Any type of home improvement should be approached carefully. While there are times when it seems so simple; just purchase some tile and plumbing fixtures and either put them in yourself or hire someone to do it, things can quickly get out of hand if you don’t take the time to properly orient yourself to the task.
Begin With Some Research
While most people who want to undergo a bathroom renovation may have an idea of what they want the bathroom to look like, many have no idea what it will cost, or exactly what is involved. Beginning the process by doing some research is always a great way to start.
Begin by looking at styles of bathrooms to get renovation ideas. Go to your local library and check out the home improvement magazines. When you see a design that you like, set it aside. Don’t worry if there don't seem to be any commonalities between the designs that are appealing; there may be something there that the untrained eye is unable to see. Once you have your designs in hand, begin to visit some showrooms to see what’s available for the product you need to select.
Always call ahead to the showrooms (tile or plumbing) and make an appointment. This will ensure that the sales staff has the time to properly acquaint themselves with the job, and that you have the time set aside to get a thorough understanding of what’s available.
When going to the appointment, bring along any of the magazine images that reflect what the end design should be, as well as measurements or pictures of the current space. Product won’t necessarily be selected on these trips; getting a handle on what’s out there, what's appealing, what will work for the room, and what this is going to cost is a more appropriate expectation to have.
Learning what the lead time, or time that it takes for the products to arrive, is should also be accomplished. Some items can take up to 12 weeks to come in, so finding this out ahead of time will allow you to adjust.
When you find a showroom that works well with the project at hand, and that has the product and pricing that meets your needs, set up a follow up appointment to come back to get the real work started.
Showrooms can often give contractor recommendations, as well. These contractors will be familiar with the products being chosen, and can therefore give an accurate idea of the time and cost of the install.
Pick Your Counter or Sink
The next step to take will be to pick out the sink or countertop. If using a pedestal sink, the style can be followed by the style of the toilet, and, if needed, the style of the tub. The faucet style will also follow from here; high spout, widespread, or single lever, these decisions will be best made by holding the faucet choices up to the sink that's been chosen.
If using a vanity and a countertop, choose the countertop first. When using a natural stone, choosing the exact slab is crucial, since the coloration and veining will vary from piece to piece. Whether using a natural material, or a man made one, getting a piece from the exact slab being used is the next step. This is important, since this will be the jumping off point for the rest of the colors and materials in the bathroom. Is there a vein or a fleck in the material that might be able to be picked up on as an accent? Is this a recycled glass counter that will work well with a recycled glass backsplash or border? If marble has been chosen, are their marble tiles available that match it to achieve a seamless look?
When you return for your next appointment with a showroom, be sure to bring your counter sample, or sink style with you; it will help narrow down the number of choices for you quickly.
Hire Your Contractor
At this point, you should have an idea of what the materials are, the style of the bathroom being created, and a time line for when these materials are going to be available and ready for install. You may have also had an opportunity to speak with some installers that work with the products at the showroom you’ve selected. Be sure to speak with at least three contractors. Using the recommendations of the showroom, friends or family that have completed jobs in the past, or even the Yellow Pages are all options for gathering bids.
Be sure to ask to see pictures or examples of previous work, so that a feel for their craftsmanship can be achieved. Show them what has been chosen, and ask if they’ve worked with this product before. Ask them how they intend to install it, if they hesitate or look unsure. Try to avoid waiting 12 weeks for some custom mosaic to arrive, only to have a contractor install it improperly due to inexperience.
Ask for a price quote from each one. If someone seems particularly high, it may be because they don’t want the job; not because they are the most experienced. If all the figures come out within a small range of each other, go with the contractor who seems most knowledgeable about the products chosen.
Be sure to leave yourself some room when scheduling the construction to begin for all the materials to arrive, and to be inspected. If something has arrived wrong or broken, an extra week or two to try to get it corrected before the work has begun, can be helpful in avoiding the problem of paying someone to wait for material to arrive.
At this point, your design is beginning to take shape, and you should have an idea of when it will be completed and what the final cost will be. We'll continue the process in Part 2.
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