Avoid the Top 5 Most Common Mistakes When Remodeling Your Bathroom

If you are considering remodeling your bathroom, you are making a wise investment.  A new bathroom can make a world of difference to your day to day life, and can raise the future sale price of your house considerably.  However, you have to plan your project carefully to make sure that you avoid some of the most common ‘amateur’ mistakes. 

The first mistake is not sticking to your budget.  Before you can make drastic structural changes, you need to work out exactly how much you have available to spend on the remodel.  Remodeling projects typically run over budget, especially if you are paying hourly building contractors or plumbers. If you have a small budget , you may find your bathroom only half-finished when your renovation fund runs dry.

The second mistake that is easy to make is improper installation of the hardware in your redesign.  You need to make sure that the electricity and plumbing is properly installed and functional before the contractors leave.  Once they have left, it may be weeks before they have another free appointment available for them to come back again, and they may charge you extra fees for the pleasure.  You can choose to install the hardware yourself, but if you don’t know how to do plumbing properly, you need to hire a professional.  Failure to do so can result in higher expenses and frustration in the long run.

The third mistake is not considering the storage space that you are going to have in the bathroom.  You want to make sure that you have plenty of cabinet space so that you can store everything you need to in the bathroom, from extra towels to medicines.  A common mistake is installing cabinets without checking which way the doors are going to open.  You may find that opening some cabinet doors is impossible if they are placed too close to appliances, walls or other bathroom fixtures.

The fourth top mishap in your bathroom remodel is not considering the lighting.  It isn’t enough that you need have an electrician install the lighting, you need to make sure that you have plenty of light in the bathroom for all of your grooming needs.  Men require a different kind of light for shaving than women do for putting on makeup.  Make sure to plan for all types of family needs, and be ready to install extra lighting fixtures if required.  Also, if you plan on having live houseplants in your bathroom, remember they will need a window for sunlight, or they will quickly die in artificial light.

The last mistake is not having enough ventilation.  Poor ventilation can cause mold and mildew growth in your bathroom.  If you have AC in your house or central air, make sure that the vents are working and not blocked.  Open the vents with a screwdriver, and use a vacuum hose attachment to clean out all dust and build-up at least once a year.