When you’ve been saving for years to finally redo your mint-green or bubblegum-pink bathroom, it’s understandable that the first thing you want to do is chuck those old fixtures, choose new tile, and indulge in a gorgeous new vanity. Yet, focusing on appearance first is one of several common bathroom remodeling mistakes you should avoid.
Not Knowing Where the Pipes Are
Falling in love with an oversized tub or a toilet-bidet combination without first knowing if you have the space and the plumbing to handle it is a big mistake. When creating a bathroom remodel plan, the first thing homeowners and their designers should determine—with the help of licensed residential plumbing contractors—is whether your plan is practical. Reviving a vintage bathroom may require relocating pipes and fixtures to comply with modern codes. Find out how much space you’ve got and what kinds of fixtures can go where before you finalize any plan.
Insufficient Ventilation and Poor Lighting
Bathrooms are wet and humid most of the time, especially if you have a large family taking shifts in the shower. Plan for a bathroom fan that complies with codes and is powerful enough to draw moist air up and out of the bathroom, while also being quiet enough not to wake you on a sleep-in Saturday. Allowing the bathroom environment to stay too damp encourages mold and mildew and can damage metal parts of your new fixtures.
Lighting in a bathroom is more than the placement of sconces or recessed lights—there should also be a source of natural light brightening the room. Plan carefully for windows or skylights to allow natural light in but maintain privacy in all seasons of the year.
Hello, John!
Even if you are working with a small space, try to arrange it so that the toilet isn’t the first thing you see when you enter the bathroom. This doesn’t necessarily require a separate room with a door in the space—you can accomplish this with half wall or by positioning the toilet to the side or behind the door. Also, avoid positioning the toilet right next to the tub, so you must look at it while you’re trying to have a relaxing soak.
Neglecting Storage Space and Treating Towels as an Afterthought
Whatever needs to be in the bathroom will end up on the vanity countertop if there isn’t a place to keep it. Recessed mirrored medicine cabinets of the right size look great and are practical. Towels need hooks to dry that stand out enough for air circulation and are easy to reach from the shower. Vanities should have drawers to stow the beauty products and cabinets for extra toilet paper and replacement towels.
Bathroom remodeling is an exciting project, but it’s also one that takes careful planning. Failing to assess the existing plumbing and whether it needs to be updated, moved, or replaced are common mistakes to avoid in bathroom remodeling. Contact Fletcher’s at (530) 285-3780 for a consultation on your bathroom remodeling project. We can help you create the bathroom of your dreams by working with what is possible in your house.