Renovating your home is a huge task and many homeowners will either do it all in one go and move out or do it room by room as time and budget allows. It has to be said that it is not for the faint hearted and can be quite stressful, even if you are only doing one room!

Interestingly the bathroom is usually one of the smallest rooms in the house but also one of the busiest, so renovating this needs to be as painless as possible in regard to time and budget! It is also one of the most costly rooms as usually a renovation will mean a complete upgrade of the facilities which means all new shower trays, bathtubs, toilets and vanities. So it’s important that you don’t get it wrong. We have been renovating bathrooms for many years and it’s what we specialise in, so here are our top 5 most common bathroom mistakes home owners make:

Top 5 common bathroom mistakes when renovating

Do it yourself job

There are different levels of DIY and it’s important to know your limitations. What might seem like a good idea at the time can actually end up costing your more in the long run. Unless you have two bathrooms then renovating a bathroom can be very inconvenient, so making sure the process runs smoothly and to a tight timeframe is essential. Our advice would be to speak to your contractor first to get a quote, once you have this you can then decide whether you need to do it yourself or not. Often taking all the old utilities out can be a saving so maybe look at emptying the room yourself, removing the old toilet and tiles and then get your builders, plumbers and electricians in to do the rest.

Planning

It’s only a small space but that is why it is so important to plan and work out the space before you make changes. Think about the advantages of changing the room and what you will gain versus the cost of doing it. Think about functionality and make sure there is enough space for all the items you want in there. Think about storage and what you want and need to store. Shelving in the vanity is good but what about shelves in the shower? A heated towel rail might look nice on the far wall but is it a practical place when you get out of the shower? Remember, the bathroom is used on a daily basis so consider its functionality carefully.

Ventilation

In any bathroom heat and steam are created, so it is essential that you ventilate the room well. Most rooms these days have a ventilation fan in the ceiling to dry excess condensation and moisture from the room to prevent the growth of mould and mildew. This is an item that can get overlooked or is put in as an after thought. Make sure that this does not happen to you and remember to select a fan that is powerful enough to deal with the size of your room.

Removing the bathtub

It’s true the bathtub is big and takes up valuable space in any bathroom but be careful if you are thinking of removing it. It is one of the most common mistakes made especially if you are trying to sell your house, as one of the largest home buyer markets are families and having a bath is a must if the family has young children. Look at alternatives as there are some clever shaped baths in the marketplace that take up less room than traditional baths.

Lighting

Lighting is a massive consideration when you are renovating a room especially a small one that may not have that much natural light. Think about the shadows and where the light needs to be - there is nothing worse than having a shower in a dark cubicle or trying to put your makeup on in the wrong type of light. So work with your electrician to get the most natural looking light and plan their locations with thought and consideration.

Waterproofing

The bathroom is a wet space - so it needs to be waterproof and reach the council standards. Make sure you plan this into your renovation as waterproofing issues are one of the most common defects in bathrooms. Remember you may as well do the job right in the fist place to prevent the growth of mould and water damage. To ensure you get this right seek advice from an expert or better still get them to do the job for you.

In our experience any one of these issues can delay a renovation if they have not been properly thought out and discussed. If you are planning a bathroom renovation then we would love the opportunity to have a chat and discuss your plans. Give us a call on 021 792 782 or email us here

Bathroom Renovation Mistakes