Practical Bathroom Remodeling Guide

Bathroom remodeling is a surefire and relatively easy way to dramatically increase the value of your home. With bathroom remodeling, you get to invent a whole new space according to your personal needs and tastes, rather than the conveniences of the builder.  You can improve the shower, add cabinet space, add quiet ventilation, or heated floor tiles to make stepping out of the shower on a cold morning a lot more comfortable. 

One of the beauties of remodeling your bathroom is the variety of choices you have for a small room.  There are plenty of options for the toilet, sink, cabinetry, tub, mirror, ventilation, lighting, walls, and flooring.  Many people that have remodeled their bathrooms have been blown away by the amount of refreshing change that can be fit into a room as common as the bathroom.  They thank themselves every day that they installed a new wide washbasin with comfortable, elegant new faucets.

The bathroom is one of the most utilized rooms in a home.  This means that bathrooms get some of the most wear and use of any room in your home.  The amount of traffic that bathrooms get in a home shows how important a space it is.  Having an attractive and comfortable bathroom makes every day better. 

That fact is, that the majority of bathrooms are notoriously under designed in the name of a developer’s cost efficiency.  This makes your bathroom a likely candidate for a home improvement project.  Get a new bathtub, or simply resurface your trusty old tub.  While you’re at it, remember that a remodel is the perfect time to install the hot tub or whirlpool you’ve been daydreaming about.

A bathroom improvement project can be classified into two types: surface alterations and tear out/remodels.  Many surface alterations you may be able to  do yourself, like installing a new mirror or a new toilet.  But if you want to install a new tile shower or a heated vanity mirror that never fogs over, you may need the help of a professional.  The deeper your renovations the more you are going to need precise and professional electrical and plumbing work.

When planning a bathroom remodel, consider the underlying structure of the bathroom. Bathrooms collect moisture.  This means that you are most likely going to need to replace some drywall when you renovate your bathroom.  Bathroom drywall is different from regular drywall.  You’ll need to use a moisture resistant drywall, often called “green board.”  In really wet areas like showers, you may need moisture proof backer board.

If you have already begun your bathroom remodel, or have at least already called around for estimates, the same wealth of choices that are such a thrill at first can become a point of contention.  With so many options, from new electrical work to cultured marble tops, where can you find answers?  Call around to some of your local bathroom renovators.  Find a professional contractor that is patient and informative.  Make a list of bathroom remodeling services you can ask about.

A sample list of bathroom remodeling services:
* Major plumbing and electrical
* Painting and refinishing
* Repair and restoration
* Cabinet installation
* Toilets
* Sinks
* Tub installation and resurfacing
* Faucets
* Saunas
* Showers and shower doors
* Whirlpools and hot tubs
* Countertops
* Tiles
* Copper re-piping

One of the advantages of remodeling your bathroom is the satisfaction you get every day from the exquisite action of the new faucets, the softness of the new lighting, the broad spray of the new shower, the pristine gleam of a stone counter top, or the cozy warmth of heated tile floors.

Before you remodel your bathroom, acquaint yourself with the wide variety of options and services available.  Visualize the improvements you would like to see in your current bathroom and compare them against a list similar to the one above.  Once you have a sense of your needs, you can research each service.  Maybe you don’t want to get a new tub, but feel a skylight would be a better addition to your bathroom.  Then find a reliable, trustworthy contractor to answer your questions and take a look at your site.  Dedicating a little time and resources to your bathroom will increase the value of your home and make it a more functional and satisfying place to live.