The kitchen and bathroom are two of the most frequented rooms in every home. Remodeling these two spaces to their best possible state is vital in recreating your ideal home that guarantees a safe and healthy family. You will need more than creativity and motivation to get this task done since other aspects like construction background are vital in decision-making during the process. This article features critical information and tips that will prove effective in your quest to remodel your kitchen and bathroom for a satisfactory outcome.
Contractors for kitchen and bathroom remodeling play significant roles in the entire process, and you should be keen on which party you select for this role. Since there is a high number of firms offering this service, the task of choosing someone to redo your interiors may seem daunting and tiresome. However, the benefits that come with picking the right team for the job are too great to be ignored. Here is everything you need to know about contractors for kitchen and bathroom remodeling and the entire renovation process.
What To Do When Remodeling Your Bathroom and Kitchen
Determine the Extent of Remodeling
The first step when remodeling your kitchen and bathroom is determining the extent of remodeling each space requires based on the observed damage. Some rooms need a residential painter for paint upgrades, while other spaces are barely functional, requiring a more intense session. One practical approach to deciding this extent is checking on the broken items and the inconvenience created by their failure to function as expected. Contractors for kitchen and bathroom remodeling can advise you on every remodeling project, from style customization to functionality upgrades.
Decide on a Budget
Every project requires the dedication of financial resources, including home remodeling. You can create the ideal budget for this task by focusing on specific factors like how ample the space is, the extent of repair required, the cost of materials used, among other remodeling elements. Whether you plan to hire contractors for kitchen and bathroom remodeling or handle the task yourself, a budget is necessary to improve the process’s efficiency.
Choose a Good Contractor
Contractors for kitchen and bathroom remodeling oversee the entire remodeling process while advising you on the best approaches to take based on your situation. Most of the contractors work on commission by taking a percentage of the total cost of remodeling, while others quote prices beforehand depending on the workload required by the project. Their role is to arrange a meeting with all the involved stakeholders and decide on things, from architects to subcontractors.
Invest in a Floor Plan
Since these spaces heavily rely on water supply and drainage, it would be wise to consider developing a floor plan that fits your home’s layout. Most of the components found in bathrooms are also mostly fixed, meaning that the toilet and shower drain are on the same wall. Invest in a flexible floor plan to see a layout change that maximizes efficiency, functionality, and visual appeal for satisfactory results. You can also decide to relocate your toilet to spice up your bathroom design, though the process is expensive for most homeowners.
Apply for Building Permits
Before commencing your remodeling project, it would help to confirm the permit and codes required for your specific remodeling with your local administration. These requirements are set to ensure all construction elements are worked to a particular degree of professionalism to improve all homeowners and their property’s safety. The contractors for kitchen and bathroom remodeling you work with should advise you more on this topic and handle some of the permit acquiring processes.
Improve the Electrical and Plumbing Systems
An ideal plumbing and electrical system is the heart of every bathroom and kitchen, primarily because of these spaces’ services. Therefore, you must invest your time and resources in improving the current systems if they are defective in any way. If you do not have any experience with handling electrical systems, contractors for kitchen and bathroom remodeling have plumbers and electricians explicit for this task.
Bathroom and Kitchen Remodel Mistakes You Need to Avoid
Not Having a Budget
One of the most common mistakes homeowners make when remodeling their bathroom and kitchen is failure to develop a budget before commencing the project. A budget is essential in planning how you will utilize the available funds for the best possible outcome. It also effectively prevents you from overspending since you develop a financial plan within what you can afford. Regardless of your set budget, we do not recommend your bathroom remodel to cost more than your home.
Lack of a Plan
It is not new for homeowners to jump right into bathroom and kitchen remodeling without a functional plan for the process. Building a plan related to your project is essential in hinting to all the involved parties about the direction of activities and what is expected of them, which goes a long way in improving efficiency. Lack of a plan may lead to unnecessary purchases, uninformed decisions, and a regrettable outcome.
Overcrowding
Another mistake you should avoid when remodeling your kitchen and bathroom is overcrowding. Consider the space available before heading for the appliance sale and know what will fit in the room, and allow enough room for navigation. There is no need to install a double sink and an extra-large bathtub in your bathroom and leave no space for other amenities. An ideally spaced room should use the space available efficiently and work with it to bring out a functional layout.
Choice of Design Materials
When it comes to remodeling, most homeowners prefer trendy designs instead of an option that complements the room’s design and essence. Although there is no issue with picking fashionable prospects, some are not practical to apply to a bathroom or kitchen layout. Contractors for kitchen and bathroom remodeling recommend using an evergreen design for your bathrooms and kitchen instead of opting for the trendy one. Trendy components are best for decoration but not permanent customization.
