Restoration Bathrooms: The Comprehensive Bathroom Remodeling Checklist

Ready for your dream restoration bathrooms? Search no more, for we have got you covered in this comprehensive bathroom remodeling checklist.

What Is The Process Of Restoring A Bathroom?

When it comes to restoring a bathroom and bathroom renovations, there are many things that need to be taken into consideration before starting out. First off, you must determine whether you wish to completely restore the entire space or simply make minor changes here and there. This decision can greatly affect the overall cost of the job since most people tend to underestimate the amount of work involved in making major alterations to their home. It also depends on where exactly you plan on placing the renovated area. For example, if you intend to place the restored bathroom near the kitchen, then you may not require too many structural modifications because they won’t interfere with each other. However, if you want to move the bathroom completely you will need to consider the plumbing layout within your property and see whether it needs adding to.

In What Order Should a Bathroom be Remodeled?

From my personal experience remodeling bathrooms, I suggest remodeling it in this order:

• Remove Old Fixtures and Flooring – This will involve removing and disconnecting all your bathroom fixtures and ripping up the old floor and even walls, if that’s your plan. This will leave your bathroom looking like a complete skeleton, but it will now give you a clear sight into all the plumbing, drain pipes, and electrics.
• Plumbing – You will want to do this first because this determines where all your fixtures are going to be positioned.
• Electrics – Doing the electrics and plumbing while the floor and walls are exposed is the best option, take into consideration what sort of appliances, lighting, or power outlets you’re going to have, because this is the point where the power outlets for them will need to be made. If you forget about these until after tiling the walls, you’re going to be more than upset.
• Wall Paint or Grout & Tiling – Decide on what you want to do with your walls, simply painted? Or are you going to have them tiled? Do this before you do your flooring, this prevents your new flooring being damaged by any falling paint or tiles.
• Floor Grout and Tiling – Now the walls are all done, the floor can go down safely.  Your building contractors should tile around the fixture positions or cut the tiles to shape. If however you choose vinyl laminate flooring, or even carpet flooring the process will be less messy and less time consuming. 
• Install Bathroom Fixtures and Appliances – Remember you must have your old plumbing or your new plumbing in place before you can do this, this involves installing the sink, medicine cabinet, bathtub, shower, and toilet.

Can I Redo my Bathroom Myself?

You won’t be able to do this yourself unless you’re all of these four things:

• Plumber
• Electrician
• Tile Setter
• Builder

If you’re not all of these you’re going to need to employ them, not necessarily one of each, as many tradesmen are multi-skilled, however there are going to be labor costs. In fact if you don’t know what sort of design you want your restoration bathroom to be you may even need to consult with an interior designer.

Bathroom Makeover

Whether it’s your master bathroom or your backup bathroom pay attention to this bathroom remodel checklist for the best things to make your bathroom look stunning and something to be proud of. Let the bathroom makeover begin, so considering you have your design preference in mind let’s go over all the things you need to consider in your bathroom design. 

Bathtub & Shower

• Bathtub – A good quality tub has a lot of benefits such as providing comfort when bathing, keeping water clean, preventing back pain from sitting in a hard seat, and helping prevent slips and falls. There are two types of baths available; freestanding and built-in. Freestanding baths come in different sizes and shapes, whereas built-ins usually only come in standard sizes. Built-ins are generally cheaper than freestanding models, although some manufacturers offer free installation. When choosing between the two, remember that freestanding baths are easier to install, which makes them better suited for smaller spaces. They are also much lighter and therefore easier to transport. On the downside, freestanding baths often look flimsier than those installed inside walls.

• Shower/Tub Combo – Showers and tubs both provide similar functions, namely washing and cleansing. Both are great at relieving stress and tension, especially during long showers. But unlike a regular bathtub, a shower provides additional features including massage jets, adjustable temperature settings, and multiple spray heads. Some modern designs feature LED lights above the headboard that illuminate the room without using electricity. These are perfect for relaxing late night sessions.

• Shower Head – Showers usually feature two heads; a high pressure head and a lower pressure hand held showerhead. High pressure showers provide better performance at higher temperatures. Handheld showerheads are easier to clean and maintain.

• Shower Fixtures – Showers come in many different styles including pedestal sinks, tub/shower combos, walk-in showers, and whirlpools. Each type has its own style and advantages.

• Shower Curtain Rods – Showers come in various sizes and shapes so you’ll want to find the best curtain rod size for your bathroom so you’ll want to find the best curtain rod size for your bathroom. Some people prefer large showers with multiple stalls; others enjoy smaller ones with just enough room for two people at once. Regardless of which kind you decide upon, there are several different types of curtain rods available. They vary in length, width, height, and materials. When shopping around for shower curtains rod, look for something sturdy yet flexible. If possible, try using a metal rod instead of plastic since it has better strength properties. 

