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Time to Remodel? What to think about when you decide you’re ready to tackle a bathroom project. by Tara Hayes

If you are thinking of remodeling a bathroom, be prepared for a challenging experience. Bathrooms are complex spaces with odd juxtapositions, and remodeling them can require framing, plumbing, wiring, rough-in, drywall, new tile, sinks, toilets, baths and showers. In addition to the hassle, bathroom remodels can also get very pricey.

If done right, however, a bathroom can be a manageable starter project. “It’s a very approachable piece,” says Michelle Merkle, owner of Seattle’s Home Resource Network, a contractor referral agency. “Maybe [a homeowner] can’t afford a kitchen, but they can afford a bathroom and they use the bathroom as a tester [for future projects].” Even so, bathrooms can be costly.

“Per square foot the bathroom is the most expensive room in the house to remodel,” says interior designer Cathy Gaspar of Gaspar’s, a residential design and build company. But bathrooms, and their budgets, can be as varied as the homeowners who fantasize about perfecting them. Costs can range from a couple thousand dollars to fifty thousand and more, and choices range anywhere from standardized cabinets and straight-forward fixtures to luxury toilet seats and thousand dollar showerheads. Figuring out the scope of your bathroom plans is the first step to a successful remodel.

GETTING STARTED

What do you do when you’re starting from zero? First, know that you’re not alone. “A lot of people don’t know where to start on a project like this,” says Matt Maury, owner of the Home Owners Club®, another local contractor referral agency. “People feel lost and overwhelmed,” acknowledges Lauren Smith, office manager and intake specialist at Gaspar’s. The best way to overcome that feeling is to make a solid plan based on good information.

Start with the fun stuff and do a little window-shopping. Play around with ideas for your new and improved bathroom before you tear out any walls or rip out the tub and toilet. At some point you’ll have to make decisions about plumbing fixtures, lighting, tub surrounds, flooring and accessories, so get out there and see what’s available, what you like, and get an understanding of how much things you like might cost.

Seattle has plenty of home improvement stores and showrooms where you can browse and speak with knowledgeable salespeople — before you have a contractor (and schedule) waiting anxiously for your final pick. While places like Home Depot and Lowe’s have a lot of selection in one place, specialized stores will show you a lot of options. Collect pictures, magazine clippings, color swatches — anything that appeals to you.

Talk with friends and family who have gone through a bathroom or any other type of remodel, especially if you are new to remodeling. They can give you an unedited version of the ups and downs — things they wish they had known — and maybe even the name of the gem of a contractor they met.

Balance your priorities, Smith says. She recommends clients look at a trio of factors: budget, quality and schedule. Once you have decided which of the three carries the most weight for you, it will be easier to start sketching in a picture of your particular remodel.
Think about why you want to remodel. Do you want to freshen up the bathroom, swap out antiquated fixtures, create more space or light, increase home value for a sale or fix a structural problem? “The experience of remodel is a very personal one,” says Merkle, “and the homeowner needs to pay attention to their intuition.” Try to get a good picture of what you want and why.

Then, think about your budget. How much, really, truly, are you willing, and able to spend? Be honest with yourself and the people you are working with.

GENERAL DOS AND DON’TS

There are some special points to consider when planning a bathroom remodel. Moisture is number one. Bathrooms need to be well-ventilated to the outside to prevent mold. As a result, flooring choices are restricted — hardwoods, carpet and slippery surfaces like marble are generally out, and even tile has to be made especially for flooring (you can’t use the same slick stuff as is used on tub and shower surrounds).

Walls especially need protection from steam and water, which means no matte finishes like wallpaper or faux designs. You want to be able to wipe them down. First, the walls should be primed with a vapor barrier, says Jay Hartman, a veteran estimator with Queen Anne Painting. Then they’re covered with two coats of a latex or acrylic paint — something with at least an eggshell finish. Some paints are designed especially for the kitchen and bath (they have more enamel) and others are mildew-resistant. Hartman also recommends choosing your tile and fixtures before deciding on a paint color. Painting comes last.

Then there are the fixtures. Lighting in a bathroom is particularly important. “You want light on both sides of your face,” recommends Gaspar; a sconce on or beside the mirror and something overhead is ideal. For fixtures like the toilet, sink and tub, think about who’s using them and whether there are any special requirements such as user height.

Be sure to also pack in a little flexibility and a sense of humor. “Bathroom remodels can take longer than you think,” says Gaspar, “because it’s such a small space and you need to get everyone in there to get everything done. Only one person can work in a bathroom at a time.” And there’s always the unexpected. “Bathrooms in particular are pretty ripe for surprises,” says Merkle. Think mold, rot, or funky plumbing, for starters. Then there may be fixtures that become damaged en route, structural challenges, or even a client’s change of heart along the way. “No contractor can know that ahead of time.”

THE DO-IT-YOURSELF QUESTION

Somewhere along the way, as a homeowner you will probably ask yourself, “Could I just do this myself?” The people in the matching shirts and sunny smiles make it look easy and fun on TV home remodeling programs — and they always have something to show for it at the end of the half hour.

