Dos and Don’ts of Bathroom Renovation

There are several renovation shows and magazines that can make you want to revamp the damp and dated box in your house. The bathrooms shown there have a wow factor to them and we cannot even imagine the amount of efforts that go into delivering such a renovation.

Along with efforts it also requires expertise and knowledge because there are many complexities involved which increase the chances of something going wrong. It is not an easy renovation to do and it can go wrong if there is a lack of professionalism on the part of renovators. There are many know-how involved and they can drastically increase the costs of renovation.

Problems can turn up when you expect them the least. Sometimes termites show up in a leaking shower pipe and sometimes you may find that your house is not up to date with the latest plumbing trends. It is therefore advisable to keep at least 20 percent buffer in your budget. Here are few Dos and don’ts of bathroom renovation:

·         Do… hire a professional

It is easy to get tempted to spend less and compromise on the contractor but it could be something you regret later on. Contractors who give you a lower quote or estimate of a renovation project are likely to cut corners in the work and present to you a sub-standard level of work. It doesn’t make much sense to compromise on the quality of work for just a few extra pounds.

Renovation is quite permanent in nature and something that requires skill and precision to do well. The only way to save money in renovation is by using inferior quality materials or cheap labour both of which are not advisable. Take for example the tiling work that you do in your kitchen. Those tiles are likely to stay there for at least a decade before they need to be redone. Something that stays for that long should not be low on quality and the best possible material should be used to ensure that it stays longer than it should.

It is also not advisable to hire one person for each job such as a plumber for the plumbing work. Such projects can be better handled by people who have experience of undertaking complete renovation. They have the required experience and also a better idea of how to redo certain things in a house. They may have creative inputs to offer and unlike the plumber they will not just do what they are told to do but also provide their own insight.

·         Don’t… even consider DIY

No matter how skilled you believe yourself to be at DIY this is a project of a whole new magnitude and the chances of it going wrong are quite high. The job is not simple and a botched up job can make you spend almost twice the amount of money. Doubting that something can go wrong with the renovation is still optimistic, there are also chances of you getting injured during this project.

A builder, from his past experience, knows about the various mistakes that are possible and ensures that they are not repeated. If you realise it midway through the renovation that you cannot handle it then there will be inconsistency in the renovation and it can look really bad. To avoid this kind of patch work it is important that you delegate this job to a professional who you can trust and has vast experience of handling such projects.

·         Do… Buy products that comply with regulatory standards

There are many benefits of buying products that comply with regulatory standards such as their built is of a minimum quality and it will last longer than the ordinary products that do not comply with the standards. These products can also be easily repaired or replaced.

·         Don’t… ignore old pipework

Do not question the integrity of the plumber when he advises you to change or upgrade your pipes. Not every plumber will tell you this with the intention of increasing his profits. Thus when a plumber says that your pipes need to be replaced or upgraded consider to do it. It will ensure that your drainage system functions smoothly and does not make things worse for you by causing leakages.

The water pipes should be replaced with a reputable plastic pipe or copper pipes. Sediment formation can block the water pipes and this can lead to the problem of blockages in the system. Severe blockages can cause many problems such as overflowing sewage, pipe burst etc. At the first signs of blockage you should consult a professional and get it unclogged.

·         Don’t... Overstretch your budget

One of the most important things to remember when renovating a house is to create a budget before going ahead with the renovation. Consult multiple contractors and decide among the various quotes that you get. Stick to this budget and make sure that your expenses do not exceed it.

It is easy to get carried away while renovating and you can lose track of the places where you have overstepped on your budget. You may assume that this is important and that you should be spending more money on it but you may get this temptation in every aspect of renovation.

If you go to town to buy the material required for renovation then you may find yourself wishing you could buy all the things you’ve ever wanted for your house such as a nice bath tub, those expensive tiles, those good looking taps or Underfloor heating Southampton.

If you intend to sell the house later on in your life then it may be a good idea to not invest too much into the house. You may not get the resale value which you expect it to have as the buyer may not have a taste in renovation that’s similar to your own.

Following the above advice may not guarantee that your renovation process gets completed hassle free but it will make sure that you approach it in a better way and do not get entangled in its complexity.