Bathroom Renovation Blunders

By guest blogger David Drexler

Although impending renovations can be exciting, they can also be overwhelming. In the time crunch to get things finished, homeowners find themselves at a disadvantage when it comes to making the final preparations in a cost-effective manner and can end up making frustrating mistakes. It’s great to have extravagant ideas and goals when it comes time to renovate your bathroom; however, it’s important to remember that practicality is a vital part of any bathroom design. Here is a list of five common bathroom renovation mistakes to avoid when it comes time to revamp your bathroom.

Too Modern: People often make the mistake of wanting to be too hip and trendy by picking the latest, hottest, coolest things. However, what they don’t take into consideration is that trendy often means short term. You want something that’s going to be timeless, while simultaneously appealing to your tastes. This way, you won’t have to do more renovations two years down the road to keep up with the latest trends.

An all-modern bathroom may be a mistake.

Instead, try a mix of contemporary and traditional.

Failure to obtain permits: Individuals often fail to consider and obtain any and all necessary permits that are required for remodeling tasks. In some cases, it may be quite an expense, and it may prove to be exceptionally troublesome, but there are reasons that permits must be obtained on certain remodeling endeavors. This may not make a lot of since if you are simply laying new tile or adding a new coat of paint on the bathroom walls. But if you’re making major renovations to the bathroom, such as installing new plumbing fixtures, rearranging the components of your bathroom or physically increasing the size of the room, it is imperative that you consider the importance of obtaining the appropriate permits.
Guidelines are often put in place by local government and codes enforcement agencies to protect the people, as well as the best interest of the environment. There is nothing worse than discovering that you have not performed according to one of these guidelines and having to break down everything you have done and do it all over again. Not only is this costly, but it is extremely frustrating.

Purchasing low-quality or incorrect materials: Purchasing low-quality materials for the job that will be performed for the sake of saving money sounds like a good idea at first. Nevertheless, it’s better to spend a little extra for quality when it comes to materials for the bathroom. The bathroom is a high-traffic area that is exposed to a lot of moisture on a regular basis. If cheap products are used, it’s likely that the project will need to be redone soon in the future. However, if quality products are purchased, the remodeling job is bound to be a success!
Homeowners may also experience problems when the wrong type of products are purchased for the sake of saving money. For example, there are certain types of paints withstand time in the bathroom than others. This is because of the moisture that is often experienced in this room. Just as there are certain types of paints that are more appropriate than others, there are certain types of wall and floor materials that are more appropriate for bathroom use, too. It’s important to take a little time and research what products are best suited for this room prior to purchasing them. The research will surely pay off in the end.

Lack of storage: You may think that you don’t need that much storage in the bathroom, but there are quite a few things that you actually use, from towels to hygiene supplies to razors to extra soap and shampoo. All of these items need to be stored, so make sure there is a place to put them. Don’t forget about storage space in the shower, unless you like having soaps and bottles all over the floor. Most times, people don’t account for the chaos that sometimes revolves around bathrooms. Storage is also an area in your bathroom that can increase the overall resale value.

Be sure to consider storage options before renovating.

Lack of expertise: Another problem that can arise during a bathroom remodel occurs when homeonwers believe that they can perform a task easily and then discover that it is beyond their expertise. If you are new to bathroom remodeling and plumbing, you may not want to try it yourself. Hire a professional home improvement expert. Ultimately, you will end up costing yourself a whole lot more money if you try doing this when you don’t have the required skills. Home improvement and bathroom remodeling projects involve more than just changing out some old fixtures. Often, plumbing is going to be required, and unless you really know what you’re doing, you’re better off to leave this work to a professional. While there are simple remodeling tasks that you can probably take care of on your own, if you’re not sure how to do it, don’t try it. It will be worth the money you pay to make sure that everything gets done the right way the first time.

You can avoid these mistakes if you put in a little upfront effort and carry out your project in a precise and careful manner. One thing you can do is create a bathroom plan and correct all your design mistakes before you start with the project. No matter which method you use, always ensure that you plan properly, and you will be guaranteed a success with your bathroom design!

David Drexler is the owner of Drexler Shower Door which is located in Atlanta, Georgia. Learn more about their role in helping Atlanta homeowners with home improvement needs such as shower door installation and decorative mirrors and glass.