What you have to take into consideration before you refurbish your bathroom

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What you have to take into consideration before you refurbish your bathroom

The bathroom refurbishment is a very exciting task. But before we get to buy the last pieces or to choose the design of the tub, there are a few things that need to be taken into account to get out the project as we dream.

Because the refurbishment of a bathroom can be overwhelming, it can take a long time and it can cost you a lot, we have prepared below a simple list of 15 safety points that everyone should consider, following which the project that you want to start will have its place in the dream that will come to life, and to make it work perfectly.

1. The budget

If you did not already know this, I would like to say that first of all you should think about how much you are willing to spend on the refurbishment from the start. Setting up a budget will help you make important decisions about what to include in the renovation. Once you have determined what amount you can spend then you can make a clearer idea of the ​work schedule, faience and other accessories.

2. The time

Many people think that refurbishing a small bathroom takes just a few days, much less than it would take to refurbish a larger bathroom. I have to tell you that this is not necessarily a rule. Depending on how many things you change in that bathroom, the person that will do the refurbishment will spend the same time performing those works – no matter if it is about a big Jacuzzi or a smaller tub. However, the planning does not just refer to defining the duration of the refurbishment work, but also to some intermediary measures, such as ordering and buying the sandstone tiles, for those who want something personalized – how long the construction takes or to ensure that the stores where you buy what you need can deliver them when your craftsman needs them. The time planning is also crucial for people with one bathroom in the house because they will have to think early and to talk to someone for taking a shower and going to toilet.

3. The work in stages

When it comes to refurbish the bathroom, the best thing you can do is to plan what steps need to be followed, and when. This thing can save you from buying a lot of things which can get damaged when it is not the moment. Whether it is a complete demolition or whether it is a repainting, you should always start from the top of the room. Refurbish the ceiling first, then the walls and to the end the floor, to prevent the deterioration of the new improvements.

4. The hidden issues

If you have decided to make a big upgrade to your bathroom, it is best to change the entire installation. If this is done by a professional with experience in the field, then at the end of the work you will have no problem, everything will work impeccably and this will give to your house a greater value and you will be sure that you will not have problems with the plumbing many years that will follow. Depending on the age of your house and how well it was built, the hidden issues will be due to water in general, so you will have to look for traces of rust on pipes and taps. Take a great care with the sockets and the light, always note where the cable route is, so you do not have the surprise to make a hole into the wall without knowing that there is a voltage cable  which can lead to electric shock.

5. Style, design and functionality

The first step in this safety point is to think about how your bathroom would look like. Here are several factors that you need to take into consideration: the color of the paint, the choice of the faience, the shower, the bathtub, the taps, etc. Searching itself can become overwhelming, so I suggest you to start with a search on the internet. You can search for more items and then try to place them and match them in turn, or you can search for a stronger design element around which you can build the bathroom.

The design should be hand-in-hand with the functionality, so take into consideration who are the persons that will use the bathroom and how they will do it, also take into account a possible resale of the house over a period of time, and then take into consideration how the design of the bathrooms will be enclosed throughout the house.

6. Measurements

There are 3 important things to take into consideration when it comes to the dimensions you need to calculate in a bathroom (usually being the smallest room in a house): the location of the pipes, the electrical cables and the standard dimensions of the sanitary items. So make sure you have the exact measurements and specifications when you go to the store. More frustrating than going to the shopping without the accurate measurements can only be to buy things that do not match as sizes or specifications.

7. The designer

Hiring a designer for this operation would be a smart thing, considering the complexity of the work (electrical, sanitary, etc.) and considering how many artisans are on the market they are just waiting to take a job. Therefore, we advise you to take the advantage of the benefits of hiring an authorized person to work in the field, who could save you of many headaches, vanity and lost vacation days.

8. The sanitary equipment and the accessories

No refurbishment is complete without a repair or replacement of the sanitary equipment such as the shower cabin, bathtub, toilet, bidet, sink, tabs and the shower. The bathroom mirrors should also be refurbished or replaced. You can give a new and more pleasant air by changing the handles of the entrance doors, from the shower cabin and drawers. If the budget allows, also the new shower doors can completely change the design of a bathroom.

9. The cupboards, storage and shelves

Placing the cupboards and shelves is a delicate problem, in the most cases, even more in the small rooms and tangled like the bathrooms. They have to be functional, occupy less space, store all the necessary things in a bathroom, and most importantly provide a stylish design.

10. The walls and floors

Basically, you can use any wall and flooring material in the bathroom as long as it is waterproof, either naturally or through an impermeable finishing. Depending on the style and the budget, the ceramic, marble and granite can make the surface of the flooring and the walls of the bathroom extremely durable and stylish. For the floor it is advisable to consider two very important criteria: the durability and  the anti-slip quality.

11. The enlightenment

The bathroom can be classified as impractical or dangerous without an adequate illumination, so I suggest you to think about a practical lighting plan that will also have a pleasant atmosphere. Firstly try to maximize the natural light and then take into consideration that you should have at least 4 watts of incandescent light on the square meter in the bathroom.

12. The accessories

Although it seems to be of little importance, no refurbishment is complete without the addition of new accessories. Quite surprising for some people is that things such as bath towels, soap support, mirrors, the toilet support, the bathing mat bring us a huge boost to a refurbished bathroom. If you have a lower budget, the new hand towels are better than no accessory.

13. The ventilation

The airing or ventilation are essential in a small, humid room such as a bathroom. It is also a difficult task, which involves a good planning ahead: choosing the right fan, choosing the right place to install it, and also solving the problem of electrical wiring. The poor ventilation or lack thereof can lead to abundant moisture in the bathroom, appearance of mold, and even put your health at risk. However, a well-ventilated bathroom is not just a healthy bathroom. Continuous air flow prevents both the decomposition of any wood surface and helps to protect the wall insulation of the room.

14. Use eco products

Even if I do not take into account too many eco products, one way or the other, the trend in the market is moving towards these products and I think it is something worth considering. There are many products in a friendly budget that can provide a good touch to your bathroom: a low-flow toilet, which uses less water so it can spare you of some money to pay to the water utilities, the worktables and faience made from recycled glass, furniture made of recycled wood and economic bulbs. Besides these specifications, the design of some is not bad at all.

15. The final cleaning

The final cleaning is very important and you should not omit any place in the room: all cupboards on the inside and outside, pipes, walls, windows, floor, lighting etc. Although this aspect is often overlooked in the project phase, you should take into account also to contract a cleaning team that can be very effective, but it may cost something over the budget, especially if it was not taken into account from the start. If you feel able to do this yourself or to do it in the family you should consider an extra day or even  two just for cleaning.