FALL 2017 ONE ROOM CHALLENGE WEEK FIVE | SUCCESSFUL BATHROOM RENOVATION TIPS

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Welcome back to my One Room Challenge Master Bathroom Renovation. If you missed the first four weeks of this challenge hosted by Calling it Home, catch up here:  Week 1 |  Week 2 |  Week 3 | Week 4I have to be honest and say that this week is not that exciting.  Although there's been progress, it's nothing worth photographing and sharing.  I decided to have baseboard created from the floor tile rather than having a MDF baseboard run into the wet areas.  The walls have been repaired and the texture has been sprayed and I'm waiting for it to dry so the walls can be painted.  The tub/shower area has been grouted so we can actually get the shower fixtures installed. My goal is to have it all done by this weekend so I can clean up the house and move on with life again (you can't imagine how important this is!)We have a lot to do in the next few days including:

• Paint all the walls and ceilings - at this point, I'm planning to paint everything the same color

• Install the floating vanity (I got a sneak peek and it looks sooo good); this means the plumbing needs to be adjusted accordingly

• the quartz countertop is scheduled to be measured and templated tomorrow night and installed on Saturday

• Install the wallpaper above the vanity

• Install the wall sconces

• Hang the mirror

• Install the sink faucet

• Grout the floor tile

• Install the new toilet

• Install all the shower fixtures

• Install all the new hardware including the tissue holder, robe hooks, towel rod, and towel ring

• Install the wood shelves in the former medicine cabinet niche

• Clean, clean, clean

• Rehang the shower curtain

• Move back in!!!

It's going to be a busy weekend, but it's going to be so worth it.  I promise to document it all with photos in my next post which will also be the reveal post.As a bonus, I wanted to share some of my top tips for a successful bathroom renovation.  In Week 2, I shared my tips for preparing your home for a renovation.  Make sure you refer to that post as those tips will definitely help.

5 TIPS TO A SUCCESSFUL BATHROOM RENOVATION:

1. Plan It - this is oh so important. Planning includes the design, the budget and the timeframe. Plan the design by deciding on the style you want. Use online resources like Pinterest and Houzz to help you figure out what your design style is. In Pinterest, create a bathroom inspiration board and in Houzz, create a bathroom inspiration Idea book. You'll start to notice a pattern of design styles that you gravitate towards - tile design, colors, and finishes. This will help you tremendously as you narrow down choices.

2. Budget It - one of the most common questions is "how much will my renovation cost?". The easiest way to determine this is to create a spreadsheet and itemize every single item you can think of that you'll need for your renovation. Include everything from tile to grout, light fixtures to switches and/or dimmers and their respective plates, to vanity cabinets, countertops, faucets, etc. From there, start sourcing for the items and note their respective costs. I would recommend rounding up rather than being conservative to pad the budget. Add it all up and you'll see how much your materials will cost. From there, get bids from the various trades who will be doing the work. Obviously, if you're doing some of the work yourself, that will offset your expenses, but be smart and know your limitations - skill and time wise.

3. Schedule It - start with the end in mind and work backwards. Every project needs a deadline for it to be successful. Most bathrooms can easily be completed within 2-4 weeks. Set a deadline and backfill all the activity that needs to be done from the start date to the end date, i.e. demo, rough electrical, rough plumbing, drywall repair, paint, etc. Work with your Trades to create a project calendar and keep them accountable to the timeline. It doesn't have to be set in stone because renovation requires some flexibility (ok, a lot of flexibility), but stay on top of the proposed schedule so that it doesn't get out of hand. We've all heard of those nightmare renovations that extend from 2 months to 6 months to a year and beyond. Follow these tips to avoid being a statistic!

4. Purchase It - one of the reasons renovations take longer than it should is because materials are not on-site and ready for installation when the construction team is ready. Make sure that you make your design choices early on and order everything so it's ready to go. This also helps with any errors that may occur such as the wrong finish, the wrong size or even damage. If you find yourself hemming and hawing over which shower fixture to go with or which countertop or tile, save yourself time and money by hiring a designer to assist you. At the very least, pay for a consultation. It'll help expedite things and maybe even save a marriage. It certainly reduces the stress. Trust me, it's worth every penny!

5. Manage It - Unfortunately, this is a necessary evil. Someone has to oversee the project. You may trust your contractor, but everyone needs some level of accountability or else, all hell breaks loose. Have regular check-ins with the General Contractor or have regular meetings with every Trade you bring into the project. Embrace technology and send them a text and request for progress photos. I make it a habit to check-in with all my Trades the night before to confirm what time they will arrive the next day. Whatever you do, DO NOT assume everything is going well or that things are moving along. I've seen far too many projects die because no one was paying attention. Obviously if you are living in the home during the renovation, this is less likely to happen but never let a missed day of work or a "no show" slide. Call them, follow-up and make sure you are both on the same page as to the project schedule. Make sure they know that you are fully engaged and watching them. Trust me, this makes a world of difference in the overall success of the project.

I hope you found these tips helpful.  Join me next week for the BIG REVEAL...I'm soo excited to show you!!!

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