Remodeling your bathroom is not a cheap undertaking by any means; it will cost you thousands. You simply can’t afford to drive the price any higher, so avoid making these five common and very costly mistakes.
Doing It Yourself
Perhaps you have a small bathroom space, and you think, “How hard can it really be?” Most people do not have the technical knowledge, skills, or experience needed to successfully remodel an entire bathroom. If you don’t have a background in the type of work required to do it, you’re probably underestimating how hard it will be. In most cases, you should hire a contractor as well as some good plumber in order to avoid mistakes that can cost you a fortune later (read more on the subject at plumbers-portsmouth.co.uk). If you DIY and mess up, you’ll only cause yourself more time, money, and headaches.
Hiring the Wrong Contractor
You can’t hire just any handyman to take on the project of a bathroom remodel. Before you hire anyone, you need to thoroughly check references, licenses, insurance, certifications, and meet with the contractor to discuss a detailed plan for the renovation. The contractor should be able to answer all your questions, go over everything step of the process with you, guarantee their work, and give you a written estimate. If you’re unsure or have a “bad feeling,” find someone else.
Changing Your Mind
Before you begin the remodel, you should have just about every detail figured out. You should know what products you’re going to buy, what layout you want, and what styles and designs you like. If you change your mind in the middle of the remodel, you will pay for it. It will cost money to cancel an order, return items, redo sections, and hire the contractor for additional time or work, at least. Rarely can you change one thing without changing something else in response, and you’ll only delay the project.
Splurging or Saving in the Wrong Areas
There are so many things you need to purchase for the remodel, and every decision you need to make will have a ton of options that range in price from very high to very low. People often make the mistake of splurging on things that will look better, like cabinet hardware, lighting fixtures, and vessel sinks; and they save by choosing cheaper materials for the floor and tub, for example. What you should do is spend the most money on your materials and appliances so that you buy things of high-quality that will last. Little details should be where you save, and they can easily be changed in the future anyway.
Working without Permits
You need to check with your local municipality before you begin to find out what permits or inspections are required for the type of work you’re going to do. Depending on your plan, you may or may not need approval from the township. If you decide to begin without permits, you could be forced to pay big fines. You might even have to undo all the work you’ve put in, which will be a huge waste of money and time.
Lizel S. Lives in Chicago and highly recommends the use of premier quality plumbing supplies for your next bathroom upgrades project.
