When you become a homeowner, you take on a new set of responsibilities. Many of them are to ensure that every inch of your home stays in the same shape that it was when you first purchased it, to maintain your standard of living, and also to help raise its value. One of the most used rooms in the house is the bathroom, and you’ll find that you will need to renovate it at some point, possibly earlier than anything else. If this is the first time you’re having your bathrooms renovated, there are a couple of things that you should know before you get to it.
Bring a Plumber in
This is the first thing you need to do before getting any idea or making any plans, because you need to get the bathroom checked first. The plumber will be able to let you know what may need fixing and what may need to be changed entirely in regard to the bath, the toilet, tub and sink, and the plumbing as well. It would be a disaster that while renovations are being made, a big issue is discovered, and they have to break away at your bathroom again. It’s a wise move to have your plumber involved in the planning phase as well so that you can finalize it practically the way you want. You may have a certain arrangement in mind, but it needs to work practically with the plumbing as well.
Renovation Packages Exist
You may have a plan in mind of exactly what you want the renovation to look like, but it certainly doesn’t hurt to look at some ready-made options either. In Australia, for instance, there are actually companies that specialize in creating designs for bathroom setups. When it comes to reinventing your bathroom you need to make sure that you’re dealing with a reliable company that understands your space and your needs. They would usually make the design for you and offer you a whole package, which means you get the materials, tiles and toilet, tub, and sink. This is extremely convenient because you don’t have to go shopping for everything separately as you generally would if you’re not using a renovation package.
Figure Out Your Lighting Early
When it comes to renovating your bathroom, it’s a bit different because you cannot think about how you want to place the lighting fixtures, later on, it’s something that you have to do at the very beginning. After the plumbing is all taken care of, you can run it by an electrician and consult the plumber as well, and see what would be ideal in terms of lighting. Planning is also different because of space. Generally, bathrooms are the smallest rooms in the house, and the setup is unique in that you have to consider the mirror, the tub and while you do need enough lighting to see properly, you don’t want it to be overwhelmingly bright. If you want inset lighting above the tub or shower, then make sure that it works with the colors you choose because it will reflect. You’ll want to have more than one fixture so that you also have control over the brightness.
You Need Outlets in Safe Places
This is a factor that is often forgotten but is extremely important. You certainly need outlets in the bathroom, and when planning for renovation, it’s your chance to place them strategically and safely at the same time. Think about putting one in the medicine cabinet, and any others far from any risk of getting wet. Either way, it’s important that you get them placed in covers to ensure safety at all times.
There are Smart Space Solutions
It’s very easy for a bathroom to become cluttered because it’s more of a practical room than it is for the image. However, just because you have a lot going on in a small space, doesn’t mean that there aren’t smart solutions that also look great and help you keep the clutter organized. You can plan to have inset spaces made in the wall in the shower or bath area, and you can do the same to create storage space for things like towels or toiletries. Not only will this look amazing, but it will help you keep the bathroom clean and clutter-free at all times.
You Need a Budget
You probably already know, that just like every other renovation project in your home, the bathroom certainly needs a budget as well. Keep in mind that you have to integrate plumbing, breaking and replacing tiles, and electrician fees besides installation of the toilet and tub or shower. Storage and fixtures such as faucets should also be taken into consideration, and think about what you’re going to do about the heater as well. Once you’ve listed all the factors that go into the renovation, it will be easier for you to work out how much you’ll need to spend. Always make sure that you add more for emergency cases because chances are, surprises can come up and things can go wrong.
Understand that it Takes Times
Depending on how much of a renovation you’re going to do to the bathroom, you’re going to have to anticipate that it will take time. Especially if you want it done correctly. So plan to not have access to this bathroom for a considerable amount of time so that you do not become agitated. Something that may have been estimated to take one day could end up taking more time simply because a complication came up and the plan had to be changed. It happens all the time. So it’s important to take the estimated completion time from the contractor and add even more time to that just to be realistic.
If you remember the points mentioned here you’re going to be able to get the bathroom renovation done correctly in a calculated manner where you won’t panic or lose your cool. It’s important to stay organized in the way you approach the renovation project and stay well-informed about each aspect.
