Posts Tagged ‘Remodel’

So How Do You Remodel A Bathroom?

Bathroom remodeling not only adds beauty and enjoyment to any kind of home, it also increases the value of your home when you wish to sell your house in the future. Bathroom remodeling is perhaps the most popular project for home improvement because it yields the highest return on your investment. Moreover, homeowners can enjoy their relaxing bathroom from the time they remodel until they decide on selling the house.


Tips for Bathroom Remodeling Design


The task of remodeling your bathroom is difficult andcan be costly There are several key fixtures to consider when you work on your bathroom. And yes, most of them are expensive. There is flooring to consider, as well as the paint, and the result of anything going wrong is you will end up with place that you spend a lot of time in while not enjoying the room. So good planning is essential.


Of course, to be successful, you need to design your remodeling project well before you swing a single hammer. If you take the time to work out a well-planned bathroom remodeling design, a wonderful bathroom is sure to follow.


Map it Out


When you are working on the design for your bathroom remodeling project, make sure to take accurate measurements of your bathroom and create a map to work with. Mark where the plumbing is, mark where your fixtures are, and you’ll be able to better plan what you need to do. The key to a great bathroom remodeling design is good planning, and a map is a great way to keep you focused on exactly where everything needs to be. Draw it out and plan it on paper. It can be a good idea to cut out your main pieces and try them on your map to see how they fit and what they are likely to look like.


There is also software available that can help you plan a bathroom remodel. The simple packages allow you to do the same mapping exercise as above, and the more complex and expensive can even build a ‘virtual bathroom’ so that you can see the results of your planning.


Function Before Form


The secret of a comfortable bathroom is to put the function of your bathroom above what it will look like. No matter how gorgeous your bathroom looks, if you have a poor design, one that makes your bathroom uncomfortable to use, you won’t enjoy it. Throughout your bathroom remodeling design process, consider what you want your bathroom to do and work towards that goal.


Consider Your Fixtures


Make sure to learn exactly where your fixtures will go when designing your remodeling project; you will need the plumbing there to accommodate them. Your sink, tub, and toilet are going to be exactly where you have them right now, unless you can somehow move the the plumbing. In most cases, the location of your fixtures is going to be a hard limit, so plan accordingly.


Locate Things Sensibly


When you decide where smaller fixtures, such as the towel rack or even the toilet paper roll, go in the bathroom remodeling design, keep in mind that they should go in places that are sensible, once again going back to function over form. The towel rack might look nice by the door, but if it’s out of arm’s reach of the bathtub, then you won’t be happy whenever you get out of the shower, for example. With all things in bathroom remodeling design, if you design with an eye for common sense and space, you will be successful in your attempt to create a room that’s both stylish and functional.


Focus on your walls, ceiling and tiles because these three items can greatly influence the outcome of your project. Mix and match the colors by using pastel, earthy, contemporary or traditional colors that fit your taste. Be aware that whatever items, equipment and furniture you wish to add to your bathroom should add warmth and relaxation to the room.


You can create your dream bathroom by expanding the area and separating the toilet from the bath area. You can even add spa treatments, bathtubs, water jets and other more expensive bathroom add-ons. If you have no idea where to start and what items to add, you can always look at a home-improvement magazine and check out the latest bathroom trends.


Know Your Budget


The extent of your bathroom remodeling project will all depend on your budget. If you have a large amount of money for your remodel project, you can start designing your bathroom from scratch. However, you can still remodel your bathroom even with a small budget. Just change the light fixtures, accessories and bathroom furniture.


Designs, Accessories and Furniture


When you decide to start a bathroom remodeling project, it is quickest to organize your goals before shopping for materials. determine on what items you want to replace, add or take away from the bath area. Think about refinishing existing items such as bathtub, shower, sinks and toilet or renewing the tiles, tub and shower enclosure to give a current look to your bathroom even with little investment.


Bathroom Remodeling Check List Helps Keep Project On Track


Renovations in any part of your home can easily get out of hand, both in the terms of time and in costs, but using a bathroom remodeling check list, you can maintain control of your budget as well as keep the job on track. As part of your planning process, a bathroom remodeling check list can also help you determine how much of an upgrade you can afford.


