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Block Guides | How to best plan, finance, and build your renovation

  • Process
  • Cost
  • Contractors
  • Finance
  • Maintenance
  • Get an Estimate

Process

tiling a bathroom incomplete
Process

How to Tile a Bathroom Floor in 9 Easy Steps

by Block December 22, 2020

Bathroom renovations are a sure fire way to increase the value of your home, but not everyone has the resources to tackle a complete gut job. Instead, small projects you can do yourself, like laying new floor tile, can go a long way in freshening up your space.

Although it’s relatively inexpensive, tiling is no small feat. It takes practice. Still, if you’re feeling adventurous, these tips will help you learn how to tile a bathroom floor in nine simple steps.

If You Fail to Plan, You’re Planning to Fail

It may not be the most fun or rewarding step, but planning is probably one of the most important steps to properly tiling your bathroom floor. Here are a few questions to ask yourself before you dive into your project:

  • What’s the square footage of the space?
  • How much tile will I need? You can calculate this by multiplying the length by the width of your room to get the total square footage.
  • How many tiles will need to be cut, and to what size?
  • Where’s the best place to lay the first tile?
  • Is the sub-flooring properly cut to fit the toilet and other fixtures?
  • Do you have enough mortar and grout? A 25-pound bag of dry grouting compound typically covers around 200 square feet.

Make sure you have everything ready to go before you start. Here’s a list of the tools & materials you’ll need:

  • Measuring tape
  • Jigsaw
  • Circular saw
  • Tile saw
  • Drill
  • Trowel
  • Bucket
  • Grout float
  • Sponge
  • Backer board and screws
  • Tile and spacers
  • Mortar and grout
  • Sealant

A typical bathroom floor installation can be completed in a single weekend. So gather your gear and let’s get started.

How to Tile a Bathroom Floor in 9 Easy Steps

Step 1: Measure the floor

Use your tape measure to determine how much grout, tile and backer board (which is commonly used as a tile base on plywood or subfloor) you’ll need to cover the space. It’s always wise to buy a little extra tile, just in case you make a mistake or some of the pieces get damaged.

Step 2: Cut sub-flooring

Lay your backer board first so the tile has something to hold on to. Using your circular saw, cut the backerboard into panels. Use ya jigsaw to cut out the pre-measured areas for the toilet and other fixtures.

Step 3: Attach sub-flooring

Use your drill and backer board screws to secure the sub-flooring. Space screws about 6 inches apart and be sure they’re laying flat against the floor.

Step 4: Test your layout

Before you start permanently attaching your tiles, practice laying them out on the floor first. Start at the edges and use as many full tiles as you can to cover as much floor as possible. Don’t forget to use your tile spacers. Now measure the tiles that need to be cut to size.

Step 5: Cut tiles

Using your tile saw, cut the pre-measured tiles to complete your bathroom floor. Remember: measure twice, cut once!

Step 6: Lay remaining tiles

Lay all the tiles down to be sure you’ve cut them and spaced them properly. Once you’re sure the design is ready, remove the tiles and prep the floor.

Step 7: Apply mortar

Using your notched trowel, apply a thin layer of mortar to small sections of the sub-floor. Lay one tile at a time using your spacers to hold them in place. Once all the tiles have been laid, wait 24 hours for the mortar to dry.

Step 8: Apply grout

Now that the mortar is dry, you can remove the spacers and apply the grout to fill the space between tiles. Before it sets, use a wet sponge to wipe away any excess so the floor is smooth and clean. It’s important to remove all the extra grout before it dries or it will leave your tile looking and feeling rough. Let the grout set for 24 hours before walking on your floor.

Step 9: Apply sealant

Time for the final touch! Make sure the grout is completely dry then add the grout sealer to protect it from staining, mold, and other damage.

That’s it! You’ve successfully learned how to tile a bathroom floor.

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Process

How to Remodel a Bathroom Without a Hitch

by Block December 22, 2020

A bathroom remodel is a big undertaking, so it’s a good idea to map out a solid plan before swinging the sledgehammer. Planning helps ensure that the bathroom you end up with is exactly what you envisioned (and that you haven’t blown through your entire budget).

