- By Kurt Kopp
- In Design Ideas, How to Choose, Remodeling
- Tags Bathroom
9 Things to Think About Before You Start Your Bathroom Remodel
With a bathroom remodel, there is a lot to think about. Here are the 9 Things to Think About Before a Bathroom Remodel.
1) Budget
The average bathroom remodels cost $10,000. You can expect to spend between $3,500 to $7,000 with updating a small or medium-sized bathroom. With a large or master bath, you could expect to pay $25,000 or more. Determining your bathroom makeover budget is essential. As you plan for your budget, make sure to have a little extra money for those unexpected problems.
2) Bathroom Planner
Think about the look of your home. Ask your self this question: Does your bathroom blend well with the rest of your home? Keep in mind that not everything has to match exactly, but you do want your home to flow well. Due to the proximity of your bedroom to the bathroom, noise is maybe an issue for some homeowners. You may think about how to reduce the noise, such as the toilet flushing.
3) Bathroom Floor Plans
It’s highly recommended to keep the new bath’s plumbing fixtures close to the bathroom’s existing plumbing. If your budget is limited, you may want to consider keeping the same footprint to save on money. By following the same footprint will save you in demolition and reconstruction costs. In case you have a small bathroom, you can give the impression being bigger through the use of some tricks. For instance, pedestal sinks work best to creating the illusion of more space, or installing clear glass shower doors are than the shower curtains on tubs gives the illusion of even more space. You may want to consider using a big mirror to reflect the illusion of more space as well.
4) Lighting Design
For bathrooms, overhead lighting is crucial. Adding a combination of recessed lights with wall sconces beside or over the mirror is also a great idea. If it’s too bright in your bathroom, you may want to consider installing dimmer switches. For ambient options, you can use of a sunken track lighting or frosted glass fixtures.
5) Ventilation Solutions
Proper ventilation is critical, especially if you want to ensure that your bathroom renovation project lasts for years to come. A bathroom that’s not correctly ventilated could ruin some of the upgrades such as the floors, walls, and even the cabinetry. Bathroom ventilation is critical for removing humidity which creates foggy mirrors, slippery floors, and contributes to the growth of mildew and mold. Controlling mold and humidity is vital to maintaining healthy indoor air quality and protecting the value of your home and having to do expensive mold remediation. A bathroom vent fan should exhaust air to the outside. Better fan models have whisper-quiet exhaust fans and humidity-controlled switches that activate when a sensor detects excess moisture in the air.
6) Maximize the Space
Bathroom storage can be a challenge, by the time you’ve installed the toilet, shower, and sink, there’s often little space left for anything else. Try to use all the space in your bathroom as much as possible. You may want to use cabinets above the toilets, as well as towel racks, which are perfect for those who need storage but have little space to work with.
7) Durable Flooring
Many bathrooms use porcelain, ceramic, and stone tiles for their durability and waterproof qualities. Remember that you will need to clean and seal the grout regularly to prevent mildew from forming. Vinyl flooring and linoleum floors are also an option for waterproof, durable, and easy-to-clean. If your bathroom remodels, include removing the old floor and installing a new one, you may take this opportunity to install a radiant heating flooring. Not only will it keep your feet warm, but it can also be a great feature to have when you decide to sell your home.
8) Bathroom remodeling features to consider
Remember to plan where you need to invest your money, which may include all or some of these features.
Sinks – When you are installing a new sink, you will want to measure your space to see what will fit best. A good rule of thumb is that the area in front of the sink needs to be about 30 inches to allow for opening cabinets and walking around.
Faucets – Updating your bathroom’s hardware and fixtures is a great way to give your bathroom a new look without spending all your money. Several finishes are available for bathroom fixtures such as chrome, brushed nickel, oil-rubbed bronze, steel, and brass. You should choose styles and finish carefully because of the strong impact they can make on your overall decor and sellability.
Countertops – Synthetic stones such as quartz can offer you the look of natural stone at a lower price point and with less maintenance. The most cost-friendly options are laminate countertops and ceramic tile countertops.
Bathtubs – If you do decide to replace or renovate an existing bath plan to budget accordingly. Depending a bathtub itself can range from a few hundred dollars to many thousands of dollars. When purchasing a new bathtub, don’t forget the additional costs of hardware, fixtures, and installation. It is best to have a professional installation because a bad installation job can result in water damage and mold growth. Bathtubs come in a range of materials, which include enamel-on-steel, cast iron, acrylic, and fiberglass gel coat. Installation options for your new tub include freestanding bathtubs, bathtubs installed into alcoves, and those installed on platforms.
Showers – Just like installing a new bathtub, converting, or updating a shower space is a significant undertaking with a bathroom remodel. There are many configurations for shower enclosures or surrounds that seem almost endless, but here are a few setups you want to consider with your bathroom remodel. One-piece shower units consist of nearly every necessary shower component all in a prepackaged, self-contained unit. A way to save money you can install glass shower doors to an existing shower or bathtub/shower to give it new appeal while limiting the need for a whole-shower renovation. Synthetic shower surrounds the same easy installation benefits of one-piece shower units, and maintenance is straightforward. Tiles offer you the most in terms of decorative choices when building a new shower area.
Toilets – While it may be tempting, changing the location of the toilet can incur more expense than it’s worth. Don’t forget to measure both your existing space and the new toilet to ensure a proper fit. Replacing an old toilet with a newer one is a great way to reduce your home’s overall water use and save money.
Wallcoverings –Your bathroom’s wall coverings need to be durable because of moisture, heat, and ease of cleaning. You would want to choose gloss and semigloss paint or vinyl wallpaper for their water-repelling qualities. Just remember that wallpaper styles change quickly, and finding matching wallpaper down the road may be difficult.
9) Designing with the Future in Mind
For those who are thinking of putting their home on the market in the next five years, then it’s vital to ensure that the value of your property would increase over time. You may want to consider having your bathroom renovated with a potential buyer in mind. But if you’re planning to live in your home for a long time to come, you may want to design the bathroom the way you would really love and fit with your style and preferences.
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Kurt Kopp is a dedicated professional with a commitment to excellence. He is a master builder of over 35 years of experience that strives to deliver the highest quality product to his valued customer.
