You are tired of looking at the same old tile in your bathroom. Those 1″x1″ pink or blue floor tiles that was the look to have back in the 60s and 70s. That yellow glazed tub from 40-50 years ago. It’s time for an upgrade. Generally, you will run to Pinterest to get a few ideas, or you will already have a design in mind. Now that you have those ideas in mind, it’s time to get pricing.
It would be a good idea to start looking after you have set aside a budget. Whether it is a hard budget, or there is some flexibility, have your list of “must haves” and your list of “yeah I don’t really NEED that” before you get your prices. This process will most likely help you stay within your budget. Take this time to do some homework. Gather some ideas on materials by getting prices and specifications from local home improvement stores like Home Depot or Lowes. Do a local search for plumbing supply stores or electrical supply stores in your area to see if that can save money, or get your items faster. Also, don’t be afraid to order some of these items from Amazon. Try to avoid using items that have been refurbished or reconditioned as they may not come with any warranty. So now that you have a more than good idea on the total cost of materials, you know what you have left over when you move on to the next stage of the process.
Now for the tricky part. Getting an estimate from a contractor. You call a few local guys from a Google search, or call an uncle who knows a guy or have a friend who is fairly handy that says they will “hook you up” with a good deal. But how would you know that it is in fact, a good deal? I have heard of people just jumping on the first estimate because they think it is a good price, or it falls within their budget. But there still could be a better price out there from a contractor you feel more comfortable with. Some contractors generate their estimates using software programs, or just from experience on how long certain projects generally take. You may not have access to these programs or know how long these things take, so how can you see if your estimate is accurate?
Here at Gotham Tile, we recommend you use the site Homewyse. Simply type in the project you are looking to have done, and within seconds, you have an estimate range from the low end to the high end. This site will also shoot out ranges from materials to labor and everything in between. They include all different calculators for all phases of every project you can think of. Homewyse will help you pull it all together to ensure you stay within your budget from the installation estimate portion of your project. Here you can see what a typical calculator from website looks like.
So now you have found your design idea from Pinterest, done some materials homework from Home Depot or Lowes, got an idea of installation cost from Homewyse, now it is time to hire a contractor. We posted about this process before so be sure to check out “Pick the right Contractor, the First Time” on our website. If you are a DIYer, follow the installation directions provided by the manufacturer, or if you are not we recommend you call us at Gotham Tile! As always, be safe!
Gotham Tile 