CONSIDERING A BATHROOM RENOVATION?
BATHROOM DESIGN GUIDELINES
by KALLI GEORGE
THE BATHROOM. The most contested room in the house during the most stressful time of the day. For such a tiny room, it certainly creates a lot of strife. You feel tempted to consider a bathroom home improvement project. A bathroom redesign would be ideal for everyone.
Then you remember your last home renovation and so begin the heart palpitations. You break out in a cold sweat simply imagining what a bath reno would look like. The construction dust, the expense, the inconvenience … noooooooo! A moment of insanity, you think. The existing bathroom isn’t so bad. It still works. Everyone can use it. Plus, you’ve got one thousand other things you need to worry about.
Money, finances and renovation stress dominate any home improvement conversation. Despite having the money, it is not uncommon for couples to push house renovation into the future. Others, overcome by analysis paralysis choose to do nothing. In either case, the problems become bigger and so do the costs. There is no shortage of bath renovation horror stories. Regrets about compromising on the original vision. Or worst, falling prey to bad actors.
Following a bathroom renovation process provides guidance and structure. It helps you manage even the largest interior remodel. We don’t discount the fear of the unknown. Education and a well-defined process will mitigate unforeseen circumstances. We don’t promise any surprises. Renovations and surprises go hand in hand. Unimagined repairs might be hiding in an older home. If you've done your homework ahead of time, you will be better equipped to handle the surprises.
PROJECT PLANNING CONVERSATIONS YOU NEED TO HAVE
You need to start thinking and planning out the bathroom improvements. If what is there doesn't work, what are possible solutions? Have you had that all-important conversation with the project stakeholders - the family? What do they need? What are the ‘must haves’ and the ‘nice to have?’ Your voice is important. Otherwise, someone else will be making the design choices. The general contractor, the general contractor’s wife with an eye for design or you. You may end up with a copy of the last bathroom redesign the general contractor just completed.
PROJECT DELIVERABLES - EMBRACE THE IMPERFECT
An existing bathroom will have a unique set of challenges that you may not always be able to change. A condo is a great illustration of embracing the room as is. For example – toilet location. Changing its location is virtually impossible, so you will have to work around it. In a house, switching plumbing around increases the cost of the renovation. Is it worth it? That depends on you.
If the bathroom is not functioning properly and fixing the plumbing will make it perfect, then it's worth doing. If you know this in advance, you can save money in other areas.
The space is what it is unless you plan on expanding. This doesn’t mean it needs to remain as dysfunctional as before. Before you rip anything out only to realize you’re now without a shower, get creative. Plan out a couple of high-level options on paper. Tech-savvy? Hundreds of online programs allow you to do that. You don’t always need more space. Sometimes, you need to get creative with what’s available.
THE MONEY CONVERSATION - BUDGET VS INVESTMENT
Design professionals and general contractors say 'investment.' We distinguish between these two words. Why? Because you invest in your home. A bathroom remodel is an investment in your home. It will pay dividends today and well into the future. When you start referring to renovations as investments it changes the dynamic. The extraordinary expenses aren't as far-fetched anymore. The value of a renovation is long-term. Not a fleeting expense.
THE NEW BATHROOM FLOOR PLAN
The floor plan is a 2-part technical exercise. One is today’s bathroom layout. The second is what you'd like the bathroom to look like. Why plot the current bathroom when everything is going to change? It lets you visualize the space allocation, plumbing and electrical locations.
If you left plumbing and electrical exactly where it is, what improvements can you make? Maybe there is enough room for a double vanity? Perhaps, a larger shower? If the proposed changes aren't inspiring perhaps, it's time for radical changes.
We draw on paper because our eyes can't always see everything that is possible just by looking at a room. The bird’s eye view from a plotted floor plan gives you a different perspective of what is possible. You can continue playing around with layouts until you are happy with the outcome.
WHY A DESIGN CONCEPT WILL SAVE YOU TIME AND MONEY
Now that you've laid out your dream bathroom on paper, you need to bring it to life. Your design concept is where you lay it all out. In the corporate world, they call this ‘working with the end in mind’. Do you need a design concept before you start the renovation? Yes. Why? It drives the renovation process. Very much like a road map. If you have a specific result in mind, you can plan to achieve it. What does this new bathroom include?