• Shower Panels – Showers often feature glass panels which provide privacy without blocking out natural sunlight. Glass showers are available in single-glazed models and double-glazed models. 

Your Dream Bathroom Toilet

• Toilet – If you’re a westerner you will probably only consider the standard sitting toilet, however there are many toilet options available, even hi-tech toilets which are common in Korean bathrooms and in other countries across Asia.

• Toilet Seat Cover – Toilets seat covers protect seats from stains and scratches. Most manufacturers offer a variety of styles ranging from solid vinyl to mesh designs. Look for cover options that fit snugly over existing hardware without leaving gaps. They also keep your butt warm – very handy in the winter months.

• Toilet Paper Holder – Having a holder for toilet paper eliminates the risk of leaving rolls scattered around the floor or wasting time searching for a roll. Many holders can be mounted directly onto the wall using screws. Others require brackets that must first be screwed into place before attaching the holder itself.

Sinks, Vanity, and You

• Sinks – Sink choices vary greatly depending on personal taste and budget. You’ll find everything from simple pedestal sinks to double bowl vanities.

• Mirror – Standard mirrors add elegance and sophistication to a bathroom. Depending upon the amount of light available, mirror types include frameless, framed, and recessed. Frameless mirrors are most common and offer the greatest flexibility. Recessed mirrors are best suited for areas with limited lighting. Framed mirrors are generally considered safer than frameless mirrors since they block direct sunlight.

• Bathroom Vanity Mirror – Vanity mirrors can be either freestanding or built into cabinets. Freestanding vanities have no back wall and therefore require more floor space. Built-in vanity units take less space but may not fit well if the cabinet doors don’t open wide enough. Consider both options before making a decision.

• Furniture – Furnishings play a big role in creating the atmosphere of a bathroom, a great way to transform your bathroom is to create some garden tub décor to make a jungle vibe in your bathroom,, a great way to transform your bathroom is to create some garden tub décor to make a jungle vibe in your bathroom,. Choose furniture based on function rather than style. This means selecting items like benches, storage cabinets, towel racks, shelves, etc., that help keep clutter out of sight while still being functional.

• Sink Faucet – Sinks typically consist of three parts: a bowl, a spout, and a tap handle. When selecting a model, think about whether you’d rather install a standard faucet or a pulldown lever. Standard faucets tend to cost less but may not fit well if the sink has been previously modified. Pulldowns allow more customization by allowing you to choose between different spray patterns.

• Faucet Hose – Water hoses connect fixtures to faucets. Most homes use 1/2 inch hose pipes. Larger houses might need 3/4 inch pipe. Be careful when handling piping systems.

• Bathroom Countertop – A bathroom countertop serves many purposes including serving as an extra surface area for cleaning, storing toiletries, and providing additional seating space. You’ll want to consider factors such as durability, ease of installation, and overall appearance when choosing a material. Granite is often used because its natural beauty makes it ideal for any type of bathroom décor even primitive. However, marble and quartz surfaces are becoming increasingly popular due to their unique textures and patterns.

Lighting

• Lighting – Lighting adds ambiance and mood to a bathroom. It helps create the feeling of relaxation by adding soft lighting throughout the day and evening hours. Light fixtures include overhead lamps, wall sconces, recessed cans, track lighting, pendants, chandeliers, and undercabinet lighting.

• Fixtures – Lighting fixtures play a major role in creating ambiance in a bathroom. Light bulbs should match the color scheme of the rest of the décor, you can do this easily by using colored fluorescent lights. Incandescent lights are inexpensive and easy to replace, but they produce low amounts of energy and last only 1,000 hours. Compact fluorescent lamps use 75 percent less electricity than incandescents and last 10 times longer. Halogen bulbs give off bright white light and don’t contain mercury.

• Colored Bathroom Lighting – Colored bathroom lighting creates an inviting environment. Warm colors such as reds, oranges, yellows, greens, blues, purples, and browns work well together. Cooler tones including whites, grays, blacks, and silvers also look good.

Storage

• Storage – Storage solutions range from open shelving units to drawers and cupboards. Open shelving allows easy access to towels, linens, and grooming supplies. Drawers and cupboards allow for greater organization and protection against moisture damage.

• Cleaning Supplies Storage – Cleaning products are essential to maintaining hygiene in a bathroom. So they’re commonly stored in bathrooms. Consider making a place for them, it could be as simple as a cupboard or a recess in the wall.

