You have come to the conclusion that your bathroom needs to be redone. Here are four important things to consider before you get started.

Item #1: Check for moisture in the walls, under the bathtub / shower, and most importantly, under the floor. Once you open up walls it is important to dry out the walls and floor(joists) and, if necessary, replace any rot found.

Once you proceed to re-drywall, make sure you replace the drywall with water-resistant materials such as CONCRETEBOARD or DRYPATCH, which are generally available at any lumber supply stores or building supply stores.

Item #2: When designing your new bathroom you might consider the option to have a shower in the house, instead of two tubs. Climbing in and out of the tub in order to take a shower is not only uncomfortable, but it can also be dangerous. So you might consider replacing one of your bathtubs with a walk-in shower. Whether for yourself or for resale, this will increase the utility of your home!

Item #3: When deciding on shower enclosures, at KitchensOfVictoria.com we always recommend 3/8" or 1/2"glass. You should also consider building a tiled seat for more comfort in the shower. Other items, such as slidebar showers, complete with pressure control valves, are a must to avoid burning yourself with sudden bursts of hot water.

Item #4: When replacing the floor you should seek advice from a designer or flooring specialist, since there are many options available. For example, a heated floor can be achieved with heating pads such as NU-HEAT (or similar brands) that you can buy from your tile supplier or building supply store. Other suggestions are to put slip resistant materials rather than smooth surfaces in the bathroom and, most importantly, use moisture-resistant products.

Likely the best advice for bathroom renovations is not to try to be your own "Handyman" or "Handywoman" unless you are skilled and knowledgeable in the above areas. However, by being aware of all the above points, it will help you to ask your Designer-Contractor the right questions.