A home remodeling project can be an excellent way to increase your home’s value or spruce up your space. It can be as simple as applying a coat of paint or buying updated fixtures. If you are looking for a hassle-free way to design the bathroom of your dreams, you will need to plan ahead. A bathroom renovation can be time-consuming, costly, and overwhelming for many homeowners. Here are a few tips for you to stay on track with your next bathroom project.
How Much Will It Cost?
The average cost of a bathroom remodel is between $5,000 to $15,000. In most cases, the labor will take up about 20 percent of your budget. The larger the project, the more money it will cost for you. If you are a do-it-yourself person, you could save a few thousand dollars on your budget. You can find videos and books on how to update your existing bathroom. However, if your project needs major plumbing overhauls, you might want to hire a professional for the job. For those on a budget, you can find materials to cut down on costs, and they will still look great in your bathroom.
Before you start any project, you need to set a budget. You should figure out how much you want to spend on your bathroom renovation. When you set a budget, you can make important decisions about your project, such as deciding what to include in the remodel. Once you have figured out what to spend, you will be able to have a better sense of how much you can spend on fixtures, tiles, and extras.
Design Your Bathroom
With a budget in place, you will want to think about a design for your bathroom. You should decide where you want to place certain elements in the room. If you are short on ideas, you can find resources online or at your library. There are several factors to consider, like tile choices, paint color, showers, bathtubs, faucets, and vanities. Once you have settled on a design concept, you can piece those elements together for your space.
For many people, they choose a design item and then work around that piece. Others choose a bathroom theme and will design the entire bathroom around that concept. Whatever you want, your design should be functional throughout the room.
If you want to DIY the project, you also should choose a design that will fit your vision and skillset. You can easily swap out a vanity or completely gut your space to start from scratch. Here are some design elements that you will need to begin your bathroom renovation. These components include the following:
Color scheme: Do you want bright colors or something more subtle? A simple splash of paint can refresh your entire space. If you are taking your project a bit further, then you want to choose wisely when it comes to painting. The color scheme is essential since you don’t want to select a vanity or tiles that will clash with your choice of paint.
New fixtures: Are you installing a new toilet, sink, or bathtub? Will you need to refinish or replace it? For those choosing new products, you need to add that to your budget and project time. You also want to choose fixtures that are practical in your bathroom space.
Storage: When you redesign your space, you have to keep in mind that you need to include storage space. If you are removing a cabinet or closet, you need to install some shelves to make up for any lost space in your bathroom.
Utility locations: Before you tear down walls, you need to know about the location of plumbing pipes and electrical wiring. You should have accurate measurements so that you don’t need to repair a wall or another expensive feature.
With that, you have a general idea about the design elements of your bathroom to start moving into the next stages. You want to pay careful attention at this point so that you don’t make mistakes that could lead to breaking your budget.
Get Those Measurements
With any bathroom renovation, there are some limitations. The bathroom is one of the smallest rooms in the home. You also have to worry about the location of pipes, electrical wiring, and the dimensions of the bathroom fixtures. You want to make sure that you have the right measurements when you head off to the store. Without the correct sizes, you will end up purchasing fixtures that will not fit into your space.
Decide on a Timeframe
Many homeowners believe that it will only take a few days to complete a project. However, that is not always the case with small bathrooms. If you are swapping out toilets or sinks, it can take more than a few days to finish your job. In some cases, you might even go through more steps than those who are renovating an entire bathroom. When creating a timeframe, you need to think about the duration of the remodeling project. You should also consider other things like ordering custom products and purchasing supplies. Planning is a critical step as you will have to make arrangements to use the toilet or take a shower in another room as your work on this project.
Gather Your Supplies
You might want to get right to work, but you need a few supplies for your project. The specific tools will vary depending on your project. Here are a few essential tools that you might need for your bathroom renovation, such as:
- Gloves
- Safety mask
- Goggles
- Caulking gun
- Hammer
- Tape measure
- Stud finder
- Power drill
- Bucket
- Chisel
- Pry bar
- Flathead screwdriver
- Utility knife
- Extension cord
- Wet-dry vacuum
- Cordless drill
Of course, your project will probably need more supplies than the above list. You should make a note about what tools you need and make sure to have them on hand before you begin any work in the bathroom. If you don’t have any of these tools at your home, you can easily rent them at your local home improvement store.
