A home without enough bathrooms can be a frustrating place to live. If you need another bathroom in your home, an experienced Connecticut contractor can make that possible. Good planning is essential for ensuring a good bathroom addition experience.
Planning starts with you, the homeowner. Following steps like planning goals for your addition, creating a budget, vetting contractors, and signing a contract can help ensure a successful project.
Without a list of goals, your home improvement can easily go off the rails or fail to meet your needs. To avoid this problem, create a list of problems your bathroom addition must fix, or a list of goals to accomplish. Some examples of bathroom addition goals include:
Once the list of goals has been created, it'll be there to help you throughout other stages of the planning process. Share the goals with contractors that you're considering for the job, so you can use the list to generate ideas.
Every home addition needs a budget. Knowing your budget can help you avoid overspending and will help control project scope.
Your budget may change slightly as the project develops, but it's important to know your limits and have a maximum threshold you don't want to exceed. Give this information to contractors as you meet with them (in step 3). If your budget is too small for your goals, good contractors will have a realistic conversation about your expectations and may be able to help you revise your project accordingly.
The cost of a bathroom addition in Connecticut can vary. If you're converting an existing space into a bathroom, for example, you can expect to spend less than if you're adding to your home's footprint. Bathroom features also play a role. Half baths are usually more affordable, while full bathroom additions take more time and require big purchases like a tub or shower.
Bathroom additions can cost anywhere from $250 per square foot to $500 per square foot, or more, depending on your expectations. Meeting with contractors will help you decide what is realistic for your project.
Vetting contractors is an essential step in any home improvement, especially a bathroom addition. Meet with at least three contractors who have helped homeowners with similar projects in the past.
Contractors with direct knowledge of this type of project are less likely to make bidding errors and will have the knowledge needed to streamline the process. You can expect a better experience overall and less stress when you're working with an experienced, reputable contractor.
As you're meeting with contractors, get references. Ask questions relating to the project. Choose a contractor with a Connecticut license and a plan for taking your project from start to finish.
A design-build contractor will be able to create a concept that you can look at, edit, and approve. This design will help refine and clarify your idea while giving your contractor a plan.
Every big home improvement requires a contract. The contract should include a thorough scope of work, detailed information about costs and payment schedule, a summary of your rights and responsibilities, permitting information, and more. Read the contract thoroughly before signing, and don't sign anything that you don't agree with or feel comfortable with.
If you have questions, ask the contractor. Get clarity on any parts that you don't understand before signing on the dotted line. Once you've signed a contract, keep a copy for yourself.
Your contractor will likely send you to a material supplier (or several suppliers) to explore material options. The contractor may come with you or may connect you with a salesperson who can help you choose the materials for your addition.
Having an idea of your preferred aesthetic may help your contractor direct you to the right supplier. Collect pictures of bathroom remodels you admire to give to your contractor. You may share a Pinterest board or send pictures via your phone to make this process easier.
Once you've signed a contract and have selected the materials for your bathroom addition, you'll wait for the contractor to begin work. Good contractors can require customers to wait a long time, as they are often booked for months in advance.
Your contractor will give you a start date and will let you know how to prepare your space for the upcoming project. Bathroom additions are not fast, so you'll need to prepare for a contractor to be on your property for a while following the project start date. Your contractor will tell you what to expect and how you can prepare for workers to be in your space.
Building a bathroom addition can fix many problems around the house while also adding value to your home. Before building your new bathroom, start your project off right. Download our free guide to choosing an experienced Connecticut contractor.
If you'd like to talk about your project with a contractor that homeowners trust, contact us to schedule an appointment for an in-person consultation. With over 25 years experience in the construction industry, we can help turn your project into a success.