What to Expect in a Master Bath Remodel

Are you thinking about remodeling your Master Bath? If so, there are many decisions and preparations that need to be made before the construction begins. Remodeling your bathroom also brings on stress because you have people working in your home, and the construction can mess up your daily routines. To minimize stress and help prepare you for the remodel, below are 7 things you should expect when remodeling your master bath.

Expect to move out of your Master Bedroom

Most people don’t think about how much dust can accumulate during a Master Bath project. During the Demolition process, dust is accumulated from drywall and/or tile removal.  When installing new drywall and sanding it down, it creates even more dust throughout the area. Even though the work is not being done in the Master Bedroom, some of the dust still finds it’s way into the space. This can be distressing for homeowners during the project because nothing ever feels clean in the room. To minimize the amount of dust, we use a HIPPA filter that runs during demo and drywall to help eliminate any dust in the air. We use plastic zip walls to block off any area that is not being worked in. We also put plastic over the bed and any furniture in the room as well. The plastic won’t be removed until after the drywall and painting is completed and a cleaning has taken place.

Expect to box up some of your belongings in your master bath/bedroom

Because you are “moving out” of your bedroom, you should also take the necessity items with you. This would include clothes that you need daily access to and anything stored in your bathroom you might need. Some people keep first aid, linens/sheets, extra towels, etc. in their master or bathroom closet. Even if that closet is not being worked in, those items should be boxed up or moved to a different location of the home for easy access when you need them. Otherwise, going in and out of a work zone will maximize the tracking of dust, drywall, paint, etc. throughout your home and risk getting it onto those items.

Expect a covered pathway from your house entry to the master bath

When you have multiple trades coming in and out of your home daily, lots of dirt/dust can be tracked in. To minimize this, we use RAM Board and Carpet Protection to create a path from the entry point to the area under construction. This helps to keep any dirt from getting on your floors.

Expect your utilities to be turned off during demolition

To minimize the risk of leaks and hot electrical wires being out in the open, the demo crew will turn off your main water access, and turn off your electric to your home while they are demo-ing your master bath.

Expect loud noises throughout the construction process

At times throughout the remodel, there will be loud hammering noises, tile saws, sanding, and drilling. If you work from home, this can be a disturbance to your work or colleagues. Make plans to find a room that’s not close to the construction, have headphones, or possibly find an area to work at outside of your home for the day. Also, because of the hammering and drilling, plan to remove any pictures, shelves, or keepsakes from shared walls so it takes away the risk of them falling off. An example would be if your master bath shares a wall with your living room – if you have anything hanging on that wall in your living room, you should remove it so it does not fall off while someone is hammering on the other side of the wall.

Locate an area inside or outside of your home for materials

Throughout the remodel, there needs to be a designated space for materials to be stored at. This area is referred to as a Staging area. Typical materials that are kept at job sites are extra RAM board/floor protection, and materials being reused (ex. Trim/Casing, Door, Toilet, etc.), and new materials (flooring/tile, sink, vanity, tub, shower fixtures, etc.) When the trades are working at your site, the process goes quicker and smoother when the materials they need are already on site. This also helps your project manager keep track of all the materials and confirm every item is there. The ideal place for the materials is in a garage or a room close to the master bath.

Expect to have a dumpster and porta-potty outside of your home

Depending on how much of your master bath is being demoed, a dumpster may be needed on site for the old materials to be put in. Also expect a dumpster to stay on site until drywall and tile is done so any cut or unsavable pieces can be thrown away. Other items that contribute to trash include the plastic removal, floor protection, and boxes the new fixtures come in. Porta-Potty’s are also a necessity to have on job sites for our workers. We don’t want to disrupt your home life anymore than necessary, so we have porta-potties outside. This way you are able to use your other bathroom(s) in peace and not worry about it getting dirty from the construction process.

Below is an example of a recent Master Bathroom Remodel Process. The construction process took about 10 weeks, and the final check through and shower glass install took about 2 weeks.

This post is an adaptation from https://www.weather.gov/mqt/redflagtips. Not an original blog.

Have you noticed an increase of fire breakouts in your area? Or gotten alerts for Red Flag Watches/Warnings? As the year is approaching summer, the days are getting hotter, strong winds are coming through, and the humidity has been very low. These are all conditions of an environment that could produce dangerous fires. 

If you are outside during a Red Flag Watch/Warning, her are some tips to remember: 

– If you are allowed to burn in your area, all burn barrels must be covered with a weighted metal cover, with holes no larger than 3/4 of an inch.

– Do not throw cigarettes or matches out of a moving vehicle. They may ignite dry grass on the side of the road and become a wildfire.

