Bathroom Remodeling Tips

     Bathrooms are the most common renovations. Back in the day, most houses did not have more than one bathroom. Today, it is common to see a master bathroom, a bathroom for each additional room and sometimes a half bath (toilet and sink) near the living room or common area of a home. 

     If you are adding another bathroom to your home, there are a few questions you need to ask yourself during the process. Is there an electrical outlet and if so, is it a ground-fault interrupter receptacle? A GFI is a safety device that is almost like a second fuse. If there is a fault in the ground, this device will shut off power to this outlet to prevent electrical shock. You can locate this by looking at your outlet and see the little button that says “reset”. 

     Another question to ask yourself is, how is the water pressure? Is it fast or slow? Are you going to need another sink? Will the bathroom fill with steam if you run a hot shower and have enough ventilation? Apply some gentle pressure where your tile walls to the shower join together. Is there any give? If so, this may mean that the wall has gotten damp over the years and may be deteriorating. If you see any mold or the grout is gone, this may be a sign that water is seeping into the wall cavities. 

     Are you going to need new fixtures? Some old fixtures, like claw-foot tubs and pull-chain toilets are appreciated by home renovators. Vanity lighting and towel bars are key items to think about as well.

     Examine your floors throughout the bathroom, but specifically around the toilet. Dips, discoloration or softness may be a sign of a leak. This could cause decay in the subfloor and the structure around the toilet. Moisture around your walls in the kitchen as well can cause long term deterioration and should be fixed as soon as possible. Older homes are primarily made of plaster and lathe which is known for breaking away and causing bows or bubbles that should be replaced before causing future damage. 

     After examining all these areas, you find that it’s time to tackle a bathroom renovation then considering how you’re going to move forward is important. You need to decide if you have the skills necessary to tackle the complete project or if you would like to hire out any of the important tasks like shower removal and replacement or plumbing and electrical work to ensure your bathroom operates efficiently for many years! Once you have decided on who is going to complete your project it’s time for planning. We will be going into the next steps in future blogs so be sure to keep looking for our next guides for help!