What You Need To Know Before Remodeling your Bathroom
Remodeling your bathroom could either be a dream come true or a source of repeated headache. A lot of things could go wrong, but the best way to make sure that they don’t is to be knowledgeable about modern home improvement technology and potential pitfalls.
How to Maximize Bathroom Quality
The best bathrooms have beauty that’s more than just surface-level. Beyond going for the shiniest faucets or matching color swatches, it is important to understand what makes a bathroom work well.
The bathroom, especially when used for showers, is a uniquely humid place in the home. As such, everything ought to be designed with this key fact in mind. Hard and smooth surfaces like tile are more resistant to humidity damage and less likely to lead to mold. You can also look for humid-resistant countertops and cabinetry. Granite looks and works great for counters. Metal and glass can make suitably resistant cabinetry, but if you want to go for a more classic wood-feel look for an option that is fully laminated.
Something which you might not realize you want until it’s too late is a slope in the floor. Surfaces are safer and feel nicer the drier they are, and a gradual slope towards a drain can reduce the standing water that could lead to mold or to you slipping. Smaller tiles and wider lines of grout also help reduce the chance of slippage, too.
How to Minimize Bathroom Cost
Having a bathroom you can afford is as important as having a bathroom you actually like. Planning and doing your research is key to making and then staying within budget. You should have a list of ‘essentials’ and a separate list of ‘ideals’. Being able to differentiate between needs and wants is part of being an adult and very helpful when remodelling a bathroom.
Researching ways to fund your project is also helpful, and can even be an opportunity to be creative. Whether you go for a tax-deductible home equity loan or a refinancing of your mortgage, just keep in mind: each project is unique, but they all are more likely to end up costing more, not less, than what you plan for. You should leave a little wiggle room to run over budget.
If you want to go the extra mile, making a spreadsheet for this kind of home improvement project can pay off in the long-run, too.
How to Get a Good Contractor
Unless you plan to make this remodeling a DIY project which is possible but tough and time-consuming even with a working knowledge of plumbing, you’re going to need a contractor. At the very minimum, they need to be licensed and have comprehensive insurance. But you want experts with a great reputation, who openly communicate, and can explain what’s happening every step of the way — from the quote to answering any questions to providing advice on the best materials.
That’s where our experts come in! Whether you have a bathroom to remodel or need help with any other plumbing around the house, call (808) 691-9309 Oahu, (808) 400-8811 Hawaii Island to get in touch with EPS Hawaii’s.
