Low-Stress Remodel Tips - Shower Liner San Diego CA | Bathroom Refinish Orange County CA | San Jos
Low-Stress Remodel Tips
Posted On Nov 22, Posted by Dan Liechty Category Remodelling Tips
Any remodel in your home will upset your routines, and change some of your living patterns
while the work is going on. You're going to have some strangers in your home, and there will
be noise, sawdust, paint fumes, ladders and work trucks. But, the end result will be worth the
bother.
And, there are some ways to minimize the stress that comes with
the remodel:
Plan Ahead
Put some serious thought in to how you're going to work around the work taking place. For
instance, if you're redoing the master bath, how are you going to rearrange the family bathroom
schedules so you can use your secondary baths with a minimum of bother – to the extent of
temporarily relocating towels, etc? If you're remodeling the kitchen, you're going to want to plan
meals accordingly – a dining out schedule, an inexpensive microwave oven, paper plates, pizza
coupons, etc.
Contractor Selection
Make sure you're comfortable with your contractor. Make sure he's licensed (You can check the
Contractors State License Board website to be sure), insured and bonded. Why? Because you
can then be assured that he's really a contractor, not just a worker with a good selling patter.
Check that he's actually successfully completed the kind of work you're expecting, and on the
scale you're proposing, whether large or small.
It often makes sense to visit the contractor's showroom to select materials (countertops,
flooring, faucets, tile, etc.). First, you'll have some peace of mind that you've made the right
material and fixture choices, and that the contractor is really the expert you've been seeking.
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Low-Stress Remodel Tips - Shower Liner San Diego CA | Bathroom Refinish Orange County CA | San Jose
Realistic Expectations
Don't expect the Queen's bathroom or kitchen if you're remodeling a 20 foot by 12 foot room.
While you may be installing top-of-the-line fixtures and materials, and reconfiguring the floor
plan, and even adding windows and a skylight, it's still a 240 square foot room, and that's not
going to turn into Buckingham Palace. If you've made good choices in selecting the changes
and materials, and are using the right contractor, you'll get what you should realistically expect.
Remember, you're remodeling, and you are working within a structure originally built by hand there are going to be some imperfections, usually due to the original structure.
It's hard to give up control of your personal spaces, and sometimes things aren't going to go as
fast as you think they should – usually due to external circumstances (city inspections, weather
and such). But, if you want the finished room to meet your expectations, set them realistically,
and don't press for extra speed, or start making changes in the middle of the job. If you do, the
experience is not going to be as good as it should, and you'll just stress yourself and the
workers unnecessarily.
Work Within Your Budget
Start the project with a realistic budget in mind, and stay in that range. Then, when you start
actually working with the remodel team, you'll learn what your dollars will get you. You'll more
than likely underestimate some of the costs, and be surprised at how inexpensive other items
are. What you don't want to do is be halfway through your remodel, and start worrying about
the costs, knowing you went too far, and start trying to cancel parts of the planned project.
Above all, keep the goal in mind – a new room. A new living space. And know that the temporary disruption will lead to years of
enjoyment and pride. Just relax and follow the plan you made. You are going to be glad you did.
Tags: Remodeling Tips
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