6 Ways to Ruin your Bathroom Renovation
So your a homeowner and you want to dive straight in and renovate your bathroom? It looks easy right? WRONG! The truth is, many homeowners have absolutley no clue what they’re about to dive into, but they go for it anway! They end up buying crappy items that don't work together from a design aspect, and then they blindly lead their tradesman into the room with no plan and expect its all going to magically work itself out. You can go ahead and follow along their footsteps and blow your budget, and overpay for a bathroom you end up hating… or you can continue reading to find out exactly what “NOT” to do when renovating a bathroom.
We design and renovate bathrooms for a living so we are going to give you the exact formula to completely destroy your property so that you have to call us to come and help you. Or maybe your smart enough to just do the complete opposite of these tips…
When it comes to renovating your bathroom, many homeowners make the mistake of rushing into it without a proper plan. They end up buying items that don't work together and hiring tradesmen before fully understanding what needs to happen during the renovation. These oversights can lead to budget blowouts, unhappy tradespeople, and a new bathroom that you hate! Especially if you're a first-time renovator with limited knowledge, it's important to take the time to prepare. In this blog, we'll share the top six things you need to know before you begin your bathroom renovation.
1. Ignore Your Renovation Purpose:
Just start renovating with no plan or understanding of your purpose and see where you end up! If you want to make it even worse, mix and match a few different goals and just try to achieve them all at once.
This is the first question we ask clients that want to renovate their bathroom.. “Why are you renovating?”. And everyone falls usually falls into atleast 1 of these 4 categories when it comes your renovation purpose. (Dream bathroom, budget bathroom, renovate to sell, & the landlord special). Regardless of their budget, or the pretty tiles they saved on pinterest, this is where we start becuase knowing your renovation purpose dictates exactly how you should spend your money, and how the space should be designed. Here are the 4 different categories…
Dream Bathroom: Renovating your dream bathroom (durability + comfort)
If you're renovating your bathroom to create your dream space, it's important to prioritize long-term durability and overall comfort. Consider the type of bathroom fixtures and materials that will provide the most comfort and convenience for you and your family. You may want to invest in slightly higher range products that can withstand your family's needs over the years to come. Don't skip out on costs as you don't want to be repairing or replacing fittings all the time. It's also important to prioritize a functional design and layout that best suits your personal and family needs. This category is likely to plan their budget around quality fixtures and their big dream design to cater to their preffered needs.
Budget Bathroom: Modernizing or improve your bathroom without going over the top
Budget doesnt mean Bad! If you're renovating on a budget, you can still achieve a stylish bathroom with smart design and planning systems. However, you may need to consider either lower range fittings and fixtures, or a reduced trade scope of works in order to keep costs down. Keep in mind that some cheaper fixtures may not be as durable as their more expensive counterparts, so factor in long-term maintenance costs when planning your renovation. This category is likely to plan their item selections and design around their budget.
Renovating to sell
If you're renovating to sell, you'll want to consider design and layouts that will appeal to a wider range of potential buyers rather than just your own family needs. Think about what potential buyers may be looking for in a bathroom and prioritize those features. For example, some families with young children may prioritize having a bathtub. It doesn't mean you can't get creative with your design, but keep in mind that you want to appeal to a broader audience. This category is likely to not over capitalise on their spending and usually aims for more current and updated design trends to attract buyer interst (however that depends on the which market their selling in, high end markets tend to be different).
The Land Lord Special: Improving investment property for tenants
If you're renovating your investment property, you may want to focus on durable and functional layouts that can withstand tenant use over the years. You’ve probably had it engrained into you by all the property gurus that you shouldn’t waste a cent on improvements but you should consider investing in more durable items such as tapware to reduce maintenance costs over time. Keep in mind that you want to create a space that will still appeal to potential tenants and make your property stand out in a competitive market. This category is likely to focus on low costs where possible and focus their spend on durability to reduce maintenace where possibe.
