Bath Planning Guide

Here's a starting place for planning a new or remodeled bathroom. These will lead to still more questions.
Questions to Consider The Bottom Line: How to $ave

Questions to Consider

How big a project?

  1. Do you plan to upgrade your present bathroom with new fixtures and decorating, or rethink it and start over?
  2. Do you want to work with/are you working with an architect?
  3. Have you already lined up a contractor? Would you like help finding one?
  4. What is your budget range for this project?
  5. What factors in your life might influence the project? (Work or travel schedules, needs of people living there, other work being done on your home, etc.)

How will your bathroom be used?

  1. Who will use this bathroom daily? Who will use it occasionally?
  2. Are you looking for a functional bathroom for a busy household, a charming powder room for guests, a quiet in-home spa, or something else entirely?
  3. What storage needs would you like to solve?
  4. Will your bathroom double as a laundry?
  5. What other uses might your bathroom have: watering plants, bathing the dog, housing the litter box, dressing room, specialized hair care, administration of medicines, etc?
  6. Do you need a spacious surface, a place to sit comfortably, special lights?

What makes you happy?

  1. What do you like about your current bathroom? What annoys you about it?
  2. What styles, colors, wood tones, and materials appeal to you?
  3. How do you want to feel when you come into your bathroom?
  4. What factors will make it most satisfying to you: easy cleaning, lots of light, earth-friendly fixtures and materials, sound-dampening privacy?

The Bottom Line and Baths: How to $ave

Because bathrooms are often small and seen as purely utilitarian, the costs of remodeling can be surprisingly high. But it is possible to manage costs, and we have the knowledge to help our clients figure out where to save and where to splurge. Here are some of the factors that can drive up the cost of remodeling - and hence to consider in managing the budget:
  1. Moving drains and water supply lines. Changing the location of the toilet is one of the single biggest money-eaters.
  2. Changes in building code. While your bathroom likely met building codes when your house was built, codes do change over time, and remodeling requires compliance with current building codes. Sometimes the required changes can add to the cost of your project.
  3. Replacing drains and water supply lines to their source. It's not just what's in your bathroom that counts, it's making sure that all the services are in good shape between there and where they enter your home. Often they travel through walls and floors of other rooms, which may require forcing or fishing or even cutting into finished surfaces.
  4. Replacing or augmenting electrical wiring. Updating the wiring can be another hidden cost-but essential to your safety.
  5. New windows or skylights. Added natural light is almost always beautiful. But it almost always adds to the cost.
  6. New hot water heater. Multiple shower heads or a large tub or Jacuzzi may increase the demand for hot water.
  7. Choice of special vs. standard fixtures and materials. Plumbing fixtures in any finish but chrome; sinks, tubs or shower surrounds made to order or made from unusual materials; frameless glass shower doors; natural stone surfaces, and other specials can add cost.
  8. Complex tile designs, decorative glass, special wall treatments, and murals. Beautiful? Yes! Pricey? Often. We love working with our clients to create beautiful bathrooms that fit their needs and budgets.