5 Common Mistakes When Renovating Your Bathroom
Renovating your bathroom into the perfect space requires more thought than many people think. Planning, and finding the ideal products are just part of what makes a bathroom renovation successful. Here are the top mistakes people make when renovating their bathroom and what we do to avoid them.
Not Enough Storage
Often homeowners do not use all of the space that they have a bathroom and lose out on opportunities for storage. When designing the bathroom space with the contractor, be sure that every area available is used for something. Sometimes a contractor can open up a wall or build in a shelving unit or closet.
Fixtures and Materials that Date
Following a trend can be dangerous because trends come and go. The average life span of a remodeling trend is two years. Stay away from crazy patterns such as pink tiles, chocolate sanitary ware, and crazy border tiles. Stick with classic and clean lines, colors, and fixtures. Elegant bathrooms have a broad appeal that lasts for years to come.
Poor Lighting & Power Sources
Lighting is an item that many homeowners ignore, yet, can make a massive difference in value and profitability. When remodeling your bath, check to make sure you have enough GFCI outlets for things like hairdryers, shavers, and curling irons. Next, review your lighting options. Would special, heated lighting make your bath experience more pleasant? Are there options to dim lights or brighten them? Are the lighting fixtures up to date with the latest technology making your life easier? Now is the time to visit these options. Even the addition of a single outlet can make a big difference in the bathroom.
Poor Ventilation
Proper ventilation is essential when remodeling a bathroom. It can reduce moisture and mold issues, reduce the growth of harmful bacteria, and make the area more comfortable. Showering, flushing the toilet and washing your hands’ increases moisture to the air. High humidity in a bathroom can cause mold and mildew issues as well as grow harmful bacteria such as staphylococcus and streptococcus. Ways you can improve the ventilation in your bathroom are by adding a window or a new, more powerful fan system.
Cutting Costs on Waterproofing
Although some projects are simple enough for the average DIY person, who is looking to save money, cutting corners and costs on waterproofing is a bad idea. In the long run, when your quick fix fails, you will be looking at costly repairs and a possible hazmat situation if black mold grows where the waterproofing failed. To ensure you do not have future issues in the bathroom, hire a professional to waterproof the area.