Plumber, Designer, and Tradesmen - Don’t Renovate Your Bathroom Without Them

When renovating a bathroom, it is best to consult with professionals such as a plumber, designer, and other trades people as necessary. Priorities in order of importance are safety, function, and then design aesthetics, so don’t pick matching bath towels for the tiles before you have a completed blueprint and budget that includes labor as well as materials. While costly, there are numerous benefits to forgoing DIY, or at the very least, receiving some professional consultations and advice.

One of the greatest benefits to hiring professionals is the reduced paperwork. They will file and procure the necessary permits, making changes when required to fulfill legal parameters. Applying for the permits can be time consuming, especially when undertaking a larger scale project that will involve an addition to the home or expanding a room. Sometimes small adjustments in the design plans will be necessary, and while it will only take a professional a quick reassessment to make some creative changes, it might take an inexperienced renovator hours, days, or weeks to tweak the design accordingly. Someone who has the skill will be familiar with all the mundane but important details of building and zoning codes, which will save you time and frustration. Ensure they sign for the contract in their names to prevent any fines being addressed to you if there is an error.

The most valuable person you can hire to assist with a bathroom remodel is a designer (or architect if adding onto the home). Look for pros who are leaders, not simply artists. A good designer will liaise with contractors, the plumber, electrician, tilers, and painters to ensure that everything is going as planned and meets high standards. They also often know of reputable tradesman to work with and may even have a select team that they use regularly for projects.

If you loath the hands-off approach to renovation, there is no reason why you can’t engage in some work and help oversee tasks. Work with the designer, choose tasks you can accomplish with little supervision or assistance, such as painting, to complete on your own time, or perhaps release a little aggression during the demolition phase. Take an active role in choosing the materials as well as ordering all necessary supplies. There is no reason why you can’t observe the process or even insist on handling some aspects on your own. However, you’ll want to choose a flexible designer who is willing to relinquish some control of operations over to you.

Budgeting for your new bathroom is important. At the lower end, a small renovation will run around the $8,000 mark, but a complete overhaul or addition averages in the $15,000 to $20,000 range. It will cost more if you’re splashing on luxury materials like rainfall showerheads or marble tiles. Hiring professionals such as a plumber or a designer will add a hefty labor fee on top of the required materials, but ultimately it will likely save you money on future repairs. The value you receive is well worth the price.