Guide to Bathroom Remodeling

If you’re searching for a bathroom remodeling guide this post is for you.  MK Remodeling has been remodeling bathrooms for decades and has all of the vanities, tile, and flooring you will need to renew and refresh your bathroom.  Bathroom remodeling is an investment in your home that you can enjoy day in and day out.

Bathroom Remodeling Tips

When you have your bathroom remodeled by experienced professionals it will bring you years of comfort and pleasure.  However if the job is done by armatures they will miss details and not have the foresight to choose the best materials, layout, and products.

Create A Budget

To create a good budget for your bathroom remodeling project you should consider which elements need to be refreshed.  Popular bathroom remodeling items include new showers, tubs, flooring, vanities, sinks, and countertops.  Consult with one of our expert bathroom remodeling designers to help layout a budget that you can afford and get excited about bathroom remodeling.

Planning For The Unexpected

It is also a good plan to add a little for unexpected costs which are discovered during demolition.  Some bathrooms will have hidden water damage from running toilets or leaking showers and baths.  Other issues can be hidden vent stacks or items inside walls that you want to remove completely.   It may cost a little extra to reroute these items to give you the bathroom remodeling layout you want. A good rule is to plan for about 15% more than the quoted cost just as a buffer for the unexpected.

Choose Durable & Attractive Surfaces

In your home the master bathroom’s countertops, sinks, and surfaces contribute to the look of your remodeled bathroom, and they get a lot of use.  While porcelain tile is a popular product for tiles and sinks it can be prone to chipping. Sinks made from enamel-on-steel are stain-resistant and durable. Steel sinks are also incredibly durable and visually stunning. Another popular option is solid-surface sinks which mean the sink is part of the countertop and optional backsplash.  Stone countertops are also popular in the bathroom with options such as quartz and granite.

Invest In The Shower

While some people seem to take weekly or daily baths many people can count on their fingers how many times they’ve used their bath tubs.  For a lot of people daily showering is more time efficient and therefore investing in the shower gives them more value.  Homeowners are increasing the size of the shower, installing steam, better showerheads, and body sprayers.  Showers are also more pleasant with adequate lighting. LED bulbs and canister lighting are popular options for the shower.

Bigger Showers

Standard showers used to be about 3 foot by 3 foot, today’s showers are many times L shaped and about 5 foot by 7 foot.  In many cases the shower is big enough that there need not even be a door to the shower as the spray doesn’t reach outside the shower. If the master bathroom is the only area where there is a tub you should consider keeping it.

Increase Counter Space

Grooming ourselves is what we do in the bathroom and we need room to put things down such as toothbrushes, brushes, combs, blow dryers, and more.  Double sinks were popular in decades past but many modern households are choosing more counter space over his and hers sinks.  In addition to offering more space for grooming not having a second set of pipes, faucets, and hardware saves on budget and potential repairs.

Upgrade Bathroom Lighting

Older bathrooms were many times afterthoughts in terms of where they were located and if they had good lighting or natural light.  Lighting should be thought of in layers of how the light is cast.  An overhead light is great for lighting the room but will cast shadows on your face in the mirror.  Installing  sconces on the sides of your vanity or other fixtures that shine directly at you will give you the light you need to see best.

Water Efficient & Enjoyable

When low flow faucets, toilets, and showerheads first came out there was little attention given to the enjoyment of using them.  Since then premium brands of low flow showerheads have invested in developing compliant low flow products which are also luxurious and pleasurable to use.  That includes the increasingly popular rain showerheads that mimic a warm rain right in the comfort of your bathroom.

Conceal The Toilet

While all bathrooms include a toilet it can be made more discreet in your master bathroom.  It can be made to be out of sight and have more privacy if a half wall is installed or a dresser is set as a divider.  Today’s most enjoyable and luxurious bathrooms are laid out so that the toilet is situated in a more private location in the bathroom while preserving the space around it.

Upgrade Bathroom Ventilation

Ventilation for your bathroom does more than provide cleaner air for you to breathe, it preserves the condition of your bathroom.  Excessive moisture will breed mildew and mold.  Moisture can also degrade the surfaces on hardware and painted surfaces.  Installing or upgrading your bathroom fan to provide adequate ventilation will keep you healthier and preserve your bathroom’s condition. Most bathrooms will be able to use a 50 cubic foot per minute bathroom fan.  Larger bathrooms may need twice that rating, especially if a steam shower feature will be installed.