Five Bathroom Remodeling Tips from the Pros

Remodeling your bathroom can be a lot of fun, but there are good reasons that some people rely on professionals to do the job. Some aspects of these jobs are very tough and, by listening to what the professionals advise, you can save yourself a lot of frustration.

Tip #1: Buy Adequate Materials

Unless you’re a real pro, make accommodations for mistakes in the supplies you buy. For instance, if you’re buying bathroom ceramic tile, be sure to buy enough to account for the occasional mess up here and there. It’ll happen and, if you’re prepared for it, it won’t be nearly as frustrating as it would be if it meant waiting around for another shipment to arrive before you could finish. Or, say, the special 2 x 2 tile on sale you bought is sold out.

Where adhesives, solvents and other materials are concerned, buy a bit more than the job requires. This also allows you a lot of flexibility if you make a mistake.

Tip #2: Equipment

If you’re doing your remodel from the ground up, you’ll need good gear. Make sure you get a good saw that’s capable of cutting any tile, such as 12 x 12 tiles that needs to be trimmed and fitted just right, and that you have the right safety equipment. At the very least, you’ll want a dust mask to keep your lungs from getting irritated. You may want a respirator if you’re dealing with solvents or other dangerous materials. Make sure you have sturdy work gloves and, if you’re doing the floor tile ceramic, get knee pads. Knee pads aren’t very expensive and they make it possible to work on the ground for much longer than you’d be able to otherwise.

Tip #3: Plumbing and Electric

At some point during your bathroom remodel, you’ll have to deal with the plumbing and electrical aspects of the house. Make sure you leave this to pros if you feel like you’re getting in over your head. Aside from safety, you could invalidate your homeowner’s insurance if you wire or plumb something in a way that isn’t up to code and cause a fire or flood in your house.

Tip #4: Permits

You can add floor tile, but complex jobs may require a pro.

Depending upon the extent of your remodel, you may actually need a building permit from your municipality. Be sure that you take this into account and that you talk with local officials to see if this is the case. It can cause problems down the road if it turns out that you needed one.

Tip #5: Professional Assistance

Sometimes, hiring one type of contractor to do part of the work will give you access to many other contractors in your area. They tend to be pretty well networked as they run into each other on jobs a lot. If you hire a professional plumber, for instance, ask them if they know a good electrician. The word of a good contractor will tell you much more about the quality of another contractor’s work than any advertisement ever will.

Most importantly, remember to have fun with the remodel. This can be a very enjoyable project and can add a lot to your home in terms of personal and monetary value. It can also feel like quite an accomplishment when you get it done!