Many people wonder whether a bathroom renovation is something worthwhile, even when they have the extra money to spare. The bathroom just seems to work okay, especially if nothing is broken and the plumbing is flowing fine. Well, there are a few things that can clue you in on whether a bathroom renovation is necessary or just plain overdue, which may or may not come as a surprise to you.
How Long?
Yes, how long have you had that carpet in your bathroom? How long have you had those coloured bathroom basins, cabinets and other fixtures all matched up in bright colour schemes? What about that tiled countertop on your bathroom vanity, or its plywood cabinets that were the in thing some decades ago? If you still have all that in your bathroom today, then by all means, it is time to renovate.
Carpets and Linoleum
Carpets in the bathroom floor were considered luxurious up to the point when they were found to be susceptible to mold and thus, to an extent, unsanitary. You definitely need bathroom renovation if you still have a carpet or other flooring styles such as linoleum in your bathroom.
Bathroom Vanity with Matching Colour Schemes
Matching colour schemes for bathroom fixtures may have been trendy in the 70s, but if you want to increase the value of your house in today's market, these have to be replaced with modern fixtures that have neutral colours, which is the trend that home buyers now want.
Here is What you Need now that you Know you Need Bathroom Renovations
Initial Considerations
A bathroom may be a small area in size, but nothing about its renovation is a small matter. Adequate measures must be taken in the planning of such an important project because you cannot afford oversights and mistakes.
Take into consideration the dimensions of your bathroom and mark where the existing windows, doors and skylights, if any, are. Your new floor plan, new fixtures and fittings will all be affected in size, shape and positioning by your current dimensions. If you need to add new features and change the layout, then be mindful to leave allowances for the extra time and cost.
Current Vs New Layout
After you have considered the new dimensions, you now need to look at more details of the renovation and ask yourself whether you will retain your current layout or create a new one. Details will include determining if your new bathroom will be a self-contained space or en suite. Are you planning to restructure the bathroom space, either by altering doors, windows, the ceiling or floor? Are you installing new features such as a sunken bath or a sauna? You have to be aware that you will need to make arrangements for more labour where a new layout is required.
You also need to consider the costs of the building materials for the new layout in your renovation budget. Don't forget to ensure your plumbing outlets are set appropriately, are in good condition and all necessary repairs are done.
Space Utilization
The space that you will be working with will be a determining factor for the type and configuration of the fixtures and fittings to be used. It will also affect where pipes will be positioned depending on how much space will be worked into. You will want to make the best use of the space you have to ensure you have all the basic and additional features installed without clattering and crowding your bathroom.
Call In Experts Vs DIY
A common mistake that people make when renovating their bathrooms is not consulting professionals in bathroom building and renovating. If you decide to go on with the project on your own, you need to be certain, and definitely well skilled and equipped, that you can pull it off without mistakes.
While the decision of who does it rests with you, you can benefit greatly by contacting these professionals among others:
- An architect
- A plumber
- An electrician
- An expert in waterproofing
Working with experts to fully renovate your bathroom does beat a simple do-it-yourself approach for the exercise. DIY will at best only work for simple repair jobs such as fixing a broken tap or pipe, but when it involves major works that are meant to transform your bathroom into a modern value adding space in your home, call in the experts.
Contributed by: http://retreatdesign.com.au/