– Extinguish all outdoor fires properly. Drown fires with plenty of water and stir to make sure everything is cold to the touch. Dunk charcoal in water until cold. Do not throw live charcoal on the ground and leave it.

– Never leave a fire unattended. Sparks or embers can blow into leaves or grass, ignite a fire, and quickly spread.

– If you have recently laid down mulch, be sure to water it right after putting it down and keep it damp as if it dries out too much, it can combust and create a fire. 

– Make sure your fire/smoke detectors are up to date

– Set a fire emergency plan/route and a meet up location with your family in case of a house fire. 

For more information, check out this other blog on Red Flag Warnings at https://www.npr.org/2023/04/14/1169979511/red-flag-warning-fire-prevention-tips#:~:text=What%20should%20you%20do%20if,issues%20%E2%80%94%20are%20during%20the%20day.

This post is an adaptation from https://www.bereadylexington.com/ and https://insurance.ky.gov/ppc/Documents/beforeafterstorm071817.pdf . Not an original blog.

Weather Damage to Your Home? What Should You Do?

After recent weather events, many people in Kentucky have experienced Weather Damages to their homes. If you have never experienced weather damage to your home, here are some tips to keep in mind when assessing the damage.

1. Do not repair or clean up anything until you file an insurance claim and have an adjuster come look at your home to assess the damage. If it is necessary to clean up, then take many pictures, videos, and notes of what was damaged.
2. Meet with your insurance company adjuster first before signing anything with contractors, lawyers or public adjusters.
3. Make sure your address is visible from the street.
4. Create a detailed list of what is damaged and what you would like to show to your adjuster. When the adjuster arrives, make sure to ask for identification, their business card and information to reach them at. Ask any questions if you don’t understand while talking about the damage and next steps.
5. Keep all receipts of items purchased to secure your property after cleaning the damage. This can include items like tarps, shop/wet-vacs, etc. Also record the time you spent on securing your property.
6. Keep a record of conversations with insurance personnel and other officials – including the person’s name, the time, date, and a summary of what you talked about.
7. Once you are ready for repairs to begin, be sure to find reputable licensed, and insured contractors. Ask people you trust for recommendations.
8. Do not deal with “fly-by-night” roofers or remodelers who go door-to-door, especially those not known in your community or those who offer greatly reduced prices because they say they just completed work nearby and claim to have materials left over.
9. Don’t be afraid to ask for identification, especially if money is changing hands, and proof of general liability and workers’ compensation insurance.
10. Don’t spend a lot of money on temporary repairs. Remember that payments for temporary repairs are part of the total settlement. If you pay a contractor a large sum for a temporary repair job, you may not have enough money for permanent repairs.
11. Insist on a written contract that includes a description of the work, total cost and completion date.

For more information and a checklist of what you should do when reporting and repairing weather damages, go to https://insurance.ky.gov/ppc/Documents/beforeafterstorm071817.pdf

This post is an adaptation from https://www.mrcooper.com/blog/9-tips-for-finishing-a-basement/, not an entirely original blog.

 Are You Thinking About Finishing Your Basement?

Finishing out a basement can be a daunting task, but with the right guidance, you can have a cozy, functional room to host family, watch tv, or have a game night! There are also plenty of other reasons to finish your basement, some include changing the value of your home, better insulation, and creating organized storage spaces.

1. Finishing out your basement can increase the value and square footage of your home

The first thing people look at when searching for a home is how much square footage and how many bedrooms are in the home. An unfinished basement is not considered living square-footage, but when you condition and finish it out, that square footage is added on, thus making the value of your home go up. If your basement allows for it and it meets code, you could even add an additional bedroom and bath, which would also increase the sell value of your home.

2. Finished Basements provide better insulation to pipes

In the winter months, freezing pipes can become a big issue. Unfinished basements tend to be on the colder side, and that can be a risk for any plumbing you might have down there. When finishing your basement, you can insulate the pipes to keep them from losing heat, and also to prevent condensation. Finishing your basement also helps insulate your flooring that is above.

3. Finished basements provide storage space for many different items

While an unfinished basement provides storage space, many people use it for totes or boxes. With a finished basement, you can include cabinets, shelves, or even closets to organize all of your items, and have easy, available access to said items when needed. This way when you are looking for something, you don’t have to dig through five totes before finding it!

4. Hosting area for your family and friends

Having a finished basement downstairs can become an easy hang out spot for all family and friends. Instead of moving back and forth from the living room, kitchen, and dining room, you can have all your guests in one room, and all the necessities in one area. With a finished basement, you can put in a mini fridge and/or some cabinets so you can have a dedicated space for snacks and drinks while you host.

Are you ready to look at finishing your basement? Here at J&R, we can provide a free consultation to help you discuss and set a budget for the project! Feel free to set up an appointment with us by calling 859-225-0162 today!