5 Common Bathroom Remodeling Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Few home improvement projects offer as much bang-for-the-buck in terms of daily comfort as a smartly designed bathroom upgrade, but few projects present as many pitfalls for budget blowouts. Any homeowner looking for bathroom remodeling in Portland, OR, who has to offer might start out eager for new tile and fixtures but end up facing issues that could have been prevented by good home improvement planning. Whether you're upgrading a cozy powder room or tearing out a tub and shower in the full bath and replacing it with a walk-in shower, here are some pitfalls to watch for from the start.

Mistake 1: Not Thinking Through Ventilation

A bathroom's usually one of the most humid rooms in the house, and a major mistake many homeowners make during their remodel is overlooking proper ventilation. Homeowners usually spend plenty of time choosing the pattern and the size of the new tiles, going back and forth over the style of the new vanity, choosing just the right lighting fixtures, and then finally selecting the perfect paint or wallpaper until they finally toss a new exhaust fan into their shopping cart last.

When planning a major remodel, one of your first steps should be choosing an exhaust fan that is properly sized for your room's square footage and ceiling height. You want to make sure the vents direct airflow away from the tub and shower, and most importantly, that they vent moisture straight outside. Venting into the attic instead can lead to serious damage to your rafters a mistake that is particularly risky in the rainy, humid climate of the Pacific Northwest, where controlling indoor humidity is a constant battle.

Mistake 2: Underestimating Plumbing Costs and Complications

Shifting a toilet, sink, or shower even a couple of feet from where it started could greatly increase both the budget and the difficulty level of the remodel project. It is easy to overlook the need to open up walls or floors that much in order to reroute plumbing pipes when creating an ideal blueprint but get surprised halfway through the process.

The older houses, which are quite common in Portland and Beaverton areas, usually pose some plumbing challenges as well. Old pipes made of substandard material or old plumbing fixtures that no longer meet current standards are just some of those hidden problems that need to be addressed before starting the project.

Mistake 3: Choosing Style Over Function

We're naturally drawn to things like an elegant freestanding tub or complicated tile pattern featured in a fashionable design magazine. Still, choices that disregard daily convenience and functionality almost always end up being sources of regret. A large soaking tub may look stunning, but it can be so space-consuming that it makes the shower feel very small. And if it isn't even suitable to the needs of a family bathroom, then the beauty of it will quickly get lost even after the renovations are done.

The next area where aesthetics tend to outweigh functionality is storage. Pictures do depict open shelves and modern vanities beautifully. However, if there is no provision for closed storage units, bathrooms tend to be cluttered with all sorts of cosmetics and towels, as well as cleaning items. A good renovation plan not only considers the aesthetic value but also the functional aspect of the room. This means that the needs of everyone living in the house will be taken into consideration as well. Aesthetics, by way of pictures, come second after functionality.

Mistake 4: Ignoring Lighting Layers

Sometimes, bathroom lighting is thought of only as a main overhead light or a few mirror lights, which hardly ever are sufficient for makeup, shaving, or even reading skincare products while being showered. The lighting issue has a lot to do with the lighting design, which is one of the things that becomes apparent only when the renovations are done. Still, lighting design is commonly forgotten when planning is underway, because visually stimulating decisions in the form of choice of tile or fitting take precedence.

Mistake 5: Working With the Wrong Contractor

Probably the biggest mistake that homeowners can commit is selecting a contractor based only on his price while failing to check his credentials and his mode of communication. A bathroom remodeling project Portland, OR, entails the coordination of different works such as plumbing, electrical wiring, tiling, and carpentry work, and having an inexperienced contractor will turn the job into a long and costly process.

Before you select your contractor and sign the contract, it would be better to ask for his references, verify his licensing and insurance, and ask for an estimated cost of the project broken down by specific items. Effective communication style counts equally as his technical capabilities, since the ability to explain everything in detail and inform the customer about possible problems will make the whole process easier.

Planning Prevents Costly Surprises

Each of these errors has one thing in common: they all come about because of an emphasis on the thrill of decision-making over proper planning. Things such as ventilation, plumbing inspection, functionality, lighting layers, and contractor hiring might not sound as fun as picking tiles to use, but it’s those basics that will make or break your remodeling experience in the long run.

With a bathroom remodel in Portland or Beaverton that doesn't run into these typical mistakes, Lazy Susan Design & Remodeling offers the expertise required to make the process a success all the way from initial consultation to the very end of the project.