Don’t Make These Bathroom Remodeling Mistakes!

Posted on September 23, 2019 by Kevin Johnson

We’ve covered a lot of bathroom remodeling do’s on our blog, but to ensure that you get the results you want from your remodel, it can be just as important to be aware of and understand the things you shouldn’t do. With plumbing fixtures and other complexities involved, even a seemingly minor mistake can prove quite costly and completely derail your project.

A thoughtfully completed bathroom remodel can help you create your own private oasis, increase your home value, or simply allow you to enjoy improved day to day use. Avoiding the following mistakes will ensure that you get the results you desire.

Mistake #1: Not Carefully Planning the Remodel

Bathroom remodeling is exciting — after all, what could be better than transforming a dingy, outdated area into something more modern and luxurious? The problem is that many homeowners get so excited about how they’d like their bathroom to look that they forget to devote as much time to planning as they should.

Planning needs to start with the basics, such as understanding the current layout of your bathroom and how you can work with it during the remodeling process. For example, if you want to change the bathroom’s layout, you should be mindful of the additional plumbing and electrical work that may be required.

When keeping the layout the same, you still need to be aware of the plumbing layout and the size of current bathroom features so that you get new fixtures that match with your current design. Getting a vanity that is a little too big may not seem like a major issue, but it could result in the sink not lining up properly with your pipes, requiring more time, work, and money than you had anticipated.

For best results, carefully measure everything so that you know the dimensions of the bathroom, as well as the dimensions of the individual features that you plan to replace. It may be a good idea to consult with a professional contractor or plumber to get a better idea of the type of work that would be required to get your desired results.

Mistake #2: Neglecting Your Budget

It’s one thing to have a vision for what you’d like the results of your bathroom remodeling project to look like. But it’s quite another to make it fit with your budget. According to Angie’s List, while most bathroom remodeling projects cost between $10,000 and $15,000, 31 percent of surveyed homeowners paid over $30,000 when remodeling their bathroom.

While this type of spending may be not seem like a big deal for some, it can create serious financial strain for others. Failure to understand how much your desired remodeling tasks cost could create serious financial issues. Homeowners should be mindful of how much they can afford to pay (either through monthly financing or as an upfront single-time payment for the project) and use these guidelines to form a budget.

Without budgeting properly, you might run out of money when the project is only half-finished, or you might have trouble taking care of other necessities, like mortgage or utility payments. Thankfully, there are several ways you can reduce expenses to keep your project under budget.

Even small decisions can have a big impact on your total cost. Maintaining the same layout so that you don’t need to install new pipes or electrical wiring can dramatically reduce labor expenses. Purchasing discounted vanities and other bathroom products, performing some of the labor yourself, or even only remodeling part of your bathroom at a time can all help you stay in control of your finances.

Mistake #3: Not Shopping Around For Bathroom Products

After finding a bathroom vanity at a great price, it can be tempting to buy it right away. But neglecting to look around at other options could leave you with a bathroom that doesn’t quite live up to the style or functionality that you had originally envisioned.

As just one example, here at Kitchen & Bath Authority, we literally have thousands of bathroom vanities for you to choose from. Finding one in a style that you like is good, but what if it doesn’t match the medicine cabinet or storage cabinet that you like? Mismatched bathroom products can undermine the cohesive look you’re going for.

Once again, planning things out should be a key role in selecting the bathroom products you’ll use for your remodel. For the vanity example, start with your measurements so that you will know what size will work best for your space. Then, narrow down your selection based on key features such as whether you prefer a contemporary or traditional style, or whether you want a vanity that has one or two sinks.

After you’ve made these initial decisions, take some time to look through the various options that are available. Don’t just focus on the price tag or how the vanity looks — read the descriptions so you can get an idea of other important information, such as warranty coverage, materials used to build the vanity, or whether it comes with a countertop.

Taking a little extra time to evaluate your options will ensure that you purchase bathroom products that you will love for years to come. You might find a style that you love even more than the first one you liked!

