The Counters Blog

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Bathroom Remodeling

I thought it would be fun haha to compile a list of every element of a bathroom remodel for which you need to plan, budget and spend. Also, in old houses, you may need to do some rewiring or upgrading to the wiring anyway — see plumbing section above regarding doing a complete inspection and any necessary maintenance/repairs now that you have the walls open…. Before you start leveling … make sure those subfloor / plywood seems are caulked or taped. The bathroom is extremely small so not sure if it is best to change the configuration as you see the toilet the moment you go into the bathroom or look in from our bedroom across the hall. You could at that to your list as a “possible” cost. Bathrooms are the smallest rooms in the house, but they pack a lot of utility into every square inch, so they can be complicated — and expensive to remodel. If you move your plumbing, costs are higher than if you keep your plumbing where it is. If you move your electric, costs are higher than if you keep your electric where it is. We’re all getting older every day — and even if it’s not an age thing, grab bars are great if you hurt your back, etc. Or, what bathroom remodeling expenses caught you by surprise? Used leveling underlayment to flatten it out (7-50 lb bags). Or you will have a mess below (trust me, ugh) and you might not be as lucky to have an unfinished basement below. If we are going to sell do you think we should bother to renovate the bathroom or let someone else choose their own style? And yes, potential buyers may or may not like what choose to do anyway.

For The Love Of A House: The Master Bath: Details by fortheloveofahouse.blogspot.com

I have always wanted a chair, a place to sit, in my master bath. Your comment about putting out only what is beautiful is so true! I am keeping my eyes open while antiquing for a buffet to use as a vanity as you did. Also, did you apply some type of waterproof coating to the vanity to protect the wood from splashing & spills? I love them, but don’t have a green thumb so have been reluctant to try them. You guys do the most amazing transformations! Thank you for sharing, it was so fun to tour this room! It can and should be functional yes, but it should also always be pretty. Thanks, as always, for sharing your beautiful home with us! Your house is simply gorgeous and that bath is to die for! You both are truly blessed with talent and the energy to make it happen. I do see alabaster lamps around in our antiquing, but don’t know of any particular antique shops to send you to. Could you tell me what would be a good buffet height to look for, considering that the marble has to be added? We are starting renovations on our home and your home is an inspiration. Saw your shower and was inspired to make ours a corner unit as well. I can imagine spending many, many hours in this gorgeous room! I was just looking over some older posts of yours and this one caught my eye (well honestly, they all do!).

Do This 15 Point Checklist Before Starting Your Bathroom Renovation by freshome.com

Because renovating a bathroom can be overwhelming, time-consuming and costly, we prepared a simple 15-point checklist to make sure that your project stays on track and the renovation runs smoothly. Setting a budget will help guide you as you make decisions about what to include in the re model. Whether you are demolishing sheetrock or simply repainting, you always want to start at the top of the room. Therefore make sure you have the correct measurements and specifications when you go to the store. Therefore do not overlook the advantages of hiring a contractor and save yourself a load of misery and time. You can also change the look of your bathroom very easily by changing out door handles, drawer pulls and the hardware for your shower doors. In small, irregular shaped rooms like the bathroom, it is even more so. Depending on your budget and style, ceramic, marble, and granite tiles make handsome and highly durable flooring and wall surfaces for baths. Whatever your choice, always mind another key criteria for choosing your bathroom flooring: durability and slip-resistance. It is also a tricky task which needs good planning: choosing the right fan, the right position for its installation and dealing with the electrical wiring. A well-ventilated bathroom, however, isn’t just a healthy bathroom. If you feel up to doing it yourself, you may need to add a day or two to your initial timing. Are you looking for a contractor to help remodel your bathroom? Once you’ve figured out what you can spend and substracted the amount allocated to labor, you’ll have a clearer sense of what you can spend on tile, fixtures, and extras. Depending on how many items you are changing in the bathroom your contractor will have to go through all the same steps as a larger bathroom. Remodel your ceiling first, walls second, and floors third so you can prevent damage to your new components. More frustrating than trying to shop without measurements is to end up purchasing stuff that doesn’t fit. You should also update or repair your mirrors and shower doors. If you have the budget a new set of shower doors can completely change the look of your room. For flooring additional options may include cement (painted or stained), sheet vinyl or vinyl tiles which are inexpensive and look better than used to. Plan for maximizing natural light first, whereas for artificial light it is adviseable you should have least 4 watts of incandescent lighting per square foot. If you are on a budget, new hand towels will be better than nothing. Poor ventilation can leave your bathroom damp, mouldy and can even harm your health. Continual airflow can also prevent both the decay of any wooden trim or fixtures and the saturation of building insulation. Although often overlook in the planning phase, in the case of a major renovation you may want to consider contracting a cleaning service which means additional costs that impact your budget.

