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Remodeling is no easy chore, and it isn't cheap.
But getting your ideas and your mate's in a plan with a budget
offers the best possible outcome.
Dream, dream big. Then realistically match your top goals to your
time, resources, skills and budget, and be prepared to negotiate out
or down on the less important elements; you might substitute ceramic
or a newer material tile for marble; choose an all-in-one tub
surround or shower in place of costlier materials. Decide what is
most important to you and your family in the room you are
remodeling.
Don't hurry. Gather your ideas, cut magazine pictures, use favorite
colors from artwork or photos, and ask others what they like as a
guide; decide what elements of a remodel are a priority - windows,
hardware, heating and cooling, use of space, flooring, lighting,
ceilings, walls, electrical, and fixtures; and use a coordinated
theme of modern or some classic style.
Start a budget, get specific pricing of materials and create a rough
estimate of costs.
When you know what you want to achieve consult a professional who
will guide you on where you should spend up or scale down, can
recognize conflicts with your design desires, and will allow you to
do the work you might want to do yourself.
This is the real-life story of a Popeye and Olive Oyl (names changed
to protect the innocent and for analogy purposes, somebody needs to
be the hero in every renovation,) both of whom are quite handy and
experienced in basic home renovations. When the couple made their
third home purchase, it was the home of their dreams. They were
young yet, spry with plenty of ideas and energy, and had skills
gained in the prior home ownerships.
The over 100-year-old farm house offered the country solitude they
sought. It had good bones and held a lifetime worth of opportunities
to renovate room by room, which they began quickly and completed in
a decade; except for one, two if you count the other like room
upstairs they planned to do in the same period.
The problem room that created a snarl was their downstairs bathroom.
This is the story of Popeye and Olive Oyl:
It took years of analyzing the
problems: It's an old farmhouse, with radiators, a drafty ceiling
vent, year-round access for the insects that like to come in for the
winter. The stand-alone shower didn't give much room in the event we
needed some handicap accessibility, which ironically, we did as soon
as we finished. The window and radiator took up space on the outside
wall. The plumbing layout for the shower, sink, toilet and radiators
needed to be adjusted or completely moved. Not to mention the ugly
plastic tile that needed to go. Ugh!
I started writing down all the little details, and making some phone
calls to the plumbing and heating company that we do business with.
I asked for recommendations on a suitable contractor, and they did
not disappoint. Take note here: any good contractor is busy, Really
busy. That's a good thing, so patience is needed. If you find
somebody that can start next week, there's a pretty good reason why
they don't have a waiting list.
Plan ahead. Way ahead. Have your thoughts written down, do some
research on what you like as far as design and materials, and get
some pictures ready. Anticipate a sizable budget if you want it done
right. The bathroom is the most permanent room in your home as far
as fixtures go, so I recommend doing it right the first time. Keep
all the fixtures classic. Splurge on the bath towels and shower
curtain if you want something trendy.
Once I had a tentative game plan, we discussed who would do what.
Popeye wanted to save money, he was more of the do-it-yourself
thinker. Since this is our main bathroom, we work full time, and are
getting too [#!] old to be gutting and remodeling, I just wanted it
done. I was willing to pay for this job just to get it done, done
right, and sooner rather than later."
The upstairs bathroom was completed last spring with Popeye and
Olive doing nearly all the work. It took just over a month. That
renovation didn't involve moving any plumbing, and they hired the
floor done by a contractor.
Now come-what-may after three decades waiting, they met with both a
contractor and a plumber to discuss the issues at hand for the main
downstairs bathroom.
Olive continued, "There were still things we hadn't considered. The
plumber could work up an estimate. The contractor doing the rest of
the work couldn't, due to potential surprises once the walls were
opened up.
We were on board regardless, as it needed to be done.
As a compromise, Popeye wanted to gut the walls and ceiling to save
money and time for the contractor. Yes, we found some surprises
along the way. Olive's advice: Take pictures as you go.
Once the work was coordinated between the contractors and a start
date was set, it was show-time!
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The radiator was changed out
to a baseboard slim-line, and the window was replaced with a high
horizontal one, allowing more room for towel hooks and shelving. The
vanity was replaced with a longer one, necessitating the soil pipe
and sink plumbing be moved over. The shower fixtures were built into
the opposite end of the built-in stall to be more in line with the
ceiling fan for better circulation. Part of the sub-floor needed to
be replaced; and waterproof, slip-proof laminate flooring was
installed.
Again, keep it classic, not trendy.
Extra outlets were added in several places. Once the walls and
ceiling were opened up, insulation was replaced, and gaps in the
outside structure were tightened up. Since the window was relocated,
the outside of the house needed to be addressed as well.
The hardest part of the project was designing it. I picked out all
the materials, including the sink and tub fixtures. Contractor-grade
fixtures are superior in quality to the box-store selections, so
expect some expense for better materials. Again, you get what you
pay for.
Deciding what color fixtures, vanity, mirror and paint was almost
overwhelming. Shades of white made the room look larger, brighter,
and clean. It was a good choice for our project.
The project was expected to take a few weeks. It took a month. The
cost was over what I budgeted for, but I expected it and made sure
we had enough saved up to cover it. It was so worth having somebody
else do the work. I joked with the contractor that this was the
first time in my life that I actually paid somebody to PAINT. He was
great to work with, and it turned out exactly as I wanted.
My parting advice: Bathrooms are tough. Hire a contractor to do a
professional job, and you should only have to do it once. Work out
your expectations ahead of time with your spouse. The smart ones say
"Yes dear" and will be grateful when the project is finished.
I lost a lot of sleep over that project, sometimes thinking the
worst or questioning the choices I made. Popeye was pretty much
hands-off. He had no vision, and once he figured out it was getting
done and I had already done all the homework and saved for it, he
just stopped arguing about how he was going to do it.
The contractors made it clear it wasn't quite so easy to fix what
needed to be done. Glad it's over!]
In the cartoon 'Popeye,' Olive Oyl is his love interest. Getting
into dilemmas she makes him her hero saying, "Oh, dear! Help!
Popeye!" His common response on settling things is, "I yams what I
yams, and tha's all I yams." And everything always worked out for
the couple in the end. Find your cartoon hero model, maybe it's
Wonder Woman, and enjoy the process of making something better.
Remember as you plan and work, you are making a life together and
you want your mate to enjoy the process and the success too.
Overview:
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Set your design and cost goals.
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Learn the art of compromise.
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Play to each others strengths.
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Set a time line.
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Start saving and plan for unexpected costs.
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Write it down who will be doing what.
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Keep a sense of humor.
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Listen to one another.
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Be
patient.
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Expect dust and delays.
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Once you start, keep your eye on the goal, and keep track of
costs.
When done, celebrate! You and yours will enjoy
your renewed space for years to come.
[Jan Youngquist]
Other handy
articles on keeping a marriage together while remodeling a home:
Newly Woodwards offer solid advice to couples
remodeling their home, based on real experiences
Home Source gives great advice and direction
Couples strategy to improve their shared
property and domicile
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