A bathroom renovation or remodel is one of the most impactful upgrades you can make in the entire home. There are few spaces that are quite as practical, nor shared by the whole family. However, given all the pipes and water involved, there’s plenty of potential for things to go wrong if you’re not careful, too. Here, we’re going to look at some of the most common minor and major mistakes people make when planning out a bathroom renovation, and what you can do to make sure you don’t make them.
Not Having A Clear Budget Plan
One of the core truths of any bathroom work is how expensive it can get if you’re not careful. Make sure that you have a realistic and fully itemized budget from the get-go. List out the different bathroom renovation costs that you’re going to have to pay for, considering the materials, fixtures, appliances, as well as the labor involved, and get quotes from multiple sources to have a fuller understanding of the price range. Aside from mapping out and estimating every expense, you should make sure that your budget has a cushion of about 10-20% for unexpected expenses. Don’t forget the smaller costs like delivery fees or permits, as well. Everything adds up, and you can easily run out of money if you’re not careful.
Not Considering Your Ventilation Needs
People tend to forget that all the water and heat in a bathroom make for a pretty humid room. If you don’t think about how to deal with that humidity, you can find yourself with a constantly steamy bathroom. Aside from making it stiflingly hot, this lingering steam leads to mold and mildew growth, peeling paint, and can even start to rot away at drywall or any wood in the room. Ensure that you’re investing in the ventilation installation or upgrades to keep up with any new appliances or fixtures added. At least invest in one exhaust fan that’s powerful enough for the whole space. Usually, positioning it directly above the shower is your best bet for reducing humidity-induced headaches.
Trying To Add New Fixtures Without A Plumber
Even if you don’t need to add new pipes or reposition your plumbing, trying to install any showers, faucets, and especially toilets without the help of a plumber is a huge gamble. Hiring a team like Kris’s Plumbing will drastically decrease the chances of leaks, poor drainage, or water damage behind your walls. Aside from the fact that plumbing is a complex job, if any installations connected to your plumbing aren’t up to code, it can affect the insurance for the whole home, as well. Even if you’re a confident DIYer, hire a plumber for any fixture involving water supply or drainage. This includes repositioning pipes, installing shower valves, or changing out tubs and sinks.
Choosing Looks Over Functionality
We all want a bathroom that feels and looks gorgeous, but if you’re focusing too much on the style and aesthetic of it all, then it’s easier for more important things to get lost in the shuffle. Having a beautiful bathroom is one thing, but if it doesn’t work for your daily routine or function as you need it to, then you might end up having to pay again to get it up to your expectations. Make sure that you’re thinking about how the space will be used first and foremost. Ensure that you’re able to access storage spaces easily without bumping into things. Give yourself enough counter space for your daily essentials. Design with both aesthetic and practicality in mind. Your love of certain visual trends might fade over time, but the benefits of smart design do not.
Not Improving Your Lighting
Not only does lighting affect the mood of a bathroom, but it also plays a role in its overall functionality, as well. Relying solely on a single overhead light is a common mistake that leads to shadows and uneven illumination. Instead, layer your lighting with ambient light for the general visibility, task lighting for areas like mirrors and grooming stations, and accent lighting to improve the mood of the space. Some low accent lighting from providers like Foundry Lighting can create a gorgeous spa-like environment, but you don’t want to skip having a big, bright ambient light that can ensure the visibility that you need.
Not Fully Waterproofing It
Any home project involving water should understand just how persistent, relentless, and even downright sneaky it can be. If it has the opportunity to work its way into or under a fixture or feature of the home, it will. If water gets under the tiles or into the subflooring, the damage it can cause can be tremendously costly. What’s more, it often escapes notice until it’s too late to prevent it. Skipping proper waterproofing steps is a dangerous shortcut. Always use cement board in wet areas, not regular drywall, and apply waterproof membranes or sealants under tiles and around seams. Pay extra attention to any corners, niches, or shower pans where these leaks can often find their first avenue of entry.
Think Ahead With Your Layout
Bathrooms should be designed ot osee to meet our needs, not just immediately, but in the long-term as well. As such, you should be thinking about your future needs. For instance, are you still going to be able to use it comfortably if your mobility changes as you get a little older? Are you able to easily add plumbing upgrades like a bidet if you decide that you want one in the future? Could you add a second sink if your family gets bigger and you have to cope with additional users? Planning for the future now ensures you won’t need another costly renovation just a few years down the line.
Even a relatively minor bathroom renovation can result in a lot of delays and added costs if you’re not careful. Keep the above mistakes in mind and take your time to plan out the whole project before you get the work underway.
