Bathroom Workbook: 12 Things to Consider for Your Remodel
Let’s say you live in an older house, something that was built prior to the 1980s. The bathrooms were, at the time the house was built, state of the art and everything your parents and grandparents wanted. But we’re in the 21st century now, and those bathrooms just don’t bring a smile to your face. Perhaps it’s because the vanity is too low. Perhaps it’s that the shower valve was made prior to the advent of antiscalding valves. Perhaps it’s the lighting, which makes you look old and tired when you’re standing at the sink shaving.
Whatever the reason, reworking a bathroom can go a long way toward making your home much more enjoyable — and valuable. We don’t live in an age of excess anymore (that was so last decade). What we want to do is be smart about what improvements we make, to invest our money wisely in the things that really matter, to create bathrooms that are wonderful retreats without looking like a room in Versailles.
To do this you’ll want to have a checklist of what’s possible. Then move forward with incorporating the stuff you really need to make your bathroom function — and saying no to the rest. Here are a few things to consider.
Is that tub really necessary? For many years homeowners have been told that they have to have a “garden tub” in a main bathroom. It didn’t matter that no one would ever use it. And it didn’t matter that the cost of the tub — from building the extra area needed to house it to all of the long-term costs — would put a real dent in the homeowner’s wallet. What mattered was resale and having that tub to make sure the house could be sold.
So ask yourself if you really want that tub. If you’re a bath person, ask yourself if the tub has to be in the main bathroom, or if you can do with a nice-size tub in the hall bath.
Mind the height. If your home is more than a few decades old, your bathroom vanity is likely 30 inches high. While that height can be great for smaller children, it really doesn’t work for adults. The standard now is 36 inches, which is comfortable for most adults.
If a 36-inch vanity is too high for you, and you don’t want to invest in a custom vanity, consider a floating one. These can be placed at just about any height you’d like; simply adjust the space between the floor and the vanity. Just make sure to have enough support in the wall so that the vanity can easily hang without coming loose.
Water, water everywhere. Today’s showering experience has almost unlimited possibilities. Standard showerheads are just a starting point. There are body sprays, handhelds, rain heads and more. Keep in mind that each of these items will increase the cost of your project, as each will increase both your rough and trim plumbing costs as well as your fixture costs.
And while you’re at it, plan out the location of each of these elements. For example, consider placing a standard showerhead up higher on the wall if you’re tall. And if you plan on having a shower bench, why not make sure the handheld can be used while you’re shaving your legs?
And please don’t put the controls in a place where they can’t be reached without getting into the shower. Getting dowsed by that initial spray of cold water is something you can live without.
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Bathroom Workbook: 12 Things to Consider for Your Remodel
