There are no unwelcome questions about remodeling your bathroom. Whether you’re curious about the remodeling process or how long it will take, there’s nothing wrong with seeking out some answers. In fact, seeking answers is the best thing you can do if you have questions about remodeling your bathroom.
Understanding your next home improvement is critical for project success, and that’s why we’ve compiled a list of bathroom remodeling FAQs.
If you’d like to discuss these questions in person, call us today to set up a free consultation. Your remodeling project will be guided by our Personalized Design experience. During this process, one of our expert designers will pay you a home visit to discuss your remodeling goals and vision for your space. More than that – you’ll be able to show the designer what you have in mind in the very room you’d like to remodel.
Keep reading to find the answers to our 11 Bathroom Remodeling FAQs.
1. Why should I remodel my bathroom?
Remodeling your bathroom can be a substantial undertaking. It requires some time and monetary investment, and it results in significant changes to a very important room of your home. In light of that, it’s natural to pause before starting a bathroom remodel and wonder if you should be starting one at all.
To find the answer to this FAQ, you’ll want to examine the areas that a bathroom remodel could affect and determine if their present condition calls for improvement. Certain areas of the room, for instance, may be showing age in both practical and aesthetic ways.
Signs of an aging bathroom
Take bathroom plumbing – over time, pipes may begin degrading, which could lead to water leaks, reduce your ability to use certain appliances, and lower water quality. So, if you notice such plumbing troubles in your bathroom, it may be time to replace the pipes and remodel the room – keeping in mind that pipes in other areas of your home could require similar action.
In addition to bathroom plumbing, water fixtures can degrade as well – at least in terms of efficiency. Older showers and faucets do not always function as efficiently as they once did, or as compared to newer models. As a result, updating such fixtures during your next bathroom remodel could also save you money on your utility bill.
Bathroom tiles are another bathroom feature that often show age, perhaps even doing so to the detriment of your bathroom’s style and safety. Chipped, scratched, and otherwise worn tiles can undercut interior design and present tripping hazards.
Walls can become a similar point of concern as time runs its course. Scuffs in the paint or peeling wallpaper can bring a haggard feeling into a room that ought to be a place of relaxation. Moreover, such damage to your bathroom walls can leave them vulnerable to mildew, taxing fashion and introducing safety concerns.
Other reasons to remodel
There are some areas of the bathroom that could give you a reason to remodel apart from their showing age. Interior design would be a broad example. If you feel that your bathroom does not match your aesthetic tastes, remodeling the room can reconcile the difference.
If your bathroom storage doesn’t meet your standards, that can be reconciled as well during a remodel. There are many ways in which a home improvement project could improve storage capacity. Moving a wall, for example, could make the room more spacious, and updating the cabinetry could make whatever space you have more efficient.
Curious about cabinetry? Then you’ll want to see How to Select Kitchen and Bathroom Cabinets.
Remodeling isn’t the only way to maximize your bathroom storage, of course. There are many ways in which you can make the most of your bathroom storage through small interior design adjustments. And not all of the factors that we’ve discussed may necessitate a bathroom remodel by themselves.
However, if any one of these factors – or any combination – give you significant troubles, you’ll want a solution that’s significant to match. Remodeling your bathroom is that sort of solution, and it could be yours.
If you want to learn more about how a bathroom remodel could be the right solution for your home, give us a call or stop by one of our Kitchen & Bath Design Centers in the Pittsburgh area.
2. What’s the ROI?
The return on investment (ROI) of any home improvement is the percentage of project expenses that you regained because the project increased your home value. So, in this case, the ROI represents what your next bathroom remodel could pay you back.
In Pennsylvania, the average ROI for a bathroom remodel is about 59%. This means that homeowners recover, on average, around 59% of what they spent remodeling their bathroom. They make this recovery through a rise in home value, of course, not hard cash.
