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.