Remodeling

Making the Most of Your Remodel

Andrea and Ann installing a whirlpool tub.

When you choose to remodel, you are making a commitment to your home.

You may have considered the possibility of moving to a different house. But for whatever reason – friendly neighbors, a wonderful school, financial considerations – you decide to stay. Still, you wonder:

How do we cope with the dingy kitchen with its small window, dark cabinetry, and shortage of counter space?

What can we do for the tired bathroom with poor fixture placement, faded vinyl floor, and plastic-tiled shower walls?

In addition to remodeling existing living areas, you may decide to add usable space to your home. This can range from converting a corner of an unfinished basement into an additional bathroom, to constructing a master bedroom/bath suite in a new addition.

There is a two-fold advantage to remodeling. First, a remodel increases the ease and pleasure of living in your home, since the new space is attractive and functions well. Second, a well-thought-out and tasteful remodel (especially of a kitchen and/or bathroom) can increase the resale value of your home. It is not uncommon to recoup a reasonable portion of your kitchen and bathroom remodel investment upon the sale of your house.

Sink area in new kitchen/dining addition.

A remodel of your existing bath or kitchen can range in scope from purely cosmetic (a new fixture or two), to extensive (new flooring, ceramic tile work, wall/door/window changes). You select the general parameters of the remodel (complexity of project and budget range), while we'll help you identify factors you might not have considered.

For example, older homes that have never been remodeled often require electrical upgrades, structural changes, and new plumbing (drain lines and water supply pipes), which can add an unanticipated cost to the remodel. Whether you actually ask us or not, you may be wondering, "Can't you just make my bathroom look nice? Why should I spend money on something I can't even see?"

Replacement of an old plumbing system with new materials has a number of benefits: you'll have fewer worries about deteriorating and leaking pipes and their related property damage; upgrades to moderncodes allow new fixtures to function properly; and it's a selling point for future resale of your home.

If you're thinking of remodeling, collect as many ideas as possible. Our portfolio and resources pages are a good place to start. Look at magazines and library books; browse plumbing supply showrooms and product catalogs; and attend the local Remodelors Parade. You'll get to know your options (vanity cabinet vs. pedestal sink; two-handle vs. single-handle faucets, etc.), determine your style (classic/traditional, modern, eclectic), and analyze the function you want your remodel to serve. Do you want a shower stall and large vanity top with two sinks for hectic mornings, or a whirlpool tub and steam shower for pampering? Are you preparing your home for retirement living and would like to incorporate Universal Design to enhance accessibility?

Space-saving neo-angle shower unit with obscure glass.

With planning, you'll be able to prioritize those aspects of the remodel which are most important to you.

Remember: it is not uncommon to plan your dream room, and then be struck by the reality of the expense. Bea Day Plumbers strives to make our bids as fair and as realistic as possible. We try to give a bid based on a "typical" remodel, but with a buffer built in for minor surprises. Larger challenges such as floor joists that have been dangerously undermined, weakened plaster which may suddenly give way, or the discovery of termites in a wall just cannot be anticipated. As a general guideline, experts recommend that customers mentally add another 10, 15, even 20% to the total listed on the bid to cover those unexpected circumstances.

When you have a fair idea of what you'd like, contact us. We will schedule a time for Jane to visit your home and look at the project. You can share your ideas and get feedback on your particular remodel plans. Then we'll send you a written bid proposal; when we receive a signed copy of the proposal back from you, your project will become part of our job calendar. And the transformation will begin!

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