A Simple Guide for How to Update a Bathroom
Mar 23, 2020While a bathroom remodel serves as an excellent opportunity to update the look and functionality of one of your home’s most used spaces, it can also feel overwhelming. After all, remodeling a bathroom requires extensive plumbing expertise, and many mistakes will quickly prove costly. So how can you make your upcoming bathroom remodel more manageable? Luckily, we’ve put together a guide that you can use to streamline this otherwise-complicated process and ensure that your project goes as smoothly as possible, resulting in a bathroom you can enjoy for years to come.
Step One: Take Inventory
What is the current state of your bathroom? Which fixtures or features possess an easily adaptable style, and which could best be described as dated? Are any of your plumbing fixtures old or damaged? By taking inventory of your bathroom, you can determine which elements need replacing—either for reasons of function or style—and which can be kept.
You may find yourself surprised when you realize how much the appearance of a bathroom can change when only one major feature—like a tub or shower—gets replaced. Limiting your bathroom remodel to changing out one or two important elements of the room also allows you to save time and money while transforming your bathing area into a rejuvenating retreat.
Step Two: Crunch the Numbers
Going into a bathroom remodeling project without a realistic budget is a recipe for disaster. So, before you even begin to comb the internet for “inspiration images,” do some research on the average cost of upgrades included in a small-, medium-, and full-scale bathroom remodel in your area. Many online home services directories can provide you with this information, as can some well-established local contractors. Using this information, determine the investment required to create the bathroom of your dreams and balance that against your disposable income to create a workable budget. Be sure to leave some wiggle room in your budget for unexpected but necessary upgrades to your home’s plumbing system.
Step Three: Finding the Right Contractor
You want to make sure that any firm you partner with possesses the ability to complete your bathroom remodeling project. For those with the budget and desire to complete a full-scale bathroom remodel, partnering with a design-build firm capable of handling your project from conception through completion can help keep a project going smoothly. If you only want to update part of your bathroom, however, you’ll benefit more from partnering with a specialist. Many bathroom remodelers choose to only install or update bathing fixtures, and their expertise allows them to complete projects quicker and more precisely than a jack-of-all-trades plumber.
Whatever you’re looking for with your bathroom remodel, you don’t want to partner with a fly-by-night contractor offering bottom-of-the-barrel prices. These remodelers almost always cost homeowners in the long run, leaving them with messy bathrooms that will quickly develop costly plumbing issues. Instead, choose an established bathroom remodeler with a good reputation in the community, partnerships with reputable manufacturers, and extensive labor warranties.
Step Four: Creating Your Dream Bathroom
Your contractor can either help you create or refine your bathroom remodel plan, evaluating your desired upgrades with an experienced eye. As much as possible, try to finalize any material or plumbing fixture selections before work begins on your project. Changing the design of your bathroom mid-remodel will extend the timeline and inflate the budget of your project in a way that can sometimes feel excessive. If you stick to your original plan, however, most contractors can complete your bathroom remodel in a matter of weeks. If you choose to only upgrade the bathing fixture in your room, some contractors can finish installation in as little as a day, allowing you to enjoy your updated bathroom as soon as possible.
If you need a reliable bathroom remodeler who operates in central or western Florida, contact Morgan Bath & Shower. We will happily update the bathing area in your room, providing you with a stylish new fixture in as little as a day. Contact us today to learn more.