How To Remodel Your Small Bathroom

If you’re looking to remodel your bathroom, you can take on the project yourself with the help of some good advice. Creating the bathroom of your dreams is within reach with the proper instructions, tools, and patience. Or, if you’re looking to outsource the work, choose your desired style and select the contractor to help you get it done.

If you’re remodeling your bathroom, you have several steps to consider for getting the job done. Our Allied Plumbing & Heating Supply Co. team has put together some actionable tasks to guide you in completing the project, including the average cost and how we can help you.

Plan Your Budget

Before you plan your remodeling budget, think about what you want to change in your bathroom. Consider if you’d like to do a complete overhaul and change everything or if you’d like to change a few details. After you think about what you want to change, plan your budget. Determine where you’d like to allocate the most money, such as the tile, shower, or vanity.

Setting a budget for your project helps ensure you don’t overspend, especially if you’re working with companies or contractors who need to know this information.

Select Your Design

Once you have your budget, select your bathroom’s overall design. A basic design outline helps ensure the bathroom has a cohesive look at the end of the process. During this step, you may find it helpful to create sketches or mock-ups online with images and your bathroom’s dimensions to determine where items, such as light fixtures and showers, might look best. This can help bring your vision to life and make it easier for you to replicate.

Begin the Demolition Process

The next step is to begin the demolition process. You can do this or hire an outside service to tackle the process, including cleanup. Before demolition, take safety precautions to protect yourself and your home. Additionally, remove anything from the bathroom you wish to save.

Schedule Your Plumbing and Electrical Services

Turn off the water and electrical sources before demolition or working with appliances or light fixtures. If you’re replacing your shower, tub, or sink, you can call us, and we can recommend a local contractor to take care of your plumbing and electrical needs. Outsourcing this work can make remodeling easier and give you peace of mind, knowing a professional team has secured and installed everything correctly.

Put Up the Drywall and Add Paint

After taking care of the technical elements, put up your new drywall. Putting up new drywall allows your bathroom to take on a new shape or give life to the old structure. Once you’ve installed the drywall and the joint compound is dry, you can paint your new bathroom before installing your other elements.

Lay Down the Tile

If installing new flooring, lay down the tile after you’ve painted. After painting, putting in the new tile will help ensure you don’t spill paint on the new floor. After installing the new tile and the paint on the wall is completely dry, you can put back any baseboards or moldings you may have removed during the demolition phase.

Install the Shower, Toilet, and Sink

Installing the large items, such as the shower, toilet, and sink, is the next step once your floor is in and ready. You can pick pieces that match your bathroom design and deliver them to your home. While you’re installing the fixtures yourself, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions to ensure you’re doing it correctly.

Install the Light Fixtures and Fans

Make sure the electricity is off before installing the light fixtures and fans. Upgrading your exhaust fans in the bathroom can help expel excess moisture from the shower while also eliminating odors and helping you maintain a clean room. Additionally, installing your new light fixtures at a later stage in the remodeling is beneficial because it minimizes the chances of getting paint or other debris on them.

Add the Finishing Touches

Finally, it’s time to add the finishing touches. The finishing touches include your storage and bath accessories that go along with your overall design, such as baskets, rugs, and light switch plates. During this stage, you can also select complementing hardware for vanity handles.

What To Do in Advance To Prepare

Before you remodel your bathroom or have us come in to help you, there are some tasks you can do in advance. These tasks include turning off the electricity and water, removing fixed accessories or items from the wall you want to preserve, storing other bathroom items you’re not renovating, and determining where the load-bearing walls are.

Additionally, you’ll need to remove the toilet. Then, place an old rag in the waste pipe and remove the wall’s baseboards and moldings. Take these items off carefully, especially if you plan on putting them back on after remodeling. It’s helpful to remove the baseboards if you plan on re-tiling the floor or adding accents to ensure everything is flush to the wall.

The Average Small Bathroom Remodel Cost

The average size of a small bathroom is about 5 feet by 8 feet or 40 square feet, while an average size bathroom can range between 40 and 100 square feet. The average remodel cost for your small bathroom may cost between $4,000 and $6,000. For smaller square footage, the average prices by square foot can cost you:

15 square feet: $1,500 to $2,250.
24 square feet: $2,400 to $3,600.
32 square feet: $3,200 to $4,800.

How Allied Can Help With Your Next Remodel Project

If you’re remodeling your small bathroom in the Chicago area, our team at Allied Plumbing & Heating Supply Co. can help. We can provide suggestions about the right bathroom fixtures to match your design and fit your budgets, such as showers, tubs, toilets, sinks, faucets, and vanities. We can provide you with the correct plumbing products for your project, such as drain pumps and pipe fittings. Our team can also recommend local contractors who can complete the heavy lifting for you or recommend the right tools for you to complete the project yourself.

Contact us about your next project, and we’ll provide you with the perfect products to make your dream bathroom a reality.

Photo Credit: Image by Milivoj Kuhar is licensed with Unsplash License