What you will learn in the blog:
- Where to start on your Sacramento and Reno bath remodel
- What to expect from an in-home consultation
- Considerations for bathroom remodeling
Where to Start When Remodeling a Bathroom
When you are considering remodeling your Sacramento or Reno bathroom, it can seem overwhelming. That’s why you need to have a plan. So, what do you do first? Whether you are planning for a small upgrade, medium remodel, or complete bathroom renovation, the first order of business is to decide what it is you want and what you are willing to pay to get it.
Bathroom Features
Are you looking for a facelift of new hardware and paint only? Perhaps you want a complete redesign, with a larger shower, big soaker tub, double sinks, and separate toilet room as well as new flooring and fixtures. A bathroom remodel is a big investment, so consider what is really important to you. If you are in a home you plan to stay in, it may make more sense to invest now and get the room you really want.
Make a list. Include your must-haves and your nice-to-haves. That will help you realign your expectations if you get sticker shock from the estimate. Do you really need full-body jets and a steam feature in your shower, or is it just something that sounded good?
Estimate your Bathroom Remodel Budget
Your budget is where things get real. Without one, your bathroom remodeling wish list could easily get out of control. A budget keeps you accountable to yourself and gives your contractor the information they need to advise you. This number will dictate the extent or scope of your renovations.
During your initial phone conversation, two of the first questions will be about scope and budget. Since there are almost unlimited combinations of design, quality, finishes, and more that can affect the final result, it is an important question. For instance, for a 50-60 sq. ft. bathroom, the cost can range from $10,000 to $50,000 or even more, depending upon the choices made. Your contractor can’t give you the right options unless they know that it falls within your available budget.
Get a Bathroom Remodel Consultation
Once you’ve narrowed down your choice of contractors, most will want to follow up the initial call with a home consultation. At USA Bath, we offer free bath remodeling consultation in your home. However, this isn’t the case with everyone, so make sure you understand the cost and exactly what you get for the paid consultation before agreeing to it. Your in-home design consultation is where you talk about what you want and get input based on the budget and available space.
At USA Bath, our free bath remodeling consultation is a little different. We’ll start by identifying the problem or problems you want solved. It could be to repair damage, change the configuration, add accessibility features, or anything else that bothers you. Then we’ll evaluate what we observe, such as why the problems happened and what it will take to remedy the situation, such as a new layout, the materials needed, and the cost/functionality tradeoffs. Finally, we’ll discuss the best solution for your needs and budget to give you the best value for the long term.
Bathroom Design Aspects to Consider
There are many things to consider as you work with your contractor and designer to formulate the final design plan, such as:
- Color
- Fixtures
- Finishes
- Storage
- Lighting
- Countertop and vanity materials
- Plumbing and wiring
- Shower surrounds
- Types of showers
- Digital
- Eco
- Mixer
- Electric
- Thermostatic
- Types of sinks
- Pedestal
- Vessel
- Undermount
- Types of toilets
- Traditional
- Automated
- Bidet
- One-piece
- Two-piece
- Compact
- Wall mount
- Flooring
- Wall treatments
- Windows
As you can see, the list can leave the average homeowner quaking in their boots. That’s why the choice of contractor is so important. Having a design consultant and contractor that understands your needs, how you live in and use the space, and your budget constraints mean that they can narrow the list of possibilities down considerably before you even have to start making choices. At USA Bath, we help guide you the entire way to ensure you get exactly what you want and need within your budget.
Bathroom Designs to Avoid
Another reason to choose a qualified, experienced professional bathroom remodeling contractor like USA Bath is to avoid expensive design mistakes. There is a reason they have the licenses and certifications, and one of those is to help their clients make smart decisions about their bathroom features. Some of the most common ones that you want to avoid include:
- Placing the shower control where you get wet each time you turn it on – Enough said.
- Poor vanity lighting – If you’ve ever tried to put on makeup or look to extract a splinter in insufficient bathroom lighting, you can understand how choosing the wrong lighting can impact the functionality and enjoyment of your bathroom.
- Inadequate storage – No one wants to have to traipse into the hallway dripping and naked to find the towel you forgot to take in with you, much less what happens if you run out of toilet paper.
- Omitting a hand shower – With the trend toward huge showers, a hand-held shower nozzle is almost a requirement. It is virtually impossible to clean and rinse out a shower with only a showerhead.
- Overly slick flooring – That high-shine flooring may look beautiful, but when you step on it with wet feet, you don’t want to end up flat on your back or, worse, hit your head on the floor. Remember that shine spray you used on your hair before you went out yesterday? That may just have settled on the floor, making it as slick as ice even without wet feet.
- Opting for cheap, big-box plumbing fixtures – Even seasoned professionals have found themselves having to buy extra parts and spend way too much time to make that “bargain” fixture work. Let your contractor advise you on the right fixture from the start instead of thinking you’ll save by ordering online.
- Not planning for where to hang your towels or robes – Do you really want to have to walk across the room to get your towel or robe?
- Not incorporating universal design – If you are considering aging in place, have older guests, or visitors with mobility limitations, skipping this important consideration could make your bathroom virtually unusable or at least unsafe in the near future.
Why Choose USA Bath for your Bathroom Remodel
All bathroom remodeling contractors are not equal. USA Bath specializes in bath and shower systems, full bathroom remodeling, and accessibility products in the Sacramento and Reno areas. We have extremely high standards for the products we offer, insisting upon only the best quality, most durable, and most beautiful fixtures. Since 2019, we have partnered with Kohler to offer our Reno and Sacramento customers walk-in baths.
Our dedicated team of KOHLER-certified installation specialists and consultants is here to provide a customized solution at prices that work for any budget. Contact us today to discuss your pain points, wishes, and needs for your dream bathroom.
Featured Image: Andy Dean Photography/Shutterstock