Comprehensive Guide to Bathroom Remodeling in Toledo
Bathroom remodeling is one of the smartest and most rewarding upgrades you can make. A well-designed, functional bathroom is essential and contributes to your home’s overall appeal. On the other hand, an outdated bathroom can detract from your home, compromise functionality, and even reduce your home’s value and marketability.
Your new bathroom can be relaxing and functional with the right floor plan and remodeling contractor. There are countless bathroom designs, from clean and simple to truly luxurious and spa-like. While function is always more important than form, your bathroom can be a space where you feel comfortable.
Knowing the stakes of this design process and all the elements that go into remodeling a small space, it can be overwhelming to make the right decisions. Having an experienced Toledo area bathroom remodeling contractor to assist you with design choices during the remodeling process is the key to a successful result. With their guidance, you can finally have a beautiful bathroom that functions as it should and fits well with your home’s current style.
Chapters
Chapter 1: Reasons to Consider Bathroom Remodeling
Chapter 2: Benefits of Bathroom Renovation
Chapter 3: Hiring the Right Contractor for Your Bathroom Remodeling Project
Chapter 4: Refresh Your Bath: A Bathroom Remodelers Checklist
Chapter 1: Reasons to Consider Bathroom Remodeling
Your bathroom is a space to relax and escape the day’s stresses. Although some may not believe it, many homeowners will mention their bathroom as one of their favorite rooms. However, if your bathroom is outdated, cramped, or needs repair, you may not be getting those vibes. Many signs could be telling you it’s time to consider remodeling your bathroom.
1. Your Current Space is Outdated or in Need of Repairs
One of the major reasons many homeowners consider a bathroom remodel is to repair specific damage. A cracked sink, a leaky showerhead, or worn-out fixtures are not only unsightly to look at, but can cause major damage behind the walls. If you ignore lurking problems by thinking that you can live with the annoyance, it won’t take long for it to become a much bigger issue. Circumstances like this can cause water damage and mold growth-both of which are unhealthy and frustrating to deal with once they’ve gotten out of hand.
2. Lack of Space and Functionality
If your bathroom has become a small space of chaos in your home, it can make mornings and evenings very difficult to prepare for and wind down from the day. While some bathrooms simply have a small footprint, others have an inefficient layout that can make the room feel even smaller than it is. Your bathroom needs to be functional and allow you to move around freely. It’s important to have the storage to hold the necessary items you want to keep on hand. If you’re struggling with a lack of space or a layout that just doesn’t make sense, it’s time to consider remodeling your bathroom.
4. Enhance Your Safety and Accessibility
While you may not be thinking about it now, safety and accessibility will be a concern for you – or your homebuyers – down the road. Sometimes, recovering from an injury can show a homeowner exactly how inaccessible or unsafe their bathroom is for someone who is not completely mobile. If you are hoping to stay in your home and “age in place,” having accessible fixtures in the bathroom can make the space far more desirable. While this may not be a concern for everyone who is taking on a bath remodel project, some want to look ahead and make sure that the bathroom is a safe and accessible place for anyone who uses it.
5. Personalization and Aesthetic Upgrades
One of the biggest reasons to consider a bathroom project is to improve the aesthetic of your space and make it exactly how you want it to be. If you love to take a long bath at the end of the day, now is the chance to get the tub or walk-in shower you’ve always dreamed of. If you hate cleaning a bathtub but long for a dual-headed shower, a bathroom remodel can turn something you don’t want into something you do. If you and your spouse struggle to share the sink in the morning, a dual sink may solve your problems. If the space feels dark, a remodel can allow you to get new lighting to open it up. Think about what you would most like from your space and take this opportunity to get the bathroom you’ve always wanted.
Chapter 2: Benefits of Bathroom Renovation
Your remodeling project doesn’t need to only be about fixing what is wrong. While looking at particular problem areas can be a good place to start, looking at what you can gain from remodeling your space is also helpful. There are many benefits to a bathroom renovation that will make it well worth the investment.
Increased Comfort and Functionality
Your bathroom can feel like an oasis in your home. While it is undoubtedly a functional room, it can also be a place to recharge. When you remodel a bathroom, you can focus on what you want to improve. More storage, double sinks, a dual-headed shower, a luxurious tub, towel warmers, ambient lighting, and more are all possible. If your space feels cramped or cluttered, adding storage or adjusting the layout can make even a small space feel bigger. When planning your remodeling project, one of the benefits is that you can blend comfort and function to create the perfect space for you and your family.
