you know what you want in your bathroom, you need to figure out where you want to purchase it from. In this day and age, there are so many options in terms of shopping. Whether it is brick and mortar or online, there are many options you have at your disposal. This can be a good thing and a bad thing at the same time. However, due to the amount of options you have, you can easily find the products you are looking for. Once you find the right store, you should definitely know the style you need. For example, matching styles and finishes are incredibly important for creating a cohesive bathroom design. Make sure the store you choose meets both these requirements, or else things can get tricky.
Shopping for Bathroom Products Online
One of the most convenient ways to shop for bathroom products is via online shopping. There are various different online stores in which you can find almost infinite options in terms of bathroom fixtures and modern bathroom accessories. In addition, you do not even need to leave the comfort of your own home. The only downside is that you can't physically see the product unless you go to a showroom or something similar.
Shopping for Bathroom Products in Store
Essentially the opposite of shopping online, shopping in person comes with its own benefits and drawbacks. Shopping in person allows you to physically see and touch each product individually to know exactly what you are getting. If this is something that would interest you, check out this guide for the best plumbing showrooms by state. In addition, you don't have to wait for shipping. On the other hand, it can be a lot less convenient. For example, shopping in person gives you much less options than shopping online would. You also have to physically travel to each location and hope they have what you are looking for.
Where Else Can I Buy Bathroom Products?
There are a few other options you can go with other than personally shopping for bathroom products. For example, you can hire somebody to find the bathroom fixtures and accessories that are necessary. Another option is a combination of shopping online and in person. This can help to ensure that you are finding exactly what you need. You can also go the second hand route, although that is not recommended.
Who to Hire for Your Bathroom Remodel
This is one of the most important steps in a bathroom remodeling process. The people or person you hire for your planned bathroom remodel should meet a certain series of criteria in order to ensure you have a great bathroom remodel. Firstly, it should be somebody that you trust. How you feel emotionally about your remodel process should be nothing but positive and secure. Secondly, the person doing your remodel should be reputable and proven. To sum things up, it is important to hire somebody that is trustworthy with a body of work that makes you feel comfortable.
Interior Designers and Architects
If you are going through a complete bathroom remodel, you may need the consultation of an interior designer or an architect. These people are incredibly helpful in full plan bathroom remodels because they know the ins and outs of design fundamentals. Architects are great for planning out the footprint, technicalities, measurements and other foundational parts of the design. Interior designers are useful when deciding the fixtures, accessories and overall style of the bathroom. Both of these people will be very helpful when going through a bathroom remodel, doing the work that you don't have to. In terms of necessity, it will depend on the scale of your remodel. Larger scale remodels will definitely benefit from these.
Contractors
A contractor can be helpful for a vast scale of bathroom remodels. In general, a contractor can undertake a variety of different aspects of a bathroom remodel. In most cases, a contractor can perform a full bathroom remodel or a simple update. In addition, you can often find contractors that are local and very trustworthy. Many will have portfolios, pictures and reviews from previous customers and bathroom remodels which can give you a good idea of the quality of their work. If you don't necessarily need a massive bathroom remodel planning, a contractor can be exactly what you need.
Plumbers
In almost every case, you'll need a plumber in order to make sure your bathroom is functional and efficient. A plumber will ensure all of your plumbing is working properly and safely. They will also help to optimize water usage in order to prevent an unnecessary waste of water and money. Water management is one of the most crucial aspects of a healthy bathroom, so make sure you hire a reputable plumber for your bathroom remodel project.
DIY for Your Bathroom Remodel
Of course, you can always go the DIY Route. However, it is important to recognize the pros and cons of going this route. First of all, the benefits can be very worth the DIY remodel. For example, It will be much less expensive than hiring people to do it for you. in addition, Doing it yourself will also be a much more rewarding process, knowing that you personally remodeled your bathroom. Another benefit is experience gained from going through the remodel, making it easier for you to do similar projects in the future.
However, there are also a few drawbacks from DIY bathroom remodels. First of all, it will generally take much longer than it would if you hired a professional. To go along with that, the probably of making a mistake will be higher if you do it yourself. The main drawback is is the legwork that you need to do on your own. If you are having trouble to plan a bathroom remodel out and working on the remodel, it might be a better idea to hire somebody who has all of the resources easily available and accessible.
Turn the Water Off
Turning off the water is the one thing you don’t want to forget to do, but it can easily slip your mind. This is definitely the first thing you want to do. An accidental bathroom flooding situation while removing fixtures is the last thing anybody wants. Water damage is incredibly detrimental. Here is how to prepare for your bathroom remodel planning.
Remove Everything From your Bathroom
It is important that all loose items are taken out of your bathroom, such as shampoos, soaps, towels, rugs and all other similar items. Take everything out from under your sinks and inside of your vanities as well. It is also recommended that you take down your shower curtains and your toilet seat covers just to strip everything down to the bare bones. You basically want to take everything out of your bathroom that you can, as long as those things are safe to remove without causing any damage to your bathroom. This is also very important because if you forget to turn your water off. You run the risk of water damage on anything you forget to remove.
Remove All Doors to Make Space
By opening up the space in your bathroom, the remodeling procedure can be done in a much more effective manner. You should removing all doors from your bathroom, including the main door, closet doors and shower doors, if possible. When removing doors, make sure you are sure how to remove the specific door on each of your fixtures. When all doors are removed, you have more space to move freely and maneuver through your bathroom. Space is incredibly important for the health of the design.
Plan your Budget or Set a Budget
Before you do anything, make sure you have the created an overall plan. You should also set a budget for the total project. Set your budget for fixtures, accessories, tiling, wallpaper or paint and all labor costs that will be associated to the remodel. We also recommend adding an extra contingency budget. This takes care of any unforeseen costs that may incur during the bathroom remodel plans. An interior designer can help amazingly here. They will help set your budget, along with various other benefits. If you are feeling a bit lost in terms of a plan, check out these bathroom remodel ideas.
Final Considerations to Make Sure Your Bathroom Remodel is a Success
A bathroom renovation is a big step for your home. Take the necessary precautions and steps to ensure a smooth renovation process. When entering the final phase of your bathroom remodel plans, it is a good idea to go through a checklist to ensure everything was done correctly. In addition to that, take a look at your remodel as a whole. If there are any parts of the remodel that are incomplete or incorrect, write them down and see what you can do to improve each individual point. To sum things up, if your bathroom remodel isn't perfect, it is okay to correct things as you see fit. It is your bathroom, so make sure everything is exactly how you like it!