Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Tips for the Best Bathroom Remodel

The No. 1 reason why homeowners remodel bathrooms and other areas of a house is because they’re tired of outdated features, the National Association of Home Builders says. Creating a bigger, better bathroom is trendy, and can provide a greater return on investment than most remodeling projects.

But before you buy a new shower, sink and toilet or start to call contractors, consider these four tips.

Determine the idea behind your bathroom remodel

What do you want to accomplish with this bathroom remodel? Common motivators include:

• Increasing space

• Improving the bathroom layout

• Updating features or modernizing

• Increasing accessibility in order to age in place

• Repairing old plumbing or worn-out fixtures

Knowing your goals before calling contractors will help them create a better plan and design to fit your needs.

Decide what you can DIY

Some homeowners prefer to do a few tasks on their own. This saves money on the bathroom remodeling project if they do it correctly. If done wrong, however, DIY can cost you. Projects such as painting, replacing cabinet hardware or outlet covers lend themselves to the skills of most homeowners, while installing tile should be left to the most experienced.

Some homeowners prefer to purchase materials for the project to save money. However, if you want to do this, talk to your contractor first to ensure you purchase the correct fixtures. You don’t want a too-large sink vanity to sit in front of the doorway.

Set your remodeling budget

Know how much you’re willing to spend and stick to it — as much as possible. Sometimes unexpected expenses pop up, so having some extra cash will help the project run smoothly. However, if you don’t set a budget, you’re more likely to overspend on nicer features and run out of money.

Hire the right contractor(s) for the job

Remodeling a bathroom requires knowledge of plumbing, electrical work, flooring and probably some framing. Some contractors specialize in bathroom remodeling and have employees who can take care of each aspect. Many general contractors will hire subcontractors to take care of the plumbing and other specialized tasks.

Some homeowners prefer to act as the general contractor and select which plumber, electrician, carpenter and tile experts to hire. Before hiring, always get three estimates, and check online reviews or get referrals from friends and family. Most importantly, make sure the contractor is licensed, bonded and insured.

Read more:http://www.angieslist.com/articles/tips-best-bathroom-remodel.htm

Related Article:DIY Bathroom Renovations: Tips and Tricks to Know