How to remodel a bathroom, step 1: Decide if the current layout stays or goes.
I’ve heard too many stories of people remodelling, regretting, and redoing to want to walk the same path, so I knew I had to get the blueprint nailed from the start. U-turns are costly!
So, before you get into the nitty-gritty details of picking out materials, decide if you need changes to be made to the layout. Suppose you, like me, have a general contractor to oversee the project. In that case, you don’t even need to research the feasibility of making plumbing changes because that’s what your general contractor is for – an experienced hand to guide you. Sketch out your ideal version of a bathroom within the existing four walls and show it to your contractor for a discussion of feasibility, costs, and timelines.
There were 3 things that we wanted to change:
How to renovate a bathroom
- The bathtub. My husband and I aren’t fans of stepping into a tub for a shower. Plus, notice how the entire tub is elevated 3/4 of a foot? I had to pay extra attention when stepping out after a shower because it was essentially a one-legged squat on a wet surface. I was so afraid that my father-in-law would slip and fall when he visited.
- Shower head wall. Love the skylight; having a wall that blocks the light streaming in doesn’t make sense.
- Wasted space above the washer and dryer. What’s with the 9/10 built wall?
I do vaguely remember discussing changes to the position of the vanity and toilet, but costs did not justify benefits, so we kept them where they were.
How to remodel a bathroom step 2: Have a vision of the final look.
Knowing the amenities that you want is important because that affects timelines and execution.
Say if you presently live in an older house that does not come with a soaking tub and you’re looking to install one, your contractor would need to determine if the joists underneath the tub would be able to support the weight of water and a human. Sometimes that requires input from a structural engineer and might even entail changing out a beam.
Also, remember that we’re still in a COVID era where materials are in short supply. Windows have a backlog because glass is in short supply… so if you’re looking to have a glass shower enclosure, you’d have to be prepared for the wait.
Again, sketching helps to discuss ideas and prevent mistakes.
This was what we had in mind, but our contractor quickly pointed out that the door wouldn’t open completely because of the angle of the sloped ceiling.
We also thought it would be neat to have the showerhead coming off the sloped ceiling with the shower control and handle off the back wall. Our contractor pointed out that if the control was at the back, we’d basically turn on the shower and get hit by cold water each time.
Common sense isn’t very common. 🥲
Another thing I pressed for was a cement look. Urban Zen, remember? I wanted to microcement the entire surface of the bathroom.
I tried finding someone for weeks – Google, Instagram hashtags, calling up other builders whom I know, you name it. Not a single soul in Massachusetts knew what I was talking about.
Seriously. Don’t even get me started. Before I’d met my general contractor, I had difficulty finding an HVAC contractor who could install an electric HVAC instead of the usual gas/oil types. Some told me electric HVAC isn’t a thing. We are that much behind time.
I even contacted the folks in Florida to ask if they’ve got a guy here. No luck.
I desperately asked my tile guy if he could search up all that DIY footage on YouTube and pull it off for us. He looked at me and asked if I really wanted to be his guinea pig for this. No, ok, fine, that was a brain fart.
In the end, we settled on tiling. Sigh. Same old, same old.
Anyhow, building up the space above the washer and dryer, as well as changing the tub to a walk-in shower with a glass enclosure, were the major changes. The rest were superficial and modular updates.
