A bathroom may be the smallest renovation space in a home, but it can certainly be one of the biggest headaches for homeowners-especially when they try to tackle an entire bathroom renovation project themselves. I’ve seen countless homeowners who have gotten in way over their head before finally calling in the professionals for help. If you’re planning a bathroom renovation and you would like to do most of the work yourself, use the following tips to help you through this tougher-than-it-looks renovation project.
Order in Advance
The typical bathroom renovation has numerous materials that require advanced ordering. And if you’re on a tight timeframe (in other words you’re a weekend warrior) you’ll definitely want to order materials like sinks, vanities, faucets and tile long before you start the project. If the project is extra-large, you may want to consider renting a storage unit for a month or two to help keep everything in order and damage free.
Measure Twice, Maybe Even a Third Time
As the old saying goes, “measure twice and cut once.” It’s positively one of the best pieces of advice I can give any homeowner looking to install larger materials into an older bathroom. Often times, the old vanities, tubs and shower enclosures come out just fine-it’s getting the new stuff back in that’s the trick. For standalone shower stalls, built-in tub/shower combo units or any other bigger-than-you-think whirlpool style tubs, you’re going to have to open up the side of the house to fit the materials inside. Measure it once, twice and even a third time to ensure everything fits before you get it onsite or you could be asking for trouble.
Cost Breakdown Lists
Knowing how much everything is going to cost you doesn’t mean you’re a miser or penny pincher; it means you’ve got enough sense to ensure your project runs as smooth as possible. If any upgrades are wanted during the initial construction phase (or if other costly problems are uncovered during demolition), a cost breakdown list can help you to shift items in the budget to allocate money for important items you may want or need without breaking the bank.
Fixtures and Features
Sure that new toilet and tile are going to make your new bathroom renovation look like a million bucks, but without a simple toilet flange extension, you’re not going to get the toilet to fit the flange correctly and a leak will ensue. Adding new fixtures to old plumbing can also be asking for trouble. Replace all plumbing connections as well as fixtures or a leak could become a possibility in your near future.