How To Renovate A Bathroom by thisoldhouse.com

So before you start tearing up the tiles and picking out the tub, get a little advice from the people who make bathroom makeovers their bread and butter. Arrange your bathroom so that there are no fixtures, and therefore no plumbing, on exterior walls. But for comfort’s sake, look for an area that’s 3 to 4 feet wide and 6 to 8 feet long. Replace the wiring too, with a dedicated 20-amp circuit and plenty of outlets for all the appliances you use, from electric razors and toothbrushes to hair-straightening irons. If you can, mark potential spots with painter’s tape first, then adjust for comfort. Size it to minimize tile cuts, and line the bottom with a leftover piece of stone or solid-surface countertop, not tile, so that you won’t have to scrape away scum from grout lines. But the work surface has less usable space and is tougher to keep clean. An average 30-inch vanity has nearly 15 cubic feet of storage (minus the sink bowl and pipes) and about 10 inches of countertop on each side. Try to see fixtures in action before you buy to make sure the amount and quality of light is sufficient. It can take as long as 45 minutes to warm up, so put it on a programmable thermostat to chase away the chill by the time your alarm clock goes off. Grab bars should be secured to blocking between wall studs and placed 33 to 36 inches off the floor. If you’re not pouring a new floor, mortar and screw ¼-inch backerboard over a level subfloor, then lay tile on top. Make sure it has enough power for back-to-back showers, and put it on a timer so that you can let it run for 20 minutes to banish steam after you’re done. Or, spend a bit more for one with a humidity sensor so that you don’t have to rely on kids or guests to turn it on. Opt for one with a built-in light, or wire it to a light switch so that it will turn on automatically. Arrange your bathroom so that there are no fixtures, and there fore no plumbing, on exterior walls. Run pipes in the wall on the interior side of the insulation. Buy plenty of plastic sheeting to contain dust if you’re knocking out tile and drywall yourself. Unless sealed vigilantly, they’ll absorb drips and spills and become stained over time. Another option: small tiles with lots of grout lines, which offer better “grip” than large tiles. And make sure it contains a mildewcide that offers protection for five years or longer. Theoretically, you can fit a sink and toilet into an 11-square-foot spot and still meet national building codes. Decide where to put things early on so that you can add extra blocking where needed before finishing the walls. If you have kids, add an extra cubby around knee height so that they can suds up on their own. You’ll need sufficient clearance to open cabinet doors or pull out drawers. If there’s no room for side sconces, install a long fixture on the wall above the mirror. But you don’t need to have it throughout your house; you can simply add an electric mat to boost a bath’s existing heating system. Other things to consider: a barrier-free shower, a wider doorway, and a lower sink height. Give each sink enough outlets and lighting, as well as mirror, countertop, and storage space. Bring pipes up through the floor instead of the wall if it’s a first-floor bathroom. Locate all water shutoff valves so that there are no floods when taking out fixtures. Determine whether to donate or dispose of old fixtures, and make plans accordingly. Check recent references for plumbers and other pros you hire.

Help Me With My Master Bathroom – by houzz.com

Brown grout would be very busy and draw the eye to the floor, detracting from the beautiful marble. Also, do you have any thoughts on using epoxy grout? Maybe that is just a brand name for an epoxy grout, but that is what my tile person is using on my job. Yes, the wall is a 3×6 subway tile with a small spacer in between each tile. I have actually decided to continue the subway tile from the floor. Each tiler seems to have their own preference as to brand used. I installed daltile ceramic white 6×6 tiles in the shower and 3×6 daltile ceramic white tiles in herringbone pattern on the floor. Luckily, it was only a sample and my contractor did not fully grout the bathroom. When you say curb, you mean the shower curb, correct? I asked mine about the no staining grout and they say they are using it.

Can I Replace A Sink and A Toilet With A Jacuzzi Tub? by answers.yahoo.com

It will no longer be considered a bathroom if you don’t have a toilet and sink so it will reduce the resale value of the house. This is beyond a do it yourself project for someone who admits to not having a clue. Most people want a full bath off the master and their second choice is a toilet and sink. I think most people would prefer a commode and sink over a jacuzzi with the master bedroom. I would start with trying to get a plumber and carpenter to show up at the same time and talk about what you want. However, if you ever intend to sell your home, you are devaluing it by removing a bathroom, so keep that in mind. Landlord siezed my tools and appliaces and etc no contract and insist i did damage in condemened bldg can i?

