So you want, or potentially, need to update your bathroom, but where do you start?
These tips will help you make confident, informed decisions and properly prepare to renovate your bathroom.
As much as renovators strive to plan for each contingency, a complex job such as renovating a bathroom will always reveal one or two things that are not expected. Until the demolition phase of the project begins, it's impossible to know the exact location of plumbing, structural framing members and HVAC. Extra work may be required to make the planned design fit and function correctly, or slight design alterations may be made based on specific findings at the demo stage of the job. An example we've come across on a recent project was a shower drain that lined up perfectly with an existing floor joist when installed according to the existing plan. To avoid extra work on the structure of the floor, we were able to shift the shower's location slightly, which was a more cost-effective manner of solving the problem. Your situation may not allow for an easy solution, so plan for the worst-case scenario.
2. Make A Realistic Budget
The range of prices you will get when researching bathroom renovations can be extremely confusing. Often, advice found online isn't local and deals only in hard figures, leaving you with little information. The most important thing to consider when establishing your budget is why you are renovating. Is it for re-sale? Personal leisure? Changing needs for family? Is it just time for an update? Renovating for pleasure might lead you to spend a little more than someone who just needs what they need. As good starting figures, expect a shower replacement with tile to cost $10K - $15K, or a full bathroom renovation to start around $20K. These figures include every aspect of the job including quality materials. Luxury upgrades such as large format tile, heated floors, tiled shower bases, built-in recesses for shampoo, curbless showers, and premium plumbing fixtures can drastically increase the cost of a project. Remember to plan for contingencies as mentioned above.
3. Use The Correct Materials
As a baseline, we use the same basic building materials on all our projects. We have selected the best products through years of experience and use them accordingly. Regardless of the job you are completing, it's important to use premium products at the rough construction phase. This is like the "foundation" of your bathroom and any corners cut here will show in the finished product later. At this stage, a homeowner renovating for re-sale value might use less expensive or difficult to install finishes, but still have the same basic foundation that a homeowner renovating for pleasure would receive. An easy way to bring down the cost of a project is to skimp on these details that will not be seen once everything is wrapped up. While it can seem tempting for some, it often turns out to be more hassle than it's worth. Using drywall as a tile backer in a shower is a good example of this. Technically, if done properly, there is nothing wrong with it. Can you do it? Yes. Should you do it? No. Drywall in a wet area presents a risk of failure that need not exist, as much better products exist specifically for this purpose.
4. Take Your Time
One of the most common renovation mistakes is rushing to meet arbitrary deadlines.
This makes the experience less enjoyable for all involved and leaves a bad taste in your mouth regarding renovations.TV programs have given a false sense of how long projects take to complete to industry standards, and contractors think they can make more money if they just schedule the work to be done quicker. Slow down, cover all the bases, and respect manufacturer's instructions when it comes to set and dry times for installation. Doing it right the first time will always be quicker than going back to fix it later.
5. Flatten Your Walls
The minimum variance acceptable on a wall that is meant to accept tile is one quarter of an inch in ten feet or three thirty-seconds of an inch in one foot. (1/4" in 10' or 3/32" in 12") This means your walls need to be as flat as they can possibly be made. There are many different ways of achieving this, which is best left up to the installer. This is often overlooked and leaves a messy or wavy looking tile installation, with different sized, angled cuts of tile meeting in shower corners. It's also very likely that if the wall is not flat, the installer cannot achieve proper thin-set mortar coverage, leading to rapid failure of the installation. This is again even more likely if you selected large format tile to be installed. Large format tile is tile with any one side over 15". The minimum variances are even tighter for large format tile, and thus it should only be installed by highly experienced tile setters. Lippage is the term used to describe what happens when two or more tiles adjoin and are not flush with one another. Lippage is dangerous, ugly, and a sign of an incorrect installation. Light often comes from straight above, showcasing the flatness, or lack thereof of the install. Flattening your walls correctly is the only way to prevent lippage.
Flat walls are not optional when it comes to tile installation.
6. Hire A Professional
The days of tile being installed by the general carpenter are over. Today's large format tile, complex layouts, and ever evolving methods and standards of installation requires special attention to do the job properly. You wouldn't hire your dentist to do work that should be done by your podiatrist. So why is a roofer tiling your shower? Waterproofing and thin-set manufacturers offer free training to bathroom and tile professionals to ensure their methods are followed correctly. The professional tile installer uses their experience to address site and installation conditions to ensure the installation lasts as long as possible without failure. This is who you want in your bathroom.
7. Enjoy The Experience
Renovating is stressful for everyone to some degree, but it can be fun. Get involved and ask questions. Your contractor should be happy to explain why they are doing things the way they are. Make sure there is something in your agreement about how the jobsite will be maintained. A cleaner site makes for more efficient work and less stress for you. Iron out all the details with your contractor before the job starts so you know where they need access, where materials can be stored, or any special needs you may have. The more planning you do beforehand the happier you'll be when starting the work.
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