The 5 rules of bathroom renovation

Much of what I know about houses I learned the hard way, that is, through trial and error, with the emphasis on error. To save you disappointments and cost overruns, here are five things to keep in mind while designing and renovating your bathroom:

1. Rather than relying on what a contractor or designer tells you, spend time gathering your own information, on the Internet and from books, magazines, and TV, to get a feel for what you can do. The stronger your opinions, the more likely you’ll get the results you want.

2. To come up with a realistic budget, begin by pricing everything at retail, even if you know you will eventually get some things at a discount. Inevitably, we choose pricier items as the project goes along, but this will be compensated by the bargains and discounts found in other areas. The result will be a budget that’s realistic rather than a fantasy.

3. Make sure you go far enough with the renovation. A renovation is a difficult project that will tie up the household for weeks, if not months. Rather than save some aspect such as a new tub or shower, of the bathroom for later, better to get it all done at once.

4. Come up with a realistic timetable for how long the project will take. This is especially necessary. If you’ll be doing the work yourself, but is also essential if you’ll be working with a contractor. As a rule of thumb, double the time you think it will take, and then add two extra days. This will be a good approximation of the completion date.

5. Check your contractor’s references. Ask to see a portfolio of the projects he has worked on, and ask to visit the bathrooms he has built. Happy customers are more than eager to show off their new bathrooms, so this should hardly be seen as an imposition. They can give you great insight into what the contractor is like to work with.