If you’re looking to add value to your home, a bathroom remodel is a great choice. A master bathroom remodel can significantly increase the list price of your home and its appeal. To maximize your return-on-investment (ROI), you need your remodel to be done on time, on budget, and without any defects or continuing quality issues. In this article, we’ll review some of the common plumbing mistakes that homeowners here in the DFW area make when remodeling their bathroom, and how you can ensure that your project gets off to the right start.
Common Plumbing Mistakes
To see the common plumbing mistakes and advice on how to steer clear of danger when it comes to your project, check out our infographic below.
Mistake #1: Working with a non-professional
When it comes to limiting your remodeling costs, the first instinct homeowners have is to cut out or limit labor costs. This is often where things, from the very start, go terribly wrong. While you should always get multiple, competitive bids to ensure you’re getting the best deal, there’s just no substitute for an experienced plumbing and bathroom remodeling contractor. In fact, working with a non-professional here in Dallas-Fort Worth can be a disastrous decision. An inexperienced or untrustworthy contractor may:
- Fail to complete the project on time
- Fail to complete the project within your budget
- Cause immediate problems (such as shoddily installed shower tile that looks terrible)
- Cause long-term problems (such as an incorrectly fitted pipe which can leak)
In other words, you get what you pay for. Hiring the wrong “professional” (in many cases, that word is used loosely—some remodelers have very little in the way of experience or credentials!) can be the single-biggest mistake a homeowner can make.
Mistake #2: Expanding the scope and going over your budget
From the very beginning of your bathroom remodel, it’s important to know your project’s scope, budget, and end goals. These provide a framework for making decisions on materials, labor, and style. Homeowners who enter into a remodel without a clear understanding of what they want out of their bathroom as an end result, often end up disappointed or going over their budget.
For example, if you’re a homeowner who is primarily looking to add value to your home so that you can maximize your ROI when you sell, luxury upgrades—such as a tub with jacuzzi jets—will probably eat up too much of your budget. Instead, you should prioritize practical aspects of the bathroom that a wide range of potential buyers here in Dallas-Fort Worth find attractive, such as an upgraded shower or dual-sink vanity.
When in doubt, talk to your remodeling contractor. Provided that they have prior experience with bathroom remodels, they should be able to steer you toward ROI-boosting items and away from potentially expensivemoney pits. For a homeowner who is focused on value and budget, most contractors will generally advise against:
- Major layout and space changes: Moving pipes and electrical can quickly increase the total project costs. In most cases, it’s also an unnecessary alteration.
- Luxury choices: If your goal is to sell your home, know your prospective buyers. Granite and quartz countertops are probably a better practical choice for the vanity than marble.
- Tub upgrades: When push-comes-to-shove, it’s generally better to put money into improving the shower than the bathtub.
Of course, every situation—and home—is different. This is why a professional opinion is so critical. However, keep in mind there could be elements of your bathroom, such as behind walls (termites, mold) , pipes that have to be moved, etc. that your remodeling contractor cannot pre-determine until demolition is completed. It is always a smart idea to keep a 10% contingency fund for those unexpected surprises that cannot be pre-determined.
Mistake #3: Trying to do too much yourself
Beyond including too much in their project, the other common mistake homeowners make is taking on too much of the work themselves. There are many aspects of a bathroom remodel that are best left to the professionals, who have the right combination of:
- tools
- training
- time
- experience
These skills allow them to complete the project without delays or—worse—ongoing issues after the remodel is done. All professional remodeling contractors should warrant their work. As a general rule-of-thumb, anything involving either plumbing or electrical in your home should be handled by a professional. Your bathroom is the nexus for both pipes and wires. Our recommendation is that any work with plumbing, electrical switches, fans, pipes, or drains be handled by an expert.
That doesn’t mean you need to sit on the sidelines. There is plenty that homeowners can do in their own bathroom, including:
- Demolition – this is a labor-intensive job and if not completed properly, can cost more to correct by your contractor (just consult with your contractor before attempting!)
- Painting walls and ceiling.
- Choosing and installing vanity faucets fixtures (however, there are some common mistakes like over tightening your connections – if you have not done this before, leave this to your remodeling contractor).
To reiterate a common theme so far, communication with your contractor is key. A great plumbing and bathroom remodeling contractor will actively communicate with you about your project and its progress from the start. By staying on the same page, you can avoid your remodel going over on either budget or time.
