Before You Hire a Contractor to Remodel Your Contractor Keep This in Mind

When it comes to remodeling your bathroom, you're almost always better off hiring a professional than trying to remodel your bathroom by yourself. Think of all the other types of professionals you would hire in a heartbeat to fix your problems or complete a difficult task - doctors, lawyers, mechanics. A home remodeler shouldn't be treated any less important. These people are specialists who know the ins and outs of their fields, able to handle possible tricky situations such as those related to plumbing, electrical wiring, and demolition.

Not all home remodeling contractors have the same abilities and skills. You'll want to be selective in your choice of contractors. You can narrow down your choices by looking at contractors that specialize in bathroom remodeling. In fact, you can look in your yellow pages (hard copy or online) under "Bathroom Remodeling." Or, ask your friends, family members, and co-workers for a referral. Invite each contractor of interest to your home to look at your bathroom. At this point it is helpful to have a good idea of what you are wanting to do with your bathroom. Having some clippings from magazines and brochures, as well as sample tiles and countertop materials, will be extremely helpful. This way, you and your contractor will have a better understanding of what is to be expected. I highly recommend that you start with only the contractors that will provide free estimates. Ask for the numbers of his last ten customers and call them to see what they thought about his work.

Once you've picked out and hired your bathroom remodeler, you'll want to have as much as possible the materials needed to do the job. For example, get an estimate of how much tile is needed for the floors and walls. If you are installing a new shower stall, what dimensions should it be? How big should the sink counter and sink bowl be? What types of cabinets are you installing and in what dimensions should they be? You might want to ask him to come along with you to around town so you two can discuss and pick out exactly what is needed. Now, he should be the one providing all the tools, not you. That is an expense for his business. Now, if you must purchase a special tool that is needed to get the job done, you should retain the rights to ownership. That way, you can possibly use it in the future or sell it to recoup some of the cost.

It is important to know your final budget. Be upfront about what you are expecting to spend. It is the contractor's job to use his skills and abilities to do the work desired by you, and at the same time meet or go under your budget. Now, don't expect him to be a miracle worker and do something like $10,000 worth of work for only $1,000. He'll probably label you as a lowballer and tell all his friends it's not worth taking on work from you. Be reasonable and ask him what he honestly can and cannot do with your budget. If you can't afford all the things you want done, just start with doing the most important things first. Wait until you can save up enough to get the rest of the work done. If possible, don't pay your contractor all upfront. Have him break down what it would cost to remodel each section of the bathroom (i.e. shower stall, toilet, sink, etc.) and pay him as he gets each of them done. This protects you from getting scammed (unfortunately it does happen to a few unlucky folks) out of all your money, and keeps him motivated to complete the work. Most importantly, get all of this in writing to make it concrete.

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The Time Tested Beauty of Clawfoot Bath Tubs

Clawfoot tubs have a distinctive rustic aura about them, reminiscent of eras such as the the Victorian Age and even as far back as the Medieval Era. Sitting in one certainly makes you feel like royalty. Here are a few details that you might want to know about them.

Clawfoot tubs are generally produced out of one of two materials, cast iron or acrylic. Some are made from other types of materials such as copper or bronze, but you can expect to see a clawfoot tub made from cast iron or acrylic. At a glance, you can't tell the difference between a clawfoot made out of cast iron and a clawfoot made out of acrylic. Both have a white surface.

Cast Iron is the traditional material used in the production of clawfoots. These types of clawfoots have a solid and heavy construction which makes them very sturdy, and therefore less prone to tipping or shifting. They come with a porcelain coating to protect the cast iron, so if owners take care not to chip the porcelain, or recoat the tub whenever it is needed, Because they are heavy, they can be difficult to get into your bathroom to install, especially if you are installing them in an upstairs bathroom. Also, the floor in your upstairs bathroom might not be able to support all the weight of the tub, plus you and the water that you'll be using. So, consider getting the opinion and assistance of a certified professional.

Given the same dimensions, a clawfoot tub made out of acrylic can be as much as 50% lighter than its cast iron counterpart. Being lighter makes them easier to get into your bathroom and install. They are also more suitable for upstairs bathrooms. Because they are void of any metal, they don't rust or deteriorate. They can last as long, if not longer than cast iron clawfoot tubs. Their light and ultra smooth construction can also be a disadvantage in some situations. Acrylic clawfoot tubs installed on glazed tile floors have been known to shift. Some acrylic models can even tip over in certain situations. For better safety, you might want to bolt them down to the floor if possible.

Some clawfoots, such as the European style, do not have a faucet assembly built onto the tub. Instead, they are set next to a wall or floor mounted faucet assembly and drain. Others, such as the American style, do have the faucet assembly built onto them. While European style clawfoots have the advantage of being able to fill with water more and allow for more head or foot space, they do require the home owner to do some demolition if he doesn't already have a wall or floor mount faucet assembly. American clawfoots require minimal installation, but their built in faucet assemblies can often get in the way and make the tub feel cramped.

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