Some of the major items on your list may include any electrical work you may need, plumbing changes or additions, heating and cooling as well as any walls that will need to be moved or repaired. As some of the first things listed on your bathroom remodeling check list, you can also determine the timing of contractors. For example, if you are going to replace an existing tub and wall tile, plumbing work will need done, but having a carpenter handy for installing modern drywall will need to be done first.


In addition to the major work, also listed on your bathroom remodeling check list would be any components, such as cabinets, fixtures and countertops. You should also list the type of countertops you plan to install as well as the floor, the sink, storage cabinets and any free-standing furniture.


Having a column on your bathroom remodeling check list that shows the amount budgeted for each item will help you stay in control of the costs of the project. When buying the items on the list and you decide to go over the cost for one item, you can always pick a cheaper model on another component to stay on budget. By looking at the costs before you go to the store, you can have a good idea of what you are likely to spend.


Once you have determined the exact cost of your project using the bathroom remodeling check list, you should budget another 10 percent of the total cost for contingencies. For instance, when you are cutting out the wall for a fresh fixture you accidentally cut through a water pipe and your current drywall is ruined. The contingency budget can pay to replace the cut pipe as well as the ruined drywall.


You may also plan on the time each item on your bathroom remodeling check list should take to complete as a way of keeping the project on track. You will know during the planning stage how much each item should cost, how long it should take as well as what part of your bathroom is not going to be touched during the project.


If you don’t have the money to hire an architect or contractor for your bathroom remodeling, you can do the work yourself by focusing on simple things that can give a dramatic change to the bathroom. For instance, add a vanity mirror or a shelf and display small items such as perfume bottles, soaps, bath salts, spa accessories and other items you wish to display.

Steve Dolan has undertaken extensive home remodelling over the past 10 years. Learn how to take on remodelling projects Home Remodelling and DIY and redo your bathroom Bathroom Remodelling and Decorating

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Posted On: December 21st, 2009
Posted In: Bathroom
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How To Apply Home Improvement Loans

For those people who have owned their home for while, they’ll have a certain amount of equity built up, and they can actually get a home improvement loan to improve their living conditions. Whether it’s a complete remodel job, or a simple repair or improvement job, there are home loans available that usually charge a small amount of interest in order for you to improve your property.

Home improvement loans are actually rather interesting, the banks are betting that the actual market value of the home is going to increase through a home improvement loan. You’ll need to explain to the banks exactly how you’re going to use the money and how it’s going to increase the value of the home, but often times, you can get an inexpensive home loan on top of your regular mortgage to improve your home’s market value.

Many people use home improvement loans to do structural repair. This means that you can get a home improvement loan to improve the foundation under your home, repair the roof, repair plumbing or wiring, or even to work on driveways. It’s important that you understand how a home improvement loan works and the interest charged in order to make sure that you can pay for it. Your home is usually used as collateral on a home improvement loan, so going in over your head on improving your home, can actually put you in danger of foreclosure if you can’t afford the loan.

Make sure you thoroughly understand how your home improvement loan is going to work with your mortgage. You’ll need to understand contract terms, interest rates, and of course foreclosure terms as well. You’ll need to add in all of the maintenance or home loan costs into your improvement loan in order to make sure that you can make the payments on the home and all of its accompanying loans. It might be nice to totally remodel your kitchen, but if you can’t afford the home improvement loan, you could actually lose your home over it.

There are companies that specialize in home improvement loans, it’s important that you thoroughly research any financial company and its accompanying contract. You can use your Internet to not only research the financial companies, but also to apply for home improvement loans. Many financial companies have moved online, the low overhead can actually allow them to charge less interest, so before signing for your home improvement loan, make sure you’ve done your shopping.

A home improvement loan is a great way to improve or repair your home. Make sure that the increase in total home loan costs including your home improvement loan are going to be offset by increasing your market value in your property.



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Posted On: July 13th, 2009
Posted In: Kitchen
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