Eight tips to keep your bathroom renovation on track

Few investments will give you better payback than a bathroom renovation.

In our experience, homes with renovated bathrooms will sell for a higher price and be snapped up faster than you might typically expect.

If you go down the rip-and-replace path, then you have an array of choices in terms of the style, colors and location of the bath, vanity, shower and tapware.

For those on a tighter budget, you can seek contractors who will use special spray paint that revitalizes a bath and the floor and wall tiles. If you use this option, it’s still worth investing in a new vanity, tapware and full glass shower screens to give it a modern appearance.

It’s always best to use the experience of a real estate agent to check whether you’re investing in the right areas of your home, if you want to maximize the potential sale price.

We would be happy to advise you on your best strategies, and the potential results you might expect if you improve your home.

In the meantime, here are eight essential tips for making sure a bathroom renovation is value for money.

It’s cheaper to select your own contractors rather than hire a company to do everything. You can save in the order of 20%. If you take this path, hire contractors who know each other. They will be more forgiving of each other when problems arise and timelines blow out.

Try not to use more than one bathroom supplier, and cultivate a relationship with the salesperson. A bathroom is a complex room, and you’ll no doubt need to ring them with questions as the project proceeds.

When buying any bathware, ask for the specifications of each item. Keep these in a file as they’ll be vital for the plumber, builder and tiler when they begin their work.

Walk your contractors through each item you have bought or ordered. This will avoid confusion, such as the tiler setting tiles for a circular waste trap when you’ve purchased a square one.

Don’t make assumptions about your tiles. Some will absorb water and expand over time. Manufacturers may state that grouting should be a minimum width to allow for movement. If you want minimal grouting, make sure your tiles will handle it.

Talk to your plumber about all your options for the placement of taps. If you’re ripping out your bathroom, you’ll be amazed at the options you have available.

If you love those little alcove storage areas in the shower for shampoos and the like, ask the builder to construct this. It’s not the tiler’s job. 

In tight spaces, consider installing a sliding entry doorway to avoid any possibility of the shower and entry doors hitting each other.