Properly Planning Your Project Can Help You Avoid Common Mistakes

With every remodeling project, what to avoid, is almost as important as what you do. This is especially true with a bathroom remodel. Every remodeling project comes with its own set of challenges. However, if you ask the right questions, know what to expect, and understand the most common mistakes and how to avoid them, you can minimize stress during the process.

Here are a few common bathroom remodeling mistakes and the ways you can avoid them. 

The Devil is in the Details!

Seems like common sense, but it bears discussion... never begin a project without a clear and detailed plan in place.

Start by defining your goals. Think about your personal style, and then, working with your design-build professional, come up with a plan and a budget to meet your goals.

When developing your remodeling plan, remember the devil is in the details! Even a small decision like choosing a bathtub border tile can influence your overall design, color scheme, and style. Putting off even a minor decision like choosing your tile until later in the process can mean not having materials on-site when you need them and can cause delays.

Not having a plan before you start is the best way to bust your budget. For example, if you install your vanity, decide that you don't like it, and want it moved, you may need to move plumbing, which can cause you to go way over budget. You'll either need to find the cash to pay for it or decide where to scale back to make up for the unexpected expense.

The bottom line, the planning and design stages of your bathroom remodeling project are the keys to a successful outcome. Instead of thinking about specific needs after you've ripped the tile off the walls, start with a plan. Ensure it's detailed and includes precise measurements, materials, anticipated costs, and map it all out with your contractor. Before demolition day!

Avoid Problems With Your Layout

Another common problem area relates to flow in the space and improperly placed fixtures. For example, you've chosen a gorgeous vanity as the centerpiece of your bathroom design. However, when placed in the room, you realize that there isn't proper clearance between the toilet and the sink.

In some older homes, the bathroom can sometimes have improper spacing between the wall and the toilet flange. A standard toilet placement requires a full 12-inches from the back wall to the edge of the flange. When the spacing is less than 12-inches, a standard toilet won't fit unless you cut into the drywall behind it. Don't Make This Mistake!

Measure your plumbing clearances after demolition and, if necessary, have your plumber move hook-ups into the proper position. If moving the flange is out of the question, American Standard manufactures a limited number of toilets compatible with a 10-inch clearance. Still, you should expect to pay more for your toilet.

Working with a design-build professional can help you avoid this mistake. Your contractor will have tools like 3D imaging, which can help you envision your finished bathroom during the design phase. The focus of any bathroom remodeling is always function first. Your layout must meet your local building codes, but you also want to make sure your design allows for comfortable flow within the space and is efficient for everyday use.

Finally, when designing your space, it's not ideal to have the toilet be the first thing you see when entering the room. It doesn't need to be behind a closed door (but if you have the space, it's an elegant option), but really think about your layout and design. Try to move the visual focus off of the toilet to keep the room looking elegant, even if it's a small space.

Don't Fall For The Fads!

We should all learn from past mistakes... remember those pink and baby blue toilets of yesteryear?

A bathroom remodeling is a significant investment. Make sure that you think through your design choices. You want them to last for years to come, not look dated in a couple of years!

Having to revamp design elements every few years isn't the best use of your hard-earned funds. Opt for clean lines and classic materials like natural stone and porcelain tile. Go with a neutral color palette for any paint or tile. Avoid the aggressive fads of today that will be cringe-worthy tomorrow.

Choose Materials Wisely 

Your bathroom is a challenging environment when it comes to materials. It's a room that is regularly subject to high moisture levels and high humidity, along with rapid temperature shifts. You want to choose materials that avoid water problems like mold, mildew, and warping. Choose materials that are explicitly designed to meet the challenges of the bathroom environment.

Flooring is an essential element in your bathroom remodeling. Think about materials that can stand up to getting wet, like ceramic and porcelain tile or luxury vinyl. While natural or engineered hardwood is beautiful, wood flooring is not always the best choice in a bathroom. Natural stone is a beautiful and durable choice. Still, it's a porous surface and will need to be resealed regularly to keep out moisture.

Choosing the wrong material can cost you if you're replacing it every couple of years. Even worse, the wrong bathroom flooring choice can not only require replacement, but it can also compromise the subfloor, underlayment, and joists.

Don't Overlook Ventilation!

It's often overlooked, but ventilation is one of the most important functional elements of a well-designed bathroom. The bathroom fan is designed to pull heat and humidity from the room and vent it outside the house.

Moisture laden air in the bathroom can foster the growth of mold and mildew. A properly sized and vented bathroom fan is the key. Make sure you vent the bathroom fan out of the house and not just into the attic. Pumping heat and moisture into your attic can have a domino effect and cause other major (read that as "expensive to fix") problems.

Ventilation fans today are much improved. They run quieter, are more effective, and more powerful. Many include a heat lamp, which also reduces moisture in the room. Work with your design-build professional in the early planning stage to ensure proper ventilation is used. It's not glamorous, but it might be the most critical component of a successful bathroom remodeling.

Set A Realistic Budget

Bathroom remodeling isn't cheap. Be honest when setting a budget. If you have limited funds, it probably makes the most sense to replace fixtures and upgrade finishes instead of a "down-to-the-studs" remodel and moving utilities.

If you overspend, you'll just need to cut costs elsewhere, and you'll end up unhappy with the results. Be realistic when choosing materials, finishes, and fixtures. Be cautious and have a 15 to 20-percent contingency to cover any unforeseen problems. If it looks like you won't need your contingency, prioritize what you'd like to upgrade with the extra budget.

With proper planning, an understanding of your options, a realistic budget, and knowing what to avoid, your bathroom remodel can be a low-stress experience. Our Bathroom Remodeling Guide, found here, covers a lot of thse aspects.
Take a steady approach, do your homework, and pay attention to the details. It will all pay off with a functional, aesthetically beautiful bathroom that you'll absolutely love!

If you're planning a bathroom remodeling project and live in the West Central Alabama area, give the design experts at Toulmin Kitchen & Bath a call at (205) 366-0807. We're happy to answer any questions you may have. Let us help you avoid the problems and design the perfect master bathroom to meet your aesthetic and functional needs.