Bathroom Renovation Checklist
Before you start ripping out a toilet or bringing down a wall, there are some things that you need to consider for your bathrooms. Here are some additional tips for your bathroom renovation project.
Work in Sequence
You are probably ready to tackle your bathroom project. You want to complete the job in sequence to save yourself some time and clean up. If you are replacing walls or ceiling, you should start at the top of the room. Many people will begin at the ceiling, then work on the walls, and finish with the floors. By doing this, you can prevent any damage to the fixtures or components.
Prepare for Hidden Issues
For those who are doing a full bathroom upgrade, you might want to consider a “full gut” of the room. With projects like this, you should consider hiring a contractor for the job. When you hire a professional, you will run into fewer problems than when you try to handle it on your own. If you want to go the DIY route, then you should be prepared for any unexpected issues. Depending on the age of the house, you might run into water damage, structural deficiencies, or corroded plumbing.
Before you start to move on to adding new fixtures and components, you will need to repair those issues. When in the planning stage of your budget, you should add a little wiggle room to cover any of these problems that can pop up during the renovating phase.
Work on Walls and Flooring
You want to work on the flooring and walls of your room. Any waterproof materials can be used for the walls and floors. Depending on your style and budget, you can choose marble, granite, or ceramic tiles. These elements are elegant and make durable surfaces for floors and wall surfaces. If you are looking for more options for your floor, you should consider vinyl tiles, sheet vinyl, or cement. These items are inexpensive and can look great in a bathroom. When you are renovating your bathroom wall and floor materials, you want to choose products that are slip-resistant and durable.
Select Your Lighting Options
Without the right lighting, your bathroom can be impractical or even dangerous. You want to add lighting that is both functional and creates an exciting atmosphere. Most bathrooms rely on natural light, but you should plan to have at least 4 watts of lighting per square foot.
Ventilation Is Important
In a damp bathroom, you need the right ventilation. It can be challenging to choose the right fan and the best place for its installation. Inadequate ventilation can leave your room moldy, damp, and even hazardous to your health. With a well-ventilated bathroom, you will have a healthy place for your entire family. The right airflow will help to prevent decay to wooden fixtures and saturation of insulation.
Add Those Plumbing Features and Fixtures
A significant component of any bathroom renovation is replacing the plumbing features and fixtures. You can swap out bathtubs, showers, toilets, sinks, faucets, and showerheads. For many people, they also take time to replace shower doors and mirrors. If you are looking at a low-cost way to update your bathroom, you should think about changing out drawer pulls, door handles, and hardware for your cabinets and doors. With a new set of handles and shower doors, you can completely change the look of your bathroom.
Think About Storage, Cabinets, and Shelving Options
When completing a bathroom renovation, you need to think about your storage solutions. It can be tricky to plan out your shelving and cabinet spaces. In small bathrooms, it is difficult to get these items into the right spot. You want all the pieces to be functional and able to accommodate all your belongings. In addition to that, these pieces must fit into the available space, be easily reachable, and look stylish in your room.
Add Some Accessories
You might not think about it, but accessories are another vital part of your remodeling project. You can purchase items like towels, soap dishes, wash clothes, towel racks, and bath mats. These items can add a nice touch to your final product. If you are on a budget, you can add a few new towels for a more completed look to your bathroom.
Go Green
With a new bathroom renovation, you should consider some green products. The market is beginning to trend towards eco-friendly products. You don’t need to throw a ton of cash at these modern components either. A low flow toilet will help you to save money as you use less water in your home. You can use low-VOC or no-VOC paints to color your room. For some people, they use recycled glass or sustainably harvested wood for their vanities or countertops.
Hiring a Contractor
You probably want to handle your bathroom renovation by yourself, but sometimes it is smart to hire outside help. Bathrooms can be complex, and there are a lot of complicated components in the walls and floors, such as plumbing and electric wiring. You should think of it as an investment that will save you time and money.
Clean Up
Once you are done with your project, you should not forget about the final cleanup. You need to go through your cabinetry, ductwork, floors, walls, and light fixtures. Many people accomplish this cleaning task on their own. However, some homeowners do hire a cleaning service, but that can add more cost to your budget. You want to have a beautiful and clean bathroom once you are finished with your business.
A bathroom renovation can be a tremendous task. You can choose to tackle it by yourself or hire a professional. With this checklist, you can create the right plan to complete your bathroom under budget and on time.
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