Bathroom Remodels:
Bathroom remodels are one of the quickest and easiest ways of increasing our home’s value. Simple things like new faucets, nice tile, new sink and toilets, and a little paint can make the bathroom feel completely new and valuable. Not only does it increase the value of a home, but a new bathroom makes for a more pleasant feeling for those who live in the home. A quiet and peaceful room to indulge in a aromatherapy bath, or even a secluded location for some light “reading”.
Before starting your bathroom remodel take stock of your current bathroom fixtures, layout, and condition. Get an idea of what is working for the room and what is not. It is not always necessary to completely gut and redo the bathroom in order to achieve the results you’re after. There are times when light remodel work will do the trick quite nicely.
Examine your walls and look for any soft spots, holes and areas where the tile may be coming off the wall. This may be an indicator of rot. Moisture and poor ventilation are most likely the cause, and patching the walls may be necessary. Consider replacing or installing a good quality bathroom fan to prevent this problem in the future. Similarly, your floors should be inspected. Look for discoloration, soft spots, or areas where the flooring may be coming loose from the substrate.
Examine all of your lighting and plumbing fixtures for sings of corrosion or faulty parts. If the thing is just plain ugly, you will probably be replacing it anyway. Still, it is a good idea to look for signs of trouble regardless of whether or not it is going to be replaced. Knowing ahead of time if there is a plumbing leak or bad wiring may prevent frustration down the road.
Once you know what kind of issues you are looking at, it is time to consider the fun stuff. The selection of finish product, this means, vanities, light fixtures, tile, toilets, faucets, and paint. Be sure to measure the old fixtures in case you want to reuse the exiting wiring or plumbing lines. These measurements can be crucial. Take samples of tile and paint back home so you can get an idea of what the final result will look in the setting.
Be sure, when choosing tile, that the selections you make for floor, wall, and perhaps counter tops are rated appropriately. Some tiles work wonderfully in shower surrounds, but lacking in a floor installation, and vice verse. Paint too, should be carefully considered. The bathroom is the most heavily used room in the house, and is expected to handle lots and lots of moisture for extended periods of time. Many interior paints are lovely and provide wonderful options, but not all will not stand up to this kind of use. It would be a shame if all that hard work you put into your bathroom was completely negated when your paint did not hold a good seal against the moisture. Thereby letting your walls begin to rot again. Ask your paint supplier for information on how to be sure your paint selection will hold up well in a high use area.
Above all else, explore your creativity and have fun with your project. Play with fixture styles and tile designs. It is your bathroom and you are going to be using it often. So be sure that you do not settle on something that doesn’t quite suit you. Constipation caused from poor tile selections is never pleasant, and you want to be proud of your work. So, have fun.
