Before going to bat on your bathroom!
- Cait White
- Aug 4, 2016
- 3 min read
BEFORE YOU START YOUR BATHROOM RENO
If HGTV can tackle a bathroom reno in under a week so can all of us – right? Wrong-o. In an ideal world all of our bathroom dreams would come to fruition at the snap of a finger and under budget (here’s hoping!) but we all know this isn’t reality. Knowing how to be prepared before starting an upcoming project is particularly important for a successful finished product; especially when it comes to spaces like bath and powder rooms. Today I’m going to share with you some pointers on how to stay educationally enthralled with your bathroom reno process.
Nobody likes a know-it-all.
Although many of us are avid home décor TV show aficionados and sure hubby has a way with a hammer but it can never hurt to get the input of a professional when it comes to ripping out walls, floors, and repositioning plumbing fixtures. Ok – not taking your project to this extent? Fabulous – we won’t be offended if you don’t call but as a wise individual once said “there’s no dollar signs on peace of mind.”
Finicky with Finish Selections.
Be sure to educate yourself on all of the various options when making finish selections throughout your space. From countertops to flooring materials and even paint finishes, there are lots of characteristics to be alert for to ensure you achieve the longevity you desire with your finished space. (ie: never pick a natural stone to be laid as your floor tile in a wet space like your bathroom – porous surface area makes for a headache in the future when you notice all of the absorbed drips or stains.
Don’t be Hasty!
I totally get it – in the renovation process things take time. So when it comes time to make a selection for a back splash or front door colour sure it can feel right to go with one of the first materials you’re presented with. In today’s market design elements can be trendy and ultimately get stale fast. You are looking for something that is going to be clean and classic and still read as fresh and up to date 5 or 6 years down the road. Grab some samples, lay them out, perhaps a glass of wine and let them resonate with you. It won’t take long for you to gravitate to what naturally appeals to you.
B is for Budget.
If you are moving forward with a bathroom renovation you want to take some time to specify a dollar amount you are comfortable spending. Once you have this number in place you’ll want to take estimated labour costs and subtract them from this starting point. This will leave you with a realistic number allotted for fixtures, tiles, and the pretty stuff!
Lighting.
You want to take into serious consideration the lighting you use in your bathroom space. You want to first focus on allowing as much natural light as possible followed by task lighting pertaining to each area of your space. It is recommended that you have 4 watts of incandescent lighting per square foot.
Ventilation Station!
I almost want to move this one to the top of my list. Far too many times have I entered a bathroom to which no ventilation is provided and each time I wonder – how on earth? Followed by – where is the black mold? (Slight panic attack ensues). Properly ventilating a moisture rich space like your bathroom is incredibly important to ensure mold prevention, water marking, and keeping you healthy! Not to mention a good circulation of air can prevent the decay of any mill-work and trim details.
Feel free to connect with me about any other further inquiries pertaining to starting an upcoming bathroom renovation. I’d be happy to discuss whatever’s on your mind along with some other tips that may not have been mentioned in today’s post.
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