Putting in a new bathroom is a fun project. But before you choose the latest tile or bathtub style, you should think about a few less exciting things to make sure your project turns out the way you want it to. Because remodeling a bathroom can be stressful, take a lot of time and cost a lot of money, we made a simple 15-point checklist to make sure your project stays on track and the remodeling goes smoothly.
1. Budget
If you don’t already know, you should figure out how much you want to spend on remodeling your bathroom. Setting a budget will help you decide what to include in the remodeling project. Once you’ve figured out what you can spend and subtracted the amount allocated to labor, you’ll have a clearer sense of what you can spend on tile, fixtures, and extras.
2. Time
Many people think that remodeling a small bathroom will only take a few days, or at least much less time than remodeling a large bathroom. This doesn’t have to be
the case. Depending on how many things you want to change in the bathroom, your contractor will have to go through all the same steps as with a larger bathroom. Planning, on the other hand, doesn’t just mean figuring out how long the renovations will take. It also means taking steps in between, like ordering and buying tiles, fixtures, custom-built vanities, or cabinets, so that they can be delivered when your contractor needs them. Planning ahead is also important for people who only have one bathroom in their homes. They will need to figure out where they will shower and go to the bathroom while the bathroom is being taken apart.
3. Works sequence
When it comes to remodeling a bathroom, if you do things in a certain order, you can save yourself a lot of time and trouble. Whether you are taking down sheetrock or just painting a room, you should always start at the top. Remodel your ceiling first, then your walls, and finally your floors, so that you don’t damage your new things.
4. Hidden problems
If you want to make a big change to your bathroom, you might want to do a “full gut.” When done by a skilled professional, you end up with a bathroom that works perfectly and adds a huge amount of value to your home for many years to come. Depending on how old your home is and how well it was built, the biggest hidden problem you may have is water damage. Look for structural flaws in the floor framing, plumbing that isn’t properly vented, old, corroded plumbing, tile shower/tub surrounds that aren’t waterproof, etc.
5. Design style and functionality
When you first start out, think about how you want your bathroom to look. There are many things to think about, like the color of the paint, the tiles, the vanities, the showers, the tubs, the faucets, etc. It can quickly become too much to handle, so do some research first. You can start putting together elements you like to make the final design of the bathroom, or you can choose a design item you want to be the focus of the bathroom and build the rest of the design around it. Design and functionality should go hand in hand, so think about who will use the bathroom and how, think about when you might sell the house, and think about how the bathroom will fit in with the rest of the house.
6. Measurements
There are three major limitations that really make size matter when renovating a bathroom: the overall size of the bathroom (which is usually the smallest room in the house), the location of existing plumbing pipes and electrical wiring, and the typical standard sizes of bathroom fixtures. So, before you go to the store, make sure you have the right sizes and specifications. It’s more frustrating to buy clothes that don’t fit than to try to shop without knowing your size.
7. Contractor
Hiring a contractor for a job that could be done yourself? Well, yes, that is a smart thing to do, given how hard the job is and how complicated it is (electrical, tiling, plumbing, etc.). Don’t forget the benefits of hiring a contractor, and you’ll save yourself a lot of trouble and time.
8. Plumbing fixtures and features
Fixtures and features, such as the shower, bathtub, toilet, bidet, sink, faucets, and shower heads, must also be updated or fixed for the renovation to be considered complete. You should also get new mirrors and shower doors or fix the ones you have. You can also easily change the way your bathroom looks by switching out the door handles, drawer pulls, and shower door hardware. If you have the money, a new set of shower doors can make a huge difference in how the room looks.
9. Cabinets, storage, and shelving
Most of the time, it’s hard to figure out how to plan cabinets, shelves, and storage solutions. Even more so in small rooms with odd shapes, like the bathroom. They need to be useful and hold all of your things while keeping everything within easy reach. They also need to fit in the space you have and make the most of it, and they need to look good.
10. Walls and flooring
For bathroom walls and floors, almost any material can be used as long as it is waterproof, either naturally or through the use of an impervious finish. Ceramic, marble and granite tiles make attractive and incredibly durable flooring and wall surfaces for bathrooms, depending on your budget and style. Additional flooring options include cement (painted or stained), sheet vinyl, or vinyl tiles, which are less expensive and have an improved appearance. Always keep the durability and slip resistance in mind when making your selection for bathroom flooring.
11. Lighting
Without enough lighting, a bathroom can become unsafe or inconvenient, so consider using design lighting that serves both purposes. Plan to use as much natural light as possible first, and then at least 4 watts of incandescent lighting per square foot should be used for artificial lighting.
12. Accessories
No makeover is complete without new accessories, despite their apparent insignificance in the grand scheme of the whole project. Surprisingly, the little things, like fresh towels, washcloths, soap dishes, mirrors, towel racks, and bath mats, actually add up to the total cost. A fresh set of hand towels will be preferable to nothing if you are on a tight budget.
13. Ventilation
In a humid environment like the bathroom, ventilation is essential. The suitable fan must be chosen and installed in the proper location, and electrical wiring must be dealt with, all of which are challenging tasks that require careful planning. A bathroom with poor ventilation may become moldy, moist, and even dangerous to your health. But a bathroom with good ventilation isn’t only a healthy bathroom. Continuous airflow can also stop the saturation of building insulation as well as the deterioration of any timber trim or fixtures.
14. Going green
Going green may not personally matter to you, but the market is moving in that direction, so it is something to think about. Additionally, there are lots of reasonably priced ways to give your bathroom a green touch, such as installing a low-flow toilet that saves you money on water bills, low-VOC or no-VOC paints, sustainably harvested wood vanities, recycled glass tile countertops, etc.
15. Final clean
All cabinetry, both inside and out, ducting, walls, floors, windows, and light fixtures should all be thoroughly cleaned as part of the final clean. The hiring of a cleaning service during a major remodeling is something that is sometimes overlooked during the planning stage, but it could have a significant impact on your budget. You might need to extend your first timing by one or two days if you feel up to performing it yourself.
Start the transformation
Are you ready to renovate your bathroom? Our Fresher bathrooms team is the leading expert in Sydney, experienced with design and construction, we help you with small or large-scale projects. With completed over 100 bathroom projects and many reviews from previous clients, we are proud to offer our clients a 100% customer satisfaction guarantee. Contact us today for a design consultation, book online, or call 0466 594 042.
