Every home remodeling project requires thoughtful planning and execution to ensure it creates a long-lasting functional space. While some remodeling mistakes are relatively minor—like choosing the wrong paint color for your bedroom and having to repaint—others, particularly in bathroom remodeling, can be far more costly and troublesome. Imagine a bathtub that’s the wrong size, improperly installed plumbing leading to leaks, or other major missteps. These errors don’t just strain your budget; they can derail your entire renovation.
In this article, we’ll walk you through common bathroom remodeling mistakes that often go unnoticed but can have serious consequences. Read on if you want to find out how to enhance the value and functionality of your bathroom.
Quick Summary
In this article, you’ll quickly learn how to steer clear of common bathroom remodeling errors that could end up costing you time and money. Key takeaways include:
- Understanding the importance of thorough planning and professional guidance to ensure a layout that is both functional and compliant.
- Choosing high-quality materials and cohesive fixtures avoids future repairs and maintains aesthetic value.
- Recognizing which construction tasks should be DIY and which require professional skills to prevent structural and water damage.
- Preparing a realistic budget and carefully selecting your contractor to avoid overspending and ensure quality craftsmanship.
- Considering the long-term functionality and potential resale value of your design choices to enhance your home’s market appeal.
Equip yourself with these pivotal strategies to navigate your bathroom remodel smoothly and effectively.
Section 1: Planning and Design Flaws
A successful bathroom remodel begins with careful planning and design. In this section, you’ll discover common pitfalls such as ignoring professional advice, underestimating layout challenges, and overlooking crucial lighting needs that can undermine the functionality and safety of your space.
Ignoring Professional Advice
Remodeling a bathroom is a multi-layered process that requires many areas to consider before tearing down any piece. The planning stage is one of the most important, and you should consider sitting down with a skilled professional and discussing what layout you seek, how that will affect your plumbing, electrical work, material consideration, etc. Many bathroom remodels fail due to poor planning and decisions made on the go.
Underestimating Layout Challenges
The primary goal of any bathroom remodel should always be functionality. Even the most stunning design loses its appeal if practical issues arise—like doors hitting cabinets or the toilet, a cramped shower, or insufficient space to step out of the bathtub safely. These details need careful consideration to create a bathroom that’s not only functional but also safe for everyone in the household.
An essential part of achieving this is adhering to your local building codes. These guidelines are more than just a legal requirement; they provide valuable insights into best practices for ensuring the safety, durability, and proper layout of your bathroom.
Overlooking Lighting Needs
Lighting is a crucial element of a functional bathroom. Not only is adequate lighting required by some building codes, but it is also essential in a room where people get ready for the day. Professionals recommend layering the bathroom lighting, including:
- ambient lighting for general illumination;
- task lighting for areas where you need focused light for precision (like the one above the mirror);
- accent lighting to add a unique atmosphere to the room and focus attention on decor details.
Remember that lighting should also be appropriate for the humid environment, and any fixtures that will get direct steam on them, like over the bathtub or shower, need proper protection to ensure the electrical parts are not getting water vapor on them.
Section 2: Material and Fixture Mistakes
Choosing the right materials and fixtures is critical for the longevity and appearance of your bathroom. You’ll learn about the risks of opting for low-quality materials and mismatched finishes, which can lead to higher maintenance costs and disrupt the aesthetic harmony of your bathroom.
Choosing Low-Quality Materials
Bathroom remodeling is not the cheapest renovation project due to the complexity of the electrical, plumbing, and installation work. Thus, people can often try to save on some materials, like tile and faucets, to stay within budget. Such a mistake can come from poor planning and lack of professional consultation when considering the cost of the remodel. As a result, you could end up with a bathroom that requires frequent repairs, ultimately costing more than investing in a high-quality remodel from the start.
The materials used in a bathroom are critical to its longevity, and not all tiles are suitable for this space. Proper sealing and high-quality grout are essential to ensure tiles can withstand humidity, while floor tiles should have sufficient friction to prevent slips, even when wet. Careful planning and professional guidance can help you strike the right balance between cost and durability, ensuring your remodel stands the test of time.
Mismatched Finishes
Following remodel trends is a great way to get inspiration, but when getting ideas, it is essential to ensure the different trends you like go well together. A coherent combination of all elements of the bathroom remodel will ensure the space is well thought through in terms of both looks and functionality. For example, make effort to purchase all the faucets together to avoid discrepancies in the style. Think through even the little details like door knobs and cabinet handles and how they match the fixtures since all these little details will help create a cohesive look.
Section 3: Construction Blunders
While DIY projects may seem like a cost-saving option, certain tasks require professional expertise. This section addresses common construction errors, including DIY mishaps, and the essential role of proper waterproofing to prevent expensive repairs and ensure the durability of your bathroom.
DIY Disasters
DIY projects are a great way to save up on a renovation. And there are a few bathroom updates you can do yourself to save up money. These can include:
- Staining or painting the cabinets;
- Changing out light fixtures;
- Adding LED light strips for accent lighting;
- Adding wall decor like new towel hangers or extra storage space;
- Changing out a mirror;
- Changing the old rusty shower curtain rod, etc.
These projects can enhance your bathroom, are very budget-friendly, and are easy to DIY in most bathrooms. However, it is important to note that even though these jobs can be DIY-friendly for people with little to no experience, some renovations absolutely require professional help.
Renovation tasks that are best left to professionals:
- Rerouting water pipes;
- Installing tyles;
- Installing floor heating;
- Electrical work;
- Installing a new toilet, bathtub, shower, or sink;
These projects should be entrusted to those who know the ins and outs of plumbing and electrical work. Mistakes done when DIYing these can result in water damage, mold, quicker wear and tear, and costly repairs.
