Before starting your remodel, be sure to read this bathroom remodel checklist. You won’t want to start your next remodel without being prepared.
The bathroom now ranks as the most popular room to renovate in the home. This stylish and functional space surpasses the kitchen as the preferred renovation project.
When done right, a bathroom remodel enhances your home’s design and function. It can also offer a significant boost to your home’s value.
Some homeowners choose to gut the entire bathroom space and start fresh. While others upgrade a few key elements at a time. Either way, proper planning will make for a smoother and more timely process.
You’ll feel better prepared for all that the project entails. There will also be less of a chance of any hidden surprises. So, ready to start your bathroom remodel project?
First, you’ll want to take a look at our comprehensive bathroom remodel checklist.
Find Inspiration
Before you begin renovating a bathroom, you need to get an idea of your design vision. This is an exciting part of the project where you plan out the style and unique features of your bathroom.
Start by looking at interior design blogs, social media sites, and magazines. From here you can make selections for the design of your new bathroom. This includes color palettes, finishes, and fixtures.
You’ll also want to think about the layout and design space. 88% of homeowners choose to renovate for improved design and functionality. This means storage options and practical features are important.
Use online platforms to help find inspiration and organize your favorite designs. Pinterest and Houzz are great resources for this. A collection of imagery is helpful for a contractor or interior designer to work with.
Include design features like cabinetry, flooring, and lighting. You’ll also want to save pictures of fixtures and hardware that you like.
Determine if you want a double vanity, built-in tub, or a freestanding tub. These are important considerations that involve upfront plumbing work. You also want to choose durable materials that are water-resistant.
Set a Realistic Budget and Timeline
Many homeowners question, when remodeling a bathroom where to start? It’s smart to begin the planning process by creating a budget for the total project.
The cost to remodel a bathroom has been increasing year over year. The average bathroom renovation project now costs anywhere from $8,000 to $17,000.
Start by determining all costs involved, both parts and labor. Then you can decide what you are comfortable spending on the full project.
You’ll want to include countertops, cabinetry, and flooring. As well as items like the toilet, sink, bathtub, and showerhead. Be sure to account for luxury items like radiant floor heating and heated towel bars.
Source all materials and keep a master spreadsheet of all estimated costs. This will also help you to compare pricing from different contractors and vendors.
Your budget will help you decide if you can hire a professional to handle the entire project. Some homeowners prefer to do some or all the renovating themselves to cut costs.
From here you can prioritize items and consider where you need to cut costs. Opting for vinyl tiles instead of ceramic is a great way to save on your budget.
Once you have a budget, discuss the expected timeline with all involved vendors. It’s best to make a step by step process for your estimated installation timeline. This should include proper planning for ordering parts, including shipping times.
Do a Full Inspection
A proper bathroom inspection should always be part of your remodel checklist. This is where you determine where your plumbing and electrical lines are.
You also need to take measurements of everything. This way you know correct sizing when ordering new items.
The dimensions of the new bathroom space are also important for ordering materials. Be sure to measure the width of the door for getting new fixtures inside the bathroom.
During this time you want to find out if you’ll need a permit. Also, determine whether you will need to protect other nearby rooms in the home during the construction process.
Anticipating hidden issues is another reason an inspection is a good idea. These issues can lurk inside your bathroom walls and beneath the floor.
You’ll want to check for water damage, plumbing issues, or mold growth. It’s best to fix these items before you begin adding new flooring or fixtures to your bathroom space.
Installing proper ventilation can help reduce mildew and mold growth. You may want to look into waterproofing techniques and new plumbing. It’s also a good idea to check for any issues with your sub-flooring.
A proper inspection will help avoid problems from occurring in the future. After this, you’ll want to make a full list of all the items needed for your renovation.
Set Your Renovation Plan in Motion
You’ve done your background research and planned out the entire process. Now it’s time to start making changes to the bathroom.
At this step, you’ll need to determine if you’ll be hiring a bathroom remodeling contractor. Consider how much of the project they will be handling from start to finish.
Hiring a contractor offers a smoother process. There is less stress on the homeowner and quicker job turnaround times.
Yet, some handy homeowners prefer to handle the cosmetic parts of the project. For a DIY small bathroom remodel this includes painting, tiling, and installing hardware.
Hiring out specialty services like plumbing and electrical is a good idea. Installing new ventilation or electrical sockets will likely involve an electrician.
A contractor or plumbing company also brings forth professional knowledge. This is helpful when going through an extensive bathroom remodel checklist.
They can help install new plumbing for a freestanding tub in a quick and efficient way. Contractors can also advise on whether your bathroom floor can handle the weight of a claw foot tub.
Be sure that your renovation plan follows an order that makes sense. This keeps things clean and avoids any damage to your new bathroom features.
You want to start with the ceiling, then move on to the walls. Calk before you paint and install the shower before you lay flooring down. Finish the project up with the new flooring.
The Ultimate Bathroom Remodel Checklist
Using this bathroom remodel checklist will help keep your project smooth and efficient. It will allow you to plan and organize every step of the process. This way you will avoid hidden costs and other unwanted surprises.
The biggest decision you will make will be whether to hire a contractor. This will come down to your budget and how handy of a homeowner you are.
Looking for more design inspiration for your renovation project? Check out the bathroom section of our blog for more!
