Bathroom Remodeling

DIY bathroom remodeling can save a homeowner a large chunk of change. For those who have to watch what they spend on a remodel (which is a lot of us), doing the major part of the work can help to keep the cost within our means.

Some will tell you not to attempt it on your own, but I disagree in most cases. You do need to evaluate your skill level. Some people just are not handy at this type of project, and for them it is better left to professionals.

However, if you are reasonable handy, a good planner and executer, and willing to seek information and instruction where needed, you can probably accomplish most of the remodel yourself.

The key is to plan well. Take plenty of time to plan, and then walk mentally through the steps and how they relate to other parts of your bathroom remodeling project so you don't get the cart before the horse and have to double back or redo things.

Recognize where you need the help of a professional

By doing most of the dirty work such as demolition you can save paying for expensive man hours to have it done. Just take care when you are removing fixtures, and tearing out flooring so that you don't do damage.

And do exercise safety precautions. Turn off breakers when you are working around electricity, and if you open any wall space take care not to disturb wiring. Also turn off water as needed when removing plumbing fixtures.

Call in professional help as needed

It is likely that there will be some parts of your remodeling project where you will need the help of a professional. This usually comes into play when you need help with electrical wiring or plumbing aspects that are not just run of the mill.

Take your time and get it done right

Realize that it will take you more time than a professional who does this day in and day out. Better to get it done right. Give attention to the small details as you near completion of your DIY remodel. Finish what you start. DIY bathroom remodeling projects that look like they were done as a DIY project are those where care is not given to the finish work and small details.

A bathroom remodel is a project that is only done every few years, and it does require a bit of a money and time investment, not to mention some temporary inconvenience. This is a good reason to plan well before you begin.

You will have some idea what you want in your bath, but you should do extensive comparison shopping, gathering ideas from magazines etc. and develop a bathroom remodeling plan.

Shopping around online, can save you a lot of time and effort, expose you to more models and products in a short period of time, and let's face it, in these days it will save a lot of gas money.

Do-it-yourself projects have become very popular over the last few years. More and more homeowners are doing much of their own remodeling. This can save you a substantial amount of money, which you can use to upgrade the amenities you add to your new bathroom.

It is important, when doing a do-it-yourself project, to know just when to call in the experts. Evaluate your own skill level before you begin remodeling your bathroom and allow funds in your budget when a task is above your skill level.
Find lots of handy tips on planning a bathroom remodel , and make the job easy.

You are unhappy with the look of your bathroom, but a total renovation is just not within your budget at this time. So what can you do?

First, squint your eyes and take another look at your bath. See it with new eyes. What is it that so displeases you that you are having thoughts of renovation?

Or, better yet, what is still good about your bathroom? This may take some thought. You have to get past your displeasure and look at it with an objective eye.

For instance, toilets and bathtubs are two fixtures that hold up well over time if they are properly cared for. If these two elements are in good shape and operational then there is no need to replace them.

Give your bathroom a long objective scan and determine what is good, and really doesn't need replacing. Then, once you have spent some time on that, decide which elements really bother you, or need fixing or replacing.

It is often easy when something bugs us to just want to throw the whole thing out and start over, but maybe you only need to do a few things to give your bath better function and an extended life, and at the same time make it a pleasing environment.

Consider What changes Would Make The most impact:

1. Look at your bath objectively. Decide what can be kept as it is, or with a little refurbishing.

2. New color on the walls can make a great impact, and for just a few dollars.

3. Replacing just the floor, if the floor has gotten to the 'natty stage' will make a great difference. This with a fresh new color on the wall can provide a refreshing new look.

4. Vanity countertop- Often just replacing a worn countertop can make a striking difference.

5. Cabinetry-You may have wood cabinets that are in reasonably good shape, but you are either tired of the finish or it needs to be redone. Consider investing some elbow grease. Give them a thorough sanding and stain them. There are many stains available today both in wood tones, and in colors. Changing from a wood tone to a color will make a dramatic change.

6. Maybe updating your bath with a new countertop that features a vessel sink instead of a standard bathroom sink could add the drama you are looking for.

7. Faucets can be a real feature as well. The vanity area gets a lot of attention. Faucet assemblies are available in many finishes and styles these days, and can make a real decorative statement.

These are just some suggestions. You'll find more suggestions and a bathroom remodeling checklist here. The point here is to give your bath an objective scan, and see what will do the most to improve it, with the least dollar invesment. It is possible that your bathroom has more good features than you think. Be objective, and envision what just a few changes and some old-fashioned elbow grease can do to improve your current bathroom.