Skimping on Waterproofing
The longevity of the bathroom remodel strongly depends on the proper waterproofing of this highly water and moisture-prone environment. Waterproofing the bathroom entails using water-resistant layers to protect the interior from water seeping into the floors and walls, causing hidden mold growth and even serious damage to the house’s structural integrity. This step is crucial, so it’s essential to hire professional contractors who specialize in waterproofing to ensure the job is done correctly.
The main materials used for waterproofing the bathroom include liquid membranes and sheet membranes. These help create a strong barrier to protect the floor and walls. It is vital to ensure protection not only for the wet areas of the bathroom, like a shower, but also for the whole bathroom floor in case of leaks from the shower or bathtub to the floor.
Section 4: Budget and Contracting
Correct budgeting and selecting the right contractor are key to the success of your remodeling project. You will explore the dangers of inaccurate budgeting and the pitfalls of choosing an unsuitable contractor, along with strategies for making decisions that align with your remodeling objectives.
Inaccurate Budgeting
Preparing a budget for the renovation is like laying a firm foundation for the whole project to go smoothly. Many aspects can impact your budget needs, such as:
- Will your remodel require special plumbing work like rerouting pipes to install a rain showerhead, etc?
- Do you need an electrician to work out the new light fixture setup?
- What materials will you be using for walls and flooring?
- Do you need a new bathtub, toilet, sink, etc?
- What is the contractor’s price for your specific remodel project?
These are just a few questions to consider when planning out the budget. However, like any renovation project, it is never safe to have a very tight budget because issues can arise, and expenses can quickly add up. A rule of thumb is to have at least 10% of the expected budget put away in case of those extra expenses. Inaccurate budgeting and preparation can result in an unfinished project or delays, leaving you without a functional bathroom for longer than you expected.
Choosing the Wrong Contractor
Deciding to outsource your bathroom renovation project to a skilled contractor is a reliable way to guarantee the job is done well. However, even this step requires wise consideration to ensure you truly end up with a contractor you can trust. This area is where extra savings can result in a poorly done job. You can follow these three steps when choosing a contractor:
- Consider your options. Contact a few local contractors, review their portfolios, and compare the quotes. You can schedule a call with a few contractors you are interested in to discuss your specific remodel project needs and see how invested they are in helping you work on it. This can test the communication skills and responsiveness of the contractor team.
- Verify certifications. Ask to see the licensing and insurance the contractor has to be able to work on your project. It is important to know if the team is qualified to be trusted with the complex bathroom remodeling tasks.
- Discuss details and expectations. Before signing a contract, get a written estimate of all the labor and material costs. Discuss the timeline of the project and the schedule to ensure expectations align on both sides.
Do not fall for the appealing, low-cost quotes you may get, especially if other contractors in the area charge way higher. Enquire why the contractor has a low price; perhaps the materials they use are cheaper, or they do not add all the costs upfront and will charge after the renovation. There is always a reason, and not to be fooled by untrustworthy contractors, you have to be inquisitive and detailed when selecting the one.
Section 5: Post-Remodel Considerations
After your remodel, it’s important to prioritize functionality over fleeting trends and consider the resale value of your improvements. This section discusses how post-remodel choices can affect daily usability and the market appeal of your home, highlighting the need for thoughtful planning to achieve both immediate enjoyment and potential future benefits.
Functionality Over Trends
Planning a new bathroom design can be fun and exciting as it allows you to think of a better look and functionality for the place you use so much in daily life. However, as you go through the planning process, you should consider the post-remodel functionality. Often, trends can look nice on pictures and inspiration boards but may not fit your current bathroom setup well.
Consider such trends as micro mosaic tile, which looks amazing when placed in unique patterns. However, are you ready to commit to cleaning thousands of grout lines on a regular basis? This trend may work for some people who are dedicated to high maintenance but may not suit a busy, on-the-go lifestyle others may have.
Another common trend is wet bathrooms where the shower is not contained in a restricted area, but the water can get onto the entire bathroom floor. While some of these designs look very spacious and elegant and provide great accessibility for people with mobility needs, you do have to consider whether this setup will be functional for your home. Some people have regretted getting this type of bathroom setup in a cold climate since the steam and heat from the water are not able to be contained in an enclosed shower, and you are left standing in a cold bathroom when taking a shower.
Resale Value
Bathroom renovation is among the best home improvement projects. Ensuring the renovation is done properly and in a timeless design can be an attractive bonus to potential buyers. However, before you put all the money into the renovation in hopes of a great ROI (return on investment), research what bathroom renovations or improvements are sought after in your area. If you have plans on selling your home in the future and the ROI for bathroom remodeling is essential in your budgeting plans, then take time to research the housing market in your area to define what the buyers prefer and what you can adjust in your remodel to have the best chance of higher ROI.
An average ROI for a mid-scale renovation will usually bring around 60-70% ROI, while a high-scale renovation ROI is generally lower. This should be considered when planning out your budget for the bathroom remodel, as less expensive but well-thought-through improvements can add good value to your home once you want to sell it.
Conclusion
In this article, we’ve explored some common mistakes homeowners make during a bathroom remodel and how these can impact the overall process. Understanding these key factors is essential when planning your remodel to avoid unexpected costs and delays.If the thought of managing a bathroom remodel feels daunting, Premier Remodeling is here to assist. Our experienced team is ready to guide you through every stage, ensuring your bathroom is both beautiful and functional for years to come. Contact us today for a free quote!
