You only become an expert at renovating your bathroom when you have done it, and by that time, it’s too late – most of us only ever do this once in our lifetime. Therefore, courtesy of other people’s experiences, we present this list of the top (or most common) mistakes to avoid when renovating your bathroom in Cincinnati.
Inadequate Ventilation
The best place for a bathroom would be outside, with no ceiling or roof. Some mega-rich people have got a bathroom like this because they live where the climate is kind enough to make it comfortable, and they have enough land and privacy to make it work.
For the rest of us, we have to build in enough ventilation. Windows that open represented a huge breakthrough in bathroom technology several centuries ago. They let the moisture and the smells out and bring fresh air in, which is good for the ambience and also helps prevent mold, which thrives in damp conditions. So, if you don’t have a bathroom window or it’s not big enough, maybe you can have it enlarged or create another one to get the air flowing.
Inadequate Storage
This is something that often doesn’t even make it onto the list of bathroom essentials. Cupboards, shelves, a space where you can keep towels or toilet paper, and another one for cleaning products. If you’re short of space, you can maybe fit a cupboard under the basin or organize something in whatever space is not occupied. This can require ingenuity, but it’s worth it. You can stash the spare toothpaste, floss, and so on in a cupboard above the basin that doubles as a mirror, but you need a lot more than that unless you want to be making trips to other rooms all the time.
Unrealistic Budget
Before you commit yourself to a bathroom refit, check around for how much bathroom suites cost, how much a shower cubicle is, plus any other bits and pieces you’re going to need. Total it up, then add a few hundred or more for labor costs. This can give you a ballpark figure on which you can base your discussions with a bathroom contractor. They might tell you you’ve underestimated this, or even that you don’t have to spend that much, but at least you’ll be talking as well as listening.
Not Layering Your Lighting
You may have thought about what light fittings you would like, from a stylistic point of view, but what you need in the morning for a quick complexion check or a shave or eyebrow trim may well be different from how you want the ambience when you’re relaxing after a hard day. Having several options built in can make it adaptable. Also, see above about windows. They can help with the lighting as well as the ventilation.
Inferior Materials and Fittings
Doing this kind of job on the cheap is asking for trouble, so when you’re setting your budget, make sure you go for quality, not just price. Cheap faucets and tiles are like that for a reason. You’ve got to make your budget work, but this is part of making it realistic. Lighting comes into this, too. Good quality fittings can be more efficient as well as look better.
Inefficient Drainage
Drainage is as important as having a good water supply, so if your drains don’t allow used water to disappear fast enough, have them cleared. You may be able to do this yourself with chemicals or good old-fashioned elbow grease, but if you can’t (or don’t want to), there will be someone not far away who can do that sort of thing.
Bad Layout
Think about how your bathroom is laid out, because this is your opportunity to improve it. Is the bath okay where it is, or should it be over there? That’s the kind of question you should ask yourself. Size matters, too. Whatever you put in a bathroom uses up space, so bigger is not necessarily better. You can consult your bathroom contractor about this or any other aspect of the job. Speaking of which…
Choosing Just Any Contractor
This can fall into the budget category: if you shop around and go for the cheapest estimate, you may be engaging the services of people who won’t do you any favors in the long run. So, make a shortlist and talk to them all. Get prices, pick their brains for design ideas, and see what they have to say about quality and maybe environmental matters. Do they use eco-friendly materials, products, and methods? If it’s important to you but they don’t care or understand, find someone who does.
Choosing Style Over Function
The bathroom is a thoroughly practical place. It’s where you get things done in the self-care and maintenance department, so make sure it’s really up to the job, not just a good-looking waste of time and money.
