The do’s and don’ts of modernizing your bathroom revolve around your abilities and experience. The average homeowner can ‘do’ many redecoration and other aesthetics-oriented tasks, but they needs to stay away from plumbing-related issues. To help you sort out the do’s and don’ts of modernizing your bathroom we’ve put together a helpful list.
Modernizing your Bathroom—Do’s and Don’ts
DO: Work on a Budget
A budget is extremely important as many plans to modernize a bathroom almost always end up going over budget due to improper planning. Budget for all the materials and tools you will need and all professional work that you will need to have done. Budget for 20% under what you can afford as almost every bathroom renovation ends up going over budget.
Don’t: Alter your Bathroom Layout Much
The easiest way to increase the cost of your bathroom renovation job is to alter the layout. When you move plumbing objects around you will need to move your plumbing piping, and this gets expensive.
Do: Remember Pipes
Your piping engulfs your bathrooms. It is hidden in the walls to remain out of sight, but out of sight shouldn’t mean out of mind. When you’re doing bathroom demolition, be aware of exactly where your pipes run, to avoid bursting one.
Don’t: Forget to Turn the Water Valve Off
This simple but critical step is all too often over looked. Without turning off your water you can spring a leak in the middle of your bathroom. Trust us, this isn’t the ‘fountain’ or water element you want in your new bathroom! This won’t just soak you in the process—it can also damage the floors and walls of your bathroom.
Do: Buy the Right Tools
While the ‘this should work’ approach is a tempting money saver—these tools exist for a reason. Don’t scrimp on the proper tools or you’ll spend more money in the long run, in fixing problems that could have been avoided in the first place. It will also slow down your bathroom renovation job—and we all know how difficult it is to live with one less available bathroom.
Do: Save Money by Doing SOME Things Yourself
Many bathroom renovation jobs can be done yourself. This includes laying tile, putting up new drywall, painting, changing cabinet doors, adding new fixtures, installing a new door for your shower and more.
Don’t: Attempt DIY Plumbing Jobs
Plumbers are extremely well-trained and experienced. You wouldn’t invest in the stock market without a broker, you wouldn’t buy a home without a realtor—don’t do plumbing jobs yourself. We’ve personally seen the results of DIY plumbing jobs…and they aren’t pretty. It will cost you more in the long run to do a plumbing job poorly than to hire a professional to do it right the first time. Plumbing errors aren’t always apparent immediately either, they can take weeks, months or even years to rear their ugly heads (during which time they may be causing further issues to your home’s plumbing or structure).
Do: Call a Plumber in Oshawa and Durham Region
For the do’s and don’ts of modernizing your bathroom listed above that require a plumber….call Hayes, the expert plumbers in Oshawa and Durham Region.