These projects can vary a lot in scope: they range from small cosmetic changes you can tackle yourself to the complete transformation of an outdated room. How to go about your specific renovation depends on your goals and your budget. Here’s a roadmap to get you started.

Plan Your Space

With any size project, start with the most significant decisions and work your way down to the small finishing touches.

First, ask yourself why you’re remodeling. Do you just want to freshen the space? In that case, a coat of paint and a new vanity might be all you need. However, if you want to completely redo the room and make extensive changes, like replacing the tub with a walk-in shower or getting rid of ‘70s era tiles, it can become a more complex project.

Functionality is another critical component to address when remodeling a bathroom:

  • Does the current layout work for you, or do you want to move things around?
  • Is the ventilation adequate, or do you need a better fan?
  • Does the room need better lighting?

Planning these fixes before the renovation starts will result in a more functional bathroom.

Decide on a Budget

Changing the floor plan or knocking out a wall to enlarge the bathroom substantially adds to the cost of a remodel because you have to reroute plumbing and electrical lines, so figure out what’s realistic for you. These types of changes require skilled tradespeople like plumbers and electricians. If you’re not planning to do everything yourself, expect 40% to 65% of your budget to cover the cost of labor.

According to the National Kitchen and Bath Association, the average cost for a designer-involved bath remodel is $18,000, including materials and labor (in NYC, where labor is typically more expensive, that number is closer to $26,000). Of course, those figures also include work by DIYers and lower-end products. If you want quality fixtures and professional workmanship, your costs will likely be higher. An average upscale reno can run as high as $62,000.

In some cases, it might make sense to take out a home renovation loan or refinance to have a healthy budget that fits your long-term needs.

1. Plumbing

Even if you keep fixtures in the same location, replacing a toilet, tub, sink, or shower door can be pricey. Smart consumers know it’s worth paying for a quality plumbing fixture because these items are used daily and should last for decades.

The typical price for toilets and sinks ranges from $200 to more than $1,500. Showers can vary from $300 to $3,000, depending on whether you use a standard fiberglass insert or create a custom space.

2. Tiling

When it comes to flooring and shower or tub surrounds, tile is an excellent choice because it’s water-resistant and long-lasting. Since tile is available in an array of sizes, colors, shapes, and styles, your biggest problem will be narrowing down your choices.

Prices for tile range widely as well, from about $1 a square foot for basic ceramic tile to well over $25 a square foot for specialty tiles. Tile installation charges can range from $4 to $32 a square foot.

3. Cabinetry

Once you’ve decided on the layout and the big pieces for your bathroom, there’s still more to plan. A new vanity can set the tone for the room. In a smaller bathroom, a wall-mounted vanity can provide much-needed storage without looking too imposing, especially if it’s a floating piece that allows you to see the floor underneath it.

4. Lighting

Lighting might not be the first thing you think of in a bathroom remodel, but good lighting is essential for tasks like shaving and putting on makeup. In fact, your bathroom design needs to consider several different kinds of light, including ambient lighting, lighting for the vanity area, and lighting or light/ventilation combo for the shower and toilet areas.

If you want bright light for grooming but more subdued lighting the rest of the time, consider adding dimmers. They’re an overlooked solution in many bathroom designs.

With all those sources of light required—especially in a bathroom without much natural light—budget accordingly. Depending on the project, the cost of lighting could range from $1,200 to more than $4,000.

5. Accessories

The final touches in a bathroom include necessary items such as faucets, towel racks, and shelving. It takes a skilled eye to mix elements from different manufacturers, which is one reason many people choose to work with a designer when redoing a bathroom.

While they are smaller items, plan on spending enough to get quality products. All too often, a cheap faucet turns into a leaky faucet, so pay a little more for one with ceramic valves.

Emergency Fund

Keep in mind that you never know what you’ll find when you pull up flooring or remove walls. Mold issues and plumbing problems are unwanted surprises that are frequently uncovered during a bathroom remodel, so your budget should include funds for unforeseen repairs.