2. Don’t Bother Checking your Bathroom's Structure
Don't bother finding out what's beneath the surface or in your walls, and just assume everything will go smoothly. Ignore the fact that certain structures can tremendously affect your budget and layout. For added disaster, start demolishing without knowing if there's asbestos or defects lurking, which can lead to costly delays and health hazards.
Different structures will affect the price, layout, and design limitations of your bathroom. It's important to know what's possible before you start designing your layout or purchasing items. Different structures may cost you more or less to relocate plumbing and electrical points. So make sure you know your structure limitations before proceeding. Here are some examples:
Concrete
If your bathroom has a concrete structure, it may be difficult and costly to make changes to plumbing and electrical locations. This can limit your options when it comes to changing the layout or adding new features to your bathroom. It's important to note this to your contractors so they can quote the works accuralty for you.
Wood
Wooden structures are more prone to water damage, rot, and warping so you’ll want to take extra car in your waterproofing. However this is the easiest structure to work with when re-locateing plumbing locations to optimise your layout. So take advantage of that!
Tile over Tiles
You never know what will be revealed once you start demolition works and a popular find is old tiles under your existing tiles! This one is hard to pretict and will likely increase your demolition costs. This is why its always good to have funds saved in a contingency budget. Now if you were thinking of saving costs by tiling over your existing bathroom tiles, you should reconsider! Read our other post on “Why tiling over tiles is the WORST thing you can do to a bathroom”.
Abestos, defects or damage
Abestos is something that should be approached with great caution being a very threatening health risk. Your likely to be be aware upon purchasing your home if it has asbestos or not (usually homes from the 1940s to the late 1980s). If you’re unsure, you can consult a professional to conduct tests and if possible, work with a specialised asbestos company that will remove and dispose it safely. Another possibility homeowners come across are defects or damage. And again these may not be identifiable untill demolition works begin. These may include termite damage, and water damage that may need to be repaired before you proceed with your reno. Again, this is the primary reason for having funds put aside in a contingency budget.
Existing plumbing
If you have a home structure thats proven difficult to re-locate plumbing, you may want to consider designing your room with keeping as many of the original plumbing lcoations as possible. You can consult your ideas with a qualified plumber to get guidance on how much any changes may cost to help you wiegh up your decision. Hoever this is usually a signnificant area you can find some costs savings in your overall budget if you’re looking to keep costs down.
3. Create a Layout that doesn’t work
Devalue your home with a completely non-functional bathroom layout. Make it a complete mess of fixtures and obstacles. Place the toilet right in front of a door so your needs get smashed when you’re sitting on the toilet. For extra chaos, make your shower space so small so that no one enjoys it and have your glass shower door swing open and shatter on the nearest corner of your vanity.
Functional layouts can actually play a huge part in how sellable your home is, and in turn potentially affecting its overall value. Smart buyers see a non-functional layout as a red-flag because they know they’ll need to re-invest and fix it. So if you’re renovating your new bathroom, and the layout doesnt work, you’re very well defeating the purpose of it being renovated. A good bathroom renovation doesnt just look pretty, it has to work.
Deciding on the best location for your fixtures
When planning your new bathroom layout, it's important to decide on the best location for your fixtures, such as the toilet, sink, and shower/bath. Consider the existing plumbing and electrical points, as moving these can significantly increase the cost of your renovation. If possible, try to keep the fixtures in their current location to save money. However, if you want to relocate a fixture, make sure it's feasible and aligns with your renovation goals.
Designing a layout that works for your lifestyle
Your new bathroom layout should be designed to cater to your lifestyle or the lifestyle of the people that are going to use it. If its for you, consider your daily routine and how you use your bathroom. If you prefer long, relaxing baths, then get a good one! If you're short on time, a walk-in shower might be a more practical choice. Also, consider storage options, such as built-in cabinets, to keep your bathroom essentials organized.
Maximizing space while keeping functionality in mind
Bathrooms are typically small spaces, so it's essential to maximize the available space while keeping functionality in mind. Consider how the space will be used, are there any obstructiosn when doors are opened and how easy is the space to clean. Think about the flow of the room and make sure there is enough room to move around freely especially with mulitple people in the room.
