Bathroom Remodel: Your FAQs Answered
New Year, new you, new bathroom? The New Year is a great time to take on a bathroom remodel in your home. After the holidays are over, wintertime tends to be a slower sales period for bathroom supplies and fixtures. And since many people attempted to complete their renovations before the holidays, showrooms can be deserted. This means you can receive focused attention from sales staff and potentially an easier time negotiating deals.
If you’re considering giving your boring master bath a makeover or are ready to renovate your hallway bath in 2019, here are some answers to the most commonly asked questions when it comes to bathroom renovations.
How much does a bathroom remodel cost?
According to Remodeling Magazine, in 2018 the nationwide average cost of a hallway bathroom that’s approximately 5-foot by 8-foot is $18,000. Larger master bath projects can easily be twice that much and more. Being a savvy shopper and selecting middle-of-the-road finishes and fixtures can bring that cost down a little.
Bathrooms at the high end of that budget include tearing everything out, adding tile surrounds and installing top-of-the-line fixtures, said Doug Readnower, co-owner of Craftsmen Home Improvements.
“That includes all the luxury items you might want,” Readnower said. “The average for us at Craftsmen can be lower than the national average. We are a remodeler for the masses. We are selling good quality stuff but not at high-end prices.”
What’s the average length of a bathroom remodel?
Every remodeling project has its own timeline built around the homeowner’s needs and desires.
“A typical hallway bathroom is generally one-to-two weeks, once it’s started,” Readnower said. “Larger master baths with a tub and shower, double vanity and tile everywhere would be closer to four-to-five weeks.”
Can I use high-end counter tops in the bathroom?
Luxury bathrooms call for luxury countertops. Long gone are the days of molded plastic countertops. Today’s homeowners are taking the granite and quartz they love in their kitchen and installing it in the master bathroom.
How can I make my shower a showpiece?
Like molded plastic counter tops, molded showers are also being installed less frequently in homes. With so many ceramic tile choices – from colors, to patterns, and mixing and matching different options – ceramic shower surrounds with glass door enclosures are an excellent way to make smaller spaces feel larger and create a work of art.
Are there things we can do in the bathroom that are different or unique?
If you want to make your bathroom stand out, you could select unique fixtures, finishes or colors. However, if you also want your new bathroom to stand the test of time, permanent parts of the remodel aren’t always the best places to show off your unique flair. Remember the pink square tiles from the 1950s?
One unique option would be to install a rolling barn door instead of a standard bathroom door. If or when trends change, a door is relatively easy to switch out. Then you can finish off the bathroom with unique art, towels and other accents to show off your personal style.
If a bathroom renovation is at the top of your list for home projects to tackle in 2019, don’t delay. Get your budget in order, select an experienced contractor, and start visiting showrooms today. With an experienced contractor on your side, you could be enjoying your new bathroom before the daffodils start blooming.
Trends can be fun to keep up with. When it comes to clothing, trendy pieces can be enticing to try on – pastels, pleats, poet sleeves. If you don’t love the look, you’re only out a little bit of money, and you might even be able to resell the fashion and recoup some cash.
2. Open concept floor plans: As seen on HGTV, more homeowners continue to request the open concept floor plan when it’s time to 
4. Larger showers: A trend in master baths is to remove the existing tub and utilize the space for a larger shower. This provides more elbow room in the shower and allows for amenities like a built-in seat, handheld shower fixture, and beautiful tile surround.
Minimalism isn’t just a buzzword. It’s a thought process of simplification you can implement throughout your life, in an effort to reduce the amount of clutter and stress.
2. Declutter surfaces: When items are left on coffee tables, desktops and dressers, a room quickly feels cluttered. Even necessary items left out can make a space feel messy. Sure the knife block is necessary, but does it need to be on the counter? Is there a way to organize your knives in a drawer, eliminating duplicates and keeping only the ones you use? Go through each room and attempt to remove anything that sits on top of furniture then find a new place for it. Pay particular attention to mail and paperwork; create a system for dealing with the paper before it gets put into piles.
4. Buy quality: As you assess the contents of your home, and need fewer items, it allows you to focus on making higher-quality purchases. Focusing on quality over quantity will help ensure you keep the minimalist approach and increase the likelihood that you’ll appreciate the items you do have.
Kitchen remodels don’t happen every day. When the time comes to 
2.Make room to move: Many homeowners naturally focus their designs on storage and counter space, but leaving space for wide walkways is just as important. Wide walkways enable people in your home to move and work harmoniously in the kitchen. Wide walkways are also important for accommodating extra people on special occasions, which makes your kitchen space better able to meet your needs year-round.
4.Set up task stations: To prevent members of your household from getting in each other’s way, set up your kitchen with task stations, where different projects and stages of food preparation can be completed by different people. Each task station will need workspace, a light source and an appliance or fixture to accommodate completion of a task (i.e., a task sink for rinsing vegetables, an oven for baking and cooking, etc.).
When you work hard for your money, like we all do, you want to be sure you’re spending it wisely. And when it comes to home ownership, some investments are required to keep your home maintained from year to year. Other expenditures are made in the way of improvements.
Kitchens
Bathrooms
Much of a 
Do you have a high-use kitchen?
Is cost a factor in your decision?
Will you be happy with a man-made substitute?
Family gatherings, meals shared, presents gifted – the holidays are just around the corner. Don’t dig out the boxes of decorations just yet. You might want to consider giving your bathroom a “mini-facelift” before your guests arrive. Who needs tinsel when a shiny new faucet can add some extra sparkle to your holidays?
3. Add new fixtures: A 
6. Refresh the lighting: A new pendant light above the vanity or beautiful new sconces alongside the bathroom mirror might be the perfect touch in your bathroom this holiday season. With endless options to choose from, including geometric shapes and unique finishes like brushed gold, you might be surprised how a simple lighting update can change your space.
Without a major addition, it’s pretty impossible to add square footage to your home. But what do you do when you’re busting at the seams?
Craftsmen Home Improvements has the solution: a 
When it comes to finishing basements, flooring choices are important, too. Many homeowners want to put carpet in basements, but that’s not recommended. Carpet also harbors moisture.