However, while you may not see the effects of a bathroom remodeling ROI until you’re ready to place your home on the market, it’s still there, and it’s still the result of said home improvement. In a way, the average bathroom remodel is inherently almost 60% off.
That makes the answer to this FAQ very good news indeed.
3. What does the remodeling process look like?
A lot of work can go into a bathroom remodel; work that may involve a number of unique and particular tasks. Such tasks are best completed in a certain order, for the sake of maximum efficiency and minimal complications due to, say, present activities disrupting old work. And that order is the answer to this FAQ.
Now, we’re about to take a closer look at the sequential steps of remodeling a bathroom, broken up into phases. First, however, let’s remind ourselves that all of this is somewhat flexible. While there is a general order that bathroom remodels follow, it can be modified to better fit the specifics of a given project.
Broadly speaking, here is what the bathroom remodeling process looks like.
Phase one – Laying the groundwork
The first step of a bathroom remodel is planning, because it enables you to complete every step that follows efficiently. As you plan, you’ll want to set your remodeling goals. Our team of professional designers can help with this step immensely, as they are trained to observe how you use your space and make suggestions as to what goals can be set that will ensure your new space fits your lifestyle and tastes.
Speaking of tastes, this phase is your time to consider bathroom design. While certain aesthetic decisions can – and, arguably, should – be made later, it’s a good idea to make some of them now. For instance, it’s a great time to pick out colors for a fresh paint job, but you may want to hold off on selecting a new light switch plate until you’ve seen those colors coated on the walls.
We can walk you through the various design decisions during this phase through our Personalized Design experience. We can also offer assistance during the following phases, as well.
Phase two – Setting the stage
Now that we’ve laid the groundwork, it’s time we cleared the floor.
Our team will remove anything in your bathroom that you’d like to replace, as well as anything that could obstruct upcoming remodeling work. You can think of this step as the ‘out with the old’ phase before we can reach ‘in with the new.’ Some of the ‘old’ can be removed intact, and if it’s in proper condition it can either be reused in your bathroom or resold elsewhere.
Vanities, for example, can often be displaced without damage. On the other hand, tiles that have been mortared in place may require a more forceful hand to detach from the bathroom floor or shower wall.
That being said, caution is essential all throughout this phase, so that nothing is removed which ought to have remained – and vice versa. Thankfully, we have the experience and training to be appropriately cautious, so you can be sure we’ll complete this phase of bathroom remodeling with excellence.
Phase three – The waterworks
Having set the stage, we can address the major water-related features of your bathroom. This is the time to replace old pipes, if necessary, as well as replace and/or move your bathroom appliances.
Now, as you may have guessed, this phase of bathroom remodeling will require some attention to the walls and, potentially, the floor, so as to expose the pipework. We’ll patch up any resulting surface tears during the next phase.
Phase four – Defining the atmosphere
In addition to patching up torn surfaces at this time, we’ll finish them with your choice of wallpaper, paint, tile, or flooring. Or even a combination of both – a tile backsplash looks wonderful against a fresh coat of paint or layer of wallpaper.
Our team can redo the walls/floor even if they were untouched in phase three. We can also update your shower or bathtub to give your bathroom a whole new look, whatever the starting condition of those items may be.
Lighting presents another way to give the room a new look. There are so many types, shades, and shapes of lights that it’s easy to personalize your bathroom illumination. We’ll dive deeper into bathroom lighting in a later FAQ.
Adjustments to your bathroom lighting, as well as those to your floors and walls such as we have already covered, are the basic factors in defining the aesthetic atmosphere in the room. We’ll help you fine-tune interior design with some final touches in the next phase.
For more information about setting the mood and defining the atmosphere in your bathroom, take a look at the 6 Ways to Add Personality to Your Bathroom.
Phase five – Last touches
As we wrap up a bathroom remodel, we’ll be installing things like the baseboards, along with the door trim, faucet, and vanity (want some advice about that last one? Check out the 4 Steps to Choosing the Right Bathroom Vanity). In addition, we’ll check freshly painted surfaces for nicks and chips. Once we touch up such areas, we will finish the look by adding the bathroom accessories – towel racks, shelves, etc.
