The bathroom is one of the most important rooms in the house. It’s where we get ready in the morning and end our day each night. It’s where we give our children a bath and where we relax in a hot shower. Bathrooms range in size from a spacious master bath to a tiny powder room. Remodeling a bathroom can be complicated, but it needn’t be stressful with the proper planning and builder to do the work.
Here are a few considerations you should make before laying the first tile.
What do you wish you had and what are your must-haves?
If you’ve always dreamed of a claw-footed tub or a steam shower, put it on the list. Things can always be scaled back in the design phase, but getting it on the list helps the designer know what you are looking for. Next, come up with a must-have list. These can include added storage, better lighting, a new toilet. During this process, don’t put anything you don’t need on the list. If you aren’t big on baths, do you really want a tub? A modern shower may better suit your needs.
Vanity or pedestal sink?
An old rule of thumb was that smaller bathrooms, like half-baths, should have pedestal sinks and full-baths should have a vanity. Not necessarily so. If you prefer the look of a sleek pair of pedestal sinks in your master bath, say so. The storage lost with a vanity can likely be made up elsewhere. On the other hand, if you’d like the storage of a vanity in a smaller bathroom, that may be possible with a smaller vanity, custom vanity or floating vanity.
A vanity counter that includes areas for applying and storing make-up should be considered as well. Standard vanities today are 36-inches tall, but dressing tables are usually 30-inches, so look for a taller stool if you’d like a place to sit.
Storage, hooks and bars
You will need places to store cleaning products, toilet paper, towels and soaps. Will it be open shelving, a closet or a free-standing storage unit? Think about how you’d like to hang hand and bath towels and where they should be placed.
Is this a bathroom you can grow old in?
For homeowners who plan to age in place, consider incorporating features that will support this choice. Adding safety features doesn’t mean sacrificing style. Today’s bath fixtures include modern and attractive grab bars that will fit right in with other fixtures. Consider adding a shower seat and zero-threshold shower as well.
Will you keep the same layout?
Keeping the bath tub, sink and toilet in the same spots may not be the best design for your needs. If you’d like to move any of these elements, let the designer know.
What kind of materials will you use?
Materials is where costs can add up quickly. A good way to decide where to splurge and where to save is thinking about who will use the bathroom. Spending a little extra on a master bath will improve not only your enjoyment of the home, but it will also increase the home’s value. On the other hand, saving a little money on the materials in the family full-bath makes sense if you have young children who care little about custom fixtures.
Hiring a builder
Bathrooms are a complicated mix of plumbing and electrical fixtures. Even people highly skilled at Do-It-Yourself projects will need to hire professionals for some of the work. If you are undertaking a full bathroom remodel, consider hiring a design-build firm. These companies work under one contract from the design phase throughout completion. It makes things simpler for the homeowner, who communicates with one lead builder instead of numerous professionals.
Dube Plus Construction is a design-build firm that can answer your questions about bathroom remodeling. Contact us today with your questions.