But unless you have the skills, time and equipment to tackle each part of the job, doing it yourself may be more trouble than it’s worth. Any change you make might create additional problems, says Dan Taddei, the Director of Education and Certification for the National Association of the Remodeling Industry, or NARI (www.nari.org). A few examples: tile on a floor without proper support will crack and a heavy tub over an insufficient joist may give out over time. Beyond that, coordinating all of the people and pieces necessary to put your bathroom together is an intricate process, and getting it wrong can mean long delays and lost money. “I’ve heard of great successes,” says Merkle, “but the other end of the spectrum is that it’s an expensive lesson.”

Another major do-it-yourself question is whether or not to buy your own materials. If hiring a contractor is within your budget, avoid buying items yourself. Do your own window-shopping, but items supplied by your contractor — plumbing fixtures, tile, etc.— are under warranty (usually for a year), meaning you won’t have to pay for the labor to fix it if something goes awry. Contractors often receive discounts and you’ll have a wide range of items to choose from.

WHO DO YOU NEED?

There are different people who can help make your dream (or purely pragmatic) bathroom a reality and, depending on the scope and budget of your remodel, you can expect to have contact with one or all of the following specialists:

Individual Contractors. These are plumbers, carpenters, electricians and the like. They’re specialists and, if your bathroom remodel is limited in scope, they may be all you need. Just replacing a toilet and sink? A plumber may be the only professional you require. But be aware that changing even one aspect of your bathroom may necessitate further work. (Maybe that cast-iron tub needs to be torn out — but where does that leave you in terms of flooring?). Remodels tend to grow.

General Contractors. These are the folks who coordinate the pieces of the remodel puzzle. Anything but the smallest jobs will probably require a general. They hire subcontractors, manage daily concerns, sequence the project and keep everything rolling. Even if you are entirely gutting and redesigning your bathroom, so long as there are no underlying structural changes, an experienced general can usually manage the job.

Architects. “When you get to knocking out walls,” says Maury, “you almost always have to go to an architect.” When it comes to additions or changing any major structural aspects of the bathroom, you’ll need an architect to make sure permitting and inspections will all fall in line — and that the bottom won’t fall out. Skipping this step is dangerous, Maury points out, particularly if you have any plans to sell your home.

Design/Build Contractors. Firms such as Gaspar’s and Creative Kitchen and Bath are all-inclusive services that design and implement your remodel from start to finish. They hire (either in-house or by subcontracting) all of the previously mentioned professionals and take you through the process step-by-step. A design center can help you create the bathroom you envision.

Clearly, the more services you require, the higher the cost of the job. Not everyone can afford to have every detail managed for them. Gauge your level of need.

SELECTING A CONTRACTOR

Speak to most people in the industry and they’ll tell you that word of mouth is the best way to find someone reliable. Getting a referral from a friend who has had a positive experience with a contractor and is willing to put you in their hands is a great first step. So put the word out. Talk up your remodel plans with friends and coworkers and see what shakes loose. That said, a recommendation is just the starting point.

Do your own research. Check with the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (www.lni.wa.gov) to make sure your contractor is licensed, bonded and insured. Ask for recent references for jobs similar to yours, and follow up by calling those customers. Look for any history of complaints at the Better Business Bureau (www.bbb.org). Most of all, ask lots of questions. NARI’s Web site has a list of questions to ask, such as: How long have you been in business? May I have a list of business referrals or suppliers? Who will be working on the project?

Sound like a lot of work before you’ve even begun the dirty stuff? Contractor referral services like Merkle’s Home Resource Network, Maury’s Home Owners Club or Jill Hanken’s HomeWorks Northwest can do all that preliminary work for you, starting you on the right foot with several pre-screened contractors you can decide upon.

Collect estimates — three at the most will cover it. The lowest price isn’t always the best basis for making a decision. The most important thing, say both Maury and Merkle, is to find someone you feel comfortable working with, asking questions of, and having in your home. There’s going to be a lot of give-and-take involved.

KEEPING COSTS DOWN

According to the Master Builders Association, “One-quarter of the cost of remodeling the bathroom goes into the actual square footage — building the space. The other 75 percent is in the finish features.” So keeping away from luxury items — high-end fixtures like jetted tubs and specialty showers, and using standard size cabinets and the like, goes a long way toward keeping costs down. The biggest costs in bathroom remodels are tile and plumbing, largely because of the labor involved. So if you can stick with vinyl or linoleum flooring and avoid moving the position of fixtures (and therefore plumbing), you’ll save yourself some money.

If you only want to give your bathroom a face-lift, new cabinets, countertops and paint will do the trick, says Gaspar. And what about those of us whose bathroom remodel dreams really have to stay in the realm of fantasy? There’s still a simple way to change the feel of the room, she says: new knobs for the vanity cabinets, a new mirror and light may provide enough of a change to satisfy you for the time being.

Tara Hayes is a frequent contributor to Seattle Woman.

©2008 Caliope Publishing Company