A wall-hung bathroom vanity?
A water closet? (extremely popular where room permits)
A new toilet location?
A patterned tile floor and backsplash?
These notes will assist you in writing a scope of work that you will use for the request for price. This type of detail will help the general contractor produce a well-calculated quote. He will know exactly what he needs to quote.
These ideas are the foundation of your scope of work. As you're jotting down these ideas you are creating your scope of work. It's the document you will use to request a quote from the general contractor. Your scope of work will produce additional questions you hadn't thought of. This type of analysis before the renovation lays out costs, timelines and possibilities.
While you're building your design concept, you're also visiting showrooms. You should be picking up samples and writing down costs. The samples will help you see how everything works together. This is especially important when collecting materials from different suppliers. A tray to organize these samples will help you coordinate a cohesive vision.
WHY DO YOU NEED A SCOPE OF WORK FOR A BATH REMODEL?
To determine the true costs of your renovation. The general contractor reading the document will know exactly what to quote. You selecting a number out of thin air is a gamble. If it’s too little, a good general contractor will not take on the project. Another might use lesser quality materials to meet your established financial parameters. Or ask for more money mid-renovation. A costed scope of work + a contingency fund will establish the actual costs.
If you completed the design concept and the floor plan, you have a pretty good idea of what needs to happen. You can communicate this through the scope of work. If you would like to see a herringbone pattern on the floor, you mention it here. If you would like a particular backsplash tile pattern, you add it here. 'Tile the bathroom floor’ implies a simple brick pattern. The general contractor will quote it accordingly.
On install date, you and the general contractor will have a conversation. He may ask for more money or you may settle for something you didn’t want. Your design concept is the foundation for this document. Write everything down so there are no errors in pricing. Worse, surprises mid-project.
HOME RENOVATIONS - REQUEST FOR PRICE
Renovation prep work can be stressful. The scope of work document keeps you organized when it comes time to request pricing. It's your definitive renovation document. Line by line, it outlines what you want. Items like “remove existing tile”, “install new tile”, “install new stand-alone bathtub.” It's what you use for your request for price. It’s a different price between a brick pattern, herringbone and/or chevron layout. Why?
Because more intricate designs like a herringbone or chevron pattern take more time. Have your heart set on a wall-hung vanity? The general contractor needs to know so he can reinforce the wall. A design concept + detailed scope of work is the goal. It's the package the general contractor will use to price your bathroom renovation. This framework eliminates any surprise conversations during the renovation.
You provide the same scope of work to every general contractor you interview. This ensures consistency and everyone is quoting the same work. It is not uncommon for general contractors to sometimes propose alternate ideas. You can attach these to the proposal. Your quote review will be easier because everyone was quoting from the same sheet. No mistakes.
Important to note here. The idea is not to go out and seek 100 quotes. Reach out to a few reputable general contractors and/or builders. Their pricing should come close. Question large variances in quotes. A really low bid in comparison to the others requires attention. Did the general contractor not understand the scope of work? Will he be using low-quality materials and or crew? Question. Question. Question. Experienced teams will cost you more but save you headaches and problems in the long run.
SOURCING MATERIALS + FINISHES
With the room layout in place, you can source materials and finishes. You won't like this, but don't choose all tiles from one supplier. You’re trying to create a custom layered look, not a tile showroom for one retailer. With samples, it is easy to see which tiles will work together. You have your style. Bring out your creativity and individuality. This section is more about introspection and lifestyle.
A quality full bath renovation is expensive. You don’t want any regrets at the end of that journey. If your life is busy enough, is a marble vanity countertop and backsplash the right material for you? Porcelain tile is durable and maintenance-friendly. Did you know that - porcelain tiles come in various finishes – honed, matte or polished? Polished tile and water are not a good idea, especially with children or mature adults.
This type of analysis can get boring and dreary. However, it ensures every material is the right one for your bathroom.It's a more elevated approach than simply choosing a tile because it’s ‘pretty’. You base your selections on function and safety. The pretty comes last.
RETAIL VS CUSTOM
A bathroom renovation is a costly endeavour. Once the dust has settled you don't want the 'what ifs' to creep in. With a completed floor plan, design concept and scope of work, you should have a really good idea of the costs. You really can't affect the construction quote. You can, however, increase your investment or chose different materials.
