21.6.14

Helpful Planning Tips For Bathroom Remodeling Bay Area Homeowners Should Follow

By Ina Hunt


Although the end results can be very rewarding, it does take a considerable amount of planning to renovate a bathroom. In order for the project to be a success, certain steps must be taken including selecting the right products, evaluating the layout, and establishing a budget. Furthermore, a suitable timeline will need to be followed, and a good contractor must be located. By keeping these tips in mind for bathroom remodeling Bay area homeowners should enjoy a successful project that runs smoothly.

A reasonable time to start planning a bathroom remodel is about six months ahead. The first step is to gather ideas of the desired look one wishes to duplicate, this can be done by collecting pictures from magazines or online, and making notes about which features one admires in each image. It's also a good time to start getting some names of prospective contractors from people one knows, home improvement centers and such.

The first thing to give thought to should be the layout of the bathroom in terms of the placement of its fixtures and storage units such as cabinets, cupboards, and drawers. Some people may wish to actually switch the positions of these objects, if possible, while others are satisfied with the way they are and merely wish to update paint, flooring, counters etc.

About three months prior to the start of the project, the homeowner should finalize the details of the budget. As a rule of thumb, about two-thirds of the total amount will cover labor, leaving the rest for purchasing materials. Fortunately there is a large selection of tiles, fittings, and fixtures to fit every size budget.

The next important action needed is to choose a skilled and knowledgeable contractor. Selecting a few and meeting them in person is the best way to find out what each has to offer, and it gives the customer a chance to present their preliminary plans to the contractors, request references, and obtain a written estimate. The contractor who is chosen, will present a work agreement to the homeowners, and may request that one-third of the fee be paid upfront. Most bathroom renovations can be expected to take about six weeks to finish.

It's best to order all necessary materials at least eight weeks ahead of time, to ensure they are there when needed. Special order products like hand-painted tiles, light fixtures, and custom vanities may take some time to come in, so ordering early is wise. This way the project will not get held up by missing materials.

The homeowner will also need to select a designated area for safely storing all items in the bathroom that will need to be removed during the renovations. A month or so before the work starts is a good time to shop for finishing touches like knobs, handles, towel bars, and counter-top accessory sets.

During the remodeling process, the homeowner should make a point of routinely touching base with the contractor, in doing so one can make sure everything seems to be going as planned and that it stays on schedule as much as possible. If any problems arise, this is the best time to discuss them before the work progresses further. It's important that there be open communication between the two parties at all times.




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