When it comes to words to live by during a bathroom remodeling, you could choose from an entire batch of pithy and proverbial expressions: No pain, no gain. Good things come to those who wait. Pick any phrase, but don't expect words alone to sustain you through this "adventure." Flexibility and strategic planning are your best start-to-finish tools. Here are a few ways you can prepare.
- Explore your design options thoroughly and early in the process. You don't want to be second-guessing your tile choices when the installers show up to work.
- Have a working spare. Most people can't manage this with a kitchen remodel, but fortunately a second bathroom is common in many homes. If it's only a powder room, look for options to set up a "portable" shower somewhere else (basements are good candidates). If your home has only one bathroom, keep the renovation mostly cosmetic unless you have the budget and room to add another bath beforehand or to find temporary rental housing. Good bath contractors are used to working quickly, so if the project will last only a week or two, see if a local hotel or apartment complex will cut you a deal on a short-term stay.
- As with kitchen projects, line up the goods early. Sink or vanity, toilet, tub or shower fixture -- whatever the item, get it purchased and delivered before any demolition begins. Open cartons immediately to check for damage and confirm the items are what you ordered. Same goes for tile and other installed materials.
- Protect the rest of the house. Unlike kitchens, which typically have direct access to exterior doors and so allow for a reasonably contained mess, bathrooms are often situated deep in the interior. This means workers, debris, and new materials will be traveling through hallways and other rooms, so insist on some basic precautions. Figure on plastic sheeting on walls and carpets, plus tarps or floor runners over traffic paths.
- Screen your contractors carefully, and make sure they convey the rules of the house to their workers. Is smoking allowed in the house? Where should they park vehicles? As for the bathroom work itself, limit access to areas directly involved in the renovation.
