By Gordon Lee
Remodeling can be one of the most rewarding things you do to your home, or the most frustrating if you don’t know what you’re doing. When it comes to the bathroom, there are many decisions to be made, but one of the biggest and most obvious will likely be whether or not to remodel your bathroom shower. Here are seven tips to know if you’re considering this as an option!
Decide on Your Project’s Scope
Selecting the scope of your project is an important step in the remodeling process. If you’re tackling a bathroom shower, there are some things to keep in mind before deciding what you want done. Do you plan on removing the existing shower and installing a new one? What about tile, paint or hardware? These decisions will have an impact on the size and cost of your project as well as its timeline.
Make sure you decide early on how big of a project you plan on taking on so that you can get an accurate estimate for materials. You should also identify any potential problems with the current system so that they can be addressed by professionals before they become bigger issues. Doing this will save time and money down the line when it comes time to put everything back together again. We offer advice and expertise for local homeowners and will complete a Dallas shower remodel for your residence.
Set Your Budget
The average bathroom remodel costs $11,234. It’s important to set your budget early. Heading into it without an idea of how much it’ll cost may lead to completely halting the remodel early on and having to go back to square one. Take care of any snags before starting too, like unclogging drains or updating pipes that are ready for replacement. You can also find up-to-date pricing for materials on sites like Home Depot or Lowe’s before you get started with the design process.
Budget is obviously going to be a factor. Decide how much you’re willing and able to spend on your remodeling project. Consider getting an estimate from multiple contractors before you begin so that you have an idea of costs up front.
Choose the Right Materials
Many people don’t realize that the materials you choose for your bathroom shower remodel can have dramatic impacts on your final product. For example, if you are going with tile, think about whether or not you want it in a patterned style or a plain one. It’s always good to consider all of these factors when planning your project. Materials not only affect how it’ll look, but your overall budget too!
Tile is available in different colors and patterns, which can dramatically change how your bathroom looks. It’s good to consider whether or not you want it in an array of colors or if you’d prefer one color. Different tile also has varying degrees of water resistance, which is also something you’ll need to take into account before making your final selection.
Hire a Qualified Contractor
It is important to hire a qualified contractor. It’s often the case that homeowners think they can handle the remodeling themselves, but find it’s too much work and have to call in professionals. Hiring someone to clean up your mistakes will be more expensive than hiring someone from the start.
Make sure you hire a contractor that you can trust and make sure they are licensed. Find out if the contractor has any references that you can contact to hear their experience with them or ask them for references of people they have worked with before. Ask them how long they’ve been in business and how many projects of this type that they’ve completed as well as what their process is for handling permits, inspections, and other requirements.
Install an Accessible Shower
There are a few important things to keep in mind when installing an accessible shower. First, consider the shower seat height and think about if it should have a grab bar on the back so that it can be used by people with limited mobility. The last thing you’d want is a shower with awkward heights or lack of support for someone who needs help getting up from a seated position.
Add Safety Features
Make sure you have safety features like limiting the water temperature. This is the safest way to prevent burns and scalds, which are especially dangerous for children, seniors, and people with disabilities.
Consider installing grab bars in the shower area and by the toilet if necessary. Grab bars can help people with mobility limitations maintain their balance and independence while bathing or using the toilet, which will reduce falls and injuries that may result from accidental slips or trips.
Follow Building Codes
It is also important to know the building codes for your area. The building codes that govern what you can do in regards to remodeling will depend on where you live. It is up to the local governments and their ordinances for the rules about what you are allowed and not allowed to do when remodeling a home. These are things a qualified contractor will be familiar with and should inform you of any modifications to your plans to meet certain building codes.
