The Bathroom in your home has to be one of the most popular rooms in the house, and it can be a very expensive room to renovate. What kind of shape your current bathroom is in along with the budget you have allowed for your renovation will depend on what you can and cannot do. Assuming your bathroom is due for a total bathroom renovation with a contractor, the first thing to do is take a measurement of the length and width for the total square feet. After you have your measurements, it is best to draw a quick blueprint on a piece of paper to bring with you to the hardware and plumbing stores you visit though your renovation planning; you will be looking at a tub you may like but you need to know if you can even place this tub in your current space. Having this piece of paper with your measurements will save you money and time with return trips to double check.
One good place to start getting ideas is searching the internet for pictures of bathrooms you like and do not like; this can be done anytime you like and it won’t cost you a penny. Now that you have some ideas of the types of bathtubs, sinks and toilets you might like, it’s time to start realizing the facts of what your bathrooms limitations are. The huge Jacuzzi tub with lots of jets might really look nice and relaxing but you may need to consider if your water supply can adequately fill this tub, especially if you live in a rural area and depend on a well. Secondly, would this choice be practical for your bathroom needs or should you consider a smaller stand up shower in the corner to allow for a larger vanity if this bathroom is going to be used primarily as a second bathroom to clean up and prepare for the day? Finally, you need to decide how far you are going to take this renovation. Adding utilities that are much larger than your current utilities could require you to start gutting your bathroom and changing plumbing locations, adding electricity for lights and even moving or adding walls to compensate for the drastic changes.
Hopefully by now you have searched the net, visited local hardware and plumbing stores and have a pretty good idea of what will fit in your bathroom along with what you want it to look like when you are done your bathroom renovation.
Now you need to decide if you are handy enough to complete this renovation yourself or if you need the help of a professional. I’m guessing if you are still reading this article it might be a good idea to get some quotes from qualified contractors to help with this decision. The plumbing in your bathroom needs to be done correctly and inspected by a local inspector to ensure your bathroom renovation doesn’t turn your home into a disaster. A second story bathroom that leaks or possibly isn’t vented properly could have water running down the interior walls, causing mold and damage that will cost you far more in the future than a qualified professional will now. An electrical job that doesn’t have the proper ground faults and plugs could potentially kill or cause serious injury to you or someone in your house with the threat of splashing water on to exposed or improperly installed electrical systems in your bathroom. Getting quotes from professional contractors will help with ideas on how to make your bathroom stand out a bit more and maybe make it a little more functional. Most contractors and bathroom companies don’t charge you for a rough quote, their advice and ideas could prove invaluable and should be considered if you are not a professional in this field.
Perhaps a total renovation doesn’t seem like the practical choice right now and you just want to clean your current bathroom up. Start at the ceiling with a fresh coat of paint. Your ceiling may look white, but from air fresheners, hair sprays, and moisture from your shower, a fresh coat of white paint will add brightness to your bathroom and make it seem fresh.
Painting the walls, adding new flooring and buying new linens to display could make the bit of difference you were looking for. This doesn’t need to cost much money as I’m sure you have seen the accessories and linens you can now find at your local discount stores. Flooring can be purchased for quite a reasonable price and almost every lumber yard offers an economy line of paint you can choose from. You don’t need to spend thousands on your bathroom renovation to be happy with the final look. Go back to the start and decide on your budget; maybe it is $50 or maybe it is ten thousand dollars. Challenge yourself and you will be surprised of what you can do when you properly plan your next bathroom renovation.
Bathroom renovation article by Steve Escott of Contractor Quotes
