Clients are often surprised by the many decisions involved in a home remodeling project. If you’ve never remodeled, the process can seem overwhelming. At Next Stage Design, the role of a designer is to help navigate and make the process easier. If you are planning a remodel, this bathroom remodeling checklist will give you an idea of what decisions to plan for and anticipate. While remodeling, most installations are dependent on the successful install of something previous to it. For example, countertops can’t be measured and fabricated until the vanity is installed. Showers are another area with many decisions. Read our blog post about high end shower options for inspiration in planning your wish list!
Bathroom Checklist
Tub and shower
The first design decision for your new bath is whether you will have a separate tub and shower, a combination tub/shower, or just a walk-in shower. Roughing in the plumbing locations is one of the first construction milestones after the demo of a bathroom. Selecting and ordering plumbing fixtures is a critical first step in keeping your construction schedule on track.
Shower niche
When thinking of your shower space, keep in mind storage for toiletries and if you want a built-in niche. Niches are constructed during the framing stage. Once the drywall goes up, it’s costly to add one.
Flooring
Flooring is a key component in your materials palette and should be considered early on, when you are looking at cabinetry and tile. It’s important to understand the flooring thickness and its relationship to the cabinetry and transitions to flooring in other rooms.
Tile is the most common flooring choice for bathrooms because it holds up so well to moisture. In recent years, we’ve seen a growing trend for faux wood tile on bathroom floors and walls.
Drain
Planning for the shower drain is sometimes an overlooked detail in bathroom planning. This is an important selection to add to your plumbing list and order early.
Shower fixtures
Shower valves are installed early in the construction process, before the walls are closed with sheet rock. Order your fixtures and valves early and always ask about lead times. A delay in the plumbing installation has a domino effect on your construction schedule!
Shower bench
Do you plan to add a shower bench inside of the shower? Decide early so it is framed up before the walls are closed. This is a popular feature with Next Stage Design clients and one of many high end shower options. Read our list of other popular options.
Grab bars
At Next Stage Design, we recommend clients consider a few behind-the-scenes options to make universal design an easier option down the road.
For example, while you might not be ready for a grab bar in your new shower, we often install the blocking to support a future grab bar behind your new tile. That way, if the need arises to add a grab bar later, we can drill into the tile for an easy install as opposed to tearing out the new tile and starting from scratch.
Tile at shower: walls and floor
Tiling the shower walls and floor is another step performed once the cement board installation is complete. Make your tile selections early. If it is a special order item, plan accordingly!
Accent tile
Will your new bathroom design includes a tiled backsplash or other decorative tile application? Will you need to order bullnose or pencil tile while making your tile selections?
Grout colors
Another nitty gritty detail to consider is the grout color to pair with your tile selections. Making that decision early helps prevent delays during tile installation.
Vanity type and storage needs
The style and size vanity you select will influence other selections on your bathroom materials checklist. Will there be two sinks or one? Will the plumbing be deck mounted or wall mounted? What types of storage space will you need?
Sinks
Selecting sinks typically happens in tandem with cabinetry design. Again, order this item early. The countertop fabricator will need the sinks in order to fabricate the counter.
Countertop
Determine your countertop and edge profile while you are defining your cabinetry. At Next Stage Design, we specify a lot of marble-like quartz counters, from manufacturers like Cambria and Caesarstone. Popular profiles can have long lead times. Always ask about availability before falling in love with a counter that is backordered!
Shower threshold
If you plan to use the same material for your shower threshold as you selected for the countertop, plan ahead. That’s because the installation of frameless glass shower doors, or any shower doors for that matter, hinge on the completion of the main body of the shower. Frameless glass typically takes two weeks to produce from the date of measuring, so plan backward from there!
Shower enclosure
At around the same time you select your shower threshold, it’s time to select the kind of shower enclosure you want. Frameless glass takes a bit more lead time than a pre-made door. Furthermore, the installed cannot measure your shower doors before the shower is built and tiled.
Recessed medicine cabinets or mirrors
Like the shower niche, a recessed medicine cabinet requires framing. Review early on with your remodeler if medicine cabinets are feasible in your space, as often plumbing venting can be in the way of installing medicine cabinets.
Sink faucets
Sink faucets can be installed on the countertop (deck-mounted) or wall-mounted. Determining your faucet type is a critical first decision for the plumber.
Toilet
The toilet is one of the last items installed during a bathroom renovation but is one of the first items worked on during the rough plumbing install.
Accessories: towel bars, robe hooks, toilet paper holder, knobs/pulls, etc.
Even though these items comprise the finishing touches on your bathroom remodel, they are still a vital part of the checklist! Plan early for the specific locations of these items.
Ventilation fan
If your current bath does not include a ventilation fan, you will need to plan for one to pass inspection. Review local code requirements with your remodeling contractor.
Decorative and recessed lighting
Many homeowners are opting to install recessed LED lighting and skip any decorative lighting, however this is pure design preference. Your remodeling designer should help you determine lighting plan.
One of the primary reasons San Jose homeowners love to work with Next Stage Design is because we have designers and project managers on staff who help walk you through the decision-making process. If you are ready to remodel your bathroom and you live in Santa Clara County, don’t let this bathroom renovation checklist scare you off. Call us today for a free consultation!
