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How to Survive a Bathroom Renovation

A bathroom renovation is a great way to make your home feel fresh and new. It can be a difficult process, though, and living in an urban apartment adds extra challenges. You have to worry about upsetting your neighbors with the noise, making a mess in your apartment, and not having a working bathroom in your home.

Fortunately, it is possible to successfully remodel your Manhattan apartment, and the results will be worth the challenges. Here are five tips for surviving your bathroom renovation:

1. Work quickly, but plan on delays.

You and your contractor should have a plan and a timeline for your renovation before you begin working. You should also have all the materials collected at the start of the project. This will help you minimize the amount of time your bathroom is unusable.

However, you should also be prepared for delays. It’s rare for everything to go according to schedule, so you should expect your renovation to be finished a few days after your scheduled ending date.

2. Trust the professionals.

Even if you plan to complete some of the renovation yourself, you should always ask for advice from a professional. Contractors know how to achieve the best results in the shortest time and for the lowest cost. Trust your contractor’s advice, and run your ideas by them before you make any changes to your bathroom. You’d be surprised to discover the ideas and possibilities out there for maximizing the very small bathroom space you have.

3. Use drop cloths for dust protection.

Your bathroom may be isolated from the rest of your house, but you’d be surprised by how much dust can get everywhere during a renovation. Before you start your remodel, put drop cloths over your furniture and floors to protect them from dust. You can also place sheets of clear plastic over doorways to keep dust out. When installing bathroom cabinets and vanities keep the protective plastic on as long as possible.

4. Be considerate to your neighbors.

If any of your neighbors have done home renovations, you know how frustrating the noise can be. When planning your bathroom remodel, you should always consider the fact that your neighbors will probably hear every sound. It’s best to stay on their good side, especially if you want to use their bathroom while yours is under construction.

Give your upstairs, downstairs, and next-door neighbors plenty of warning about your renovations. Try not to work in the early morning or late into the night, especially if your neighbors have young children. You should also give your neighbors your contact information, so they can get in touch with you if they have any problems.

5. Stay with friends or family.

While many homes in the suburbs and country have multiple bathrooms, your Manhattan apartment likely only has one. Your contractor may be able to install a temporary bath and toilet, but you may have to find somewhere else to stay while the renovation is underway. Before you begin the remodel, make plans to stay with a friend, family member, or neighbor, so you don’t have to worry about finding a place to stay at the last minute.

Your bathroom renovation will take careful planning and consideration to pull off. However, if you communicate with your contractor and prepare everything in advance, you should be successful. Once you see your new bathroom, you’ll be glad that you put in the effort.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Adam Desiderio

Adam Desiderio is a distinguished figure in the realm of home renovation, serving as the CEO of Klein Kitchen and Bath. With a remarkable career spanning over 30 years, his expertise extends across three diverse locations: New York, Italy, and Israel. 

What sets Adam apart is his exceptional talent for envisioning spaces and establishing meaningful connections with his clients. His leadership style is hands-on, often finding him at job sites, leading production meetings, engaging in conversations with clients, and collaborating directly with designers in the upscale showroom uptown.

Adam’s unwavering tenacity and boundless passion for the industry, combined with his vast knowledge accrued over three decades, have solidified his position as a highly sought-after authority in the field of home renovation.

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