One item in a bathroom redesign that can benefit from this type of analysis is the vanity. For example, when working on the floor plan, you noticed that a larger vanity could fit in the space. It would also provide more storage. However, when you looked at ready-made vanities, they were either too big or too small. The exact size just wasn’t available. A millworker or kitchen cabinet maker would be the person to talk here for a price. With every other cost in place, you can make informed decisions.
PURCHASES
This bathroom renovation process is the kindest to your pocketbook. Money does not flow out until you have tabulated the costs and reached an agreement with a general contractor. As you created your design concept and floor plan, you also looked at products and costs. You were able to add, delete and swap to your heart’s content without using your wallet. If the final renovation costs are above your comfort level, you adjust – on paper.
Is there a substitute that can work without compromising the integrity of the design? You keep reworking the ‘real’ numbers on paper, not your bank account.
As tempting as it might be to shop from one place, please don't. You don't want your new bathroom interior to mimic a showroom. Opt to use materials from different retailers for a layered and curated look. You worked hard to make this bathroom a reality - infuse it with your personality.
YOUR RENOVATION COSTS FORMULA
Your renovation formula = request for price + purchases + custom items + contingency fund. The beauty of this formula is that it encompasses your wants, needs and preferences. This is the real cost of your renovation. Or, you can set a renovation investment amount. You will then work the formula in reverse to meet that dollar amount. This method works best if you are very familiar with recent product and renovation costs. Or willing to concede that you may have misjudged the costs. This is the time to adjust.
Do you adjust the scope of work or the material selection? Or bite the bullet and invest the money required to complete the renovation the way you see fit? Only you know the answer to this. Fair warning. The costs are what they are. You can renovate according to an inspiration image. You cannot however, expect $100K of finishes and materials with a $10K investment.
YOUR PROJECT MANAGEMENT PROCESS
When the project management phase kicks in, your bathroom renovation will be in high gear. No matter how prepared or organized you are, this one will test your resolve. Your organizational skills will be king here. You must provide answers immediately. Access to the project documentation will be necessary. The unforeseen will also pop up here, so keep your cool. Walls are opened up. The things you could never anticipate start popping up.
Existing pipes have a wonky placement. Previous owners cut into the existing beams. You can’t fight any of this. You can only roll with the punches. Your contingency fund will resolve most of these. If the costs exceed that, then you need to make decisions. Add more dollars to the project or tweak the design. If you created the design concept and floor plan, you will know the space inside out. Pivoting in design choices may hurt, but won't be a problem.
AVOID SCOPE CREEP, IF YOU CAN
Asking the general contractor to complete work not outlined in the scope of work or part of the quote. It's human nature to stack similar problems. Since the general contractor is in the house, perhaps he can fix something in a different room. Except that was not part of the original agreement. Fixing it will take longer, increase costs, and he may not have the right people for the job.
Scope creep equals more money. To avoid this, you want to stick to the original scope of work. Having said all this, you can still discuss the other fix. He can add it to the original contract as a change order or he can draw up a new contract.
INCLUDE A PUNCH LIST REVIEW IN YOUR PROJECT SCHEDULE
Sounds like a summer drink ingredient list, doesn’t it? Sadly not. But it is a list. Once the bathroom reno is complete and the dust has settled, it's time to review the work. You're on the hunt for deficiencies in the renovation work. Most general contractors will ask you to go through this exercise. If he doesn't, you can do this on your own. Although general contractors guarantee the work, you want them to complete the fixes immediately.
So, what goes into a punch list? Is the work completed properly? Are the walls dripping with paint? Are the electrical plates aligned? Are there areas that require sanding down? A bumpy new drywall? Did they forget to do something? Document everything on paper and take pictures. One is the story of what is wrong while the other is a visual representation of the problem.
This renovation process will keep you on track. The structure creates a roadmap. It quantifies and qualifies the home improvement project. You know the costs. You know the result. If you're ready to go at it alone, this process will make your life a little easier.
If on the other hand, this process isn’t on your bingo card and you’d like someone else to deal with it, we can help.
Kalli George is the founder and lead designer with Kalli George Interiors’ award-winning interior design team. For more than a decade they have managed the design, build and décor of residential projects across the GTA including, Mississauga, Etobicoke and Brampton.