Tag: Bathroom Renovation

What to Look for in a Contractor

Tick tock, tick tock, time is passing by and your home won’t fix itself…So what is going to be the excuse this time…the dog ate the blueprints or maybe the stars were not correctly aligned? We know that sometimes coming to a decision can be difficult with so much uncertainty out there but you really should attend to your home before the problem gets out of hand.

As life would have it, there is never going to be a perfect moment to hire a bathroom renovations company but we can at least help you to get over the trepidation and get that wrecking ball going, so to speak.

If you’re like me, you have limited funds and you want everything to go smoothly. We have all heard stories from friends and family of “contractors gone bad” and if you need a refresher just check out Holmes on Homes on HGTV which highlights homeowners who have hired unscrupulous contractors. Not only did they have poor quality work done, they also had to endure weeks of delays and in some cases downright dangerous end results.

The reality of the matter is if you pick the wrong so-called professional, you may be left with a hefty bill with little to show for it and no funds to fix the situation. Remodeling is stressful enough without this unnecessary and preventable problem. You want to avoid being the victim at all cost.

Read more: Where to Place Your Bathtub Plumbing Fixtures

How to Evaluate the Company

This less than perfect scenario can be sidestepped by simply sitting down with your prospective renovator and asking a few simple questions to evaluate the company and can potentially save you the head ache of hiring a bad contractor. This is probably the easiest step in the selection process and will go a long way towards making sure your project is finished successfully, on time and within your budget.

Before getting in touch with any contractor you should try to get a sense of the renovation experts working in your municipality. This can be done by familiarizing yourself with the portfolio of previous jobs a contractor has worked on before.

While having a website does not guarantee they are legit, through photos and videos you can get an idea of the quality of work the company has done which will help you decide if their approach to design is the right fit for you.

Deciding How to Proceed

In a world full of exaggeration and bold claims, references are Gold! Once you have found a contractor that appeals to your wants, it is imperative that you check their references. The more associations and licensing boards they belong to the better because most of these homebuilders associations have to keep up with the latest industry standards and regulations taking place in the trades.

Not only will they have access to up-to-date trending information they will more than likely be abreast of current design ideas in home renovations. As an added bonus this may even give you some insights into what it would be like working with that particular contractor.

Read more: Factors to Consider When Choosing a Whirlpool or Air-Jet Tub

An important factor that most homeowners forget to ask a potential contractor is if they are insured (preferably in the area of one to two million dollars). Whether or not you have home insurance, you still need to make sure he is insured to protect both of you in case of any unforeseen complications or accidents on the job site. Having home insurance also sometimes allows you to get extra coverage when renovating, to cover any liabilities that may ensue on the premise.

How to Discover a Top Rated Professional

While most homeowners who have gotten this far feel that they have done their due diligence, don’t you make the same mistake. In other words, you need to dig just a little bit further. There are usually subcontractors, work crews, and different suppliers involved and it pays to at least be aware of the main players involved. A contractor who is open to disclose the people and processes involved will be more sensitive to your needs and will be easier to work with to get you the materials you are considering to finish your project.

Read more: Using a Survey Checklist to Identify Problem Areas

Whoever is renovating your home, you want to have a good working relationship with. Take your time, have faith in your intuition, after all this is your private space, you need to feel not only that you are making the right decision, but also that you can trust and talk freely with your contractor. Remodeling is an expensive and time consuming endeavor and you want your home renovations to proceed exactly as planned.

Interview several companies; ask all the right questions, view example of their work and follow up on references. Remember, choosing a contractor based upon price alone does not guarantee quality work. Hiring an outsider to update your home can bring both joy and trepidation but if you follow these guidelines then finding a reputable provider will be a fulfilling and memorable experience.

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Bathtub plumbing fixtures can be either coordinated or function as an individual piece. The main things to consider are the location, size and type of material you will use. Another important item to think about is whether or not the bathtub has special design features and where you will put plumbing access in case of an emergency.

Most bathtub manufacturer’s offer coordinated bathroom suites in matching colors and styles however there are also suppliers out there that create bathtub fixtures primarily to be mixed and matched with your existing bathroom décor.

Read more: Using a Ceramic Tile Cutter

Unlike other bathroom fixtures that can be readily replaced, the bathtub is somewhat permanent so your choices in style, color and location should be considered very carefully. The bathtub must be suitably positioned so as not to hinder the flow of users while at the same time be easy to get in and out of.

