Should you surface remodel the bathroom or tear it all out and start over?
It depends on your budget, the level of dissatisfaction you have with the current bathroom, as well as the workability of what is there now. Home Renovations has an excellent article on this topic that covers all the bases – from budgeting and financing, to the levels of remodels that can be done and their general costs.
I’ll list the general topics the author, Lee Wallender, covers, but for all the information, use the link and read his article. He discusses the complications of moving plumbing fixtures and other issues that can come up in a complete remodel and lays out simpler levels of bathroom renovation.
- How far do you want to go?
- Change layout
- Complete tear-out/remodel
- Financing your bathroom remodel
- Remodel bathroom yourself or hire a contractor?
- Contractor licenses
- Permits
- Changing the layout of your bathroom
- New bathroom walls, joists and other structural elements
- Shower and tub repair, refinishing, or replacement
- Bathroom flooring
As you can see from this list of Lee’s topics, bathroom remodeling is not for the faint-hearted, and it can be costly – research the options beforehand so you will know what you are getting into. Every bathroom is different, and its individual restrictions and possibilities need to be evaluated to be sure of the best outcome.
