Bathroom Remodeling

Whether you are looking to increase your home’s value or you simply want to more fully enjoy your personal space, bathroom remodels top the list of home improvement projects year after year. After looking through design books, magazines, and websites for ideas, you may have been pondering a bathroom remodel for some time and have not known where to start. Here are a few questions to consider before you begin to ensure your finished product is exactly what you dreamed of. What do you like and what don’t you like about your current bathroom? Assess your bathroom and analyze how the room is and is not meeting your needs. By asking yourself what features you are missing and what doesn’t work with the current layout, you will begin to prioritize features you wish to include in your new space and what you want this remodel to accomplish. How will your new bath be used? It is important to consider all the activities that will be taking place in your bathroom beyond regular bathroom activities. By identifying how your new bathroom will be used, you can streamline the space to incorporate everything from relaxing, watching television, listening to music, reading magazines, making coffee, performing spa treatments, to getting dressed. For example, A family bath where children (and possibly the family pet) will receive a lot of wear and tear and will need different features from a spa-like master bath. Who will be using the new bathroom? If this is the only bathroom in your home you will need to meet the needs of both you, other family members, and your guests. If you have multiple bathrooms in your home, you need to think of the main occupants for this space. A bathroom for children or elderly parents may need features such as lowered sinks or easily accessible showers. What features would you like to incorporate in your new bathroom? Some features are necessary but a remodel also allows you to incorporate a lot of amenities you want as well. Some upgrades may be practical and some may include luxuries that will make your new space the most decadently detailed room in your home. Practical considerations such as energy-efficient and water-saving features, increased storage and surface space, and additional electrical outlets will make your bathroom more functional. Steam showers, heated floors, and soaking tubs will add comfort and relaxation to your new space. Will you incorporate technology? You may look at your bathroom as an oasis away from the technological world or you may want to embrace the idea of televisions, stereos, coffeemakers, and a laundry area being included in your new bathroom. What is your budget? It is extremely important to set a budget before beginning any project, but with a major home renovation such as a bathroom remodel, a budget is vital. Don’t forget to allow for unforeseen expenses such as water, electrical, and plumbing issues in your budget. What is your plan? Decide if you are planning to do the project yourself, hire a general contractor, designer and/or project manager. Once you’ve met with anyone who will be involved in the remodel, set out a timeline and finalize your contracts.