Bathroom Remodel Series - Planning Stage Video 1

Описание: Carpenter and builder Rob Robillard from http://www.AConcordCarpenter.com explains the secrets behind planning successful bathroom remodel.

Visit Rob's website where he shares his industry training on best practices for DIY projects and home repairs and remodeling.

Preparing For a Bathroom Remodeling:
Many people do not know how to plan a bathroom remodel. As a restoration contractor I have seen many situations where homeowners have spend thousands of dollars in restorations that commence with no planning, no idea of a budget and unrealistic expectations.
The whole premise of this video series is to explain bathroom-remodeling process and help you develop a detailed scope of work that you can write out in clear and concise terms.
Educate yourself:
Visit local supply stores and research your products and materials before starting. Figure out what you want for style, finish and function.
Consider using a checklist for manufacturers of fixtures, appliances, hardware, etc. I always try to suggest quality manufacturers for products that I have installed in the past with proven track records. Manufacturers such as American Standard fixtures, Warmup radiant heat or Basco glass shower door and enclosures consistently provide quality products and customer service.
Create a Drawing:
• Having a drawing helps folks visualize the final product.
• For the homeowner, a drawing will “paint a picture” for you to work out special issues and get a feel of what the finished product will look like.
• For the contractor, the goal of detailed drawings is work out spatial issues and for you to anticipate design issues and to eliminate surprises;
• Decisions are better streamlined with a drawing.
Develop a Plan!
Having a plan doesn’t not mean picking out tile and paint colors and then smashing out the walls, it means thinking the whole process through, writing it down and trying to anticipate problems, time sinks and construction road blocks.
Prior to starting the project, take the time and effort to thoroughly inspect the home and come up with a plan of approach.
Many people assume that the contractor will make logical decisions in scheduling and planning the project. The fact of the matter is that a bathroom project involves numerous different contractors and each and every one of them has their own schedule and agenda. Getting these folks to physically see the site, submit a proposal and commit to a schedule can be a task but is imperative to do.
When bidding a project out to different contractors for pricing, a drawing and a detailed scope of materials will ensure an “apple to apple comparison.”
If you’re a homeowner, consider hiring a general contractor to work up a scope of work or drawing for you.

Create Ground Rules
You’re bathroom and part of your home is about to become a construction area.
Discuss and establish ground rules with your contractor where workers can drop lumber, store materials, cleaning up after themselves, dump trash, use the toilet, and park their vehicles.
This is also the time to discuss and plan for debris removal and dust containment.
Remember, a clean job eliminates safety hazards and helps to keep the clients at ease, it also presents a more professional appearance for the contractor.
Hidden Conditions:
Expect on more expense, more time, more disruption, and more problems than you planned on.
Surprises of one kind or another are common BUT predictable. The key is to plan for and expect for them before hand to avoid the stress.
Many people have no clue about “the hidden costs” of remodeling and a lot of contractor’s do not advise their clients of them either. Hidden conditions are things like finding and then needing to repair termite damage, improper wiring, outdated plumbing, abating asbestos or repairing floor joist damage.
Any or all of these can stop a remodel process mid point and add time and money to the project.
Plan for these conditions by setting aside 10-20 percent of your budget to them.
Prepare A Budget:
Unrealistic budgets are very common among homeowners that have not researched costs or do not understand what is really involved in a bathroom remodel.
In my opinion, vague proposals and plans encourage low bidding and invite many hidden and sometimes costly “extras” later on.
Not having a detailed plan also means that two different contractors bidding on the same project will NEVER arrive at the same conclusions and will ALWAYS make assumptions to fill missing voids … resulting in that all to often “apples to oranges comparison.”
Some, unprofessional contractors will take this as an opportunity bid low and hit you later with extras.