What To Know Before A Bathroom Remodel

If you are spending more time at home, due to the pandemic, then you have likely considered remodeling your home. If so, you are not alone. Contractors in the U.S. have reported a 40% increase in bathroom remodels.  Experts believe this uptick is due to increased time spent at home, money saved for vacations or eating out at restaurants is available for use, and rising home equity.

Whether your desire for a renovated bathroom is because you want to update its style, efficiency or to increase the value of your home, weigh the related benefits, costs and logistics before beginning your new project.  A modernized bathroom that looks great and meets all your family’s needs is as exciting as it is rewarding and you want to get the most out of your remodel.  Are you aware of your options and how to go about bringing your vision to fruition?  Savvy homeowners begin by make lists and researching trends in bathroom remodels to ensure they are pleased with the outcome.

4 Benefits of Remodeling Your Bathroom

• There are numerous benefits associated with a bathroom remodel. One of the most enticing benefits is the increase in your home’s value. During the resale of your home, expect to recover over 60% of your remodeling costs.

• You likely cannot wait to give your bathroom a personal touch choosing from updated styles and color combinations that are both relevant and make you feel at home. It is common for a homeowner to remodel mainly for aesthetic reasons, as a bathroom is the first and last room we enter everyday and atmosphere is important to our sensibilities.

• Save money replacing old, leaky or malfunctioning parts and replacing them with more efficient, utility conserving options. Go green!

• This is the time to think about adding more storage space, enabling you to keep your bathroom organized and free of clutter.  Achieve a tidy bathroom utilizing space that you are not currently using or building a bathroom addition joining a neighboring room. 

Logistics of a Bathroom Remodel

The first thing you want to do before a bathroom remodel is to establish what work you want done, your budget and timeline. It is also important to keep in mind that an average bathroom remodel starts at $7,000, while an extensive bathroom remodel varies between $15,000-$25,000+ depending on the size and scope of your needs.  Therefore it is key to decide what you want most, what you can do without and where you can make compromises.  That is where decisions about amenities come into play. There are many popular and sustainable choices that vary in price and installment hours. 

To better understand what you want in a bathroom remodel, first become familiar with what styles and products there are to choose from before contacting your contractor. And if you do not have a contractor, home service websites that offer an on-line directory and publishes crowd-sourced reviews about local businesses and contractors are numerous. Among the most reputable of these services is Home Advisor, Yelp, Angie’s List and Thumbtack.

• Paint-There is basically four options of paint that work well in bathroom conditions (semi-gloss, satin paint, flat paint and egg shell paint). The most popular choice of bathroom paint colors for 2020 are cool colors including charcoal and light blue.

• Cabinets-Currently the five most popular new cabinet styles are distressed, Shaker, louvered, beadboard or custom made cabinetry. These cabinets in neutral colors of white, gray and ebony with a semi-gloss sheen are trending.

• Sinks-The most favored new sinks are pedestal, drop-ins, wall mounted, vessel, and vanity. These styles of sinks are available in porcelain, and enameled cast iron with drop-ins being the easiest to install.

• Shower and tubs-The most popular showers and tubs of 2020 are made from porcelain, acrylic-fiberglass, stone, enameled cast iron and copper. The acrylic-fiberglass tubs are the most durable, lasting 15+ years.

• Countertops-Classic countertops of tile, granite, marble, stone, and concrete are in demand with white, light gray and tan being the most popular colors.

• Flooring-There is various types of flooring available with laminate, hardwood, porcelain tile, ceramic tile, pebble tile, stone and concrete being favored. Light, natural and grays have been the popular colors as lighter colors are more aesthetically pleasing and make a space look larger.

• Bathroom storage-The most permanent and sturdy bathroom storage includes shower niches, shelving, bathroom vanities, built-ins, and floor or wall cabinets. Again, light grays and charcoal cabinetry lead in sales for 2020.   

• Lighting-Since most bathrooms lack natural light, choosing the correct and most flattering lighting options for your bathroom is important. Most designers recommend bright overhead lighting with sconces strategically placed on each side of the mirror or just above the mirror to give you the most accurate lighting possible. Using the highest watt light bulbs made for your lighting fixtures is key for makeup application and shaving.