Bathroom Remodel Mistakes to Avoid

A bathroom remodel is one of the most worthwhile projects you can take on, and one of the easiest to get wrong. Most mistakes are decided before the first tile is set, which means most of them are avoidable if you know what to watch for.

1. Skipping or cutting corners on waterproofing

This is the big one. Tile and grout are not waterproof, so a shower depends on a continuous waterproofing layer behind the tile. When it is skipped or done carelessly, the result is a leak you cannot see until it has damaged the wall, framing or subfloor. Ask any contractor exactly how they waterproof the shower walls, floor and niches.

2. Choosing tile before planning the layout

Falling in love with a tile is easy. Making sure it works in your space comes first: where the niche goes, where the cuts land, how the floor tile meets the shower, and whether a large tile can follow the slope of a shower floor. A layout planned up front is what makes a bathroom look custom instead of improvised.

3. Not enough storage

Bathrooms collect things. Plan for a shower niche sized to your actual bottles, drawers instead of only cabinet doors in the vanity, and somewhere to put towels. Storage is far easier to build in during a remodel than to add afterward.

4. Poor lighting

A single overhead light casts shadows exactly where you need to see. Good bathroom lighting usually combines overall light, task light at the mirror, and sometimes a light in the shower. Lighting changes mean electrical work, so plan them before the walls are closed up.

5. Forgetting ventilation

A bathroom without a properly sized exhaust fan stays humid, which leads to peeling paint, mildew and grout that never quite dries. If you are remodeling, it is the right time to make sure the fan actually vents outside and is sized for the room.

6. Slippery floors

Polished tile looks great and can be dangerous when wet. For bathroom floors, and especially shower floors, pick tile with some texture or use smaller tile with more grout lines for grip.

7. Using standard drywall in wet areas

Regular drywall should never be behind shower tile or around a tub. Wet areas need cement board or a moisture-resistant backer with proper waterproofing over it.

8. Choosing a contractor on price alone

The lowest bid often gets there by cutting the steps you cannot see once the tile is up: prep, waterproofing, leveling and layout. Ask what is included, how the shower is waterproofed, and who will actually be doing the work.

9. Not planning for daily life during the remodel

If it is your only bathroom, talk about scheduling up front. A clear plan for how long the bathroom will be out of service, and how the work area is protected and cleaned each day, makes the whole project easier to live with.

Ready to talk about your project? Learn more about our bathroom remodeling services, or call (706) 671-5786 for a free in-home estimate. Palacios Installation is based in Chatsworth, GA and works in homes across Chattanooga, Hixson, Signal Mountain, Lookout Mountain, Dalton and North Georgia.