Bathroom Remodeling Do’s and Don’ts
Do Have a plan – Always start off with a plan. Take in consideration the traffic flow, the size of the space, how the doors open (using pocket doors), and how everything will tie together. It will make for a smoother transition, it will make your budgeting easier, and will help the project move along faster.
Don’t change the layout too much – There could be some plumbing issues that could cost your more as well as labor costs.
Do Have a budget – With your plan in hand, now budget how much everything will cost including labor. Take in consideration unforeseeable circumstances, and don’t try to do too much in your space.
Don’t overspend – Make sure you stick to your budget and don’t ignore it.
Do demo yourself to save money – By doing the bathroom demolition yourself you can save yourself some labor cost. It can be labor intensive especially if you are trying to remove old tile, but the savings will be nicely recorded in your budget.
Don’t forget to turn the water off – Just so you don’t get the floor, the walls, or yourself wet in the process.
Don’t forget about the pipes in the wall – If you are tearing through the walls, make sure you remember about the pipes. Any accident can cause extra costs and setbacks that you don’t want.
Don’t forget to have the proper tools – Having the proper tools can save you time and money.
Do it yourself – You can also save money by doing the improvements yourself. There are many things that novice homeowners can do including laying down tile, hanging drywall, painting walls, painting cabinets, changing the countertop, hooking up new fixtures, installing a new shower door, etc. Just make sure that you have a good idea what you are doing and don’t try to guess your way through it.
Don’t forget to seal the tile (if you have it) – Make sure you seal your tile grout to avoid moisture from damaging any wood OR drywall behind it.
Don’t forget to use Water-Resistant Drywall “Green” – This drywall will NOT allow moisture to pass through and damage any wood behind it (as well as avoid mold).
Do hire professional when needed – If there are some improvements that you have to guess your way through, then your better off just hiring someone to do it for you. It may cost more in labor costs, but if you screw something up then you are not adding any unnecessary expenses to your budget.
Do clean – Give your tiles, sink, toilets, etc. a good cleaning before you start. You might be able to save some money by giving these items some new life.
Do update your light fixtures – Adding a light fixture is really simple if you have done it once before. This will really make a difference and change the look of your bathroom for such a small price.
Don’t forget to turn your power off – For safety reasons.
Do update the cabinets – Updating the cabinets will have a great effect on updating your bathroom. Try to update to a new style OR save money by painting your cabinets if they are in good condition.
Do update other fixtures – Changing those old Contractor priced fixtures that came with the home to something new. When contractors build homes they put in cheap fixtures that don’t give your bathroom any character. You can easily pick up some new sink fixtures, cabinet handles, and door handles that will add value to your bathroom for an inexpensive price.
Do remnant counter top – Check with a local granite business in your area to see if they have any remnant granite counter tops available. You could save a lot of money this way and possibly get it for free.
Do resurface tub to save money – If your tub is in OK condition, don’t try tearing it out and replacing it. Instead, try cleaning and resurfacing your tub to save yourself time and money.
Do neutral colors – Add light neutral colors to your bathroom when painting. It will make the space feel bigger and brighter as well as appeal to others.
Do hide your personal items – Make sure all of your personal items (toothbrushes, pictures, razors, etc.) are placed away in their drawers. This allows buyers to see the space, it makes the area look cleaner, and it gives that feeling that storage is NOT and issue.
Do stage– Place accessories like flowers OR artwork in the space to make the bathroom more appealing to anyone looking at it.
