It’s no joke that your bathroom, while one of the smallest rooms in the house, is also one of the most complicated. Needing lighting, electricity, ventilation, plumbing, and of course, carpentry, it literally combines every area of house construction in one small space.
Doing things in the right order can be a make or break part of your project. Read on to get the order of tasks for bathroom remodel that will make the whole process a breeze.
Catch the Vision
Before you begin, you should know what you want your final bathroom to look like and how you want it to function. Then write it down (or draw it) so you can more easily communicate your vision with others.
This is where a design consultant comes in handy. They’ll help you create a full vision down to every detail. At RTA Cabinet Store, we offer free design consultations for kitchens and bathrooms! Check it out at our design page.
Set a Budget
Nearly every home improvement project is plagued by money problems. You can sidestep some of them by planning ahead. A budget helps you determine how much you have to spend on each phase of the remodel. It’s your most important tool in decision making.
Always pad your budget. You will run into unexpected issues that stretch the budget. If you plan for this by putting a 10-20% buffer in your budget, you can offset some of these costs. If you don’t run into big issues, you’ll have money to spend on luxuries and perks later in the process.
It’s also important to budget your time. A timeline on the remodel is nearly as important as a budget in keeping the project moving forward. We know things don’t always go as planned but that doesn’t have to mean major setbacks in your progress.
Take advantage of our Quick Ship Guarantee so you can get bathroom vanities and cabinets on time and your timeline won’t take a hit.
Plan & Design
With an overall vision and budget in place, you’re ready to get started. Now’s the time to collect paint chips and decide on fixtures. It’s always a good idea to know about the details before you start remodeling so you can plan for any changes that need to be made structurally.
For instance, choosing your vanity size and shape early will help you pick out the best sink. Knowing which sink you want will help you pick out the right faucets. If those faucets happen to be wall mounted, you’ll have to plan accordingly for the plumbing.
Anticipate & Work Around
No matter how carefully you plan your design, budget, and pick your products, there are always surprises. But there are also things you can get prepared for ahead of time.
A bathroom remodel means that you will be without a bathroom for the duration of the remodel. It gets discouraging when issues arise and stretch out that time. Be sure you’ve planned for an alternative in the interim.
You may find that sharing another bathroom in the house can get stressful as more people try to make do on fewer bathrooms. Set up makeup or hair stations in bedrooms to free up the bathroom for showers and such. Come up with a bathroom schedule and time limits so everyone has sufficient time to get their business done.
Start Work
The work part of the project is what most think of when they contemplate a remodel. It is the most visible part of the project, but so much work has already been done by this point, it will be a relief to finally see changes happening in your bathroom.
Your project will likely start with some kind of demolition. You’ll finally start to feel like this whole remodel thing is real. After that behind the scenes work will happen like plumbing, electrical, insulation, ventilation, etc.
Next will come large fixtures like shower, tub, vanity, and sinks. Then painting, flooring, and finishes will follow.
You may choose to DIY some of your remodel and you may choose to hire a contractor for other parts. Just be sure to be honest about your skills and have a backup plan if you run into issues you don’t know how to solve.
Add Finishes
Finishes are what make the bathroom both functional and beautiful. Things like lighting selections, faucet finishes, paint, and tile have a mostly aesthetic impact on your bathroom and set the tone for how you’ll feel when you use the space.
On the other hand, some things like towel rings/bars, grab bars, and soap dispensers are both aesthetic and the foundation for functionality in your bathroom. Consider both aspects carefully when choosing and installing your finishes.
The order of tasks for a bathroom remodel set the stage for success or difficulty. Follow them and you’ll have a smoother remodel overall.
We want to see how your project went! Tag us on social media @rtacabinetstore so we can see how it went.
Boost your remodel success by considering updating things that get a great ROI.
