Bathroom Renovation Guide: How to Manage Your Makeover
Are you thinking of renovating your bathroom? If it’s your first time, it can be challenging to know where to start.
In this post we are going to run through how to choose a contractor, what to look for when they are working and how to ensure they’ve done a quality job that will last a long time and be worth what you pay for it.
Everyone has horror stories with contractors, and it probably makes you scared and apprehensive about starting your dream makeover. Renovating your bathroom doesn’t have to be a scary process. Having detailed discussions with your contractor about your renovation goals, BEFORE they start working, is a great way to get what you want out of your renovation. We find that the biggest problems arise when you’re not clear on direction and scope of the project.
We have put together a few basics for dealing with contractors and for ensuring your bathroom is exactly what you want and how to avoid problems post-renovation.
Here’s a list of the potential contractors you might need to build your dream bathroom. It might be tempting to get one person to do it all and only have one person to deal with. We recommend specialists to perform their respective jobs. A plumber is going to give you the best chance of having no leaks and perfect faucet installation. An electrician is going to be your safest choice for perfectly recessed lighting. A tile professional will produce perfect grout lines and tiles that will stand the test of time.
Taking the time to pick the right professionals is going to make the renovation process easier and more enjoyable for you and your family. But where to start?
Word of Mouth
It doesn’t hurt to ask your friends and family who they used for their makeover and how that experience was. Generally, when a contractor knows there is a chance of repeat business they will take extra care and give you the service you are paying for and deserve.
Reviews
Try to find some Google reviews for a tradesperson if you haven’t heard of them or don’t know anyone that’s used them before. Reviews can help you screen contractors and find out if others have had a good experience with them in the past.
Get a few quotes
Always a good idea to have an idea of what everyone is charging to ensure you’re getting good value. We advise against choosing someone purely based on price but a combination of well-priced and good reviews is going to put you in good stead for a value job that will stand the test of time.
Here is a suggested timeline for your bathroom renovation. Everyone’s situation is different, but this is a general order of operations we have found to be the most successful. It is critical that each job is done well to set the tone for the next tradesperson coming in. Trust us, if your tiler comes in and the demo crew have done a bad job they might either walk out or not be as inclined to do a good job. Make sure each trade leaves the site clean and does the entirety of their scope. We are going to show you what to look for and how to make a good impression on the next trade that comes in.
1. Demo Day
Demolition Day that is. Time to get rid of that wallpaper from the 80’s and floral tiles that were cool in 1995. Don’t schedule anything else for Day 1. You never know what the demo crew might run into and keeping trades on your side means giving them the time they need without being stressed about another trade coming in too soon.
This is the beginning of the project, and you want to start on a positive note. Discuss with them BEFORE they start what you are keeping and what you are not. Some key points to mention:
- They will remove all debris post-demo and keep the rest of your house clean and free of dust
- You want a smooth floor surface with all mortar, glue etc removed and ready for tiling
- Remove the backing from any tiled areas, like the shower or tub. Investing in new Dense shield (waterproof drywall) will give you peace of mind for the future and prevent any unnecessary and costly leakages in the future.
- Make sure the water and electricity is turned off
A couple of things to think about NOW: Are you happy with the old shower head height? Is the vanity in the position you want it in?
If you want them moved then get your plumber in first, have them move the water lines before they are tiled in.
2. Electrical
This is the best time for your electrician to start moving receptacles and installing lights for you, new installation can help save power and be more energy efficient.
- Make sure your recessed lighting is centred in the room, providing even light throughout, anything in the shower needs to be waterproof
- Is the vanity light box perfectly centered for your new vanity?
- Is it high enough to clear your new mirror? These are things to think about now and have your electrician move them before the finished wall is done.
- Check that the switches are in the right place and you have receptacles where you want them, in relation to your new vanity.
- Get them to install your fan, put the cover on it and make sure it looks clean, often the ceiling drywall will need to be touched up
- Have the electrician turn on the power again after they are finished and make sure everything works
3. Tiling
Here are a few questions to ask the tiler and directions to give so that you sound like you know what you’re talking about and you’ll notice if they don’t do a good job:
- What direction are the tiles going to run? You want it to be consistent, so that if flows from the shower area into the rest of the bathroom. You want your shower to have a grout line running straight down the middle of the faucet, it will make it look centred and professional. The tiler may recommend otherwise because it is easier not to, but stick to the look you want and work with them to make it happen. Show them photos you’ve found of jobs you love. Don’t settle for anything less than exactly what you want.
- Are you tiling in a shower niche? Show them where you want it, it will look more professional and avoid you having to suction cap on a basket later when you realise there is nowhere to put your shampoo
- Remind them that you don’t want any chipped tiles, grout lines need to be even and they use silicone to seal the edges. They’ll get the impression you are picky and be sure to do a good job
- Once the tiles are set, the tiler will need to let them set overnight and come back the next day to grout. This is a great opportunity to check their work, make sure there are no chipped tiles and the layout is as you planned
- It’s a good idea to protect your new tiling for future trades, this will help prevent chips and scratches. Laying down paper is normally sufficient here
4. Carpentry
Plan where you want your accessories, your towel rack, robe hooks, toilet paper holder etc.
The carpenter will also be able to install your vanity unit, replace the baseboards and door casings.
Get your carpenter to install the doors and door hardware, do you want a privacy lock door?
5. Plumbing
Your tiles are done and you’re ready to put the faucets in.
The plumber will install the vanity, toilet and the shower trim.
BEFORE they leave, check the following:
- Toilet flush is strong, put some paper in it and test it
- Hot/Cold functionality works
- Open the vanity doors and check for leaks
6. Drywall
This step could be done earlier, but the longer the job goes on then the more likely there is going to be damage done to the walls.
Having the drywall a bit later in the job will you give your painter the best chance for a smooth and perfect finish.
Have the drywall contractor pay special attention to:
- Where the wall meets the ceiling
- Around accessories and receptacle, bathroom fan
- Corners and tiled edges
The most important job for the drywall contractor is to prepare the job for painting. Don’t be fooled by “paint will cover that” Paint covers nothing, if anything it normally makes a poor job look worse.
Check the drywall for air bubbles – this occurs when mud is not mixed properly or not sanded properly.
Run your hand along the walls, does it feel smooth? If there are any nicks or scratches, dents etc then now is the time to fix them.
7. Painting
We recommend a neutral colour to allow the rest of the bathroom to be the feature. Your tiles, vanity and mirror should all stand out against a neutral backdrop. Conversely, if your bathroom accessory and vanity choices are neutral colours then a feature colour on one of your bathroom walls could look amazing.
Paint the ceiling white and the walls something neutral. This is just a recommendation for a clean look, go ahead and paint them whatever colour you like!
Your painter will be able to make small touch-ups and fill nail holes on your baseboards but if they must sand and apply mud then they may not produce as good a final job. Therefore making sure your drywall contractor leaves it perfect for them is imperative.
Hopefully this gives you some confidence to manage your renovation. Taking time to plan, get the right people and give good direction is key. Outline exactly what you want and plan time to review the work. Let the professionals do their job, with your direction. Don’t stand over their shoulder, be confident in your choices and have regular discussions about progress and keeping the worksite clean.
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