Choosing the Right Bathroom Remodel Team
A new Bathroom remodel team can boost resale value and make your home more appealing to buyers. It can also improve your comfort and enjoyment as a homeowner.
The best way to find a quality contractor is through personal referrals or by checking their credentials. Specifically, homeowners should ask if they have experience with plumbing and electrical work.
Site Protection and Demolition
When the demolition of a bathroom is underway, safety must be a top priority. It is important to complete a full survey of the building and surrounding areas, to check whether existing services like gas, electricity, and water lines can remain in place or need disconnecting. It is also necessary to identify and mark any hazards inside the structure, including structural stability and any asbestos present.
Noise and dust are other potential hazards. The use of noise-reducing headphones and earplugs for workers helps to reduce the risk of hearing loss. Damping down sites with a water supply, to control dust is also a good way to keep hazards under control.
When hiring a contractor for demolition, it is important to ask about their experience in remodeling bathrooms and their qualifications. It is also a good idea to request a copy of their insurance certificate.
Rough-In
Rough-in plumbing is the initial installation of your new home’s vents, sewage systems, water supply lines, and connections. This phase occurs when the basic framing is complete but drywall has not been installed, and it allows your MEP (mechanical, electrical & plumbing) contractors to install their ‘rough’ piping, wiring, and ductwork in your home.
When it comes to plumbing, the rough-in includes installing all of your new water pipes and gas lines. Your plumber will also install the plumbing vents and fixtures that you won’t see, but they will be capped off until the finished plumbing phase of your remodel.
Following your plumbing and HVAC rough-ins, the work will be inspected by a building inspector. This will ensure that your plumbing and ductwork are up to code before it is covered with drywall and hidden from view.
Drywall
Drywall, also known as plasterboard or wallboard, is a sheet material used to cover framing on walls and ceilings. It is made of paperboard sandwiching gypsum, a powdery white or gray sulfate mineral, with other additives.
It is less costly than plaster construction and requires less labor. It is also non-combustible, saving homeowners on insurance premiums.
The drywall is installed using drywall screws to attach it to the wood studs that form the wall frame. Screw holes and seams are covered with tape, then smoothed over, a process called taping and bedding.
For this Upper East Side three-bathroom remodel, the firm chose light and clean walls to complement patterned flooring and matte black hardware. This clean design was in keeping with the client’s contemporary style.
Shower Pan
A shower pan, sometimes referred to as a base, protects the floor and wood structure beneath the shower alcove from leaks and water damage. It also helps keep the floor looking nice.
A few different options for shower bases include acrylic, fiberglass, and custom tile. Each has its pros and cons. For example, fiberglass is inexpensive and durable, but it’s prone to staining from mineral deposits. On the other hand, a customized marble shower base is expensive but luxurious.
When choosing a shower base, think about how you’ll use it in the future. If your family members will need accessibility features down the line, consider a low threshold or barrier-free shower. This model by Woodbridge has a solid surface base and is available in standard sizes and shapes, including rectangle and neo-angle.
Finish Carpentry
Having a finished carpenter on-site ensures that any final steps of construction are completed correctly. It’s also a safeguard against shoddy workmanship, which can result in costly repairs later on—and puts a strain on a homeowner’s relationship with their contractor.
A good finish carpenter follows the blueprints and building plans of a project to install different structures and fixtures—like stairways, floorboards and doorframes. They also need to have good math skills so they can calculate dimensions and properly install fixtures.
Homeowners should ask potential contractors for examples of their work. They should carefully scrutinize each candidate’s portfolio to make sure the photos match the design aesthetic that they want for their remodel. It’s also important to verify that the contractor has a license and insurance.