How to remodel your bathroom

Having just finished with this very project less than a week ago and thinking back on the experience, I wanted to share some tips to help you should you find yourself taking on a bathroom remodel (which, just so you know, is probably the most difficult room we could possibly pick to start with).  We completely gutted it and then redid it from scratch and here is what we learned:

Scheduling:  There is no good time to do a project like this. You will not have use of the bathroom for about 2 weeks and that just doesn't fit into anyone's ideal schedule.  Ever.  Therefore, spend at least 6 months to a year beforehand talking about it to the point that your spouse is so sick of hearing about it that he doesn't think twice about agreeing when you propose that this is a good time to get started (ok, so maybe it's possible that he did question if I really wanted to do this more than once, but he did finally give in to my insistence, so the end result is the same) because, you know, we just got back from a two week vacation and we have company coming in a month, so there won't be any procrastination. It's the perfect time.  Plus, it should only take a few days...which brings me to my next tip.  Estimate how much time you think it will take.  Double it.  Just trust me on this - several steps involve drying time, people - don't forget the dry time.  For an extra element of suspense and adventure, start during a time when you have PMS and cramps.  What better combination for success could there be?

Cost:  Estimate how much this little adventure will cost by going to every home improvement store in a 30 mile radius and compare the costs and style of everything you will need - tub, toilet, vanity.  Get home and realize you forgot to look at faucets.  Make another trip.  Realize you forgot about showerheads and mirrors.  Spend two or three days and a tank of gas estimating the cost of your project. Then double it. Decide you really don't like the vanities offered and decide to make your own custom one because seriously, it's got to cost less than the premade ones. Spend another day going to furniture store outlets trying to figure out what you do want.  Change your mind about everything you've decided prior to this and decide to just buy as needed for each stage of the project. Plus it hurts less to pay a little at a time as opposed to a huge amount all at once.  Add extra for the unexpected cost of tools (see below).

Supplies:  You will need specific tools for some parts of the remodel, like taking the tub in and out.  You won't have the tool you need.  Borrow one from your neighbor, but understand there is a 50/50 chance that it will also not be the right one and that you will have to go buy it anyway.  Do not assume that everything comes with all items needed for installation.  Most do not.  Do not attempt to follow the included diagrams or directions - they might as well be written in another language.  After an hour of frustration, take half assembled faucet assembly to the home improvement store 10 minutes before they close but after the department manager has gone home and let the assistant manager show you how easy it really is, so you feel like an idiot (especially since your husband wanted to try that and you told him it absolutely wouldn't work if he did).  Throw away all the extra parts that are included just to confuse you more even though you don't actually need them.  Call around to tool rental places, but realize that the money you thought you saved by making the vanity is now going to be spent on new necessities such as wet saws and chipping blades.  Beware of cheap mirrors - they may have a pretty frame, but you may end up with funhouse style mirrors that will have to be returned after your kids invite their friends over to see how funny they look in them.  Remember, real glass is good!

Labor:  This seems self-evident since it is a "do-it-yourself" project that this means you and the spouse, but don't underestimate two things: your children and the people that work at the home improvement stores.  The children (depending on their ages of course) you can use for actual labor, running back and forth with the tile that is a little too big and has to be cut again because you measured wrong the first time, or bringing you cups of ice water to drink, or as the photographer taking pictures of every step to document the entire project, or as the lucky one who gets to hand you hundreds of tile spacers (which according to my children is, and I quote, "the most boring job EVER!".)  The home improvement people won't actually come to work for you BUT they can save you a lot of time and frustration by answering questions (or add to them, depending on who you are talking to - honestly, it could go either way).  However, once you find your go-to guy at the home improvement store, introduce yourself as his new best friend and let him know you will be seeing alot of him.  Multiple times a day.  Every. Single. Day.

And there you have it.  I have to say there were several moments where I was more than a little nervous about how it was all going to turn out.  But I am pretty proud of ourselves, as it actually turned out looking pretty good.  We made lots of mistakes and learned mostly by trial and error, but now we know for next time.  There is a master bathroom just calling out for help and now I feel confident that we can answer that call - just not today.