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6 Key Points to Remember for Painless Bathroom Remodeling in Charleston
Is your bathroom your favorite room in the house? While it’s a very utilitarian space and needs to function perfectly to meet you and your family’s needs, utility isn’t everything. The bathroom should also be a room you actually enjoy—a haven of relaxation and rejuvenation where you can wash away the day’s stress. If your bathroom is falling a little (or a lot) short of that ideal, it’s time to get started on your Charleston bathroom remodeling plans.
Struggling with a malfunctioning, ugly, or outdated bathroom is no fun. Coming up with the perfect bathroom remodeling plan is a big challenge, but you’ll be glad you put in the time while enjoying a beautiful, perfectly designed room that’s tailored to your unique wants and needs. This guide lists six must-remember points that will help the planning phase and make your Charleston bathroom remodel fun and painless.
Once you have a plan in place, call your local Charleston handyman team to take care of the entire renovation from floor to ceiling—including plumbing, electrical, tile installation, and everything else you need. The skilled team at Mr. Handyman of Charleston and Summerville have decades of experience with repair and renovation in this area. You can trust us to provide professional installation, complete Charleston bathroom remodeling solutions, and expert advice that will create the perfect bathroom you’ve been dreaming of.
1. Think About What Type of Bathroom You Want and Need
This may seem like an obvious first step that no one could possibly forget. But it’s surprisingly easy to get caught up in the excitement of perusing through galleries of incredible bathroom remodeling designs, or wandering through a home improvement store looking at aisle after aisle of potential options, and totally forget to consider what you actually need—right now, and in a few years time.
This is not just about style, though of course that matters too. Think about what your life may be like in a few years, as that may influence which features you want to add or keep. For example, if you’re approaching your golden years and looking forward to aging in place, or may share your home with a family member with reduced mobility in the future, it makes sense to consider accessible bathroom remodeling options such as walk-in tubs, barrier-free shower bases, shower benches and grab bars. Or, maybe you’re planning to have children. If so, make sure you have at least one bathtub in the house—you’ll definitely want it during the toddler stage.
How Do I Design My Bathroom Floor Plan?
Before we talk about designing the floor plan, consider whether you actually need to change your current layout. Most bathrooms follow a handful of tried-and-true layouts that are classics for a reason—they make the most out of what is usually a very small room with a lot of large fixtures in it. Also, relocating plumbing fixtures is more costly and time-consuming than taking out an old fixture and replacing it with a new one. So, if you’re fine with the current floor plan, you keep money in your pocket by not changing it around.
But if you really want to change your floor plan, grab a pen and paper and make a rough sketch of the new layout. It doesn't have to be a work of art. Seeing your ideas on paper can be extremely helpful for identifying potential trouble spots, or reminding you to add that one feature you really wanted. Remember, you need as much space as possible to move around the room freely, so try not to create too many hard-to-reach areas. It’s difficult enough to keep the bathroom clean without having to deal with more nooks and crannies.
2. Make a Master List of Everything
Next, it really pays to make a big master list of absolutely everything you will need for your Charleston bathroom remodeling project—and we mean everything. It will make both planning and budgeting easier. You’ll be glad you made a master list while enjoying your new room with everything you need right at your fingertips.
Charleston bathroom remodeling plans could include:
Drywall
Tile
Paint
Light fixtures
Ventilation
Window covering
Single or double vanity
Sinks
Faucets
Pedestal sink
Shower head
Shower doors & barrier
Bathtub
Tub-shower combo
Under-vanity cabinets & drawers
Medicine cabinet
Shelving
Towel rack
Toilet paper holder
Textiles such as towels & bath mat
Artwork & other décor
Should I Convert the Bathtub into a Shower?
If you never use the bathtub except as a place to stand while you take a shower, a tub-to-shower conversion is the perfect way to get a big, luxurious shower, make the room feel more open, and totally change the look and function of your bathing facilities. There is one caveat though—if you’re thinking of putting your house on the market in the near future and don't have another bathtub elsewhere in the house, you may want to keep it. Prospective buyers in Charleston are often looking for a house with at least one bathtub. But if you aren't going to sell, or you have another bathtub, by all means replace it with the shower of your dreams!
3. Cushion Your Bathroom Remodeling Budget
When you’re planning out your budget for a bathroom remodeling project, you may think you have every last penny accounted for. But renovations have a way of throwing unexpected expenses into the mix. For instance, your remodelers may open up the walls or floor and discover water damage that needs to be dealt with. The best way to plan for the unexpected is to add a financial cushion of around 20% or 30% to your budget. That way, you can deal with surprise costs without stress. If you don't use it, you'll have the start of a kitchen remodeling fund!
