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mardi 17 juin 2014

Helpful Planning Tips For Bathroom Remodeling Bay Area Homeowners Should Follow

By Ina Hunt


Designing a whole new look for a bathroom is a great way to spruce up one's home, however it can involve quite a bit of planning. Such steps as budgeting, product selection, and determining if the layout should be changed are all part of the process. Selecting a talented contractor and timing the project sensibly are also essential. By following these guidelines for successful bathroom remodeling Bay area homeowners can ensure that all goes smoothly.

A reasonable time to start planning a bathroom remodel is about six months ahead. The first step is to gather ideas of the desired look one wishes to duplicate, this can be done by collecting pictures from magazines or online, and making notes about which features one admires in each image. It's also a good time to start getting some names of prospective contractors from people one knows, home improvement centers and such.

Next, one should evaluate the layout of the current bathroom design and figure out what exactly, if anything, they wish to move or alter. This can apply to the actual fixtures, in which case the plumbing must also be considered, as well as storage options such as closets and cupboards.

The details of the allotted budget will need to be finalized about three months before the work is started. Most homeowners can expect to spend about two-thirds of the remodeling allowance on labor, and the remainder will be used for purchasing all materials required. The home improvement market offers a wide range in prices for all bathroom fixtures and materials.

Choosing the best contractor for the job is the next crucial step. It's best to devise a short list of several and meet with each of them, taking this opportunity to go over the preliminary plans and make sure they are possible, obtain references and a written cost estimate. After the customer has chosen the contractor, a work agreement will be signed, and most will expect about one-third of the fee to be paid at this time. Typically the renovation period will be about six weeks.

The chosen materials should be ordered no less than eight weeks before the renovations are slated to begin. Some special order items such as custom vanities, hand-painted tiles, and some light fixtures can take longer to arrive so it's best to play it safe. One must ensure that all necessary materials will be available when the contractor is ready to start working.

One month or so before the remodeling is set to start, the homeowner should establish a spot where all contents of the bathroom can be safely stowed during the work period. This is also an ideal time to shop for smaller items for the new bathroom like counter-top accessories, towel bars, handles and knobs.

During the remodeling process, the homeowner should make a point of routinely touching base with the contractor, in doing so one can make sure everything seems to be going as planned and that it stays on schedule as much as possible. If any problems arise, this is the best time to discuss them before the work progresses further. It's important that there be open communication between the two parties at all times.




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