Improved Energy Efficiency
As previously discussed, old bathrooms with old fixtures and old plumbing aren’t very energy efficient. With a bathroom remodel, you have the opportunity to improve. Energy efficient or “green” homes are well sought after in the real estate market. Not only do homeowners feel good about having a responsible home and reducing their carbon footprint, they also enjoy the energy savings that come with efficient fixtures, in both their water and electric bills. When you remodel your bathroom, you can install low-flow fixtures that use significantly less water without sacrificing water pressure, energy efficient lighting fixtures that can improve both the aesthetic and energy use in the bathroom, and upgrades that will eliminate any water leaks or power drains. When you are planning your home improvements, you can discuss your preferences with your contractor to get the best efficiency without sacrificing any comfort or functionality.
Enhanced Storage and Organization
It’s nearly impossible to relax in a space that feels cluttered. Many bathrooms have a relatively small footprint, but a bathroom remodel can make the best use of that space to create storage for everything you need. Even a small bathroom can feel spacious after a remodeling project that enhances the storage. Rather than dealing with a clunky and inefficient vanity, new trends in open shelving, built in medicine cabinets, storage racks, wall storage, and concealed shelving can help you organize everything you have to make your bathroom as functional as possible. There are many creative storage spaces that bathroom remodeling contractors can help you design. The most important consideration when enhancing your storage and making your space feel bigger is to make the right changes that don’t hurt the functionality of your space. An experienced bathroom remodeling contractor can help you design a space that is just right.
Upgraded Fixtures
Advances in design and technology can catapult your bathroom into modern times. Today’s fixtures are designed to be easier to clean and maintain, more luxurious, and longer lasting. Rather than simply replacing a fixture with the same basic style, you can choose from touch-free models, massaging shower heads, jetted tubs that shoot air instead of water, and multi-flush toilets that allow you to control the amount of water needed to get the job done. If your needs are changing, you can make sure you have a tub for young children, or take the tub away to allow a more accessible shower for older adults to age in place. The upgrades available at nearly every price point can allow many homeowners considering a bathroom remodeling project the opportunity to experience all the benefits of an upgraded space with quality fixtures.
Visual Appeal
You know when you entered a bathroom designed in the 1980s or 1990s. The colors, designs and overall aesthetic can cause a bathroom to feel dated and unappealing. Even a newer bathroom that was only given basic builder-grade materials can create an unwelcoming space. A bathroom doesn’t need to be trendy to have a visual appeal. A bathroom remodel can create visual appeal in nearly every project by incorporating a timeless style. Light colors can make the space feel open, lighting can change depending on the brightness required, and clean lines and high-quality fixtures can all combine to create a beautiful space. Many homeowners feel the visual appeal alone can make a bathroom remodeling project worthwhile. Soothing colors, natural stone or tile, and updated plumbing fixtures in your bathroom remodeling project can all make the space feel far more relaxing and inviting.
Chapter 3: Hiring the Right Contractor for Remodeling Project
Finding the right contractor can be challenging once you remodel your bathroom. Many contractors are out there, but all are not created equal. If you want your renovation project to succeed, you must be confident in who you choose.
Why Hire a Professional Bathroom Renovation Contractor
Whenever you are dealing with plumbing and electricity, you want to ensure that you have an experienced Toledo bathroom remodeling professional to take on the job. While you may be able to handle replacing a faucet, a full bathroom remodeling job is best taken on by professionals. A professional bathroom remodeling contractor will have the right team trained and ready to handle the complete project, including design, technical skills, and experience to get the job done. From the overarching plans to the final details, your contractor can handle the ordering, installations, inspections, and everything else that will go into your bathroom remodel. In addition, your contractor can ensure the project is completed on time and within budget. If you want a successful bathroom remodeling project, hiring an experienced remodeling company is the right decision.
Start By Researching And Gathering Recommendations for Remodeling Companies
If you search for “bathroom remodeling,” you can be swept away in a long list that doesn’t give you much insight. The best way to begin your search for a company to remodel your bathroom is by asking for recommendations. Focus on local friends, family, and community members who recently had a bathroom remodeling project.
- Who did they use?
- Did they have a good experience?
- What didn’t they like?
- What do they wish they’d done differently?
Many homeowners who have recently had remodeling done are eager to share their experience with others. Once you have a good list, you can research those contractors online to see if they will fit your project well.
