Your bathroom or bathrooms are usually one of the smallest rooms in your house. But when it comes to renovating them, it can be one of the most, if not the most expensive to complete.
From the ceiling, walls, floor, vanity, shower, toilet and bath, there are a lot of decisions to be made. If not well planned, you can easily make mistakes that won’t be realised until too far into the project.
In this article we will cover some of the most common bathroom renovation mistakes and how to avoid them.
1. Going Over Budget
As the bathroom occupies a small space in your house, many people think that renovating it will not be expensive.
The trust is, this project can be quite expensive. As such you need to budget correctly, otherwise you will be set to fail before you even get started.
There are parts of the process that need licensed contractors such as a Plumber and Electrician. These licensed tradesmen are expensive due to their work they complete.
Also there are many other expensive components such as the tiles, bathtub, paint, fixtures, fittings and so on.
The worst thing you can do is cut corners just to lower the cost. Instead make sure you understand the costs of what you want to achieve and make sure you have sufficient money to complete the project.
Get multiple quotes from different bath-room renovation experts. By comparing quotes this will give you an understanding of how much your bathroom remodelling project will cost.
2. Misplacing the Lighting
Several factors will determine the right placement of the lighting. It needs proper planning to ensure the bathroom has sufficient lighting and not too much.
For example, when looking for lights for the vanity and around the mirror, light fixtures should be fixed on either side of the mirror. Vertical fluorescent light fixtures also work well.
If the bathroom has sufficient natural light, wall sconces are ideal.
If there is a lack of natural light, care is needed when thinking about where to place the light fixture. For example, if you will only have a single bulb at the center of the ceiling, it must provide enough lighting.
To avoid this mistake, make sure you consider various lighting options before making a final decision.
3. Choosing the Wrong Tiles
With the many different tiles available in stores, you must be specific. You need tiles that will withstand heat, moisture, and water.
You also need tiles that have been tested and proven. They must also be appealing, durable, and safe.
Not all tiles will fit your bathroom wall, floor, or ceiling. Some tiles will be designed for a specific purpose and you must ensure they are being used and positioned correctly.
Reliable materials for tiles include natural stone, fiberglass, cement and porcelain. If you can afford marble, this would make an excellent surface.
To avoid this mistake make sure you work with a professional and experienced tiler. They can help you choose which tiles and make sure they are placed correctly.
4. Messing Up the Grouting
This is one of the most important parts of renovating a bathroom. Grout is often not given much thought, however if this is not completed correctly it can lead to expensive water leaking issues.
Grout is what prevents water from seeping underneath the tiles and also seals out dirt. They also strengthen the structural integrity of the installation.
Grout can be neutral or different shades of white. It depends on your preferences. You must choose the right grout that will also match and adhere to the tiles.
Cementitious and synthetic grout are some that you can choose from. Again this is something to discuss with a professional tiler.
5. Choosing the Wrong Contractors
When performing a bathroom renovation you have two options.
- Doing it Yourself and hire specific contractors for certain tasks
- Request a bathroom renovator to handle the project for you.
If you choose the first option there are multiple times when you could hire the wrong contractor as you will need to hire specialists for specific tasks, such as plumbing, electrical, tiling, etc.
However if you choose to work with a bathroom renovator, then you only need to make one decision.
Either way, make sure when hiring anyone that you are hiring someone who is licensed, skilled, experienced and has a great reputation of quality work. Then make sure they understand your requests completely otherwise they may complete your work not as you desire.
Once you have made your decisions, ensure you monitor progress to make sure everyone is on the same page.
