New Construction

You have dreamed of the kitchen and bathrooms in your new home, and now it is time to make those dreams a reality.

Like any other major project, new construction involves a series of logical steps. Do your homework, work with your contractor and remember the experts at Frank Webb's Bath Centers are here to help with your questions. In fact, plumbers and contractors have relied on us for more than 100 years and we can help you with your product selections and coordinate details and delivery to your new home.

Effective Planning

Once you have a general idea of the styles that are most appealing, you will really need to think carefully about what is actually going to work best for you in your new home. Here are some tips that we think will help you in the planning process:

• Develop two lists, the first being a "Wish List" of everything that you could potentially want in your new kitchen or bathroom, and then a second list of "must haves". This will help you communicate with your contractor to ensure you do receive all the elements that you need in your new kitchen or bath, along with a few elements that you really want without going overboard.
• Create a floor plan of your new bathroom or kitchen with all the fixtures that you would like, laid out the way that you want them. The floor plan should include door openings, window placement, room sizes and fixture placements.
• Call a local Frank Webb's Bath Center expert to make an appointment to sit down with you to review your wish list, must have list and floor plan and discuss the scope of your project.

Thinking about the Fixtures

For developing your fixture list, you should think about it room by room. Make a separate list for the master bath, powder room, kitchen, island, mudroom, etc. When you are developing your fixture lists, make sure you're thinking about the style and color scheme that you ultimately want to end up with for each room. We would also recommend that you carry samples, including fabric swatches, paint color chips, tile samples, etc. when you're out shopping for your fixtures so that you're sure everything in your room works together.

Create as much detail as you can in your dream list of fixtures for your contractor to install. In our "Where do I start" section you can print our planning worksheet to help you keep track of everything from floor to ceiling. From tubs to toilets to towel bars, from radiant floor heat to overhead lighting, we can help you put together that list for the home of your dreams.

Hiring the Pros

• Do you need to hire a contractor? If you're inexperienced with construction/building, it is better to hire a professional than to take on such a large project on your own. There are a lot of details involved with construction such as securing permits, insurance, finding and scheduling qualified workers, ordering materials and products, and arranging deliveries. These tasks are all part of what a contractor is responsible to do. If you decide to bring someone in who is experienced in these details it may make your life easier, and help speed along your project. You can always talk to your contractor about doing some of the work yourself, such as painting or clean-up, if you're looking to reduce overall costs of your project. If you do decide to take on some of the work, it is extremely important that you are certain you have the skills and time necessary to commit to the project; otherwise, you can slow the project down and ultimately increase the cost of the overall project. If you ultimately decide that you want to do all of the work yourself it is important that you check with your local building inspector to see what permits, insurance, etc. you are going to need.
• How can you be sure you're hiring a good contractor? You should check the credentials and licenses of potential contractors. Also, calling the Better Business Bureau will reveal any complaints that may have been filed against the potential contractor. If the contractor lists any professional associations, you should verify their claims with the association and you should make sure they provide proof that their licenses and insurance are up to date.
• It's also important that you meet with all prospective contractors in your home so they can get a clear idea of your project. Before you have any meetings, try to think through and write down exactly what you want to accomplish in your remodeling/building project so you can go over it with them and see what they would recommend.
• Ask for several client referrals, then call or, if possible, visit. Along with visiting a finished project, ask to see one that's in progress. Checking out a project that is in progress will give you a sense of what you will be working with - are they neat? Is it uncomfortable or tense?
• Pay attention to your gut instinct. If you don't feel comfortable talking with a particular contractor, even if they come highly recommended, you should keep looking. Remember, whoever you hire is going to be spending a lot of time in your home and it is vital that you have good communication and comfortable working relationship.
• Never do business on a handshake no matter the size of the project. Even if you're negotiating for a small job, your expectations need to be spelled out clearly in a contract, and then everything should be carefully reviewed before you sign anything.

Contact Us today to make an appointment with one of our Frank Webb's Bath Center specialists.