After that, we leave you to your new bathroom.
4. How long will my bathroom remodel take from start to finish?
Just how long the bathroom remodeling process takes depends on a number of factors. The first of these would be project magnitude. The more work there is to be done, the longer it will take to complete.
In addition, complexity has a way of increasing the duration of home improvements. Whether the project is inherently complex, or if it becomes so thanks to mid-project discoveries, it will take longer to finish up than a simpler one.
That’s why it’s beneficial to have someone with a lot of experience in the field to help you simplify your next bathroom remodel. At Cabinet World, we have been in the business of helping homeowners remodel since 1972, so we know how to jump into a complex task and get to work for you.
Learn how we can help you by giving us a call or visiting one of our Pittsburgh locations.
Returning to remodeling timetable factors, project permits may be necessary for your remodel. Depending on the municipality in which you live, it may be necessary to obtain certain permits before work can begin on your bathroom.
All that said, it’s difficult to answer this FAQ in a way that applies to all bathroom remodels. The factors we’ve discussed vary from project to project, making timetable predictions uncertain without case-specific details.
5. I’ve made a plan for my bathroom remodel. How do I begin putting it into action?
This FAQ has several answers. How you get the ball rolling on your next bathroom remodel depends on how you plan to tackle it. If you’re especially handy and have decided to complete part or all of the project DIY style, then your first course of action would be to shop for supplies and materials.
You’ll want to take your time in doing so, searching for the highest quality materials at the best price. Any time that you invest early on could save you money later. If it’s cabinetry you’re searching for, our American-made cabinetry may be the perfect solution for your bathroom.
We’d also love to help you with the work itself. We’ll give you a hand with any part of your next bathroom remodel that you’d rather not DIY.
Another approach to completing a bathroom remodel is to work with your trusted contractor. We provide a wide range of support for contractors, from sourcing the materials needed to make your dream space a reality all the way through to project completion.
Of course, the third approach to remodeling your bathroom is to work with our team at Cabinet World. Our Personalized Design experience is something you won’t find at big box stores. During it, we’ll manage every step of your bathroom remodeling project from start to finish. You can rest easy knowing you have the expertise of our team supporting you. Call us today to get more information about how we can begin putting your bathroom plan into action.
6. Do I need to have design ideas in mind before I talk to a Cabinet World designer?
Our response to this FAQ is simple. While you can certainly approach one of our designers with design ideas in hand, it is not necessary. It can be helpful to have an idea of design styles that you like, but you don’t need to prepare them before beginning our Personalized Design experience. After all, part of our unique experience is that our team designs your bathroom with you—not for you, because it’s yours—not ours. We’re here to work with you, imagining and refining design ideas. Whether you come with prepared material or not, we can help you turn your dream bathroom into a reality.
7. How much lighting will my bathroom need?
Strictly speaking, bathrooms need enough lighting to illuminate the entire room. But that short answer isn’t the end of the story for this FAQ. While you need total illumination in the bathroom, your main light source doesn’t need to provide it.
Your main light source in the bathroom could actually be quite soft, so long as you bolster its effect with some bright secondary lights. Consider small overhead or recessed lights for that purpose.
The strong illumination additional lighting can provide over task areas – like the vanity and sink – will help you achieve focus, while the dimmer glow of other light(s) would give your bathroom a very relaxed feeling. The combination is perfect for this haven of self care.
If you want to hear more about bathroom light, check out our blog post about How to Personalize the Lighting in Your Bathroom.
8. How can I prepare my home for a bathroom remodel?
It’s good practice to prepare your home for improvement projects, but it’s not always clear how you can do this. That may be why this question has become one of the most common FAQs.
