There’s never a wrong time to upgrade a deteriorating bathroom.
A great-looking bathroom will add value and enjoyment to your home, but the job must be done properly or it will cause more problems than it solves.
Bathrooms must be thoroughly sealed to prevent leaks that can undermine the surrounding timber structure and cause major headaches down the track.
Like any other area of your home, you shouldn’t leave problems with a bathroom unattended for too long. Crumbling grout in the shower, mould around the shower screen and vanities with wood bloated from water damage all point towards the need for an upgrade.
But renovating a bathroom is not a small or inexpensive task so considering a bathroom renovation can also be a good time to look at refinancing your home loan. This lets you be confident you’re getting the best deal while also have enough funds to cover the costs.
Here are six reasons when you need to get serious about a bathroom renovation.
- From another decade – Nothing dates a bathroom like colour. You can tell if it was built in the 70s and 80s merely by the colour scheme. Most bathrooms today are based on white, rather than old school creams or browns. If your bathroom can remember when David Cassidy was making hits, then the time to act is overdue as aging bathrooms usually also have waterproofing issues.
- Cracking under the strain – Grout gives up all the bathroom’s secrets. If it’s stained, flaky or broken away, then you may have more significant issues ahead of you. When it comes to a bathroom, little problems ignored always lead to bigger ones.
- Trail of clues – Small problems leave a trail of clues that should tell you that an upgrade is needed. These include mould, smelly or blocked toilets and drains, insufficient water pressure and dripping taps and showerhead.
- Awkward layout – New bathrooms make the most of the available space and optimise the layout. If the fixtures are positioned awkwardly, it’s time to rip everything out and start again. If you don’t, every other improvement will feel like a compromise.
- Poor lighting – This can be fixed inexpensively. But if you’re going to invest in an upgrade, install lighting that best matches the design and layout. Consider a solution that combines lights with heat lamps and a fan to extract steam and dampness.
- Limited storage – This is a significant frustration point with many bathrooms. Poor storage creates annoying clutter. A good vanity, wall-mounted mirror cabinet and shelving solve the problem as will lots of towel rails.
This article is provided for general information only and does not take into account the specific needs, objectives or circumstances of the reader. Before acting on any information, you should consider whether it is appropriate for your personal circumstances, carry out your own research and seek professional advice.