Bathroom remodel San Mateo fills you with thoughts of sparkling clean, spotless surfaces or a half-baked mess. Maybe both pictures are accurate at some time in every project. In any case, the best way to avoid bathroom remodeling disasters is to plan the project carefully before you begin.
Asking yourself a few key bathroom planning questions will define the scope of your project, give you a better view of the end product, and keep you within cost parameters. So you got to learn the basics if you want to avoid the disasters.
A) Determine the level of bathroom remodeling
The first question to consider is the big picture: What size and level of bathroom remodel do you have in mind? If you don’t do any other bathroom planning, this is the one you’ll want to have well established before you start.
Bathroom remodels can be grouped into four basic levels: surface remodeling, more extensive gut remodel and replacement, and bathroom design change. The fourth level of bathroom remodeling completely changes the bathroom.
1) Remodeling at surface level
At the easier end of the scale is surface alteration bathroom remodeling. You may like the overall layout and size of the bathroom and that of the surfaces (walls, ceiling, floor) . If so, a surface-level bathroom redesign can be a smart option for your bathroom.
2) Rip and replace
With this level of remodeling, you keep the same layout and fixture placement of your old bathroom but eliminate the space right down to the bare walls and floor. After that, install all new plumbing, vanity, flooring, and lighting fixtures.
3) Change the layout
A bathroom remodel that changes the design is one in which the walls and perimeter of the bathroom remain the same, but the elements inside the bathroom move.
This level can be a bit more complicated than a makeover or even a fixture replacement because it can include moveable fixtures like the tub/shower, toilet, or sink. Moving these items is cumbersome, invasive, messy, and expensive. However, it is often necessary to move these items.
4) Change the bathroom completely
Altering the footprint of the bathroom goes beyond stripping down the space or even moving fixtures. Larger-scale bathroom remodel San Mateo includes major structural changes that alter the perimeter of the room. This may include moving or removing walls, tearing down an exterior wall, or altering the ceiling or roof.
B) Remodel the bathroom yourself or hire a contractor?
Decide if you want to do it yourself or hire a professional. If you’re motivated and just making surface modifications, you should be able to remodel the bathroom yourself.
However, not all tasks are created equal. Installing a new toilet is simple; building a new tiled shower should be left to the professionals. Evaluate which projects to do yourself and which ones to leave in the hands of professionals. Remember that hiring a professional to do quality work is an investment in your future bathroom.
If you decide to hire a contractor, make sure the contractor is properly licensed. You should also be aware of the need for permits for general building, plumbing, and electrical work. It’s a good idea to apply for permits early to avoid delays.
C) Bathroom remodel overview
Once you’ve decided on an overall strategy, consider the timeline for the bathroom remodel San Mateo project and decide if this is something you think you want to go through:-
1) Develop a floor plan
The layout of the bathroom is largely dictated by its current design, as many of the services are difficult to move. The water supply and drainage tend to be grouped in a common wall.
While the toilet can be relocated, moving it often involves an expense that few homeowners want to incur. However, when the bathroom floor plan doesn’t work out and if the budget allows, items can be moved.
2) Apply for building permits
For information on rules and permits for your bathroom makeover, contact your local permitting office. Simple improvements, like changing the sink or installing the flooring, usually don’t require permits. In general, electrical and plumbing work should be permitted.
3) Demolish the bathroom
If your bathroom remodel is mid-budget or larger, you’ll probably need to remove your shower or tub, toilet, sink cabinet, flooring, and drywall, in any combination or altogether.
4) Add or upgrade electrical and plumbing systems
Since the heart of so many bathroom problems centers on plumbing and electrical services, typically a plumber or electrician will need to visit at this point and connect the plumbing or wire the bathroom according to the specifications.
5) Install the shower or bathtub
The largest subproject within the bathroom remodel San Mateo project is installing the shower, bathtub, or shower/tub combo. The contractor’s subcontractors do this work, not the plumber.
If a prefab shower or tub is installed, the installation is usually completed in a couple of days. When it comes to tile work, the project can go on for several days or a week to allow the tiles to cure in several stages.
6) Paint the bathroom
With the walls exposed and most of the major elements still uninstalled, it’s time to paint the bathroom. The walls are usually painted with a satin or semi-gloss paint to protect them from moisture.
7) Install the bathroom floor
The bathroom floor should be moisture-resistant and attractive at the same time. Ceramic and porcelain tile, natural stone, luxury vinyl flooring, vinyl sheet, and vinyl tile are the preferred materials for bathroom floors due to their resistance to water.
8) Install the toilet
The toilet is installed above the flooring. This project takes just an hour or so to complete, as long as all the connections are in place.
9) Install the bathroom fan
The building code requires that all bathrooms have adequate ventilation, either in the form of an operable window or exhaust fan. Due to the high amount of humidity in bathrooms, most homeowners choose to install a bathroom fan even if they have a working window.
10) Install counter, cabinet, and sink
The bathroom countertop and its base units, together with the installed sink, are the center of activity in the bathroom. As such, it’s worth taking your time and even spending a bit more in this area.
Premium countertops include quartz-engineered stone, natural stone, and a solid surface. Under the counter, there may be a vanity cabinet for storage. If space is at a premium, consider installing a pedestal sink in place of the vanity cabinet.
At Done Right Home Remodeling, we take the extra time to make sure we understand not only your bathroom design preferences and aesthetic vision but also your lifestyle needs. This allows us to prioritize the things that will make your life and home simpler, more beautiful, and more fun.
