Bathroom Remodeling – Construction and Contractors
by Anna Hart
Filed under Bathroom Remodeling
Bathroom remodeling seems like an easy project to the novice. Self bathroom remodeling poses no big problem. He or she has ideas about how to replace the wall tile or floor tile. The tub may need to go, also, and a shower put in its place, but that should not be so difficult. Why should there be a need for contractors or construction permits?
Bathroom remodeling, construction, and contractors go together for a reason, however. Even contractors tend to agree that bathroom remodeling is the project they least like to do. It presents construction challenges that are not present in larger rooms. Even an otherwise straight forward job like the replacement of ceramic wall tiles involves reaching behind toilets and fitting the tiles precisely along already installed vanities, tubs, or shower stalls.
Bathroom remodeling construction permits that contractors get are an indication that the work is more than a weekend project. So, although a contractor will seem to cost more than a self bathroom remodeling project, you may want to hire one.
Self Bathroom Remodeling Ideas You Might Do
Self bathroom remodeling does not have to be totally out of the question, of course. You yourself may be a contractor, able to tackle the big jobs with the small. Additionally, some jobs are more DIY than others. Your budget may be able to cover costs of paint and a few fixtures like towel bars.
Here are a few ideas on how you might do self bathroom remodeling.
* Walls and ceiling: Simply painting walls and ceiling will make a bathroom look newer and cleaner. You may want to install wainscoting on the bottom part of the wall as part of your self bathroom remodeling project. Click here to read this website’s article on bathroom remodeling with wainscoting.
Painting Tip: Don’t paint the entire room one color, even if it is a small room. You will achieve a more stylish look by using the secret weapon of decorators: the 60-30-10 rule. Of all the color used in your bathroom, make 60 percent a dominant color, 30 percent a secondary color, and 10 percent an accent color. You might make the upper, larger portion of your walls bright sky blue, and the wainscoting sunny yellow. Towels, accessories, and other accent items might be cheery red-orange.
* Faucets: Those standard-issue fixtures are a big hassle for self bathroom remodeling, but replacing faucets can make the fixtures themselves look newer. Consider what you don’t like about the present faucets at your sink, tub, and shower. Do they feel comfortable in your hands? Would you rather have one handle or two?
* Pictures: Many self bathroom remodeling projects fall short because the owners never thought of placing a couple of small pictures on the walls. Prints or photos can make bathroom decor complete. You don’t have to create an art gallery, but one or two pictures that carry your accent color add a finished touch to bathroom remodeling.
* Accessories: Replacing or adding bath accessories is also an easy self bathroom remodeling task. Sometimes, a small investment of time and money will clean up odds and ends, and bring an organized look to a previously cluttered bathroom. New towel racks, tissue holder, and waste basket are good. If you use a shower curtain, invest in a new one to go with a new color scheme.
* Plants: A self bathroom remodeling project intended to increase home value should always include plants. Visit any model home that a decorator has prepared for sale, and you will see plants. Plants have a way of making a house look like a home. If your bathroom lighting will not support plant life, invest in quality silk plants.
Bathroom remodeling that involves construction permits and contractors may be necessary for a complete makeover, but the self bathroom remodeling ideas above might be all that you need.
Hi Anna.
I have to agree with you with what you are saying. If anyone wants to do a bathroom remodel on a low budget, then a bucket of paint, new hardware and accessories are the way to go. In my case, my bathroom was way out dated, and I had to take the bull by the horns and do the whole nine yards. Don’t get me wrong I loved every minute of it. I am a “do it your self” kinda gal. And even though we didn’t have a huge budget to play with, we managed to keep the cost down by doing most of the remodel ourselves. We had some practice in our apartment when we did the remodel in the bathroom there.
I learned so much and when we decided that it was time to do our own bathroom, I was more then prepared. I took the jack hammer, and went at it, all the tile had to go, and man, I enjoyed it. After that it was time to plaster up the walls where damage had been done, so it would be ready to lay the new tile against it.
Having a full time job, the only time for me to do any tiling was after work and on my days off, but the sense of accomplishment when a section was done is just such a great feeling. I know that there must be a lot of ladies out there that want to do the same thing. All I can say, don’t be scared to get your hands dirty, find out how to go about plastering walls, and laying tile.
You can get ready to go mastic, you stir it up and of you go. What you need to have handy is a level, and a wet sponge to clean any drips that may fall on to your brand new wall tile.
We did take out the bathtub, and replaced it with our own shower stall build from scratch.
I do have a website, and on the home page,and the about us page I have put the pictures of my own total remodeled bathroom.
If you so wish, you can have a read through and see through on this site: http://www.bestbathroomremodel.com
When I look at those pictures it gives me a sense of pride. I think for a woman to have little help from a man, (because I told him hands off, this is my project) LOL, if I can do it, any woman can do it. I agree, it does take patients and determination, but the rewards are just fantastic.
I would love to hear from other women who are thinking of doing a bathroom remodel.
Thanks, Thea