Common Bathroom Renovation Mistakes

A bathroom renovation should be a pleasurable experience, both now and for years to come. But there are mistakes that some people make that will most likely ensure stress at some point so should be avoided at all costs.

As one of the most used rooms in the house, it’s important to get it right so here’s what to avoid:

Doing It Yourself (DIY)

You may think you are going to save yourself money by doing the renovation yourself but the fact is, certain tradespeople are licensed and registered for a reason – experience. A registered builder will manage all aspects of the bathroom renovation, including ensuring the right products and materials are on site at the right time and that they are installed correctly and to Australian standards.

The builder will also manage the different trades required for the work, namely the plumber, electrician, carpenter and tiler. Both the electrician and plumber have to be appropriately licensed to carry out the work and they must issue Compliance Certificates at the end of the work (subject to value of works).  Your builder will also deal with tradespeople that they trust to do a good job and who they work with on a regular basis. Plus, you can’t put a cost on the stress and time you will incur trying to manage the job yourself – you could be earning money doing what you do best while leaving professionals to get the renovation done.

Planning

If you don’t plan your bathroom, you could end up with a room you don’t really love or that does not quite suit your lifestyle. Ensure you look at what features you already have, what you want to keep and what features you want to add. Changing things after the renovation or during the build could be costly, whether in time or money.

Layout

Bathroom renovation layout is part of the planning process. Again, think about how you will use the bathroom. It will be a constant frustration if you have a towel rail that looks great next to the bath, but you can’t reach it from the shower!

It is also really tempting to completely change the layout of your bathroom when you undertake a renovation. But bear in mind that will mean changing the plumbing and possibly the electrical cabling which will add time and cost to your renovation. And you may find it is not possible anyway due to structural restrictions.

Ventilation

If you don’t have an opening window in the bathroom, you must have an extraction fan. Excess moisture / condensation in the room will likely cause mould and mildew over time, as well as potentially peeling paint.

Heating

Don’t forget heating. The last thing you want is to use a cold bathroom in the middle of winter. There are a number of options, from existing ducted or hydronic heating to heat lamps, heated towel rails and underfloor heating.

Design

Avoid getting carried away at the showroom by picking the all the latest designs and trends available. You want your bathroom to look consistent throughout, with all the fixtures and fittings working seamlessly together. You also don’t want to create a space that you will want to grow tired of a want to change within a short amount of time.

If you are renovating to sell, keep it neutral. You will want to recoup the cost of the renovation as part of the sale but if the style is too specific and people will want to change it, they will not want to pay the extra dollars.

Bathtubs & Showers

Some people remove the bathtub from their bathroom when renovating. This is not the best idea unless this is something you definitely want and you will be keeping the house long term. Ideally you want at least one bathtub in the house.

If you sell the property, the likelihood is that the next owners will want a bathtub, especially if it is a family home.

In fact, if the space allows and you are able to install a separate bath and shower, this is the best option to increase practicality and value.

Storage

Ensure you allow enough storage in your design and layout. Whether it is the addition of medicine cabinets, choice of vanity with excellent storage, linen cupboard addition or a ladder towel rail you will thank yourself later.

When you engage an experienced bathroom builder to undertake your renovation, they should be happy to discuss these considerations with you. Bear in mind that a designer will usually not have building experience or practical knowledge of construction.