Verify the Paperwork
Before you move forward with any contractor for your bathroom renovation project, you’ll want to make sure that whoever you are meeting with has the right credentials. Any contractor you are considering should be licensed, insured, bonded, and have the right certifications for the work they will do in your home. Most contractors will offer this information without prompting, but it is never something to forget. In case anything goes wrong during your project, these credentials will protect you from liability or poor workmanship.
Spend Some Time in Bathroom Remodeling Portfolios
A quality contractor will be happy to show you their portfolio. When you look at a contractor’s portfolio, whether online or in person, you will be able to see the kind of work they do. Many contractors will do before and after pictures, and often will even show the work through various stages of the remodeling project, so you can experience the detail that goes into their work.
Customer Reviews and Testimonials are Important
When you began your search for a contractor, you asked for general recommendations, but looking at reviews and testimonials allows you to hear from former clients and get a sense of how the project went. When you read reviews, look for not only what went well, but what went wrong and how it was handled. Very few projects progress with no setbacks at all, but how the contractor handles it will give a better sense of whether or not they are a contractor who is good to work with.
Chapter 4: Refresh Your Bath: A Remodelers Checklist
1. Setting Up an Initial Meeting
Generally speaking, you should set up an initial meeting to get an estimate for your project from three contractors. Even if you feel confident about one, having something to compare is still a good idea. During your initial meeting, you can let the contractor know what you are looking for and the budget you want to stay within. Your remodeling company can look at the space and give you a general overview of the project, along with an initial estimate.
2. Find a Bathroom Remodeling Contractor with Great Communication Skills
During your initial meeting, you will get a good sense of how the contractor communicates. Do they return phone calls, texts, or emails quickly? Do they listen to your questions and provide thoughtful answers, or do they brush you off and jump right to what they think you should do? You will need to be in contact with your contractor often, so you must hire one with whom you can effectively communicate. If you feel like your contractor isn’t listening to your needs, doesn’t promptly return your calls or emails, or can’t make themselves clear to you, you need to find one who does.
3. Agree on Project Timelines and Milestones
You and your contractor will work out a document that outlines all the details of your project, including all the work to be done, the details of how that work will be done, the timeline of the project, and the cost. Your contractor will also include their payment schedule, which will likely include a down payment, additional payments at various milestones throughout the project, and a final payment at inspection and completion. You and your contractor are protecting yourselves with this document, so make sure it is thorough and transparent. You shouldn’t have any unanswered questions in your home improvements.
4. Confirm the Warranty and Guarantee
In addition to all the details about work and payment in your contract, you can also make sure that your contractor offers a warranty on the materials they use and a guarantee of their work. When investing in a significant project like a bathroom remodel, you need to trust that the work will hold up long term. A quality contractor will make sure to put their warranties and guarantees in writing so you have written confirmation that the contractor stands behind their work.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a bathroom renovation In Toledo, Ohio?
Bathroom renovations vary in budget. In Toledo, our bathroom remodels typically start at around $15,000 and go up from there. A reasonable budget for a complete bathroom remodel can be between $30-60,000
How long will my bathroom model take?
It depends on the scope of your bathroom remodel. If you keep the same footprint, it could be as little as a few weeks. If you change the footprint or expand, it could add time to your project.
Do I need a bathtub?
Think about who will be using the bathroom. Would they use a tub? If not, you do not need one.
Can I use my bathroom during the remodel?
Having a backup plan for your needs during the remodel is always a good idea. Ask your contractor for reasonable timelines on your project.
Should my remodeling contractor offer design assistance?
Not all remodeling contractors also offer design services. At Total Quality Construction, our bathroom designers work with you to help create your dream bathroom.
If your current bathroom feels outdated, cramped, or inefficient, it’s time to consider remodeling your bathroom. Deteriorating fixtures, a poor layout, and minor issues that can quickly lead to more significant problems won’t create the relaxing space you deserve. By remodeling your outdated bathroom, not only will your space be aesthetically pleasing and personalized to your wants with improved functionality, but it will increase your overall property value and the marketability of your home. Your energy efficiency will increase, and you will know that the underlying structure is sound with no mold, mildew, or water damage.
When you are ready to take the next step, look for a bathroom remodeling company who will work with you to help you achieve the most important goals. Look for a company that not only aligns with your vision but who will also be easy to work with. Doing so will lead to a successful bathroom remodel. Total Quality Construction has bathroom remodeling experts ready to improve your space’s look and functionality. We take pride in clear communication, finishing your project on time and within budget, and guaranteeing our work. Take the first step toward your new dream bathroom and contact us today for a consultation and an estimate.