Mistake #4: Skimping on Quality

While looking for discounted products is certainly a great way to save money on your bathroom remodel, you should never do so at the expense of quality. You don’t want to shell out money for something that looks good but is prone to stains, leaks, cracks, or other maintenance issues.

Consider these example guidelines from Consumer Reports: “Lifetime warranties that cover leaks and stains have become more common on all but the cheapest faucets. PVD (physical vapor deposition) finishes resisted our best attempts at scratching them, but drain cleaners can stain them slightly. Chrome was also pretty durable in our tests, but can be scratched if you rub it with a heavy-duty scouring pad.”

The importance of purchasing quality products doesn’t just apply to fixtures and shower doors. It also applies to the materials you use for flooring, walls, and other parts of the bathroom.

As the Consumer Reports guide continues, “Tile is another material that you touch and feel each day. While you can find quality options for $5 per square foot, super cut-rate tiles may have slight size inconsistencies. The results will be crooked lines that make a bathroom look shoddy.”

Whether buying flooring materials or a bathroom vanity, do your research so you know what you’re getting. Learn more about the properties of the product and its materials, particularly in regards to durability and water resistance. Check consumer reviews so you can be aware of any common defects. Sometimes, it’s worth it to pay a little extra now so that you can have confidence that your bathroom remodeling work will stand the test of time. Otherwise, you might end up paying far more for repair and replacement costs in the future.

Mistake #5: Ignoring Storage Needs

While a bathroom vanity can certainly provide plenty of storage space, it isn’t always enough on its own. From extra toiletries to guest towels, there are plenty of bathroom items that may not readily fit into the vanity.

If you don’t plan for some extra storage space, you could find yourself stuffing these items into your vanity until it is overflowing, or needing to store your bathroom supplies in other inconvenient locations.

Whether you are remodeling the master suite or a guest bathroom, you should be mindful of additional options for improving your storage space. Medicine cabinets provide a convenient solution for organizing toiletries, and can also take the place of a bathroom mirror. Many vanities actually come in a set with a matching medicine cabinet.

Other bathroom storage options include linen side cabinets and floor cabinets, which offer plenty of space for towels, toilet paper, and other necessities. Even installing a few free-standing shelves can make it easier to keep things organized in the bathroom. Of course, you should choose these items carefully to ensure that they match the rest of your bathroom decor.

Just don’t let storage be an afterthought when planning your bathroom remodeling project. You don’t want to finish a large-scale project only to realize that you don’t have adequate storage space, and that you no longer have an available area in the room where you could install an extra storage feature.

Mistake #6: Neglecting the Small Details

As important as things like an upgraded shower enclosure or a new and improved vanity may be, you cannot overlook the seemingly “small” details in a bathroom renovation project.

For example, the renovation prep period is a great time to evaluate your bathroom’s lighting and ventilation. Improving lighting can help make even a small bathroom feel larger and more inviting. Installing a new light fixture or even upgrading to LED bulbs can help you make better use of direct and ambient lighting while also reducing energy consumption.

Ventilation is one of the most important elements of any bathroom remodel. Bathroom vent fans play a vital role by removing the moist, warm air from the room. A bathroom without an adequate vent fan — or without any ventilation whatsoever — is at risk for serious long-term issues.

As Timothy Thiele explains for The Spruce, “Without a bathroom vent fan, bathrooms are susceptible to excessive moisture buildup that increases the chances of damaging bathroom walls, floors, and ceilings, as well as bathroom fixtures. Warm, humid air, caused by running hot water for baths and showers, is a perfect environment for mold, mildew and microorganism growth. High moisture in rooms can also break down interior room materials such as wallboard, wall paint, and trim, not to mention the entry door. For a safe, healthy bathroom, provide ventilation.”

Mistake #7: Overestimating Your DIY Skills

DIYing some or all of your bathroom remodeling work can help you save thousands of dollars on your project, while also giving you a strong sense of accomplishment. However, beyond simply determining if you are willing to make the investment of your time and effort, you must realistically evaluate what you can and cannot do.

