Introduction

Bathrooms are one of the most personal and important rooms in a home. They can be more complicated to remodel than other parts of the house, but they’re also one of the best ways to add value to your home (and your life).

First thing’s first: take stock of what you have

Before you can start shopping for new bathroom fixtures, it’s important to take stock of what you have. It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of a remodel and forget that some items may be worth saving. For example, if you have a pedestal sink or clawfoot tub, they may be part of the charm of your home—and they could even increase the value of your house!

To help keep track of everything, take pictures of all parts that need replacing before tearing into any walls or removing anything from its current place. Take note not only of what needs replacing but also what is working well enough not to need replacement this time around (even if something does eventually break). You’ll want to know how much these replacements cost so that when it comes time for budgeting purposes later on down the line (during phase 2: selecting materials), there won’t be any surprises waiting for you in terms of costs overages or under-estimates.

Analyze your plumbing

You should be prepared to check your plumbing. Look for leaks, clogs, rust and corrosion, mineral deposits, damage to pipes, and leaks in the wall or ceiling. If you find anything that looks like it needs attention then get a plumber out to fix it as soon as possible.

Think about how long you’ll be living in the house

If you’re planning on living in your house for a long time, or if you plan to stay in it until your kids leave home, then it’s worth the investment to do a bigger remodel. If not, consider doing something less extensive that won’t be so expensive and time-consuming.

Make a list of what you want to replace

The first step to planning any remodeling project is creating a list of what you want to replace. This list should include everything from damaged or outdated fixtures, to items that don’t work properly and need replacing (like the toilet). It’s also helpful to include things that you’d like added, as well as things you want to keep the same (for example, if you have a shower with an old-fashioned tub surround that has been in place since your grandparents bought the house).

Find inspiration.

  • Find inspiration. You can find plenty of ideas for your bathroom by looking at magazines, websites and Pinterest.
  • Make a list of features you love and things you want to change. Before starting the remodeling process, make a list of all the things that need to be done in your bathroom (i.e., “replace toilet” or “add new cabinets”). This will help keep you focused on what needs to be done during renovation.
  • Go look at other bathrooms in your neighborhood. If you have friends or family members with nice bathrooms, ask them if they would let you see their space so that it can provide some inspiration for yours!
  • Do a virtual tour online at showrooms or manufacturers’ websites where possible so that everything is within easy reach without leaving home!

Decide on your budget.

The first step in any bathroom remodel is setting a budget. The cost of labor, materials and permits should be considered with the size and scope of the project so that you can realistically plan for costs to increase as your ideas change during the project. You may also want to consider time spent on the project, especially if it’s going to take more than one weekend.

If this is your first major home improvement project, consider how long you’ll be living in the house—and whether or not there will be another person helping out (like a contractor). If this isn’t going to be a permanent fixture in your life, then don’t burn through all of your savings on a lavish renovation.

Understand what can add value.

  • Add value to your home. A bathroom remodel is a great investment, and it can add value to your property if you do it right. You can make the space more functional, beautiful and energy efficient.
  • Make the bathroom more practical. If you have a small bathroom or are limited on space in general, consider installing an en suite for added privacy or making use of corner shower stalls to maximize wall space within the room itself.
  • Make the bathroom more beautiful and appealing with design elements such as mirrors hung at various heights on walls so that each person who enters can see themselves from multiple angles when looking at themselves in a mirror before leaving their room every morning (or evening).
  • Enhance safety for those with limited mobility by adding grab bars near toilets or showers so they don’t fall down while getting into or out of these areas without assistance from someone else nearby.”

Consider hiring a pro.

If you have no experience in remodeling, hiring a pro is a good idea. If you’re not sure about your ability to do plumbing repairs and replacements, consider hiring someone else to help with that aspect of the project. The same goes for painting and tile work—if it’s not something that you’ve done before, it’s well worth bringing in an expert to make sure your bathroom looks great when all is said and done.

Account for the costs, then double it.

You’ve probably heard the advice, “budget for the worst-case scenario and then double it.” This is good advice for any project, but especially when it comes to remodeling your bathroom. Costs will always be more than expected (just think about how much it would cost if you had to take out all of your existing plumbing and start from scratch). Make sure you have enough money in your budget to do the job right.

Set up a bathroom renovation staging area.

A staging area is a great way to organize your bathroom remodeling project. You’ll need some extra space to store tools, materials and other items while you’re working on the project. The best place for this is in or near your garage or front porch – somewhere that it won’t cause too much of an inconvenience when it comes time to move everything back into place once you’re done with the renovations.

When setting up the staging area, here are some things we recommend keeping on hand:

  • A bucket of water for cleaning up spills (and general cleanup)
  • Your tool box – make sure you have all the tools necessary for doing any repairs or replacements needed before starting any work

Remodeling your bathroom can be expensive and time consuming, but it’s also fun and exciting!

When you’re ready to make your bathroom shine again, it’s important to be realistic about what you can do. It’s also important to be patient and not rush through the process. You may have some exciting ideas, but you’ll need time and money to implement them.

Remember: Don’t forget to budget for unexpected costs! If something breaks down in the middle of a project or during installation, don’t worry—it happens all the time! Just start saving up more money now so that when things go wrong (or just not as planned), there will still be enough left over after paying for professional help that it won’t cause too much financial strain on yourself or your family.

Also remember: Don’t be afraid to ask for help! Sometimes people don’t realize how much easier their lives would be if they had someone else around who knew what they were doing; but once they did realize this fact about themselves and went out looking for someone helpful enough with these kinds of projects where needed… then life got easier! And sometimes even better than before because now certain tasks could get done faster than before thanks completely free up time spent working towards other things like taking care children while also allowing mommy relax instead worrying about whether everything had gotten cleaned properly beforehand.”

Conclusion

We hope this guide has helped you understand the ins and outs of what’s involved in bathroom remodeling. Whether you’re planning your own project or just want to learn more about it, there are many resources available online for further reading on the subject. Happy renovating!