Your home’s bathroom may be a small space, but this is one of the areas in your abode where you can properly de-stress. For example, you can indulge in a luxurious bubble bath and breathe in the relaxing scents of aromatherapy candles all around you, relishing the privacy, peace, and quiet after a long, busy day.
Therefore, it is important to ensure that your bathroom is designed to be a relaxing, elegant space. By doing so, you will not just boost your quality of life, but also add more functionality and value to your home.
A bathroom renovation can be done anytime. If you have no intention of moving or selling the house in the future, then there is certainly no reason to settle for the bathroom’s existing design if you feel it doesn’t work for you, or to suffer from an awkward layout, outdated decorations or inefficient furnishings. And if you do eventually plan to put your property up for sale, a good bathroom remodel can guarantee a quick sale when the time comes.
Before taking anything in your bathroom down, here are three essential tasks that must be accomplished for a successful bathroom renovation.
1. Create a list
Go through your bathroom and take note of the things you would like to retain as well as the things you want to change. Create a list of bathroom accessories and fittings that you have always wanted before classifying these into “nice-to-haves” and “must-haves.”After that, you must rank them based on importance. You can check out showrooms, model homes, home improvement websites, and bathroom design catalogs to collect inspiration.
Now is also the best time for you to evaluate your existing plumbing and hot water system. Is it capable of meeting the household’s current and future needs? If not, consider adding hot water system replacement to your to-do list.
2. Set a budget
A full bathroom renovation can be expensive, but this can be your best option if your current bathroom isn’t as functional as you expect it to be. This will also provide you with complete enjoyment and satisfaction. Then again, you can also opt for a partial remodel if you just have to freshen up some features and you must work with a limited budget.
Remember not to go beyond what you can afford. You don’t want to be doing your daily hygiene routine in an unfinished bathroom just because you ran out of funds for the project. So make sure that before the remodeling project starts, all expenses will be covered by your finances– including the unexpected expenses, such as mold and water problems.
3. Hire a bathroom designer/contractor
A consultation with a bathroom designer or contractor is a must even if you are just planning a small-scale renovation project. They can be your best partner in transforming your dream bathroom into a reality since they know what your budget can afford and can help you avoid the common bathroom renovation mistakes. Also, they can provide you with expert advice on areas you can splurge on and how to enjoy great savings.
When choosing the best contractor to hire, consider bringing your design, scheduling outlines and budget allocation file to some reputable bathroom contractors. To help narrow down your options, you can get referrals from people you trust who have recently undertaken bathroom makeovers.
From there, ask to see some examples of their completed jobs and discuss with them the details of your project. Obtain at least three bids and make a comparison of their styles and pricing. Whichever company you choose, make sure that they are insured and bonded in accordance with the current building codes and other requirements. Moreover, consider looking at their track record, taking into account any lawsuits from the past.
Moreover, ask how many people and which of their team members will be working on the actual project. This will give you an idea of how fast the project will be completed. Also, this ensures the safety of the household, along with your items, considering the fact that you will be living in your house while the construction is being done. Don’t forget to emphasize to them what areas in your home are off-limits, where to dispose of their garbage, which bathroom to use, and any other specific house rules.
Everything must be clear between you and the contractor before the job commences. Once completed, a reputable bathroom contractor will provide you care instructions and warranty for any installation work done, like the countertops and the hot water system. Also, they will give you images of any machinery they have mounted. Most importantly, they will offer post-project access to any of their subcontractors should there be any problems with the completed remodel project in the future.
Renovating your bathroom is not an easy task. Unless you have the right know-how, skills, and equipment, you must leave this task only to the experts. Explain to them how you want your bathroom to look and feel like and how much you can afford. A reputable bathroom contractor knows exactly how to work based on your financial capabilities without compromising the quality of work done. With expert help, you can definitely enjoy a newly renovated bathroom that meets your specific needs and budget very soon!
AUTHOR BIO
Yahya Zarka is the Managing Director at Concept Bath Trading RAK FZE in Dubai. Backed with 28 years of experience in catering to the Middle Eastern market, the company supplies water-saving bathroom and kitchen solutions as well as tiles and LED light products, all delivered in high quality and stylish designs.