It is a good idea to future proof your bathroom decor when you remodel your bathroom . Once you have finished remodeling your bathroom, it is not a project you will want to do again for a number of years. It is a big job, can be costly and is inconvenient while you are in the process.

However, you will want to make changes from time to time to give it a fresh look, and you should keep this in mind when you are remodeling. We all have a range of colors we prefer to surround ourselves with.

If you wonder what your color preferences are, open your closet and see what colors jump out at you. Generally speaking, what we prefer in colors is usually reflected in our wardrobes.

When you are selecting surface materials in your bathroom, keep these color preferences in mind and select flooring, countertops etc. so that when you need a change of color on your walls, linens, rugs, curtains etc they will co-ordinate well with these surfaces.

This will give you the flexibility to refresh your bathroom decor periodically so that it does not get stale. You will get more longevity out of your new bathroom and find it a source of pleasure for many years to come, by giving this some serious thought and planning ahead when you are remodeling your bath.

A half bath or powder room may be the place to indulge your decorative fantasies..

This can be especially true in a busy household with young children.

Consider who will be using your half bath or powder room before you begin. If it is not primarily for family overflow, and will be utilized mostly by guests, a powder room can be the place to indulge a few whims until your children are older.

The half bath or powder room is a good place to put a little extra luxury and special or fancy decor.

A pedestal sink or a whimsical vessel sink may not be right for the main bathroom while children are still small, but could work well in a powder room which is mostly used by your visitors, and it can give you a place to show off a little.

Read Full Article on Powder Room

The addition of natural light in a small bathroom can give the feeling of more space. When remodeling a small bathroom this is something to keep in mind.

Many times a homeowner does not have the option to enlarge a small bathroom. There may be no available space in a home for expansion. Adding natural light will not make more room, but it will make it more pleasant and seem larger.

If your bathroom is located on an outside wall, consider updating your windows while you are remodeling. A new larger window will bring in more light and also help with ventilation.

But what do you do if your bathroom is an inside room?

It is still possible to add natural light with a skylight. This is relatively simple if the bathroom is located under the roof, but if it is a floor below, you may think you have no options.

This is where tubular skylights are very useful. Though tubular skylights are usually smaller than traditionally skylights, they are available in different diameters. The advantage is that they can be used even if your bathroom is not located just under the rafters.

When you shop for a skylight, do keep your climate in mind and shop accordingly. A hot sunny climate will require specific features, while a cooler climate will have other requirements.

In terms of the size of your bathroom whether it is large or small, the floor occupies a lot of it's space. If your bathroom really has no major needs, but it just has a case of the blah's, maybe you should consider laying a new floor.

Bathroom flooring materials come in natural stones, laminates, man made materials mimicking stone, wood laminates and vinyl. They all have their good and bad points.

Natural stone,gives an opulent air to a bathroom and is often a desired flooring material for remodeling. Natural stones can be very durable, but they are costly, and they do have special cleaning and maintenance needs.

The man made materials are also... read full article

If you love the look of ceramic tile it can be a great choice for a bathroom floor. Ceramic tile will raise the value and selling appeal of your home if you should decide to sell in the future.

Take some time before selecting tile. Think about the colors you find yourself usually including in your decor. Recognize that whatever the color of your bathroom is now, it will probably go through some color changes in the future. Since tile is a long wearing flooring which is not likely ever to go out of style, this floor will be with you far into the future. Choose your color and pattern with future changes in mind.

To give your tile floor a more contemporary smoother look, place tiles closer together than you might under another application. Finer grout lines will give the floor a much smoother look. To further carry this look along, select a grout in a color that is very close to the color of your tile.

Read full article on a contemporary ceramic tile floor.

Take the time to adequately plan your tile floor . Assemble all the materials and tools you will need. If the floor is fairly large, it is a good idea to equip yourself with a good set of kneepads.

Tile can be installed in many ways. Tiles can be laid out in a square fashion, they can be put down on the diagonal (this can help to stretch a small room-making it look larger).

There are other tile patterns as well. Some are intricate and take more thought, and some are fairly simple. Practice a bit with the tile before you began using adhesive. Move them around to see how they will look.

The basketweave and herringbone tile patterns are a couple of the most popular. Also mixing different size tile in a random design can be interesting. This can also be done with tiles that are a slightly different shade in the same color, or if you are very adventurous you might even mix colors.

Whatever you decide to do, plan your tile pattern ahead of time, and practice with the tiles first before using any adhesive until you have your plan firmly in mind.