Quite simply, complicated plumbing work (such as re-routing pipes) should pretty much always be left to a professional. Shoddy work could result in a hidden leak behind your wall, causing mold growth and significant structural damage.

Even tasks that don’t seem so complex at first glance will often have better results if a professional does the work. For example, installing bathroom tile may seem relatively straightforward, but if you do a poor job of it, even the most expensive tile will look cheap and unprofessional.

Correcting these mistakes will be costly and time-consuming — and will require that you request the help of the professionals that you should have called in the first place. Rather than creating a disaster by overestimating your handyman skills, take a step back and realistically evaluate what you can and can’t do. Leaving complex tasks to the professionals will save you time, reduce your stress, and ensure that you get results that will stand the test of time.

Mistake #8: Ignoring the Future

When you first decide to remodel your bathroom, it can be easy to focus on the changes or improvements that you would most enjoy now. But as part of your planning, you should consider the long-term goals for what you plan to do with your house.

Are you planning to age in place in your current home? It may be a good idea to consider universal design features that account for changing mobility, such as ADA compliant comfort-height toilets, or a shower enclosure that includes a bench or grab bars.

On the other hand, if you are making upgrades because you plan to sell your home in the near future, you likely don’t need to make as big of an investment in your remodel. According to Zillow, midrange bathroom remodels tend to deliver a better ROI than high-end remodels, with basic tasks like replacing worn vanities and countertops or installing a new toilet being among the easiest and most cost-effective. While you should fix anything that is broken, you don’t necessarily need to go all out in giving the bathroom a complete overhaul.

By understanding some of the underlying reasons why you want to remodel your bathroom and considering your future plans for your home, you can make smarter decisions with your remodeling budget.

Planning For Mistake-Free Bathroom Remodeling

Bathroom remodeling is a complex task — one that can all too easily go wrong if you aren’t properly prepared. By carefully planning your remodel so that you can avoid these mistakes, you will have greater confidence moving forward on your project.

One great way to further boost your confidence is to buy your bathroom remodeling supplies right here at Kitchen & Bath Authority. We offer a wide range of bathroom vanities, sinks, shower enclosures, and more at significant discounts off MSRP so you can stretch your budget further. Enrolling in our exclusive membership program can help you save even more thanks to additional discounts and free shipping.

That’s not the only way we help you make bathroom remodeling decisions. You’ll find detailed descriptions of each product on our site so you know exactly what you’re getting, from materials to warranty coverage. You’ll also find customer reviews so you can learn what other people have experienced with these bathroom products.

Sure, there are things that can go wrong with bathroom remodeling. But by doing some extra work during the planning stages, you can ensure that everything turns out exactly as you desire. At Kitchen & Bath Authority, we’re proud to help make that possible.

Should You DIY Your Bathroom Remodel Or Hire a Contractor?

Posted on September 16, 2019 by Kevin Johnson

A bathroom remodel is one of the best ways to improve your home value — or to simply get more enjoyment out of your bathroom. However, because this renovation project tends to involve a lot of work, it can also be quite expensive.

HomeAdvisor estimates that the average bathroom remodel costs $10,364, with approximately half of the costs a result of labor expenses. Many full-scale remodels can cost even more, particularly when renovating your master suite. Because of this, many homeowners will debate whether they should complete the work themselves in an effort to reduce remodeling costs.

Of course, DIYing may not be the right fit for everyone. While it can certainly help some homeowners save money, for others, it can become a stressful and costly endeavor.

Here is a closer look at some of the factors to consider when deciding whether you should work with a contractor or try to take care of your bathroom remodel on your own.

Your Level of Confidence in Your Abilities

Naturally, the first place to start in deciding whether to hire a contractor or not is your own level of ability. Some people can watch a few tutorial videos and read a couple articles online and feel fully equipped to handle a wide variety of home improvement tasks — and do a great job.

