Before you start to create a new bathroom or to expand the size of an existing bathroom, make a plan. Draw it up. If you can do it with a CAD program on your computer, that's great (Figure 5.13). When computers are not your forte, draw a plan on graph paper. One way or another, get a floorplan drawn for your customers to review and approve.

Figure 5.13: Typical CAD-drawn floorplan.

Let's say that you are going to take a large bedroom and frame walls inside of the bedroom to create a new bathroom (Figure 5.14). You need to show your customer what you intend to do before you take the job. If they like your plan, have them sign it and make it part of your remodeling contract. This is just good business. If a conflict arises during the job, you will have the signed plan to prove that you are doing what you were hired to do.

Figure 5.14: Adding a bathroom in a bedroom.

If your customers are not sure what they want, and many will not know what they want, give them some drawings to study and choose from (Figures 5.15 through 5.17). You don't have to create these drawings for every bid you give. Build an archive file of standard plans that you can show customers from job to job. Most of your competitors probably won't be doing this, so your actions will set you apart and may give you an advantage...