This is a guest post from the guys at EZYFIX. Make sure to check them out if your are considering doing a DIY Bathroom Renovation. EZYFIX have a range of DIY products that are quick and simple to install – which ends up saving you money.
Bathroom renovation costs can climb pretty quickly if you don’t plan ahead to cover all the required costs. Hopefully this article will help you with your planning.
7 Don’ts When Renovating Your Bathroom
Renovating your bathroom is one of the most challenging upgrades you can make to your home. While a beautifully renovated bathroom can change the tone of the whole house, there are a whole host of things that can go wrong given the opportunity. To avoid disaster, read through the top 8 things to avoid doing when planning and executing a bathroom renovation of any scale.
1. Sub-par waterproofing
Minimum requirements for waterproofing are set in the Building Code of Australia, and must be met when installing a new bathroom. Unless you are confident, the best approach to waterproofing is to hire a professional. If done incorrectly, it could lead to structural damage resulting from dampness, water leaks, or condensation. Neglecting the waterproofing stage is a common mistake people make when renovating a bathroom – don’t let it happen to you.
2. Over-investing
When it comes to bathrooms, it’s easy to get caught up in having the best of everything. However, top-range bathroom fixtures and tiles can quickly increase the amount the renovation will cost you. Before committing to spending all that money, think about whether you really need to make such a big investment. Is there anywhere you can cut costs on fixtures or tiles? How much really needs to be upgraded from the original bathroom? Asking these questions can lower the budget of the whole project.
3. Not using Australian-compliant products
While it can be tempting to order all your fixtures from offshore vendors to save a few dollars, bear in mind that many of the fixtures out there are not compliant with Australian standards and may not be able to be fitted even by an experienced plumber.
A little bit of research before you buy can save you money on replacing your fixtures in the long run – always double check when buying from overseas.
4. Rushing the design phase
You might be eager to start the renovation, but not taking enough time in the design stage could lead to mistakes or regrets later. Make sure you have enough space in the bathroom, and that is both functional and beautiful – is there enough room on the vanity, a large mirror, a good-size shower? These are all important considerations, so take the time to make the right choice for the space and for you.
5. Skimping on lighting
Mood lighting can be a great thing when it comes to relaxing in the tub, but for everyday needs like shaving, doing makeup or other grooming activities, there needs to be adequate light. Keep this in mind when choosing out your light fixtures, and if possible perhaps go for a switch with a dimmer, giving you the best of both worlds.
6. Inadequate ventilation
Something many people don’t think about when renovating is how well ventilated the bathroom is. In the planning stages, make sure you include windows that open to let air circulate, and a fan system.
7. Blowing your budget
Setting a realistic budget is the easiest way to ensure that you don’t spend way more than you anticipated. The average bathroom renovation is pegged at around $15,000 – so setting your budget at $5,000 for a full renovation is almost guaranteed to end in blowing your budget.
Setting a realistic budget that allows for some additional unforeseen costs also avoids you trying to finish the project on the cheap – something that only leads to breakages and problems later on.
I want to make sure that I get my bathroom waterproofed. It makes sense that sub-par waterproofing could cause some pretty terrible problems later on. I’ll make sure I hire a professional who can get it done right the first time!
I’m planning to get my bathroom renovated soon and I agree with a lot of what your article discusses, in particular, the part that we should set realistic budget as this what I need to do.
Great to know I’m not the only one lighting with Christmas lights! Mine are from IKEA, and they’re not marketed as such, but that’s exactly what they are. I’m in a small open apartment and have a chain running below a ‘bar counter’ that lights the kitchen counters and adjacent living room. Not just cheap to buy, also very cheap to run which was my original motivation for trying out that chain light. For the wattage, it seems to spread light further than if I had a single bulb. I’ve been thinking for a while to add another chain to the ceiling like you have and same in the bathroom, but it’s been a couple years now and haven’t felt the pressing need for them still!