You don't necessarily need to do a complete overhaul to get bathroom remodeling results that will refresh your home and change the way you feel about the room. Swapping out a couple of fixtures or a bathtub conversion can make a big difference for any Charleston home.
4. Choose the Right Materials
There are so many choices to make while remodeling, and so many options for homes in Charleston. It's no wonder people often find it overwhelming. But, there are some questions you can ask yourself to you narrow down the perfect materials for your Charleston bathroom remodeling plan:
Is appearance or durability more important to me?
Am I willing to spend more on luxury materials?
How much maintenance do I want to do?
What style do I want for my bathroom? (Examples: classic, contemporary, rustic, vintage, bohemian, minimalist, modern, etc.)
The trick is to find the perfect balance between what you want and what you need. This doesn't mean choosing poor quality materials if you’re on a budget—of course you want to use materials that are attractive, durable, and long-lasting. But there are ways to achieve quality without breaking the bank. Take vanity countertops, for example. You may love the look of marble, but it’s a luxury material with a luxury price tag. A quartz countertop can give you a similar look and functionality at a much lower cost.
What Type of Tile is Best for Bathroom Remodeling?
From the floor to the walls, tile can really make or break your bathroom remodel’s results. It comes in a wide variety of colors, shapes, sizes, patterns, textures, and materials, so a new wall or floor installation is the perfect opportunity to infuse your home with your own personal style. If you want to increase property value by transforming your bathroom, however, it pays to avoid a bright color scheme. Instead, go with a neutral look, such as an all-white tile design.
When it comes to the best material, porcelain or ceramic tile are by far the most popular choices. They are highly durable, low maintenance, and come in a vast array of styles, including many that mimic the look of natural stone. Glass tiles are too delicate for the floor, but they can really add depth and dimension as part of a vanity backsplash, or as an accent strip on the shower walls.
Tired of standing on ice-cold tile first thing in the morning? In-floor heating to keep your tiles warm and toasty could be the perfect solution. If you want heated flooring, tile is your best option—engineered hardwood can also be heated, but that material isn't the greatest idea for a bathroom.
5. Focus on Lighting and Ventilation
Lighting and ventilation are absolutely critical in a bathroom. Yet, somehow they’re often overlooked. Most people have had the misfortune of using a dimly-lit bathroom, so we can appreciate how important it is to actually be able to see what you are doing in there. But why is ventilation so important? Basically, when you take a hot shower it produces a lot of steam. If that vapor is not properly vented out of the room, it condenses into moisture droplets on all surfaces. Excess moisture causes damage such as softened, stained drywall and wood rot, which can threaten the structural stability of the building—among other unpleasant issues.
Where Should Lighting Be Placed?
Ideally a bathroom will have multiple light fixtures for various purposes. There should be overhead, ambient lighting along with task lighting focused on specific areas such as the vanity and the shower or tub. You may not be able to get a light fixture directly over or in a shower stall, but there should be one near enough to cast a decent amount of light into the shower. Recessed lighting is a popular choice, especially in small rooms, because they don't take up space and some models can be tilted in a specific direction.
6. Include Storage Space
It may not be possible to add storage space during bathroom remodeling projects, but don't eliminate it. You may be tempted to get rid of cabinets and other storage options in favor of a more sleek, stream-lined look, but you’ll probably regret that choice later when there is nowhere to put all the self-care products and items you want to keep handy in the bathroom. Want some inspiration? Here are a few storage ideas for your Charleston bathroom remodeling project:
Hooks on the back of the door for towels and bathrobes
An over-the-door shelf for stuff that needs to be tucked out of the way
Trays or baskets on the countertop for small items
In-shower cubby hole storage for shampoo bottles and other shower products
Add an additional rod in the shower next to the wall to hang items such as a luffa scrub or bottle caddies
Put a turntable on the bottom of the cabinet directly under the sink for easy access to cleaning products
Include a narrow roll-out cabinet under the vanity for small cosmetics
A shower bench for in-shower seating and extra storage space
A wheeled cart that can be moved out of the way when its not needed
Organizers in the cabinets so there is a specific place for tools, such as a hair dryer
Ready to Get Started? Call the Charleston Bathroom Remodeling Experts!
Whether you are in Summerville, Charleston, Ladson, or another nearby community, you can get reliable bathroom remodeling services from the experienced team of professionals at Mr. Handyman of Charleston and Summerville. We’re a locally owned and operated business, and we never use subcontractors. Our in-house team is qualified to carry out your Charleston bathroom remodeling project efficiently and skillfully.
Pick up the phone today and give us a call at 843-940-7525 to book a convenient appointment, or to chat with our knowledgeable office stagg and find out more about our expert bathroom remodeling services—or our other Charleston handyman services.
