If you’ve decided to renovate a bathroom in your house, know that this is not a small job. Even if you’ve fixed a leaky faucet or unclogged a toilet in the past, remodeling a bathroom is on a whole different level. Which is why it is critical to hire a contractor who has an excellent reputation from previous clients if you want your job done right.
Some things to bear in mind during this process are:
1. Always Remember a Contractor Is Not Necessarily a Designer
If you don’t know what the new bathroom is supposed to look like, how can it be remodeled? While it’s true that some contractors are capable of doing design work, you should find out in advance if your contractor is. A layout plan and material and fixture specifications must be made. If your contractor isn’t also a designer, you’ll have two choices: doing the design work yourself or finding an architect or interior designer to do it for you.
2. If your Bathroom Is Out of Order, What Bathroom Will You Use?
Going without a bathroom for any length of time can be a terrible inconvenience. If you have a second bathroom, that will help, but if you don’t, you should try to get a handle on what the expected timeline for the remodel will be. Try to find a contractor who can give you reasonable timeframes.
3. The Standard Process for a Bathroom Remodel Includes Multiple Steps:
• Design Approval
You and the contractor must agree on a design and sign off on it.
• Demolition
Depending on how much work there is to be done, the demolition work can be major or minor. You should plan ahead for dust and/or tracked dirt from the work site to a waste disposal unit.
• Roughing-In
Plumbing and electrical installation will be “roughed in” so that it can be inspected by the municipal authority before the work can be cosmetically finished. In most cases, the contractor will arrange for necessary inspections.
• Installation of Bath, Shower and Other Fixtures
At this point, the bathtub, sink, toilet and any other fixtures are added and connected to the plumbing.
• Flooring, Walls, Cabinets
The last step in the remodeling process is the finish work of installing and/or tiling of the floors, walls and other surfaces. Cabinets may be added. Very often, a second inspection is performed.
In the end, a bathroom remodel doesn’t have to be a monumental undertaking, but it helps to hire the right contractor for the job.