Remodeling your bathroom can be an exciting opportunity to revamp a tired, old space into a stunning modern spa with an upgraded bathtub and more. That being said, any remodel is going to be a significant commitment of both time and energy. Lots of homeowners get excited about the idea of ripping out an old shower and getting a luxurious bathtub remodel or even rebuilding their bathroom from the ground up, but they also might be nervous about undertaking such a project.
Knowing what to expect and working with a great bathroom contractor can help ease your stress. That’s why JMG Contracting always takes its customers through each step of the process, from design to completion.
In this article, we’ll cover what you can expect throughout your bathroom remodel.
Making a Plan
Before anyone takes a sledgehammer to the walls and rips out the fixtures, spend some time coming up with a plan. While searching for “bathtub remodel near me” is a place to start, you also need to do some introspection to figure out what it is you want. Begin by looking at what you already have.
When coming up with a master plan, here are a few things you should consider:
- Functionality: Is there anything about your bathroom as it is that you find particularly frustrating? Or are there any features or amenities that you’re sorely lacking, like additional storage space or any fixtures you’d like to add?
- Must-haves: Is the centerpiece of your remodel a luxury bathtub or spa-level rain shower? The installation of this feature will be top priority as you plan your timeline, budget, and ultimate design.
- Timeline of completion: How much time are you willing to spend on the remodel? Depending on what you want done, the work might take a good deal of time. Can you manage without a fully functional bathroom until it’s completed?
- Budget: What can you afford to spend, and what can you complete with that budget? Set your expectations realistically when envisioning the final product.
- Design: The most fun part is asking yourself what you want the bathroom to look like. Do you want something sleek and elegant? Or something cozier and more traditional?
Hiring a Contractor vs. DIY
Now that you know what you want, you need to decide whether you want to handle it yourself or call in the professionals. There’s a great deal of pride to be had in working on your own home, but some projects are just too complicated to safely handle on your own. Bathrooms have a lot of moving parts, and unless you’re experienced with plumbing and electrical work, hiring a professional contractor is often your best bet.
The DIY Route
If you have experience with bathroom renovations, you may be able to handle the remodel entirely or partially yourself. You’ll have total control over how the project goes and everything from the schedule to the new fixtures themselves. By not hiring outside help, you may also save some money on the project, but this is a maybe.
While taking full control can be appealing, you’ll also be on the hook for solving any problems that arise—or ones that you accidentally create. Repairing damage or fixing mistakes could actually end up costing you more than you saved by not hiring a contractor to begin with.
Just because someone is confident in their ability to swing a hammer doesn’t mean they’re capable of a full bathtub remodel, and whereas a professional will already own all the necessary tools, you may have to rent or purchase what you need. In the end, it can grow into a time-consuming, costly, and stressful process for a homeowner to handle on their own.
Working with a Contractor
With an experienced contractor, you can pass the hard work and labor off to the professionals. A good contractor can handle the project from start to finish, from working with you to pick out and buy materials to obtaining necessary permits to making sure all the work is up to code.
Hiring people with the expertise and skills to tackle the project can save you lots of time, worry, and even money. At JMG Contracting, we also like to add a personal touch. We work with our customers through every phase to make sure they’re getting what they want and staying on budget, even taking them to wholesale retailers to pick out the materials that go into the remodel.
Preparing Your Home
A remodel can throw off the rhythms of your home, so it’s important to take into account how your life might be affected by the work. Before the work begins, take the time to prepare your home for it.
- Make sure all your possessions are cleared out of the bathroom. You wouldn’t want any stray loofahs getting in the way of your bathtub remodel.
- Figure out how you’ll protect your home in the process. How will you handle keeping the rest of the house clean of debris? Are you prepared to deal with the extra dust from the construction?
- Try to adjust your home to make the process easier. Redirect any normal foot traffic through the house that might get in the way of the work and move any furniture that would be at risk of damage if someone walked by with a new appliance or large pieces of debris.
It might not be fun to live in a home going through a remodel, but if you prepare, it will be as painless as possible.
The Bathroom Remodel Process
Once you know what you want your bathroom to be and have put together a plan to get it done, it’s time to set things in motion. The actual remodeling process can be broken down into just a few steps:
Demolition
In the first step, any fixtures, flooring, tile, or even walls that you won’t need for your new bathroom will be removed. Depending on the amount of work, this can take anywhere from a few hours to a few days.
Plumbing and Electrical
With all the old material out of the way, the focus turns to installing any new plumbing or electrical work you need to support your vision. This is the step where pipes will be installed, removed, or re-routed, and new wiring is put in to support outlets or light fixtures. Even if you are DIYing some of the work, we highly recommend bringing in a contractor for this part.
Installation
With the guts of the room in place, it’s now time to install the new features. New light fixtures will be connected and installed, new toilets can be put into place, and you can finally get that bathtub remodel you’ve always wanted. Once all the main amenities are in, this is also the step where finishing touches like paint, wallpaper, or tiling are installed.
Inspection
Once everything is in place, your bathroom needs to be inspected to ensure it’s up to code. This can involve the plumbing, electrical, and building departments sending over a representative to double-check all the work, making sure everything has been done safely and correctly, as well as pointing out any flaws for correction. Once you pass inspection, your new bathroom is ready to use.
When you’re ready to get started with your bathroom and bathtub remodel, contact JMG Contracting to discuss your project. We’ll help you design and complete the bathroom upgrade you’ve been dreaming of.