There are a number of ways in which you can prepare your home for a bathroom remodel. The first of these would be to clear the room of all loose items – towels, soap dispensers, shower curtains, etc.
Even if remodeling work won’t directly affect the areas in which those items belong, taking them out of the room will protect them from dust and potential damage. In addition, it will declutter the remodeling work environment.
It’s a good idea to prepare the space around your bathroom in a similar way. Decluttering the hallway up to your bathroom, for example, will make it easier to reach the room with materials and equipment.
In addition, make sure that what cannot be decluttered is protected. For example, if there is a piece of furniture inside or very near the bathroom, you can cover it with a cloth or plastic sheet to prevent dust from collecting on its surface.
There are also preparations you can make in your home that will benefit the animals of your family. Home improvements can be stressful for pets, but you can help them stay calm by creating a special place for them in the house, away from project noise. You can find more tips on keeping your furry friends safe and happy during a remodel here.
9. What’s the difference between a bathroom renovation and remodel?
Although they’re occasionally conflated, there’s a big difference between renovations and remodels.
Renovations are a comparatively light home improvement. They involve surface level adjustments, such as fresh paint or new flooring. During a bathroom renovation, you may utterly change the room’s look and feel, but you won’t be changing the room functionality or physical structure.
Major changes to the bathroom’s functionality and/or structure would be part of a bathroom remodel. The remodeling process affects the major aspects of a room in major ways. During a bathroom remodel, you might rework the plumbing or move a wall, after which point you could also make those smaller changes that we identified as belonging in the renovation category, like a new paint job.
Even if you complete renovative tasks during your project, it’s still considered a bathroom remodel because it will have changed key functional aspects of the room.
Though that doesn’t mean a bathroom remodeling project can’t be relatively small. There are both full and partial bathroom remodels, and we’ll be taking a look at the difference between these two in our next FAQ.
10. What does a full bathroom remodel involve, and what about a partial one?
At times, people use the terms ‘full’ and ‘partial’ generically to describe the magnitude of a given bathroom remodel.
Someone who talks about a full bathroom remodel, for example, might simply be indicating that the remodel affected the entire room. Likewise, saying that something was a partial bathroom remodel could simply mean that only parts of the room were affected. However, in other cases these same terms are used to label specific remodeling services.
At Cabinet World we offer an affordable full-bathroom remodeling package. In this package, we provide the best of bathroom flooring, lighting, appliance selection, and more to give you a completely new bathroom.
And, if you’d like a less comprehensive bathroom remodel, we can always meet you part way. However you’d like your bathroom to be remodeled, we can assure you: the quality of our service and merchandise is anything but partial.
11. What is your best advice for me?
There’s a lot of advice that we could give, but the best advice that we have for you is to have a plan that was created carefully, thoughtfully, and thoroughly.
A good plan is absolutely necessary for a successful bathroom remodel. Once a plan is made for this kind of home improvement – or any other – you’ll have a clear sense of how the whole project will be navigated.
Research is crucial to good planning. It’s important to look into various products offerings before you jump into the remodeling process. At Cabinet World, our team of designers will work alongside you through our Personalized Design experience to choose the perfect products for your bathroom.
Talk to your friends! It’s hard to beat a few wise words from someone who’s completed the same project that you would like to undertake. They can give you personal guidance based on their experience, which in turn can give you an excellent perspective for your next bathroom remodel.
All around, the more advice you can get, the better. We’ll offer you ours when you give us a call, visit one of our Kitchen or Bath Design centers in the Pittsburgh area, or sit down with one of our professional designers during our Personalized Design experience.
And we have some more advice for you now. Before you begin your bathroom renovation, you won’t want to miss these 10 must-knows. Moreover, if you liked reading about the FAQs of bathroom remodeling, then you’ll love to read our blog post, Don’t Fall for These 11 Bathroom Remodeling Myths.
If a kitchen remodel is in your near future too, check out these similar articles about the Myths and FAQs of that process.
