How to Remodel a Bathroom While Avoiding Common Renovation Mistakes

One room of the house that everyone wants to remodel is the bathroom. Bathrooms seem to become dated more rapidly than any other room in a home, so a desire for change in this high-traffic room is not uncommon.

Due to bathrooms’ small size, they are fairly simple and inexpensive to redesign and redecorate. Of course, there is some expense involved if you plan to replace or move plumbing and fixtures, but there are many changes that can be made without going all out. When it comes to figuring out how to remodel a bathroom, there are thousands of different ideas, and creativity is your friend.

Unfortunately, many people take on a bathroom renovation without thinking it through. Changes that may seem simple may require special skills. Things that you might believe will take only a few hours may take several days. It’s important to be aware of the many mistakes you might make and how to avoid them before tearing everything out – especially if you live in a one-bathroom home.

Read on to learn about some common mistakes that may arise when remodeling a bathroom and how to avoid them.

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Common Mistakes When Renovating a Bathroom

Each year, 14.2 million Americans renovate a bathroom in their home – but how many of them do it right? Our bathroom remodeling tips will help you to tackle this project armed with helpful knowledge that will aid you in making your bathroom a beautiful, stress-free sanctuary fast.

Plan for Details

Before you get started, plan everything. It may be tempting to dive right into your renovation project, but you will be much better off if you plan every single aspect of your remodel before you begin tearing out the existing decor and fixtures like your sink. Because bathrooms are small, every design decision you make – from color to drawer handles to faucets to tile – will make a big difference, and you want it to all look cohesive in the end.

Think About Layout

Again, because bathrooms are usually small spaces, you need to take a lot of time to think about layout. If you don’t, you may find it difficult to get around in your bathroom easily or you may discover that some of your drawers are impeded by a wall. Perhaps you would love to include a spacious vanity or a claw-foot tub, but make sure everything will fit around it before making a non-refundable purchase.

Set a Reasonable Budget

It’s so easy to overspend when it comes to remodeling your bathroom. Set a budget and stick to it. Build in a little wiggle room, too; you never know when you will encounter an issue along the way that will take money to fix. An extra fifteen to twenty percent is probably a safe bet.

Renovations Take Time

Take however long you think your bathroom renovation will take and add many hours or even days. Almost everyone underestimates the amount of time a bathroom remodel will take.

Many problems can arise along the way such as water damage, leaky pipes, old wiring, or things that just don’t fit. Also, simple remodel tasks tend to take a lot longer than you think they will in general. Be sure to plan for these delays, and be prepared to use another bathroom for a few days while the renovation is underway.

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Ventilation is Key

Many people forget about the importance of ventilation when they do a bathroom remodel, but it is crucial that you take airflow into consideration. If you don’t, you may end up with mold down the road. Even if your windows open, you will likely want to install an exhaust fan to extract the steam after showers. Mold-resistant paint will also help in this area, but nothing works to defeat mold like proper ventilation.

Choose Quality Materials

Your bathroom goes through a lot. The temperature changes frequently and this room is subject to a great deal of moisture on a daily basis. As a result, floor and wall tile and wallpaper and paint can warp and buckle if you choose to go the cheap route. Choose materials that are designed for use in bathrooms; they are worth the extra expense.

Storage Is Everything

Have you ever heard someone say they have way too much storage in their bathroom? Of course not. It’s impossible to ever have enough in such a small room. Keep built-in storage in mind when designing your space. You’ll thank yourself for it later.

Professional Waterproofing Can Help

DIY renovations are very respectable, and you will feel quite accomplished afterward. However, one thing you should consider leaving to the professionals is waterproofing. A leaky shower or tub can cause thousands of dollars of damage and they are very difficult to repair.

It’s better to do it right from the beginning, and the way to do that is by hiring a certified waterproofing tradesman. He or she will provide you with a waterproofing certificate and warranty which will provide you with immense peace of mind.

Stay the Course

When it comes to learning how to remodel a bathroom, you will likely be quite gung-ho and excited in the beginning and you will dive in with a great deal of energy. As time goes by, you may find the work tedious or boring and you may wish it was done already so your house can go back to normal.

Don’t cut corners in the final hours or days, though. You will make small and careless mistakes that you will have to live with for years to come. Stay focused and stay the course all the way to the very end.

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Know How to Remodel a Bathroom Before You Start

Once you take all of the above potential mistakes into consideration, you will be ready to begin. Knowing what you need to avoid when learning how to remodel a bathroom will put you miles ahead of people who just dive in without much planning. Soon, you can enjoy a new and beautiful space for your whole family that will impress friends and other visitors. As long as you do it right, you can have a bathroom of which you can be proud. Good luck!

If you’re interested in learning more about bathroom renovations including the selection of bidets, tubs, sinks, different types of toilets and more, please check out the rest of our site!