It doesn't matter whether you have a big home or a small
home. Your bathroom is one of the rooms you should invest in as many luxurious
fixtures and amenities as you can.
Why A Bathroom is Worth Going Big
The bathroom can be a haven, a place where you take long
soaks in the tub at the end of tiring days at work. Reason enough why bathroom
remodels is one of the best things you can do for you and your home.
On top of that, bathroom remodeling gives you 80% to 90%
return on investment should you ever decide to sell your home. Whether it's a
partial upgrade or a complete overhaul, a bathroom remodel is one worthwhile
project you should seriously consider investing in.
Deciding on the Scope of Your Bathroom Remodelling Project.
The minute you start on your bathroom remodeling project,
it can result in either one of two things: you'll have that gleaming, tiled
paradise of a bathroom you've always wanted to have or you'll end
up having a half-assembled mess of the old and new bathroom
fixtures. To prevent the second scenario, you should decide on the scope of
your bathroom remodeling project before you start anything.
Based on your budget, the span of time you have, and the
size of your bathroom and its current state, you have several options for
remodeling your bathroom:
Option 1.
Do a surface-level bathroom remodeling. This is an option
when your bathroom fixtures, the knobs on the faucets and such, are still in
good condition but your bathtub and/or your shower stall is looking a little
shabby. When that's the case, a surface-level bathroom remodeling can give you
the feel of a whole new bathroom, without the price tag. It's a great project
to take on if you don't have the budget for a complete overhaul just yet. The
rule of thumb to follow here is, "Cover, don't replace." Replacement
adds to the time and costs of a remodel because you're paying to have what's
there already removed. Covering uses the structure of what's already there and
simply gives it a new face. Some of the not-so-pricey items you need to invest
in when doing a surface-level bathroom remodeling include prefabricated shower
units, bathtub or shower liners, bathtub refinishing, and easy-to-install
wainscoting.
Option 2.
Change the layout of
your bathroom. Similar to how you sometimes rearrange the placement of the
furniture in your living room, kitchen, or bedroom to give it a new feel, you
can rearrange the plumbing fixtures in your bathroom. This project is a bit
more difficult to take on than a surface-level remodel. Bathroom fixtures such
as the sink, shower stall, bathtub, and cabinets are not easily moved and will
require the services of a licensed plumber, a carpenter, and possibly an
electrician. However, once the professionals are done, you can save a little
money by rearranging things like towel racks and bars, shelves, trash cans, and
miscellaneous bath accessories yourself. There will be a bigger change to the
overall look of your bathroom once you're finished.
Option 3.
Be American - Make
your bathroom bigger. If you're feeling patriotic, and have the space to spare,
you can extend the area of your toilet and bath. It's as American as apple pie.
If you only have a shower stall, you can tear down a non-load-bearing wall and
give yourself a proper bathtub. If you already have a bathtub, punch out some
closet space from the next room, and give yourself a whirlpool tub. Whatever
size bathroom you've got, there are always options for going bigger
Option 4.
A complete bathroom
overhaul. If nothing else is going to do it for you, there's always the final
option of a complete overhaul of your existing bathroom. Tear everything out,
right down to the
bear studs, and completely redo the space. Of the bathroom
remodeling projects we've discussed, this is potentially the most tedious, the
most expensive and the most disruptive to you and your family. However, if done
properly, you can create a perfect place for you to escape your every day, and
add thousands of dollars to the value of your home.
Factors to Consider When Remodeling Your Bathroom
After you've determined the size and scope of the bathroom
remodeling project you're going to take on, there are several things you're
going to need to contend with before work can even begin:
Your remodeling budget Life is full of the unexpected.
That's why most people have an emergency fund. Too often people look at the
money sitting in their emergency fund and decide to include it in their
remodeling budget. This is a mistake. Remodeling projects are a favorite for
Murphy 's Law. If you decide to invest your emergency fund in your remodeling
project, you all but guarantee something will go wrong in the middle of the
project that'll drain that fund and leave you with a half re-finished bathroom.
If you don't have the funds for a complete bathroom remodel in your account
right now, settle for something less ambitious that you can afford and still
improve the look of your bathroom. You don't want to have to stop the
contractor from coming into your house when the project's only halfway done
because you no longer have the funds to pay for labor.
Designing to YOUR dream bathroom This has more to do with
design than anything else, but it is the foundation on which the rest of your
decisions will depend. To help yourself through this process, go through the
following mental exercise. Close your eyes. Picture your dream house: the lawn,
the fence, the windows, the door. In your mind's eye, walk through the door, up
the stairs, through the master bedroom, and into your perfect bathroom. Now,
this is your dream house. Your idea of a perfect bathroom is completely up to
you. For you, a great bathroom may be simple; a bathroom with gleaming,
all-white surfaces and brass for all the fixtures. On the other hand, it could
be something chicer, like your own personal spa. The point is, the idea for
this perfect bathroom is yours, and yours alone. Everyone else involved in the
project from this point forward should be focused on giving you your vision,
not theirs. Whatever scope of the project you've chosen to undertake, the end
should be as close to your dream as it can be.
The materials to be used The choice of materials for your
bathroom remodeling project will be driven by your budget and the remodeled look
you want your bathroom to have. You can choose the color, design, and type of
materials used for the bathroom's countertops, faucets, flooring, shower, sink,
and other parts. Whether you're hiring a contractor or doing the bathroom
remodeling yourself, you have the final say as homeowner on the materials to be
used for the project, but a lot will be dictated by your budget. Even though
you may want travertine marble, be prepared to compromise. Porcelain tiles can
look pretty good when you're staring at your bottom line.
A Final Word About Bathroom Remodeling
All in all, the success of a bathroom remodeling project
boils down to planning. As long as you know what your budget limitations are
and the scope of the remodeling project, there's no reason you can't have that
tiled, cool, gleaming haven of a bathroom you've always wanted.
Michael Orehowsky was all but born to be a plumber. His
father, Mike Sr., began his career as a professionally licensed plumber in 1986
when Mike was four years old. Growing up, Mike learned from his father the keys
to running a successful plumbing company in Northern Virginia: Take care of
your customers, and be true to your word.
In 2004, Mike joined his father in business and in 2006,
they founded 4FastPlumber together out of their Woodbridge, Virginia home. With
Mike's mother, Susan, running the office, Mike and his father worked together
over the next four years to grow 4FastPlumber into one of Northern Virginia's
leading plumbing companies. Starting as a basic plumbing service company, the
father and son team grew the company into comprehensive plumbing and drain,
able to tackle even the largest of plumbing jobs, including sewer service
installation, maintenance, and repair.
In 2010, in recognition of his leadership and drive to
succeed, Mike Sr. stepped aside and passed control of the company over to his
son.
You can read more of Mike's plumbing and drain tips on his
blog or find him on Facebook.
