Remodeling your bathroom in 7 steps: all you need to know before you start

Remodeling the bath in 7 steps: all you need to know before you begin.

Same as above

 

1. To work!!  But who will be the contractor?

 Finding and employing a professional contractor to oversee the remodeling is the initial key step.  First, you need to understand what is important for your bathroom – will an “external” remodeling be enough, or do you want to replace all the plumbing as well?  Do you only need a person who can implement your dream, or do you need an interior designer as well?   Based on your replies, you need to choose a contractor who fits your requirements. 

Even if your contractor seems to be the most sincere and honest person that you could find – there are a few things that you should not ignore:

Request to speak with previous clients who can provide recommendations: a good contractor will be proud of his former jobs, while someone not sure of his client’s satisfaction will resist. 
Request that the contractor visit the site, and estimate the cost and the length of the remodel, including any possible cost overruns.  Finalize in advance a detailed timetable and milestones, and when payments will be made at specific milestones. 
The final, most critical point: sign a work agreement.  This might jolt some people, who may shy away from lawyers, but it’s enough to have a written  document that summarizes the agreements reached with the contractor – and have both sides sign it so that you have a binding legal document. 

 

2. Planning the room, or: Puzzle Time!!

One of the goals of remodeling your bathroom is to turn it into a functional room – to accomplish that, you need to see the space as an empty chamber, and think how to optimally fit each part: from the shower enclosure, to the sink and WC, and even the electrical outlets.  Of course, you should consider the existing plumbing and sewer lines, and should consult with your contractor.  At this stage, you should also choose between a bathtub and a shower – if you choose a shower with a minimalistic design, without a shower tray, you will have to plan the slope of the floor accordingly.  But what should you choose and what are the possibilities?  You can find all the answers in step

 

 3. Shower or Bathtub, that is the question……

We have now reached the stage to decide – shower enclosure or bathtub?  In order to decide, you need to imagine yourself 10 years from now: if you’re a young couple, planning to bring children into the world, a bathtub is probably the right choice for you (not just to wash the kids, but also to pamper yourself with a bubble bath when the kids are at their grandparents).  Just consider that a bathtub takes up a lot of room, so it’s not very appropriate for small apartments.  Alternatively, if in 10 years your children will leave the nest, and you will travel the world after retirement, perhaps you should choose a shower enclosure with wide doors – the kind where you can add a stool if needed.

 

If you chose the functional shower enclosure option, you’ll need to make some other decisions:

Do you want a shower enclosure with a shower tray that will prevent the water from dispersing all over the bathroom, or do you prefer a shower with a minimalistic look with a sloped floor that channels all the water to one drain?  If you choose the latter, you need to take this into consideration in the planning phase of the bathroom.
A standard shower enclosure or a custom-made one?  In the market there are unlimited choices and you only need to decide – standard existing shower in different colors and styles, where the shower enclosure arrives in a fixed size and you design the rest of the bathroom space around that; or a custom-built shower built to the specific size of your bathroom, with all the limitations involved.  If you choose this option, a professional technician will arrive to take measurements for the shower manufacturer, and will later come to install it.  The difference between the choices is an exact fit to your bath, which usually will cost more.  There is no correct choice – it all depends on each bathroom and what the client’s needs are. 
Other points that need to be considered in choosing the right shower: do you want the accessories in plastic or metal, do you want the doors to lift up to prevent wear and tear, and you should get at least a 3 year warranty and availability of spare parts. 

 

4. Floor and wall tiling – a match made in heaven

After you have planned the functional portion of the bathroom, it’s time to do the fun part – the part where you really decide how your bathroom will look, and it all starts with the ceramic floor tiles.  If you believe in minimalism, you’ll want to choose large tiles with glossy, natural colors.  But if you’re a classic person and like warm design, you’ll choose small tiles in matt finish and darker colors.  

 

What about the wall tiles?  Most designers recommend that you also use wall tiles since they are easier to clean and develop less mold and moisture.  And by adding both wall and floor tiles, you don’t have to choose between two different tile types that you may want. 

 

 5. WC’s – not what you thought!!

You are probably asking yourself – what can be new and different in a toilet?  You’ll be surprised to learn that this category of the bath has undergone a transformation in the last few years, and has become the most meaningful decision you can make in planning your home.   In this category you’ll be able choose according to your personal lifestyle: a hanging, modern WC that appears to “float”?  or a standard WC in minimalistic and clean styling?  Or a concealed cistern?  All the possibilities are open, and all you have to do is choose.

 

6. Sinks, faucets and what is in-between

Sinks and faucets may sound like technical decisions that have no meaning at all – but they do have a huge influence on the bathroom.  If up until now, functionality was a major factor in your decisions, now you can go a little crazy, like a child in a toy store.  Vessel sinks are the hottest item nowadays, and its easy to understand why – they bring to the bath a designer look with lots of thought going into the styling, but are also comfortable and practical.  The sink you choose will influence the total design of the bathroom, so you need to decide what kind of design you want in the planning phase.  Other possibilities are hanging sinks, and all you need to do is decide on the design direction – round flowing lines, versus straight and clean design. 

A complete world also awaits you in choosing the faucet that will go with your sink – classic faucets with refined lines, or faucets that are interesting and shaped with sculpted, decorative elements – let your imagination run away and your heart choose.  Pay attention that in the market there are many different manufacturers with many different styles, but it is recommended that you choose one reliable manufacturer who provides service and has spare parts available, and of course also a good warranty going forward. 

 

7. The moment of truth: Dreams are realized, and not just sometimes

After you contemplated every detail, and listened to your heart but also your brain – now is the time to let the magic work, and see how all the elements fit together in your bathroom. 

Remember that remodeling a bath is a long -term investment, and you should not compromise on the quality of the products, on the supplier warranty and on the integrity of the company you are working with.  These may be small issues that can save you a few shekels today, but will cost you lots of money down the road. 

 

For free consultation with Hamat experts on choosing your shower, press here. 

Good Luck and Happy Remodeling!!

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