Others, however, can barely tell the difference between a hammer and a screwdriver.

Typically, the best way to build confidence comes from having prior experience with other home improvement tasks. If you’ve previously replaced a kitchen faucet, you wouldn’t have much to worry about when replacing the faucet in your bathroom sink.

Just don’t let previous experiences cause you to become overconfident in your abilities. Installing a shelf in the garage is a far cry from moving plumbing fixtures in the bathroom. Be realistic when gauging your abilities so you can know when a particular task may be out of your reach.

Because of this, many homeowners will hire a contractor for more complex work like moving a bathtub, but they will take care of more routine tasks (such as repainting the walls) themselves.

Scope of the Work

The scope of the work required for your bathroom remodel can be a good indicator of whether you should DIY or not. One way to better evaluate this is to consider what the costs would be if something went wrong while you attempted to do the work yourself.

For example, some remodeling work is legitimately dangerous. While renovating your bathroom may not seem dangerous in and of itself, if your planned upgrades will require major electrical work, you should probably leave it to the professionals. Doing electrical work on your own could cause you to get electrocuted, resulting in serious injury or even death.

The potential for causing damage to the home should also be considered when evaluating the scope of your project. Moving a bathroom plumbing fixture may not be dangerous in terms of your physical safety, but it could result in significant property damage if not completed properly. A hidden water leak from amateur installation work could cause mold and mildew growth or even weaken the structural integrity of your walls and flooring. Even something that doesn’t cause maintenance issues could hurt your property value when it looks poorly done.

If the work was performed by a professional contractor, warranties or other contract stipulations will likely require that they repair the issue at no additional charge. If you did the work yourself, you will be on your own in addressing the issue, resulting in lost time and money.

In such instances, you would likely end up paying more by attempting DIY work than if you had hired a contractor in the beginning. If your own efforts cause damage to the home or simply don’t look or work like they should, you will need to hire a contractor to correct your mistakes. If you have doubts or concerns about these more complex tasks, the safest option is to let a professional handle them.

Available Time

Even if you have the ability to handle most of your bathroom renovation work, you may not have the time. Do you really want to spend the next several months doing all this work yourself?

As noted by The Spruce’s Lee Wallender, full remodels can be quite time-consuming, even when having professional contractors take care of a small bathroom. In fact, Wallander estimates that a full remodel would take an average of 23 days with professional contractors.

While this estimate does include tasks that won’t be needed for every remodel — such as installing insulation and hanging and finishing drywall — it does illustrate just how much time is required to get great results from a bathroom remodel.

Remember, this time estimate is for when professionals are doing the job. These individuals have a lot more experience, which means they can generally complete the work at a faster pace than an amateur. A full scale bathroom remodel could require even more of your time, especially if you need to purchase and learn how to use new tools.

For many, this is time that simply is not available. Can you really afford to give up your evenings and weekends for the next several weeks to take care of various remodeling tasks? For many people, a busy schedule makes this nearly impossible. Your bathroom could be off-limits for months as you struggle to find time to complete the renovation work.

While hiring contractors may cost more, the time savings that you can devote to other necessary activities — or even just some much-needed relaxation — can make the investment worthwhile.

Specific Bathroom Remodel Tasks

Taking a closer look at specific bathroom remodeling tasks can help you determine what work should be left to a contractor and what can be handled on your own.

For example, bathroom vanities can often be installed with the help of one or two other people. It doesn’t require much technical expertise to move a vanity into place and mount it, especially for free-standing vanities that come with a pre-installed countertop. Homeowners with prior DIY experience can even replace the sink and faucet on their own with little difficulty.

However, you should be mindful of upgrades that would affect your plumbing lines. If you are switching from a single sink to a double sink vanity, you would need to hire a plumber to provide rough-in work and install new lines so that both sinks work properly.

