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Bathroom Remodeling Planning & Design Checklist

The most important step for remodeling a bathroom is the pre planning and designing process which will gather the homeowner’s wants & needs, determine the final layout and ultimately choose the types, styles and colors of products used in your new bathroom. This planning and research will help you understand how your bathroom will be constructed, what to expect during construction and help you visualize the new bathroom before the remodeling starts.

9-12 Months Ahead. Collect ideas from different sources like magazines, online manufacturer’s products, home improvement shows and visiting kitchen & bath dealer’s showrooms. Set up folders in categories to file literature and info on plumbing fixtures, sinks, showers, tubs, bath vanities, countertops, floor tile, lighting, replacement windows, ceramic wall tile, mirrors, medicine cabinets,  and any other materials you are planning to use. Setup a separate notebook or folder for written notes of business names, contacts, phone quotes and appointments. Keeping this information organized will make it easier for you make selections and track the costs of the materials you purchase.

Set up a six month calendar to show the phases of the project from planning to finish. On this calendar show holidays, the approximate start date and completion date. Schedule the bathroom remodeling date for the time of year that best works into your family’s yearly activities. List things like vacations, family events, weddings, college students leaving or coming home or graduations and adjust remodeling date accordingly.

Remodeling a bathroom is a complex project and it is important to have an accurate schedule to follow because the construction can involve different trades working in a small area. A complete remodel may require the following trades- a carpenter, electrician, plumber, HVAC knowledge, possibly a roofer for roof penetrations, a tilesetter for ceramic tile, cabinetmaker, exterior siding if windows are replaced and a painter.

For your project to be completed successfully you must set an affordable budget and stick to it throughout the project. Making an accurate detailed cost estimate for the scope of work will give you more control when selecting materials and help assure you will have enough money to complete the job. Your budget will drive your buying decisions no matter what your wishes or dreams are.

How will you pay for the remodeling? Will you finance with your own money, take out a home equity loan or refinance your home.  Loan applications can take up to 60-90 days for final approval, so plan accordingly.  If you are borrowing money for the improvements do not sign any contracts with contractors until you have a commitment from your bank for the loan.

To what extent will you be remodeling?  Just changing a toilet, vanity, sink, faucet, or are you gutting the whole bathroom for a complete makeover? The decision making can be overwhelming as you search for designs, collect product information and choose colors and styles for the materials to be used in the bathroom. Don’t be discouraged by all those large beautiful bathrooms that are shown in the home decorating magazines as they tend to make you feel that you have the smallest and ugliest bathroom in the world. Many homeowners dream of having a large spacious master bathroom suite but in reality you are limited to the space that is available in your home. So collect all the design ideas you can and do the best with the space you have or make the decision to do an extreme makeover and live out your dream.

Another benefit of renovating your old outdated bathroom is that a new bathroom or kitchen will give you the highest dollar return on your investment compared to other types of home improvements. If you are thinking of selling your home, a remodeled bathroom or kitchen will make your house more appealing to potential buyers. A major factor for most home buyers making their final buying decision of which house they purchase is based on the condition of the kitchen and bathroom.

Unlike the past when bathrooms were just a functional room for hygienic tasks, today’s modern bathrooms have evolved to a tranquil place for total body care, personal enjoyment and relaxation with a spa like atmosphere. Rethink how you use your existing bathroom now and the benefits that a new remodeled bathroom can give you with amenities like a whirlpool tub, steam shower, soaking tub, body spa, or footbath and transform the plain old bathroom into a total relaxation center for you to wind down and pamper yourself. 

The master bathroom is a personal use room that should be custom designed for the individuals who will use it. Make it a comfortable place to start your day and the place to unwind and relax at the end of the day or a retreat on the weekends. Enhance the room with natural light by adding a skylight, arch top window or even a bay window.  Create a room you will want to spend more time in and give it a whole new feeling. Simple things like installing light dimmers, a mini music system, hanging pictures, scented candles, tropical plants, flower arrangements and using fragrant bath oils can create a sensuous vacation like atmosphere.

Ask friends and neighbors for recommendations of dealers, bath designers or contractors they may have used and call a couple of your own choice to give an estimate.

Do It Yourselfers-

If you are considering doing it yourself be realistic about your skill level and only do things that you can finish in a professional manner. Average costs for a do it yourself bathroom remodel is $4500- $10,000 depending on extent of renovations. Consider the time it will take to remodel if you do it yourself, a project as large as remodeling a bathroom can easily drag out for months if you are the only one working on it. The important factor for DIY’ers is to complete the job and not leave things unfinished.

Estimating tips- If you are doing the work yourself make sure to add sales tax, if applicable, to the total estimated material costs. Budget at least 10% of the total cost for product upgrades, price increases and items you may have missed in the original estimate. If you are doing a complete remodel yourself consider how to dispose of demo and construction debris, you may have to add the cost of a dumpster for the duration of the project. Using your budget as a guideline, make a list of the type of materials and styles you like and what you expect when the remodeling is complete. Group the items separately into different categories like- flooring, fixtures, countertops, ceramic tile and so on. On this list show the cost for each item so you have an accurate estimate to work with to track each item.

Bathroom Remodeling Planning Checklist

Pre Planning Bathroom Remodeling Project- 9-12 months ahead

• Evaluate your existing bathroom and make a wish list.
• Make a preliminary cost budget.
• Survey existing bathroom- make a sketch of the room with dimensions & fixture locations.
• Are you planning a partial remodel or complete renovation?
• Proposed major changes to bathroom size.
• Relocation of sink, toilet, tub or shower.
• Update Plumbing- additional sink, whirlpool tub, water supply, drains, higher capacity water heater.
• Update Electric- GFCI outlets, recessed lighting, exhaust fan, heat lamps, radiant floor heat, shower light.
• Heating/AC- move or add ductwork.
• Relocation of walls,doorways, windows.
• Replacement windows.
• Changes to surrounding rooms, bedroom, closets, etc.
• Add skylight, bay window, dish ceiling, soffits.
• Collect info & ideas- types of fixtures, cabinetry, ceramic tile, flooring, coordinating colors.
• Attend home shows, visit bathroom showrooms, consult with bath designers, read home magazines.
• Check with local building dept for new building codes & construction permits required for the remodeling.