First time small bathroom remodel

Your first Bathroom Remodel

Cheat Sheet

I want to help you clarify the path to remodeling your bathroom especially if you’ve never undertaken a remodeling project before. Where do you start? Who do you speak to? How much will it cost? Some of these questions can be overwhelming but with a little guidance you will be ok.  Let’s break it down into phases. This is a blog which is part of a bathroom remodeling series I will be developing. 

PLANNING

Planning is key to successfully executing your project. The first thing you need to plan is your budget. How much money do you have available to spend on this renovation? Let’s take an 8x5’ small bathroom where you would find the following elements/categories:

Plumbing - Sink, toilet,shower, tub, drain, hot and cold water supply lines.

Electrical - Outlets, switches, lighting fixtures.

HVAC - Exhaust fan (typically above toilet) , ceiling HVAC vent.

Flooring - Vinyl, tile, carpet

Wall coverings - drywall, texture, paint

Doors and Windows - Entry door, window if exhaust not available usually above toilet

Carpentry - Door casing, window casing and sills, baseboards, vanity

Finishes - Countertop, flooring type, light fixture type, faucets, shower heads

You can quickly see how the budget can grow arms and legs. It is up to you whether you want to do a full remodel or maybe you just want to replace the tub and add tile around the surrounding walls. And maybe change plumbing fixtures like the sink faucet and shower head. In any case, this is for you to decide. 

BUDGETS

Let’s talk about two different remodeling budgets for small bathroom renovations.

Bathroom 1 - Hardware replacement only

Let’s take an 8x5’ small bathroom where we only replace some hardware to give the bathroom a little lift. Replace the shower head and faucet ($30.00 for the trim kit) The shower trim needs to match the existing diverter valve. The diverter valve is inside of the wall. The two most popular brands are delta and moen. You can’t simply buy any shower trim kit, it needs to match the valve. This does not take into account actually replacing the valve as this would require behind the wall access or removing tiles and replacing them ( I don’t recommend removing and replacing tiles). I would just re-do the entire tile and replace the valve while the walls are open.  Don’t forget the plumber who will run you anywhere from $150-$500. 

Replace the vanity faucet $49.50, replace all water supply line valves with new angle stop valves. THis is to protect you and the plumber accusing each other of leaks. Anytime you touch old hardware something will go wrong so I would take the time to replace the weakest links. Add this to the plumber’s bill. You really should be able to get all plumbing done for about $500 plus the parts. 

There, your first remodel. Easy right? Let’s recap. 

1. Plumber to install shower hardware ( Excludes changing out valve), install angle stop valves and install new faucet $500.00-$1000. 

1. Plumbing fixtures as described above: Shower Trim $30. Vanity faucet $49.50 and angle stop valves $30.

So all in you should budget about $500-$1000. If you are handy, you can potentially save on labor costs. I used to think I could do it all but after 5 trips to the store and picking up wrong parts, I decided it was better to hire a pro. 

Bathroom 1 plus tub and tile

You’ve saved a little money and you want to update your bathroom a little more by replacing the tub and shower tile. Let’s talk about the process in a simple way. Here’s a step by step process. 

Designate a waste location to dispose of construction debris ( Who is responsible for the debris? contractor / owner? If contractor add $150.00

Install construction paper or carpet plastic to protect floors. 

Build dust containment

Remove shower tiles. Very dusty. Will damage the floor if tile falls on the floor.

Remove the tub.

Remove old insulation. 

Frame out shampoo niche and straighten walls out so the tile installation will go smooth. 

Replace tub plumbing to future leak proof. You don’t want to replace the tub and leave the same plumbing. When you purchase your tub, ensure you buy the right finish for your drain and over spill cap such as chrome, brushed nickel. 

Replace the diverter valve and shower head spout. Use new copper or pex to connect to the hot and cold water. Ensure you set the shower spout at the right height for the tallest person. 

Install hardie backer cement board and water proof using redgard. This is a really important step to avoid mildew and mold and damage to walls. 

Install tile. Normally a tub/shower combo requires about 77-90 Square feet of tile. 

Labor and materials for this type of remodel, Tub, shower tub, new plumbing fixtures and tile installation should run you 4-10k depending on who does the work. 

PROCESS

I shared a lot of overwhelming information mainly technical and financial in this quick blog. Now I want to clarify the process from beginning to end for you to help you navigate the waters. 

Here’s a numbered list in order of events. 

Research contractors. Look for someone who can be trusted. There’s a myth in today’s market that you have to get 3 quotes so that you can get the best price. Remember that the best price does not include the best quality and finished product. There are too many horror stories out there to rely only on price.

Before calling a contractor, make sure you know what your budget is. It’s simple, do a quick search on google and you will get a good average of the cost of a remodel. There’s no need to have multiple contractors come to your house to give you an estimate. Remember, you need to find someone you trust. You can do that by looking at reviews, looking at facebook, getting a referral from someone who has done a bathroom remodel before and having a quick chat with the contractor over the phone. 

Design is extremely important. Most home owners expect the contractor to assist in the design process. However, most contractors are not equipped to provide design advice. Make sure you use a design to build a contractor or hire an interior designer or decorator. This will make your project much easier. You don’t want to be guessing as you go. 

Proposal: The proposal is very important. You need to ensure everything you’ve discussed with your contractor is in writing. The proposal or contract needs to cover the following: Permitting, Scheduling, line of communications, scope of work, materials, cost, payment schedule and terms and conditions. This is not a complete list as each project is different so please do your research. 

Project Execution: once the contract is signed it is almost too late to make changes to your remodel as this will only add to your cost by way of change orders. Please ensure you understand the contract before starting the work. What time will the workers arrive. Who is the Project manager. What is next? A small bathroom remodel can take 1-5 weeks. Sometimes more depending on the complexity. So make sure you understand the schedule. 

Punch list: A punch list is extremely important. The “ Punch Out” takes place once the main scope of work has been completed. This is the client and the contractor working together to identify areas of concern. Most of these should be minor and extremely common. Don’t make it a point of contention.  Instead use this phase to put the cherry on top of your project. Make a list with your contractor and sign it. Once the items are addressed, approve its completion. 

Close out: The project is finished and you’re ready to enjoy your bathroom. Ensure all permits are closed out. All invoices are submitted and paid off. Make sure you have a good contact and process for warranty calls. If you go with the lowest price, warranty may not be included. 

CONCLUSION 

I’ve given you two small sample budgets and projects to kick start your research. I’ve also outlined the steps to a completed project. Design, proposal, execution, punch list and close out. A basic 8x5 full remodel can cost as high as $30k and as low as $1.5k. It all depends on your finishes and your technical requirements. Remodeling projects are extremely custom and as such you need to spend some time researching. I will write more about this topic in future blogs. Please feel free to contact me at any time to ask questions about this blog or about the remodeling process in general. I love to talk so please feel free to call me any time. Really! I mean it. 

Jorge (George) Pinto

Northeast Houston Renovation