Medicine cabinets can be a little trickier. A surface mounted medicine cabinet can easily be installed without professional help. However, if you prefer the look of a recessed cabinet, you may want to enlist a contractor. You will need to check for wiring and other barriers behind the wall in the area where you wish to mount the medicine cabinet. Some modern cabinets also feature electrical outlets and USB ports, which would require additional wiring work.

Most toilets are surprisingly easy to install, and can be handled as part of a DIY project. However, some installations may require new electrical or plumbing hookups. If you are already hiring a plumber for other renovation work, it may be easier to have them take care of this upgrade as well.

Shower enclosures and bathtubs tend to be among the most complex bathroom remodeling tasks, as they frequently require the installation of new plumbing lines or the addition of tile in the shower enclosure. As such, this work is typically best left to contractors. Professionally installed shower doors will go a long way in preventing leaks and other mishaps.

Other bathroom remodel tasks may vary based on the selected materials. For example, while vinyl plank flooring is relatively easy for a DIY enthusiast to install, materials like porcelain tile are harder to work with and are generally installed by professional contractors.

While many of the products used to upgrade a bathroom can be installed without professional help, it is a good idea to refer to the product warranty before finalizing your decision. The warranties for many bathroom products actually require that they be installed by a licensed contractor.

As such, DIY installation could void the warranty, meaning that you would be financially on your own should you experience workmanship or material issues. Carefully read the warranty statement so you know what to expect.

Choosing a Contractor

As these previous points reveal, regardless of your level of ability, most bathroom remodeling projects (especially full-scale remodels) will require at least some assistance from a professional contractor. This makes choosing a quality contractor an essential priority to ensure that you get the results you need.

So how can you have confidence in choosing the right person for the job? Start by asking for referrals from people you trust. Friends or neighbors who have had similar work performed on their homes can give you a clear picture of what it is like to work with different contractors. You can also check online reviews to get a better idea of the contractor’s communication abilities, work quality, and timeliness. Knowing the pros and cons of different options will help you narrow down your selection.

It can also be beneficial to check for professional licensing and accreditations. Quality contractors should be licensed, bonded, and insured for your protection. With bonding and insurance, you will be financially protected from issues such as a worker getting injured in your home or an accident causing property damage. You can trust that the contractor will finish the work they were hired to do.

Membership in professional associations can also give you confidence in your hire. Look for memberships specific to remodeling work, such as the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) or the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA).

After you’ve narrowed down your list to three or four candidates, it is time to reach out for estimates and to discuss your project with potential contractors. Get all work estimates in writing, and make sure that they include key details such as payment schedule, the scope of the work, and dispute resolution and warranty clauses. These contracts should also cover a proposed timeline for completing the work, and detail whether any additional subcontractors will be used.

You should never feel pressured to a sign a contract right away. Look for a contractor who is willing to address any questions or concerns you might have during your initial meeting. Ask for referrals and followup to learn more about the pros and cons of working with a particular contractor.

At the end of the day, choosing a contractor should come down to more than just the total price. Paying a little extra to get quality results will give you far greater peace of mind — and a better remodeling outcome — than choosing the cheapest available option who provides slipshod work.

Are You Ready to Start Your Bathroom Remodel?

Whether you are planning to go it alone or entrust the physical labor to a professional remodeling contractor, a quality bathroom remodel starts with choosing the right materials for the job.

Here at Kitchen & Bath Authority, we offer a wide range of products that will help you create the bathroom of your dreams. Whether you wish to upgrade your vanities and medicine cabinets or install a brand-new shower enclosure, you will find options from many of the top brands in the industry.

Not only do we offer a great mix of styles and features, but we also offer significantly discounted prices to help you save even more on your bathroom remodel. Some products are available for as much as 60 percent off their list pricing, allowing you to save hundreds — or even thousands — of dollars on essential bathroom purchases.

You can save even more with special promo codes and exclusive membership discounts, as well as free shipping on all orders.

Renovating a bathroom can be a lot of work — but it doesn’t have to break the bank! When you order from Kitchen & Bath Authority, you will be able to create the look of your dreams at a price you can afford.

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