Poor Ventilation, Lighting, and Drainage
Ventilation, lighting, and drainage are essential elements in the functionality of the spaces in question. Therefore, you must dedicate significant resources to ensuring that the remodeling process considers their upgrade. Improper lighting and ventilation may reduce the shelf life of prepared meals, while non-functional drainage in the bathroom may cause flooring complications and even flooding.
How Do I Budget Kitchen and Bathroom Remodeling Costs
Hire a Home Inspector
Hiring a home inspector is one practical approach to budgeting your remodeling project. Although a home inspector costs money, his input towards home remodeling services by evaluating the renovated spaces and advising you on specific decision-making scenarios help cut down the overall renovation cost. For example, if you plan to install wooden subflooring in these spaces, their role is to advise on the limitations of featuring this material in your kitchen and what alternatives you should consider for more satisfactory results.
Be Honest About Your Set Budget
Since the remodeling process involves more than one party, it would help if you were honest about the amount of money you are willing to spend to improve planning. We understand that this conversation can be uncomfortable for most homeowners, but not lying about your spending plan may lead to future complications during the remodeling process. One aspect your budget has a significant impact on is the delivery of items. Faster deliveries cost more.
Include Permit Acquisition Fees in Your Budget
Major renovations in your bathroom and kitchen will require specific permits from your respective administrative bodies. Applying and acquiring these documents will cost financial resources and should be included when budgeting. It would help to be clear when documenting this expense as it may be a future reference in other decision-making processes. Contractors for kitchen and bathroom remodeling should evaluate your renovation scenario and advise you on the charges to expect so you can plan.
Avoid Scope Creep
Have you ever made a specific single purchase, leading to other smaller acquisitions that continue racking up the money spent? This behavioral pattern is what sociologists refer to as scope creep, and it is also present when remodeling your kitchen and bathroom. It is human nature that purchasing a new item will draw more attention to existing things, developing the urge to make other purchases and solving more extensive issues like new windows or a new carpet. You can avoid this by having a well-defined plan and budget for the entire process, and it will act as a guide even after the remodeling is complete.
Consider Related Costs
When budgeting for your remodeling project, homeowners should focus more on the attached costs of owning specific equipment rather than their price tag. Some kitchen equipment is available at very affordable prices, but its maintenance costs are too expensive to maintain. To avoid such scenarios, you should consider associated costs in your evaluation and pick the prospect that delivers what you want. Consulting with professional contractors for kitchen and bathroom remodeling can help make the best decision for your renovation project.
Choosing Kitchen and Bathroom Remodeling Contractors
Do a Thorough Research
Research is the backbone of every satisfactory decision-making outcome. Researching the available remodel contractors near you, their prices, services offered, and requirements should be the first step in choosing contractors for kitchen and bathroom remodeling. You should also confirm that they are licensed by the respective authoritative bodies to handle the renovation task. Ignoring some of these aspects when choosing the party to assign the role will lower your chances of finding a contractor willing to invest their experience and skills towards your project.
Ask Questions
We recommend you create a shortlist of the potential contractors you are willing to consider and look up their contact information. Their contact information will prove effective in getting to know the firms even better, which is a vital step in selecting contractors for kitchen and bathroom remodeling. Ask questions about their prices, methodology, discounts, and possible after-sales services, and pick the prospect you find best for your project.
Agree on Flexibility
In any interaction involving more than one party, there is bound to be some boundaries. In our case, you should agree with the contractors for kitchen and bathroom remodeling on which aspects of the renovation you are willing to reconsider and those you won’t. Enforcing these boundaries at an early stage will improve efficiency in the entire process and create a better relationship between the involved parties. Although you should be open to new ideas, some of the opinions brought by the contractors may be impractical for your environment.
Budget Compatibility
Different contractors feature different prices depending on the intensity and professionalism provided by each. It means that you need to consider your budget when looking through potential contractors for the remodeling project. We recommend selecting kitchen and bath remodeling contractors below your set budget but guarantee you value for money with outstanding features on their contract. You can also request discounts and price cuts, provided all the involved parties agree with the financial standings of the agreement.
Consult with Previous Clients
A brief interaction with previous clients of the shortlisted remodel contractors is a practical way of getting more reliable information on the services offered by each firm. It would be best to consider what other people who have engaged with them directly have to say more than what the contractor advertises himself to understand the situation better.
Which is Cheaper to Remodel: Kitchen or Bathroom
Kitchens are more expensive to remodel than bathrooms in most modern homes. The primary reason for this is that the kitchen occupies a larger space and features more equipment than its counterpart. Professionals recommend that those on a tight budget start with remodeling the bathroom, then progress to the more expensive project, the kitchen remodel.
It would help if you considered remodeling your kitchen and bathroom to achieve the ideal home layout. Another reason why you should upgrade these spaces is to improve comfort, functionality, and safety in your living area. The information shared in this article is enough to lead you on the right path towards remodeling your bathroom and kitchen.
