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A Quick Guide To The Do’s And Don’ts Of Bathroom Renovations

Posted On Tuesday, 29 March 2022 19:57
A Quick Guide To The Do’s And Don’ts Of Bathroom Renovations

Many homeowners organize renovation projects from time to time to enhance their home’s functionality and aesthetics, and one of these is their bathroom. Undertaking a bathroom remodel can be an exciting and stressful endeavor. Unlike your bedroom, wherein you can renovate and personalize it as much as you want, your bathroom should be modified to satisfy the functional needs of all the household members.   

Furthermore, a bathroom renovation will also require a sizeable investment, so you’ll need to carefully plan the whole thing to prevent costly mistakes. Although you can pull off a do-it-yourself (DIY) bathroom renovation, it’s ideal to consult and hire bathroom renovations Sydney professionals or other designers and certified builders to help bring your envisioned bathroom to life.   

Aside from the help of design experts, there are still other things you’ll need to note in order for your bathroom transformation runs smoothly and hassle-free. For your guide, here are the dos and don’ts you should remember when renovating your bathroom.   

Do’s when renovating your bathroom

  • Start with a plan  

The success of your bathroom remodeling depends on how you create a detailed plan. So, start your bathroom renovation by listing down your goals, design ideas, styles, and other things you’d like to see and feel in your new bathroom. On a separate list, you can also write down the problems or issues you’ve had with your old bathroom. This way, the designer and constructors can develop a bathroom design that’ll address and solve all these problems.   

  • Find design inspirations 

Before you start tearing down your bathroom wall or current flooring, make sure you have a firm idea of what your final bathroom will look like. Take your time to search for some design inspirations and decoration ideas you want to include in your renovation plan. 

You can browse from home design websites, magazines, or consult a professional designer to help you come up with a customized bathroom. While doing this, make sure to have your budget in mind.  

  • Follow the local building codes and conduct inspections 

When professionals do your bathroom renovation, it’s expected that they’ll conduct inspections before they get started. This is to ensure the local building codes and requirements are met. However, if you’re completing a DIY remodeling project, it’s easier to get tempted to skip all the inspections, requirements, and permits, considering that they’re costly and, sometimes, time-consuming. (2)

However, ignoring these requirements could be risky on your part and may result in costly mishaps, such as leaking plumbing or faulty wiring. So, always follow the local building codes or hire a contractor to let them handle all the permits and inspections for you.  

  • Select the right surfaces for a bathroom 

Your chosen bathroom surface shouldn’t only be based on its aesthetics or design. Ensure your bathroom tiles are also effective in handling plenty of moisture to prevent staining, mold growth, and odor build-up, all of which could deteriorate your bathroom’s overall appeal and function. When choosing surface tiles, you may consider porcelain tile as it can resist staining and mold growth. Furthermore, it’s also best to use larger tiles as they’re easier to maintain and have fewer grout lines. (2)

  • Get high-end lighting 

Like the rest of the rooms in the house, proper lighting is also crucial in your bathroom. In general, people install a ceiling fixture to illuminate the entire bathroom. Other than that, you may also consider adding task lighting in the shower or sconces near the vanity mirror. 

Moreover, when choosing your lights, consider going for LED lighting as it’s more energy-efficient, can last longer compared to incandescent lighting, and can be safely used near water. (1)

  • Consider proper ventilation 

Proper ventilation is crucial for bathrooms due to the room’s extra high humidity. A bathroom with poor ventilation is more susceptible to mold and mildew and could damage your tiles, finishes, and other bathroom surfaces. Thus, always ensure your bathroom is properly ventilated. This can be done by installing an exhaust fan or adding windows in your bathroom (if there’s none), allowing moist air to escape. (3)

Don’ts of bathroom renovations

  • Forget to create a budget  

Once you’ve come up with a doable plan, the next important step is creating a realistic budget. Check your finances and see if the renovation plan is achievable for you. Otherwise, you might end up having an unfinished bathroom due to an insufficient budget. (1)

When creating a realistic budget, familiarize your bathroom, its size, and the aspects that need changing or remodeling. These things will help you conceive a more accurate estimate of the budget. Remember, the larger your bathroom is and the more things you’d like to change, the higher the renovation cost will be. (1)

On a good note, there are some things you can do to help lessen your renovation expenses. You can acquire quotes from different contractors and give them pointers about your design ideas and other things you’d like to have for your new bathroom. See and compare how each contractor offers you various prices with different materials. You may also consider doing some of the easier tasks by yourself to save on the cost of labor. Lastly, don’t forget to make a budget for the expected costs.

  • Be too distracted by the latest trends 

As much as possible, avoid trying to go along with the latest trends when browsing for design inspirations. They may be popular for now, but if you think long term, you can’t assure that these designs will still be aesthetically or functionally appealing. 

Preferably, opt for timeless and practical fixtures that are less likely to lose appeal for several years. This way, you’ll also be less likely to keep on renovating your bathroom just to try and keep up with the trends.  

  • Move fixtures unless when highly necessary 

Some of you are probably thinking of moving your bathroom sink, toilet, or shower area to achieve a certain layout during a bathroom remodel. However, moving your plumbing or fixtures can be time-consuming and make the project more costly than it already is. When possible, avoid making changes that involve moving your plumbing system. You may only consider this option during certain situations when it’s necessary, like damaged plumbing, pipes that need replacing, or the space is too cramped and requires moving the sink or toilet. (3)

  • Forget the storage 

One feature that always gets overlooked during a bathroom remodel is storage. Most of the time, people only realize its importance when they find out that they need more space to store extra towels and other toiletries. Thus, during a bathroom renovation, find a way to make room for the storage area wherein you can keep all the bathroom essentials. Doing so will make your bathroom more functional and polished. (3) 

Key Takeaway 

Completing a bathroom renovation can be a tedious and stressful process. But as long as you know which things to do and avoid, you can avoid costly mistakes and be on the right track to achieving your newly-renovated bathroom.

References

  1. 1. “Do’s And Don’ts Of Your Bathroom Reno”, Source: https://makeitright.ca/holmes-advice/bathroom-renovation/dos-and-donts-of-your-bathroom-reno/

  2. 2. “Essential Bathroom Remodeling Tips”, Source: https://www.crddesignbuild.com/blog/10-essential-bathroom-remodeling-tips

3. “Bathroom Remodeling Guide: Dos And Don’ts”, Source: https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/2012/03/bathroom-remodeling-guide-dos-and-don-ts/index.htm

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