Remodeling Your Bathroom? Here Are 5 Things You Should Know

You’re getting tired of your dingy, outdated bathroom and you’re ready for a fresh new look. Maybe you’ve started watching HGTV or browsing around Houzz for design ideas. But the road to a newly remodeled bathroom can be a bumpy one, and it will certainly feel overwhelming if you’ve never been through it before. Luckily, the guys over at Home Stratosphere put together a guide called 1,001 Bathroom Remodeling Tips and Tricks that will walk you through everything. Let’s look at just 5 important things you need to know before you get started.

Pad Your Budget

No matter how much you think you’re going to spend on your remodel, work an extra few thousand (yes, thousand) dollars into the budget for any unexpected issues that will arise. Depending on the age of your home, you will undoubtedly run into an unforeseen expense once you begin demolition. Your floor tile could be cemented in and anchored with wire lath, causing demo to cost more.

The plumbing may need to be replaced in places, especially if it’s copper that has corroded over time. You may discover water damage inside the floor or walls. Remember, remodeling isn’t only about the things you can see. You need to address any issues you find along the way, and this will cost you more money than you expected. If you pad your budget ahead of time, you won’t have to sacrifice any luxuries you have planned for yourself.

Designers Are Your Friend

It is always a good idea to enlist the services of a professional designer to help work out any kinks in your remodel plan. Before you begin your new design, you’ll need to know the locations of all the drains in your bathroom. It’s a good idea to also take a measurement of how far apart the drains are from each other. This, along with wall, door, and window measurements, will give your designer a good idea of the layout of your bathroom and how much space they’re dealing with. Some home improvement stores such as Lowe’s or Home Depot offer these design services for free. They will want to sell you their cabinetry and other fixtures, of course, and most of these pitches are worth listening to.

Demo Is Key

Sure, demolition can be the most fun part of a remodel, but once you’ve reduced your bathroom to a skeleton and made kindling of the old fixtures, it’s important to inspect the space carefully. Make sure your floor joists and wall studs are free of rot and water damage and reinforce with fresh hardware if necessary. It’s not a bad idea to seal them while they’re exposed, too. Double check the plumbing for any updates or repairs needed. Make sure the electric lines are in good shape. It’s also a good time to double check your measurements and be sure your design is sound.

Build Around The Bath

One of the first decisions you’ll want to make about your design is the type of bath you’ll install. Maybe you’re replacing your tub with a stand-up corner shower, or tearing out a shower in favor of a claw foot tub. Perhaps you’re even considering a whirlpool-style tub. Whatever you decide, the bath option is the fixture that will determine the amount of space available in the rest of the room. Certain tubs will take up more space than others, while a shower will free up more space for linen cabinets or other amenities. Once you’ve decided on your bath or shower, you’ll know how much more you can add to your design with the space available.

The Toilet Goes In Last

This might sound strange, but it’s something many homeowners don’t think of. Some are so eager to have their bathroom functioning again that they do things a little out of order. It’s important to install the toilet last to avoid scratching the new floor tile or making unnecessary cuts into the floor. You’ll also want to make sure the floor is perfectly level before installing the toilet. If it’s not, check your floor tiles for levelness or use shims during the toilet installation.

Taking care of the structural and functional aspects of a design is just as important as the final aesthetic. By the time you’re ready to add your final design touches, you’ll be confident that your new bathroom is soundly constructed. Any remodeling project can be a challenge, but with careful planning your new bathroom will be a beauty and a joy for years to come.