Saturday, 21 June 2014

Guide To Bathroom Remodeling Bay Area Customers Will Find Useful For Planning

By Ina Hunt


Although the end results can be very rewarding, it does take a considerable amount of planning to renovate a bathroom. In order for the project to be a success, certain steps must be taken including selecting the right products, evaluating the layout, and establishing a budget. Furthermore, a suitable timeline will need to be followed, and a good contractor must be located. By keeping these tips in mind for bathroom remodeling Bay area homeowners should enjoy a successful project that runs smoothly.

A reasonable time to start planning a bathroom remodel is about six months ahead. The first step is to gather ideas of the desired look one wishes to duplicate, this can be done by collecting pictures from magazines or online, and making notes about which features one admires in each image. It's also a good time to start getting some names of prospective contractors from people one knows, home improvement centers and such.

Next, one should evaluate the layout of the current bathroom design and figure out what exactly, if anything, they wish to move or alter. This can apply to the actual fixtures, in which case the plumbing must also be considered, as well as storage options such as closets and cupboards.

With the anticipated start date about three months away, the homeowner needs to work out the final details of the budget. One can expect that about two-thirds of these designated funds will have to cover labor expenses, with the remainder available for purchasing materials. Customers will find a wide range of prices to suit every budget in most fixtures, tiles, etc.

The next important action needed is to choose a skilled and knowledgeable contractor. Selecting a few and meeting them in person is the best way to find out what each has to offer, and it gives the customer a chance to present their preliminary plans to the contractors, request references, and obtain a written estimate. The contractor who is chosen, will present a work agreement to the homeowners, and may request that one-third of the fee be paid upfront. Most bathroom renovations can be expected to take about six weeks to finish.

The chosen materials should be ordered no less than eight weeks before the renovations are slated to begin. Some special order items such as custom vanities, hand-painted tiles, and some light fixtures can take longer to arrive so it's best to play it safe. One must ensure that all necessary materials will be available when the contractor is ready to start working.

The homeowner will also need to select a designated area for safely storing all items in the bathroom that will need to be removed during the renovations. A month or so before the work starts is a good time to shop for finishing touches like knobs, handles, towel bars, and counter-top accessory sets.

During the remodeling process, the homeowner should make a point of routinely touching base with the contractor, in doing so one can make sure everything seems to be going as planned and that it stays on schedule as much as possible. If any problems arise, this is the best time to discuss them before the work progresses further. It's important that there be open communication between the two parties at all times.




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