Hire the Right People

If you’re planning an extensive renovation, it makes sense to hire a contractor to oversee the work. However, be sure the contractor has experience in bathroom remodels. You want someone who understands how to tackle the project and who is prepared to take care of any unforeseen issues.

Set a Realistic Timeline

A complete bathroom renovation can take weeks to complete after construction begins. If you only have one bathroom in your home, you may need to stay someplace else for at least a few days while the plumbing is replaced. Putting all these things in place from the start can save you a lot of headaches down the line.

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Coronavirus: How to Plan for Your Renovation

by Block March 13, 2020

With the current state of Coronavirus (COVID-19) in New York and New Jersey, homeowners face a great deal of uncertainty, especially with regards of how this will impact their renovation.

At Block, we are invested in making the planning for your renovation safer and more convenient. In this climate, we are making proactive changes so you can coordinate your pre-construction remotely.

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Your Bathroom Remodel Timeline Depends on What You’re Actually Trying to Accomplish

by Block January 10, 2019

As exciting as remodeling your bathroom can be, it can feel a bit like stepping into the unknown. Even the best-laid plans rarely get executed exactly on schedule, especially when you’ve got a lot of variables factoring into the project. That said, laying out your plans as thoroughly as possible will go a long to setting a timeline you can rely on.

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What to Consider First When You Start Planning a Bathroom Remodel
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What to Consider First When You Start Planning a Bathroom Remodel

by Block January 10, 2019

A bathroom can be a quick, in-and-out space or a luxurious room to relax in the tub in order to remove the stressors of the day. How you chose to use your bathroom and a few other factors will help you what to consider first when you start planning a bathroom remodel.

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How Long Does It Take to Remodel a Bathroom from Start to Finish?

by Block January 10, 2019

By the time you decide to take the plunge and renovate your bathroom, chances are the project has already been simmering in your mind for some time. You can already envision your dream bathroom as if it was already there.

But once the choice is finally made to get started, it’s important to set expectations around how long everything will take. If you do decide to do things the old-fashioned way, through a general contractor, the process can be broken into a few stages, each of which you should carefully consider.

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The Average Time it Takes to Remodel a Bathroom Depends on Your Needs

by Block January 10, 2019

No two bathroom renovations are the same. Neither are two timelines. Therefore, the average time to remodel a bathroom really varies, depending on the type of project and materials you’re looking at.

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common bathroom remodel problems solutions
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The Most Common Bathroom Remodel Problems

by Block January 10, 2019

Remodeling your bathroom is a rewarding experience. Adding your own style to a space that you use everyday can pay dividends in personal satisfaction and your homes’ market value. However, these benefits are only fully realized if you manage to avoid some of the most common bathroom remodel problems.

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what is design build bathroom
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What is “Design Build” and is it Right for My Renovation Project?

by Block January 10, 2019

You’re finally ready to turn your renovation dreams into reality, but what now? Traditionally, the next step would be to hire a designer and contractor, each equipped with their own teams and spheres of work. This strategy, known as “design-bid-build,” appoints the owner of the project as its leader and middleman between multiple points of contact.

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do I need an architect
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Do I Need an Architect for my Remodeling Project?

by Block January 10, 2019

At one point or another in any remodel chances are you’re going to ask what seems like a basic question with a surprisingly unclear answer: “Do I need an architect to get this thing done?”

Having an architect or designer guide your home improvement project would be a no-brainer if you had access unlimited resources. There’s no real downside to having a professional designer take a look at your specific space if you’ve got the means to pay for it.

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Recent Posts

  • What Kind of Paint Is Best For a Bathroom, According to the Experts

    December 22, 2020
  • How Much Does It Really Cost to Replace a Toilet?

    December 22, 2020
  • How to Tile a Bathroom Floor in 9 Easy Steps

    December 22, 2020
  • A Comprehensive Guide to Bathroom Remodel Costs in 2020

    December 22, 2020
  • What Is the ROI of a Bathroom Remodel?

    December 22, 2020

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