Flooring

• Flooring – Flooring should complement your decorating scheme. For example, if you have dark wood floors, don’t put white tile counters next to them. Instead, opt for countertops with darker tones. Similarly, choose floor tiles that match the color palette of your home’s interior design.

• Bathroom Tile Flooring – A bathroom tiled floor provides an elegant appearance while providing excellent traction on wet surfaces. Tiles come in various sizes, shapes, colors, textures, and finishes. They can even be installed over existing hardwood floors. Some types of bathroom tile also offer additional benefits such as soundproofing, heat retention, insulation, slip resistance, ease of cleaning, durability, and water absorption.

• Heated Bathroom Flooring – Heated bathroom flooring keeps feet warm during cold weather months. This type of flooring uses radiant heating elements embedded into the subfloor. Radiant heated floors provide warmth without using up much space.

Bathroom Walls

• Walls & Ceilings – Walls and ceilings not only define the size of a bathroom, but they also serve as a focal point for home decoration. Wall paint colors should blend well with each other and coordinate with the rest of the house. Paint samples are inexpensive and easily accessible online. To ensure longevity, select durable paints made specifically for use in bathrooms.

• Bathroom Tile Walls – Bathroom walls often get overlooked when choosing new bathroom designs. However, this area deserves special attention because it plays a key role in defining the overall feel of a room. If you want to create a spa-like atmosphere, consider installing marble or stone panels. These materials add elegance and sophistication. Alternatively, you can install ceramic or porcelain tiles. Both options make a statement about your style preferences.

• Tile Backsplash – Tiles used for a backsplash cover the entire area below a countertop. There are many styles ranging from solid tiles to mosaics. Solid tiles are durable and stain resistant. Mosaics are attractive because each piece looks unique.

• Tile Grout Color – Grout lines between individual pieces of tile help prevent dirt and debris from getting trapped under the surface. It also helps keep grout clean by absorbing spills. When selecting a grout color, think about whether you’d like to see the grout line clearly or remain hidden behind the tile. You may find yourself changing your mind later down the road so try out several different shades before committing to one.

Plumbing and Drains

• Plumbing – Plumbing refers to all aspects of plumbing within a building. In addition to running water, this includes things like drainpipes, hot water heaters, and sewer lines. Before beginning work, make sure you know where these components are located so you won’t accidentally cut off one of them.

• Drain – Drainage systems can be either gravity fed or pumped. Gravity drains are typically more expensive but require less maintenance. Pumped drainage systems are typically more efficient and cost effective, but may need periodic repairs. 

Bathroom Electrics

• Electrical System – Electrical wiring plays a vital part in ensuring safety and functionality of a bathroom. Make sure electrical outlets are properly grounded and protected from water. Also ensure the circuit breaker box is up to code.

Dream Bathroom Accessories

• Towel Ladder – Provides convenient storage while keeping wet items out of sight. It consists of two bars attached at right angles with small bars in between them to form a ladder shape. Some even double up as heaters, drying your towel in the process. I wouldn’t recommend these if you have children, they love to try and climb these like an actual ladder. 

• Towel Rail – A towel rail allows you to store multiple towels without taking up valuable space. Choose an option that matches your decorating scheme. Some models have hooks instead of rails; others come equipped with shelves.

• Towel Ring – Towel rings are always my personal preference, towel rings allow you to to hang a single towel on the wall with style – pretty sure the Romans used to use these in their baths.

• Bathroom Ventilation Fan – Fans help keep rooms cool by circulating air through vents. They’re especially useful during summer months. You’ll find fans mounted above sinks, over tubs, under showers, and near toilets. Many include remote controls. Also good for removing excess moisture, this in turn helps reduce moisture and water damage.

Renovations vs Repairs

Renovation means making changes to existing structures. Repairing something requires replacing parts that aren’t working correctly. Both types of jobs involve tearing down walls, floors, ceilings, and sometimes windows. However, renovations usually entail extensive demolition and construction, whereas repair jobs, like roof repairs for example, tend to focus on fixing specific problems rather than completely overhauling everything. This includes repairs such as:

Cracked Grout

Shower Curtain Mold

Tighten Sink Faucet

Repairing Bathroom Tiles

You can do all of these home repairs by yourself using simple tools and materials. If you don’t feel comfortable doing any of these tasks, hire a professional contractor who has experience performing similar projects.

How Much Does a Bathroom Makeover Cost ?

This step involves estimating the total amount needed to complete the project. To get started, first determine the square footage of the room, next consider the following factors:

• Level of renovation required.
• Your already existing plumbing system
• Quality of the tradesman you employ
• Materials chosen

The renovation costs reported by homeowners were on average between $7,000 and $16,000. Determine if you can afford this before proceeding.