Are you tired of staring at old tile, plastic tub surround or outdated fixtures? Ready for a new bathroom? A bathroom remodel takes a lot of consideration and planning to be a success and bring value to your home. We want you to embark on this project with a bit more understanding of what a bathroom remodel really entails and help prepare to start.
MISCONCEPTION #1: BATHROOMS ARE LESS EXPENSIVE BECAUSE THEY ARE SMALLER
There’s a tendency to underestimate the budget on any renovation project. Just because the square footage of a bathroom is significantly less than other areas in the home, does not mean you are going to spend less. In fact, remodeling a bathroom can be just as -if not more- costly. The price for stone, tile, and plumbing may only be about one third or a quarter of the total cost of the bathroom. Most people also underestimate Labor costs for installation, and it’s a huge mistake to try and cut corners because you could end up with leaks and mold growing behind tile.
Remodeling any part of the home can be an extensive undertaking, but remodeling your bathroom the right way the first time can be beneficial to your home investment (we will touch on this in more detail further in this blog post).
In addition to underestimating budget, you may find yourself getting carried away with all the various options steam, heated floors, smart mirrors, even talking toilets, but they all come at a cost. There is also the temptation to choose cheaper materials to save on costs, but “cheap is cheap”. You need to ask yourself will the money you are saving now turn into additional costs in the future?
It’s important to invest in quality materials with the assistance of expert guidance (by a design team like Granite City Interiors) to not be blindsided by expensive features that you never end up using or cheap materials that fail and cause expensive damage down the road.
If you need assistance in finding quality materials and installation for your bathroom remodel, visit our showroom. Our experts can help you every step of the way.
MISCONCEPTION #2: A BETHROOM REMODEL ONLY TAKES A FEW DAYS OR WEEKS
With bathrooms tending to be smaller rooms in the home, many assume remodels will take little to no time- even as little as 3 – 7 days. But that is truly not the case.
Some projects don’t take a lot of thought or planning, but this won’t be one of those. You need to be aware of plumbing and electrical, understand the different surface materials… Even paint could cause problems if you don’t have good ventilation.
Taking the time and hiring the right professionals to help you with layout and materials to make sure your new bathroom (1) makes sense, (2) looks good, (3) functions properly, and (4) conforms to your area’s building codes. Can be the difference between a remodel success or failure. Putting in the extra work at the beginning of the project will help you avoid any unintended consequences later.
There is constant activity in a bathroom remodel. With most bathrooms being a tight space, it’s impossible for multiple trades to work at the same time. Bathroom remodels have many different stages.
Plumbers, electricians, tile setters and painters are all involved in a bathroom remodel. A big project for a small area requires a lot of maneuvering of schedules in addition to materials (Granite City Interiors helps take that stress away by scheduling most of these trades for you).
Keep in mind certain materials like countertops, plate mirrors, tub decks, and shower doors are often customized and sized according to your space. Measuring, Fabrication and installation of these materials all add to your overall timeline. The average bathroom remodel takes 4 – 6 Weeks.
MISCONCEPTION #3: MOVING THE SHOWER, TUB, TOILET, OR SINK IS A GREAT IDEA
When redesigning and remodeling your bathroom, you may be tempted to move things around to improve the flow of the space, but this is not always a good – or practical idea.
Some renovations are like giving your bathroom a bit of Botox, while others are like preforming major surgery. You’re plumbing and electrical systems are already in place, and there are many complex steps involved in moving them around. It requires gutting everything in your bathroom, rerouting water, and waste lines, and making sure all attachments are connected and sealed properly.
A major change like this will add additional time and cost to your bathroom remodel project. You don’t want to blow your entire remodeling budget in just relocating your shower, tub, toilet, or sink. Our designers are here to help you achieve the best flow for your bathroom while leaving your main fixtures in place.
MISCONCEPTION #4: MY SPACE IS TOO SMALL FOR A BATHROOM REMODEL
With bathrooms being the smaller rooms in your home, you may be afraid or apprehensive that your bathroom is too small for a bathroom remodel. But that is why we have designers. Granite City Interiors designers work with you to maximize every square inch of your bathroom.
Our design team are experts at helping you find creative solutions to design a beautiful, functional space for your needs. We can help redesign and remodel even the smallest of bathrooms to create something that is timeless, and you will love for years to come.
MISCONCEPTION #5: A BATHROOM REMODEL DOES NOT ADD SIGNIFICANT VALUE TO MY HOME
For most clients, a bathroom remodel is worth your investment. Kitchens and bathrooms are great spaces in your home to invest time and money because they are some of the most trafficked rooms. They also look and feel outdated the fastest.
According to a new report on the impact of home remodeling from the National Association of Realtors and the National Association of the Remodeling Industry. Homeowners who do complete kitchen and bath renovations can expect to recoup around 75% of those costs, according to the report homeowners can expect to recover about $25,000 of a $35,000 bathroom renovation, about 71% of the project’s cost.
Every year, cool new bathroom features and gadgets enter the market. Bathroom remodel is one of the most expensive projects, so you should try to make it as timeless as possible. Our rule of thumb is make the bigger, more prominent items more classic, and then with things that are easier to change out – think wallpaper, light fixtures, rugs, and décor make them trendier. This will allow you to have a bathroom that won’t need to be remodeled again in five or so years.
Just remember, a bathroom remodel may not be a small investment, and it will take time, but if you focus on the design you want to achieve, it is worth the cost.
The Granite City Interiors designers can help you every step of the way, from finding the right materials within your budget to the final installation. We want to help make your bathroom remodeling dreams a reality.
Side Note from the author:
I just remodeled my own bathroom and took all aspects of my own experience into consideration when writing this blog post.
At times I felt frustration and disappointment when our designers advised against some of the things, I thought would look amazing or that I wanted to incorporate, however now that it is complete, I am beyond happy with the finished result and can clearly see that they advised me correctly in every aspect of the remodel. Check out our social media to see images of my own finished bathroom soon!
– Nicole Jensen