2019 Bathroom Remodel Costs by homeadvisor.com

Bathroom remodels provide some of the highest resale returns as a home improvement project. Therefore it is essential to gather and plan your bathroom remodeling ideas ahead of time for the room and then find the right remodeling contractor for the job. The fixtures you will need to fit in your bathroom will range in price depending on their size. This long list of comes with a lot of different prices and options to compare before choosing what to buy for your bath remodel. You always have the option to add some pieces–sink, toilet and lighting fixtures–after you’ve done the bigger projects to spread out costs. For example, you can refinish cabinets to make them look brand new and flow with the new bathroom for less money. For those who want a similar style from room to room, it’s worth considering the cost of kitchen cabinets ahead of time. This will give you a more detailed estimate of your kitchen remodel cost. This means fewer materials involved to make them look brand new, and their cost will be on the low range of the chart above since you need less of them or their smaller sizes to fit in the bathroom. However, there is still a lot of heavy lifting, planning and general time involved in the process. This means changing the electrical wiring in the walls, adding more flooring, and possibly more plumbing. However, there could be issues that occur during the renovation that can’t be planned for. How will it flow with the rest of the house based on the style you choose? Perhaps you like a long, leisurely, relaxing soak in a jacuzzi tub at night. Once you have ideas for your renovation planned out, the next step is to find accessories for your remodeled bathroom in your price range. These specialized contractors will have different prices for their work depending on the material you want the accessories made from and how they calculate their prices: by the hour, job or otherwise. They have a variety of options when it comes to items like bath lighting, toilets, sinks, vanities and cabinetry because they come straight from different manufacturers. A bathroom remodel is often a lengthy project, and thus a contractor may ask for money in advance of the work being started and after completion of specific milestones along the way. Then at the end of the project, the contractor will be able to give you an itemized list of everything included in the remodel and how much it costs in total. Talk to your bathroom remodel contractor at the start of the project about how they deal with mistakes, damage and repairs that may arise. You want to get the value of a new bathroom for the amount of money you are paying the remodeling contractor. His references were great and we visited some of his remodels as part of the check-out process. It drives me crazy to see these shows on tv where the homeowner is making changes to the plan during the process. And the homeowner gets mad that their remodel is delayed because they are waiting on the tile to be delivered from across the country. This is the very reason we put off starting our first remodel. Know what you want, the finishes you want, the tile you want, the tub and shower you want. When you are settled on what it will look like, leave your contractor to do his work. Get everything in writing and make sure everyone is on the same page. We are redoing the laundry room, the mud room and the sun room. A contractor more times than not counts on making 10-15% markup on materials. I live in a small house, 1200 sq ft, and have 2 small bathrooms floor plan remaining the same. It is only him and another worker, and he comes when he is done with other jobs. Homeowners pick out their own fixtures for a bathroom or kitchen. Homeowners is how many men will be dedicated to the project. Prices may vary widely, but remember to compare apples to apples. Yes, it is takes more time, yes it’s not easy sometimes, but it’s worth it. Homeowners have many options when they remodel a bathroom and the total cost depends on style and budget. However, it is not by any means cheap, and it can take a long time to complete. Asking questions, setting realistic expectations, cost estimates and budgeting from the start can mean the difference between finding a contractor you trust and enjoy working with versus a long and trying few weeks. You want to get the best bathroom possible for your dime, so make sure you are armed with plenty of knowledge before you start calling. A large factor in determining cost will be the size of your bathroom, ranging from small to medium or master bathroom size. Also consider that some of these projects–bathtub installation/remodel, shower installation or cabinet installation–have smaller, cheaper alternatives. There is also the option of replacing faucets and other plumbing fixtures, which costs less than replacing bathtubs and showers. If you plan to have your kitchen remodeled after you tackle the bathroom, consider the cost of your bathroom cabinets and fixtures on a larger scale. The cost of labor will also be lower because the time spent to remodel a small bathroom won’t be as long as a large bathroom, unless the professionals run into snags with the electricity or plumbing. You can save on this cost by refinishing some of the appliances or buying the materials yourself. You might have them checked by separate professionals ahead of time just in case. If your idea for the bathroom doesn’t fit exactly within a type of style like modern or contemporary, you may need to hire a professional craftsman to custom build accessories like the vanity, countertop or mirror frame. This also means they could buy them for better prices than at a home improvement store. This helps prevent disagreements along the way and gives you clear expectations about how long the project should take to complete when remodeling a bathroom. Make sure the work will be backed up by an expressed warranty or guarantee. What you don’t want is the additional cost of repairs and maintenance for mistakes made in the initial remodel. We have remodeled our (1) kitchen, (2) great room-dining room (converted dining, living and den to an open concept of 1 great room with a dining room, and (3) 1 small bathroom. Our plans were all drawn up and agreed upon before any work started. All materials that we were purchasing-picking out were purchased and delivered to our house before any work started. They were all finished on schedule and we had no unexpected costs. Then they are picking out tile after the remodel has all started. I have heard so many horror stories of jobs going way past done dates and additional expenses being added as they go. And make sure you realize you can’t change your mind half way through, or your price will go through the room. Make sure he understands if you want him there every day, or if there are days he won’t be able to gain access. I turned a log cabin kitchen with knotty pine cabinets into a kitchen that sold the home – the prospective buyer never looked at the rest of the house before turning to the realtor wanting to make an offer. I have about him is that he is taking long to complete this. Massachusetts is a very tough state to do business in as a contractor. I understand that any remodeling work in your house is really stressful process, so my mission is not just be a good contractor we want to provide an excellent customer service with all warranties and support. I had expensive tile on it before and was told it was be terribly expensive to put new tile over it.