Four Things to Consider When Renovating Your Bathroom
Photo by Steven Ungermann on Unsplash
Renovating a room in your home is a big project, particularly where the bathroom is concerned, as it could disrupt your household until it’s complete. You’ll want to get it done as quickly as possible, but it’s important to do your research before rushing into anything.
If your bathroom is still functioning, it might be best to put off renovating until you feel fully prepared. This means having all of the materials and tools you may need, alongside learning the proper installation procedures and when you need to hire a professional. Here, we cover four of the most vital things to consider before you embark on this new project.
Longevity of materials
You’ll usually want to opt for strong, hard-wearing materials wherever possible to prolong the life of your new bathroom. If you use quality goods and complete it to a high standard, the next renovation should be the future owner’s responsibility. Although this may mean paying slightly more upfront, it’ll be worth it if it saves you from buying cheaper materials multiple times throughout your years in the home. This also means a lower environmental impact, as less waste will be generated.
If you’re concerned about keeping your renovation eco-friendly, there are several things you can do alongside reducing material waste. Try to use paints that are made without toxic chemicals, install wall insulation to keep in the heat, and choose water-saving taps where possible. And for cabinets or shelves, opt for secondhand pieces or repurpose some of your own.
Resale value
The materials and style that you pick should also depend on how long you plan to live in the property. If you think you may be moving on in the next few years, it might be smarter to pick average cost, neutral styles. That way it’ll look impressive and still add to the resale value of your property, but may not cost quite as much as hard-wearing alternatives would.
On the other hand, if you plan to stay in your home for the foreseeable future, it’s almost always worth paying the extra cost for durable materials. Your future plans should also influence the patterns and style that you choose, as it’s more important to have something that you love versus something more generic if you’ll be the one looking at it for years to come.
Do keep in mind that if you opt for particularly bright colours or loud patterns, that may not be everyone’s cup of tea, so it may still impact the resale value in the future. In our opinion though, it’s more important to have what makes you happy, it’s just something to keep in mind as you renovate.
Plumbing
When renovating a bathroom, it is important to consider the condition of the current plumbing and whether it needs to be updated for several reasons:
- Safety: Old or faulty plumbing can be a safety hazard and can lead to leaks or flooding
- Functionality: Updating the plumbing can improve the functionality of the bathroom. For example, replacing old pipes with new ones can increase water pressure and improve the flow of hot and cold water.
- Energy efficiency: Updating the plumbing can make the bathroom more energy efficient. For example, installing low-flow showerheads and toilets can save water and reduce utility bills.
- Aesthetics: Updating the plumbing can improve the overall aesthetic of the bathroom. For example, installing new taps or shower heads can give the bathroom a modern look.
- Future-proofing: Updating the plumbing can help to future-proof the bathroom. for example, if you plan to install new fixtures in the future, it is important to make sure that the plumbing can accommodate them.
- Meeting Building codes: Updating the plumbing can be required to meet the building codes and regulations of your local authorities.
Unexpected costs
It’s advisable to set aside some extra cash in case of any mistakes or unforeseen issues. This is even more important if you’re planning to do most of the renovation yourself, as mistakes are bound to happen when you don’t have professional training.
Tiles may get broken, you could buy the wrong size fittings or simply begin a task and realise you’re not confident enough to do it. This is where you’re better off hiring a professional to come in and take over rather than continuing unprepared.
The cost of hiring a tradesperson will be worth it compared with the potential cost of replacing materials and fixtures, or having to rip out any existing work if you were to do it yourself. Not to mention the risk of injury to yourself and anyone else in the property, particularly with the likes of electricals or large fixtures.
Having some money allocated for these kinds of problems takes away a lot of the stress, knowing that you can afford to hire a professional rather than pushing on without the necessary knowledge or tools.
Renovating a bathroom is no small project, which is why you need to be aware of all of the potential issues that could arise before you begin. It can seem daunting, but it’s much better to educate yourself now rather than when it’s too late and something ends up damaged. As long as you take the proper safety precautions and follow our advice, you’ll be on your way to creating your very own dream bathroom.
If you found this post useful, you might also like - How to Survive a Bathroom Renovation - 5 Ways to Make Your Kitchen Renovation Instagram-Worthy - Easy Kitchen Renovation Tips.
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