Ensuring your new layout complies with local building codes (is it allowed in building)
It's essential to ensure that your new bathroom layout complies with local building codes and regulations. Depending on your location, there may be specific requirements for things like plumbing, electrical work, and ventilation. If your in a building check your approvals first and make sure you hire licensed professionals who are familiar with local regulations to avoid costly mistakes or fines.
Drawings or 3D models of your new bathroom layout
Creating drawings or 3D models of your new bathroom layout can help you visualize the final result and communicate your ideas to your tradespeople. This can also help you identify any potential issues before construction begins, allowing you to make adjustments and save time and money in the long run. You can use online tools or hire a professional designer to create these visuals for you.
4. Be Impulsive: Buy BEFORE you design
Go ahead and buy items without a completed design or plan. Ignore researching different styles and trends, and skip creating a mood board to see how everything will come together. Don't event bother visiting showrooms or get feedback from professionals; just make quick purchases because you got sucked into an online sale and just hope for the best.
Seasoned renovators with flexible budgets may be able to get away with this one, but if you’re new here, just try to avoid this. Before committing to any purchases you need to figure our what you need, if its necessary, if its even possible to install, and if it actually works in your design. So heres what you do:
Researching different design styles and trends
Use pinterest, instagram, local showroom catelogs, archetrcural magazines, online blogs and resources. You’ll want to save anything that you find captivating for your own design inspiration. Remember to keep you budget in mind when in this stage, as you dont want to be aspiring for unacheiveable designs if you have strict budget limitations.
Creating a mood board for inspiration
Create mood boards to ensure that all items flow nicely and work well together. You can create these easily in canva or microsoft power point. An inspiration mood board is a compilation of images you find inspiring with similar design features you like and want to incorporate into your design. You can also create your own mood board once you have some selections in mind. You baiscally just want to compile various images that will represent the colour, tones, textures and shapes of your bathroom design to help you see how they will work together in one space.
Visit local show rooms
Visit supplier showrooms and take home samples to think about your textures, colours, and tones for a few days before committing to a sale. Before electing tiles, fixtures, and fittings that complement each other, yoiu can utlise your moodboard or product samples to make sure your design colours, tones and textures all work with one another.
Get feed back from professionals
Ask staff from supply stores what they think, tile staff, they serve customers with their bathroom renovations everyday so they know what works and what doesnt. They may even share a few tips that could save you costs or time on your renovation.
Check measurements on all your items
Before you commit to purchasing all your items, be sure to check all measurements actually fit in your bathroom space. For example fittings such as bath tubs, vanities, toilets or shower screens. You don’t want to leave it to last minute on install day and your item doesnt fit, and you contractor had no idea what the dimensions were. So ensure you check all item specifications, and communicate them to your trades by providing them a copy.
5. Non-existent Budget
Don’t even bother setting a budget. Just spend freely without considering the costs of materials, labor, and unforeseen expenses. Avoid planning for unexpected costs and don't include a buffer for contingencies. Don’t even get quotes! This way, you'll be disguistingly surprised by the never ending costs and completely exhaust your available cash before halfway through the project.
Budgeting is crucial to avoid any overspending. Its usually the most biggest stress factor when it comes to any renovation project, so good budget planning and tracking is going to save you alot of stress. Make sure you include all necessary expenses for your fittings, materials, and trade labour. Be honest with your builder or carpenter about your budget, so they can work with you to create a renovation plan that's within your means.
Researching the cost of materials and labor in your area
Be sure to look around and compare different product costs between suppliers to get a good understanding of the current market costs for tapware, tiles, and other fittings. This will help you stay aware of your options incase you need to adjust your selections based on your budget.
Setting priorities for your renovation to stay within budget
Consider how you going to track your renovation costs. You’ll want to record your costs onto a clear easy to read spreadsheet. Getting quotes and communicating cost agreements with your trades will also help you stay on track and avoid extra costs. Be prepared and ready to track all your expenses and any extra costs as they arise.
