There are plenty of reasons for why you might want to remodel your bathroom. If you plan on selling your home, a newly remodeled bathroom can be an asset and possibly even raise the value of your home. Alternately, if you just moved into a new home, it could be tempting to make the bathroom more in tune with your individual style and tastes. Or maybe you just want to make a change to freshen up your bathroom. Whatever the case may be, remodeling a bathroom can be very beneficial to you and your home.
The Extent of Your Remodeling
Before you begin doing anything, you'll want to have a clear idea about how much remodeling you want to do. There are three main types of bathroom remodels:
- Surface Alterations - A surface alteration is the simplest type of remodeling. Rather than redoing the whole room, replacing everything, and changing the plumbing, you might just want to touch up the floors and walls.
- Change of Layout - Maybe you're pretty happy with your bathroom; you just want to change the layout by moving a cabinet or maybe even enlarging the room by moving a wall.
- Complete Renovation - If you are completely unhappy with everything about your bathroom, you might end up doing a complete renovation. Additionally, if the structural elements are rotting away, making them hazardous, a total renovation may be in order.
The Logistics
Once you know what kind of remodeling you want to do, you can start working out the logistics. Remodeling a bathroom is a lot of work, and the costs can quickly add up. You might try to save money by attempting to do everything yourself, instead of hiring a contractor. Alternately, you might want to hire a contractor to save yourself the time and trouble of doing it all yourself. Depending on your construction skills, free time, and budget, you'll need to figure out exactly what you can do and what you can afford to pay someone else to do.
Specific Areas
Once you know what you want to do with your bathroom, you can focus on the individual tasks. Whether you're just replacing a toilet or remodeling the entire bathroom, the information below will show you how to remodel each specific area of the bathroom.
- Structural Elements - Perhaps the most challenging part of a bathroom remodel would be to expand the bathroom. This would require knocking down and replacing the existing walls and door. These structural elements would also have to be replaced if they are rotting due to excessive moisture. When knocking down walls, you'll have to be mindful of the internal plumbing and wiring. That's why remodeling your bathroom walls may the most challenging aspect of redoing this room and why you are better off hiring professionals to do this.
TIP: If you decide to replace the walls in your bathroom yourself, remember to use moisture resistant drywall to keep the walls free from moisture damage.
- Showers, Sinks, and Toilets - These plumbing fixtures may provide a challenge as well. If you are simply replacing any of these items, you can very well do this yourself. A new sink or toilet will be relatively easy to install. As for a shower or bathtub, you might want to repair the whole thing or just do the cheaper alternative: having the tub refinished or installed with a bathtub liner. If you want to actually relocate any of these bathroom fixtures, you might as well hire a contractor to take care of all the plumbing work.
- Flooring - All of the moisture inside a bathroom can take a huge toll on the floor. Whether you're bathroom floor is already destroyed, or if you just want to redo it, you'll need to replace it with flooring that can withstand the affects of moisture. This means that carpet and hardwood floors should not be considered for the bathroom. However, you'll still have a choice between laminate flooring, tile vinyl, stone tiles, engineered wood, or ceramic tiles.
- Cabinets - Installing or replacing cabinets can be a pretty easy task. They'll need to be attached via wall studs, so make sure you know where those are when installing the cabinets. If you aren't looking to replace cabinets, it will be much simpler to reface or refinish them. Doing so can allow you to change the appearance of the entire bathroom, without having to do much construction.
When you decide to remodel your bathroom, you'll have an unlimited amount of possibilities. Almost anything will be possible, as long as you have the know-how to do the remodeling yourself or the funds to pay someone else to do it for you.