BATHROOM RENOVATION GUIDELINES
A bathroom redo is disruptive. It costs time and money and may even produce a few gray hairs. Luckily, when you redo your bathroom with Studium Dekor, there is a process and structure to minimize errors and disruptions.
Renovating a bathroom is about putting together lots of moving parts. That beautiful design you choose won’t appear in your home overnight.
This renovation guideline is about easing the process, so you know what’s happening at each stage, what to expect, and how to deal with it.
There is a process to follow and detailed information to investigate, but the result—the installation of your new bathroom—is worth it. Please review our suggestions for the steps you can take to make the process as smooth as possible.
IMPORTANT NOTES
Your bathroom blueprints will include the necessary information required for a seamless installation, such as the tile and lighting layout, and general notes when applicable.
The blueprints are very intuitively designed. It’s meant to help you become the manager of your own project. If you have any questions, please speak with your on-site contractor, and don’t hesitate to contact us for support on any lingering questions or doubts.
Try to resist the temptation to change your plans unless financial constraints or problems arise.
Changing your plans will create hidden expenses, delay contractors, necessitate the ordering of new items, and push out your completion date.
Please print out your blueprints and stick them outside the bathroom wall so that you and your contractor can refer to them at all times.
Make sure someone is at home at all times during the renovation process; if they can’t be, make sure that a copy of the key is made or that a lockbox is accessible.
BEFORE THE RENOVATION STARTS
Home renovation is disruptive, and your wellness must be prioritized during this phase. Let’s make sure every detail is discussed and handled in advance.
PARKING PERMIT: If applicable in your area, make sure you have a parking permit available for two vehicles before the renovation starts. We recommend reserving it for the expected duration of the project plus one extra week, to be on the safe side.
ACCESS: If you leave home early for work and return later in the afternoon, make sure you organize a copy of your keys and/or codes that contractors may need to access your home.
FUSE BOX and COCK STOP: Show the contractor where your electrical fuse box and cock stops are located in your house because they will need to access them.
DUST CONTROL: The contractor will protect flooring and carpeting along the route to the bathroom and the adjacent doors to the bathroom; however, we strongly suggest that you arrange your own sealing with plastic and tape to protect your home, furniture, and belongings against dust and damage.
STAGING AREA: Define a work zone or space in your home to store all materials upon their delivery. Prep this area by clearing it out and protecting the floors and any remaining furniture, keeping child and pet safety in mind.
RECEIVING THE MATERIALS: Upon receiving your materials, place them all in the designated space as suggested above. Along with your delivery, there will be a product checklist for every item from your shopping list, so you can make sure every item has been delivered. If there are any discrepancies between the checklist and the products delivered, you must report it to Studium Dekor within 48 hours of receiving them. After this period, we will no longer be able to track any missing items. Here is an example of what to do:
TRASH: Define a space inside or outside your home where demolition debris can be stored on a daily basis before the contractors clear it, and advise the on-site contractor of the allocated space. As different contractors may attend the site for different purposes, please print out the location instructions on A4 paper, and stick it in a visible place where anyone can see it. This will ensure no debris is left around your home during the project.
CONTRACTOR TOOLS: Please allocate a space where the contractor can leave their tools at the end of each day’s work, and instruct them that all the materials, tools, and equipment must be stored in the same place every day. Remember, you are your own on-site “project manager,” meaning you are responsible for ensuring the process is as seamless as possible for you and your family. As different contractors may attend the site during the construction phase, be prepared to reinforce your tool storage policy when required without letting non-adherents get on your nerves (it’s just the nature of the work and, sometimes, the people).
NEIGHBORS: Especially if you live in a building or block of apartments, please make sure you notify your neighbors about the noisy work that will take place during working hours. People are working more and more from home these days, and although you are legally working during working hours, people can be very sensitive to noise. Please notify them of your schedule in advance.
DAILY CHECK-IN WITH CONTRACTOR: As you are the on-site project manager, please check in with your contractor(s) on a daily basis, making sure everything is under control, asking to see if they have any questions, and ensuring everything is going according to plan. This will give you peace of mind and allow you to proactively tackle any issues before they become problems. And if anything you can’t handle comes up, don’t worry—we’ll be there for you.
COMPLETION DATE: As you may already know, bathroom renovations take approximately four weeks; however, this is an estimate and not a firm timeline. Every now and then, check in with the contractor about the estimated completion date. That being said, don’t pressure them. Aim for a quality result rather than a speedy one. Many unexpected factors can affect the original plan, causing potential delays to your project. If anything happens, just stay calm—and remember, you’re not alone.
PORTABLE TOILET: If you have only one bathroom and require a portable toilet, you are responsible for organizing it. Be mindful of where it will be placed (consider the neighbors) and how often it will be serviced, including the cost of things like daily cleanup.
STREAMLINE BATHROOM AND SHOWER PRODUCTS: If you’re renovating more than one bathroom in your home, the number of people using the available bathroom may double or triple. It will take some planning to figure out how everyone will function while sharing the space. Slim down your product clutter by sharing shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. This prevents too many plastic bottles from crowding up your bathroom space.
SCHEDULE EVERYONE’S BATHROOM ROUTINES: Think about what everyone’s bathroom habits are. Mornings are especially busy, so you may decide to take turns on who gets the first shower. Prevent bathroom traffic jams by moving some bathroom functions to other spaces. Transform a bedroom area into a dressing table for hair and makeup. If you’ve been planning on joining the gym, now’s the time! Not only will it motivate you to work out, but you can grab your shower there afterward.
FOCUS ON THE END RESULT: Renovating a bathroom while living in your home is not for the fainthearted. Construction zones are anything but Zen. But you can gaze at your installation package and bathroom design as often as you need. Just know that there’s a light at the end of this dusty tunnel.