Planning for unexpected expenses
Depending on the age or condition of your home, you may want to factor in some extra allowances into your contingecy budget. For example, if you have an older home you may consider putting aside some spare cash for extra carpentry works incase you have structural damage.
Get updated knowledge on costings
If you’ve never renovated before, you may want to consult trade and supplier advice on the average renovation costs to help get an understanding of what people are paying for renovations in your area. There’s no point setting up a magic number as your budget if you have no indication of what your costs may be. Professional advice and quotes will help you get started, you don’t need to feel commited to their serivces you can simply start in research mode.
Set a realistic budget
Remember your budget needs to align with your purpose that we initially spoke about earlier. You’re bathrooms most likely not going to get featured in a high-end magazine on a $10k budget (unless your super savy and built it yourself). So remember to be realistic with your necessary costs and stay on track with your renovation goals. For example If your goal is to stick to a budget, avoid trying to includ all the bells and whilstles and expensive items.
6. Hire Cheap, Inexperienced and Unprofessional Tradespeople
Don't ask for recommendations or do any research on their google reviews. Choose the first and cheapest quote without checking their qualifications, licencing, references, or previous work. Ignore their communication style, and don't bother assessing their professionalism. This way, you'll end up with defects that will cost you more to fix and constant communication issues and stress throughout the job leaving you with the opinion that renovating sucks, and your family and freinds will never hear the end of it.
Now you can either hire a bathroom builder to look after your renovation for you, or hire out the works to individual trades (plumber, electrican, tiler and so on). These tips still apply to both builder and contractors because even though a builder should tequnically be making your life a little easier by managing the works for you, its still not impossible to hire a crappy builder!
Ask your network for recommendations
People in your network who have recently completed renovations can provide valuable insights and referrals for reliable tradespeople. They can also give you an idea of the quality of work done and the level of service provided by the tradespeople they used. You can also ask for recommendations from local community groups or online forums. These platforms are a great way to find local tradespeople who have been recommended by others in your area.
Researching potential contractors
Once you have a few potential candidates, make sure to do your research and check their qualifications, experience, and licenses. It’s also important to ask for references and check their previous work to ensure they are a good fit for your renovation project. Check their website details and credentials, reviews, testimonials and previous work and take note of their overall professionalism of brand and activity.
Get more than one quote!
Give yourself more than one opportunity to qualify and quote a trade contractor. If you have a highly qualified reccomended trade from a close friend or family member, its likely you will end up using them if they’re good, however you still want to give yourself the chance to compare their quote with other businuesses. This will help give you clarity on your desicion and allow you to proceed with confience.
You get what you pay for
Remember the cheapest quote shouldnt always necessarily win. If you want a bathroom thats going to last, you need to hire the most professional, experienced and qualified contractor. While it may be tempting to choose the most freindly or cheapest quote you receive, this isn't always the best approach. It's important to consider the level of experience and professionalism of the tradespeople you're considering, as well as the quality of materials they plan to use in your renovation. While this may cost more upfront, it can actually save you money in the long run by reducing the need for costly repairs or replacements down the line.
Assess their communication style
When you have them out for the first quote appointment take the time to assess their communication style. Good communciation is crucial for a smooth renovation process. A contractor who communicates effectively and promptly can help ensure a smooth and stress-free renovation process. They’re also going to be more likely to speak up about any challenges that pop up along the way with a solution based focus. Trades with poor communication generally like to avoid conflict by hiding or covering up mistakes rather than communicating them.
Conclusion
Now that you know what not to do, you can go and do the exact opposite. Heres a quick recape incase you got confused:
understand your goals and purpose
Know your bathroom's structure
Get clear on your new layout
Design before you buy
Set a good and realistic budget
Choose professional and experienced tradespeople.
Its not rocket science, but it does require your time and attention to planning. If you do these well, you shouldn’t have any major setbacks on your renovaiton. Remember to stay organized, communicate effectively with your tradespeople, and be prepared for unexpected costs. Happy renovating!
