As far as construction jobs go, a bathroom remodel is a small-scale project. But that does not in any way diminish the importance of the job itself. To a California homeowner, getting a bathroom remodeled is a big deal and they want to make sure that everything goes right. With all of that being true, getting the best results and providing a good finished product will require some planning and a level of collaboration between the construction company and the homeowner, having remodeled hundreds of bathrooms in Oakland we have some experience in what is needed. To get the most out of a bathroom remodel, there are a few things that every person should know.
Use Quality Materials
The quality of the materials that you use for a bathroom remodel will make a major difference. Many homeowners are tempted to go with less expensive materials to cut the cost of the project, but this often comes back to haunt them in the long run. If you are already spending the money to get a bathroom remodeled, it makes much more sense to spend a little extra money to get materials and fixtures that will last longer and provide better performance.
In certain respects, you really need to carefully consider the materials that you buy. The types of tiles that you buy and the material from which the countertop is made will make a major difference. Certain materials are just better suited to the bathroom environment. With the wrong materials, it won’t be long before you start to notice that your relatively new bathroom remodel has started to age right before your eyes.
Think About Water Efficiency
When you choose to remodel your bathroom, it offers a great opportunity to improve the water efficiency of your home. A few decades ago, going water efficient in the bathroom meant compromising on performance, but the designs and technology have improved greatly over the years. Now, you can get fixtures that consume less water while providing performance that is comparable to the standard less-efficient counterparts.
Improve Bathroom Storage
When most people get their bathroom redone, the put very little thought into improving the practical storage capabilities of the room. You can use this opportunity to completely redo the linens closet to make it much more efficient on space. In many cases, a skilled contractor will also be able open up space that was previously being wasted and while this could be great for making more room in the bathroom itself, it could also be nice to add room to the storage in the bathroom. In addition to that, you can also integrate shelves and storage into different spaces. As an example, you could have tiled shelves built into the wall of the shower to keep the area neater and improve the look.
Ventilation
Many older bathrooms are poorly ventilated and as a result, the moist air is going to stay in the room longer and cause mildew to grow faster. This will not only make the bathroom harder to clean, but over time, it can take its toll on different surfaces and materials. Adding a bathroom fan is the best answer to poor ventilation. However, if you already have a bathroom fan, you can consider upgrading and you also want to make sure that it is installed correctly.
Improve Lighting
Many bathrooms have very poor lighting design, but with a bathroom remodel, it gives you a chance to upgrade the quality of the lighting. If you only have one light in your bathroom, consider separate lights for different areas. A good design option is to go with a light for the vanity area, a light for the toilet and a waterproof recess light for the shower. Depending on the design of the room, the homeowner can have a lot of options for the different types of lights that they want to install and most people would be amazed by the way that better lighting can improve the experience in their bathroom.
When it comes to remodeling a bathroom, there are tons of great ways that you can make the space more convenient, more comfortable and more practical. You just need to plan ahead and carefully consider all of your options. The team at Montclair Construction has been serving the San Francisco & Oakland area for over 30 years and we can perform all levels of bathroom remodeling. We will help you go over all of your options, explain the benefits of different materials and fixtures and work to bring your vision of the ideal bathroom to life.
