Avoidable Bathroom Remodeling Mistakes

With any remodeling project, what you avoid is often as important as what you do. This is especially true when it comes to bathroom remodeling. If you've ever spoken to someone who's undergone a bathroom remodeling project, you've probably heard some variation of, “it turned out great, but I wish I'd have known... beforehand.”

Every remodeling project comes with challenges and potential problems; however, if you know what to ask, what to expect, and what common mistakes to avoid, you can plan your project wisely and minimize the stress.

Here are examples of common bathroom remodeling mistakes you can avoid.

The Beauty of Bathroom Remodeling is in The Details

This seems like it should be common sense, but never begin a project without a clear and detailed plan in place. Identify your specific goals and then, working with your design-build professional, develop a specific plan to meet those goals.

When planning, remember that the devil is in the details. Even small decisions shouldn't be saved for later. A small decision like which tile you'll use to border the bathtub can influence your overall design, style, and color scheme. After you've started, making this decision late can mean not having materials on hand when you need them and can cause delays in your completion date.

View Our Bathroom Remodeling Portfolio

Jumping in without a plan is the best way to go over budget and spend much more than necessary. If, for example, you install the toilet and then decide that you'd rather have it somewhere else, you'll need to move plumbing to correct your mistake. This can cause you to go way over budget.

The bottom line, planning is everything when it comes to remodeling. Instead of deciding on your specific needs after you've ripped out the tub, make sure you have a detailed plan that includes precise measurements, anticipated costs, all materials chosen, and map it all out with your contractor before you start demolition.

Avoid A Poor Layout

Another common mistake relates to the floor plan, flow of the space, and the challenges of an improperly spaced, bad layout. For instance, say you have your heart set on a gorgeous, large double vanity as a non-negotiable design choice, only to discover after you've installed it that you don't have any space to walk around the shower or between the toilet and the sink. In the project pictured at the top of the page, a single vanity was chosen instead of a double vanity sink, so that there was room for a water closet, large shower, and a new walk-in closet. These took priority over a double vanity sink.

Your design-build professional will have 3D renderings to help you conceptualize your space during the design stage. Even in your project's earliest stages, the focus with a bathroom remodeling is always function first over form. You'll not only want your layout to meet your local codes. You also want to ensure that fixtures' placement allows for comfortable flow in the space and comfortable everyday use.

Finally, when designing your space, it's never a good design to have the toilet be the first thing you see when entering the room. You don't need to put it in a private room (although if you have space, it's a nice option), but think carefully about your layout. Try to visually reduce its presence to keep the room looking elegant, even if it's small.

Choosing the Wrong Materials

Your bathroom is one of the most challenging environments in your home regarding the materials you use. It's a difficult environment that regularly is subject to high humidity, high moisture levels, and rapid temperature shifts. To avoid problems associated with water like mildew, mold, or warped floors, choose materials specifically designed for the bathroom.

Bathroom remodeling is not an inexpensive endeavor. You'll likely be spending a fair amount to redo the space, and it's important to know that your wooden vanity and expensive wallpaper can survive high humidity and stand the test of time.

Flooring is a key element in any bathroom remodeling, and choosing the right material is important. Think about materials appropriate for the bathroom like ceramic tile, porcelain tile, or luxury vinyl tile. While hardwood, engineered wood, or laminate look beautiful, they're rarely a good choice for standing up to the rigors of the bathroom.

Natural stone is also a beautiful and attractive choice but needs to be periodically resealed to keep out the moisture. Choosing the wrong materials can cost you if they need to be replaced every couple of years, or even worse. The wrong bathroom flooring can not only compromise the flooring, but it can also compromise the subfloor, underlayment, and joists creating a major, expensive to fix problem down the road.

Don't Forget The Ventilation!

The bathroom fan is often pretty low on the list of priorities when you have fun stuff to pick out like fixtures, countertops, vanities, tile, and flooring. However, proper ventilation is one of the most important functional elements of your entire project. The bathroom fan is designed to pull the heat and moisture from the room and vent it outside the home.

Moisture laden air in the bathroom can cause pervasive mold, constant mildew, and ruin other remodeling work. It needs to be properly vented. Some homeowners vent the bathroom into the attic, which can have a domino effect, causing other serious problems.

Today's ventilation fans are much improved over older ones. They run quieter, are more powerful, and more effective. Some come with heat lamps, which also reduce moisture in the room. Make sure you ask your design-build professional how best to ensure proper ventilation during the early project stages. It might not be glamorous, but it's a critical component of a functional bathroom.

Be Realistic About Your Budget

Bathroom remodeling is not cheap. Be honest with yourself about your budget. If you have limited funds, stick to materials and fixtures you can afford. For example, if you have a limited budget, it probably makes sense to replace fixtures instead of taking it down to the studs and moving plumbing and electrical.

If you overspend, you'll need to cut corners somewhere and will end up unhappy with the end result. Be realistic in your choices for materials, fixtures, and finishes. Err on the side of caution and plan to have a contingency cushion of 15 to 20 percent for any surprises that come up. If it looks like you'll make it without needing the contingency funds, prioritize what you'd like to upgrade with the extra budget.

With proper planning, a realistic budget, and an understanding of your options and what to avoid, you can make your bathroom remodeling go as smoothly as possible. Any renovation is an exciting experience. Taking a steady approach and paying attention to the details will absolutely pay off with a beautiful, functional bathroom that you'll love!

If you live in the greater Madison, Wisconsin area and are considering remodeling a bathroom give the award-winning design team at Degnan Design-Build-Remodel a call at (608) 846-5963. We can help you make the right choices to meet your needs and fit your budget. Click here to schedule a free no-obligation consultation to discuss your project.

This article was updated by Abe Degnan on 9/14/2022.