It should be noted here that if you plan on putting the faucet on the exterior wall that some municipal plumbing codes do not allow this due to energy conservation, so it would be in your best interest to check with your local authority on this matter.

Read more: 6 Safety Tools When Renovating Your Bathroom

To make plumbing access easier create a small door or panel that can be easily removed to allow access to the overflow and drain pipes. If it is difficult to locate the bathtub near the drain then you can raise the tub on a platform, now all you have to do is install the P-trap and drainpipe above floor height to an adjacent wall.

The bathtub is such a big prominent fixture, still, you can decide whether you want it to stand out or not. To make it dominate the room, even more, you can place it in the center of the bathroom or raise it on a platform. If on the other hand, you don’t want it to be the center of attention, position it in the corner or in its own private alcove.

This of course will furthermore depend on who will be using the bathroom. Can you bathe in the open or do you need to share your bathroom with other family members so a more intimate enclosure would be more appropriate?

Read more: Installing Stone Tile in Your Bathroom

Another important thing to bear in mind is the structural integrity of your bathroom floor. Depending upon the bathtub that you purchase, they can be quite heavy. Consider the size of the tub filled with water and one or two bathers. The other thing that will determine the ability of your floor to hold up your tub is how close it is to a bearing wall. Types of material and water capacity of the bathtub will also affect the weight of the tub.

The standard size of a bathtub is approximately five feet long and about thirty inches wide, so if you plan on installing a larger tub, get professional advice about the possibility of reinforcing your bathroom floor. And don’t forget the area surrounding the tub, there should be ample space to get in and out and convenient access to dressing areas.

Read more: Choosing The Right Tool For Your Next Bath Remodeling Job

Before you dive into any bathroom renovation or remodelling job it’s always a good idea to create an objective checklist to make sure you are actually ready and able to begin the tasks ahead. Look at the entire project with a critical eye. Leave no stone unturned.

First and foremost give yourself a realistic amount of time to get each undertaking done. A complete bath redo involves careful planning, a certain amount of skills, patience, and the ability to work safely. Most people don’t even realize that it usually takes a day or more depending upon the complexity of your renovation project to remove wall coverings and about eight to twelve hours to accurately mark the positions of your fixtures.

Read more: Common Municipal Building Codes

Preparation is key. Have your level, drill, hole saw, framing square, hammer, pry bar, jigsaw, reciprocating saw, circular saw and what ever else you may need stored in a logical place within easy reach as you progress through the stages of your bathroom reno plan. And the same goes for whatever materials you may need such as lumber for any framing you may need to do.

To expand your bathroom you might need to build a new wall. Just make sure that it is not a load-bearing wall. Even if you’re just a little bit unsure it would be in your best interest to avoid a disaster and check with a professional carpenter or structural engineer before proceeding any further.

Don’t fool yourself; you will need basic carpentry skills to get by here. Always remove drywall and plaster from around the vicinity you will be running any plumbing. Plan for where your plumbing runs. And yes you will also need a good understanding of the rudimentary skillset and procedures of plumbing.

Read more: “Go Green” When Remodeling your Bathroom

You will also have to formulate some sort of plan of hooking up the new plumbing with what is already there. This is where paying a plumber for his/her advice is worth its weight in gold. It’s also worth mentioning again how important it is to measure carefully and accurately. Special attention should be paid to drain vents and make sure you purchase pipe types and sizes that conform to your municipal building codes.

Getting the plumbing right is very important because you don’t want to have to tear things out or apart just to fix a boo, boo and as a precaution, it’s always best to pre-approve your plumbing plans by your local building department.

Clear out all cabinets, fixtures and any other décor elements that may prove to be an obstruction or hinder your work in any way. It is of the utmost importance that you shut off the power if any wiring is in the path of the plumbing. And test to make sure the circuit is really off just to be on the safe side. You may even have to temporarily remove cables, which is fine because it’s usually a good work practice to run any electrical cables after the plumbing has been installed.

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As an afterthought, avoid running any pipes in your exterior wall because the last thing you want happening is for your pipes to freeze during the colder months of the year causing unnecessary water damage.

Above all work safe. Wear the proper safety attire to protect yourself from scrapes and cuts: gloves, a mask, eye protectors etc. Don’t overexert yourself either. Plan your breaks. And remember a complete bathroom renovation involves thorough planning; maybe even some advanced or at least competent plumbing skills.

Get a good helper and work in a steady patient manner because this could be the most challenging do-it-yourself project you may ever undertake. But you know what? It will all be worth it in the end.

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