Your Model Home

Have you ever experienced being late for work or for school because there was somebody using the bathroom before you? Or have you ever experienced holding a party, and eventually seeing a lot of people queued up in front of your lavatory, each one waiting for their turn to use the said room? If you have answered yes to one or both of the questions, then you might want to consider adding another bathroom in the house.

In order to add another bathroom in the house, you could either have another room built so as to serve the said purpose or you could just use an unused part of the house as a rest room (after you have remodeled it, that is). If you decide to do the former, you would have to make sure that you prepare the necessary permits that your locality requires. Also, you would have to make sure that the new room would comply with the building regulations implemented in your area.

On the other hand, you could just utilize another room inside the house and turn it into a rest room. For example, you could use your basement as a good location. Now, you might be thinking: who would put a bathroom in a basement? For one, it is either extremely hot or cold down there, depending on the weather. And for another, you might probably have problems with the plumbing. Well, there are ways that you could get around these dilemmas. For example, you could redesign your basement so as to make it more conducive for holding a lavatory. And regarding the plumbing, you could buy specially made bathroom utilities (e.g. basement bathroom shower, basement bathroom toilet) that could be easily installed in your basement. You could search the Internet for any brand of basement bathroom shower or toilet that would best suit your budget and your basement theme.

If you have an outdated, tired or old looking bathroom then it may be time to undertake a bathroom remodel project. You know the one – the good old olive or avocado colored sink, toilet and matching bath. If so, they you really out to consider a bathroom remodeling project. The following is my top 10 things to consider before undertaking such a project.

#1 What is your reason for undertaking such a project? Are you planning on selling your home and want to get a good price or are you just bored with the look of the bathroom. If you are looking to get top dollar for your home, then many experts agree that renovating the bathroom is a worthwhile investment.

#2 You need to consider whether you need to hire a contractor or whether you, your friends or family are able to bathroom remodel competently. This will also depend on the extent to which you want to remodel. if it is a case of a lick of paint then this can be done quite easily. However, a renovation project involving plumbing and electrical work should be undertaken by a professional. Other simple jobs are replacing faucets, installing a shower curtain and even some tiling.

#3 Knowing what your bathroom remodeling budget is is an important aspect. Sometimes contractors can get better prices on items like bathtubs, toilets and sinks. also, if you have a very small budget you do not want to be too overambitious and would probably want to do the work yourself. You need to be careful as bathroom remodels can quickly get out of hand and become very expensive.

#4 Now is a good time to consider green issues, and I don’t mean the color of your walls! It is now possible to buy water efficient toilet systems and shower heads that reduce the consumption of water. Cork or bamboo flooring can be used instead of traditional tiles. The initial cost may be a little more but you can make considerable longer term savings.

#5 Your will need to know how long the project will take. Your bath, shower and maybe even toilet will be out of action for a period of time.

#6 When shopping for items and accessories be sensible. You may find lots of fantastic looking finishes and colors but they may not be effective or practical. I had a bathroom with wonderful black floor tiles once, but boy did they show up every speck of dust and fluff. Consider your lifestyle and family. Remember the resale value of your home. For this reason alone, neutral colors are often best. Be more creative with your accessories if you want to go with something unusual.

#7 If your bathroom remodel ideas involve structural changes then make sure you have both the time and the money to complete the project. There is is nothing worse than a half finished project that grinds to a halt because you have run out of money or come across a complicated, difficult to resolve problem.

#8 Consider the current style of your home and whether the bathroom remodel fits in with the overall look and theme. An ultra modern bathroom does not fit well in a classic, colonial style house unless the whole house inside is ultra-modern too.

#9 When planning a layout, consider traffic and allow any necessary clearance for doors, especially those that open into closets or linen cupboards.

#10 Plan, plan and plan. Adequate planning prevents making any expensive mistakes or leaving you with something you dislike and have to put up with for years.

These are just some of the useful tips to get your bathroom remodel plans up and off the grounds.