The 6 Fundamentals of Bathroom Remodeling

If you didn’t already realize it, your entire bathroom is built around a huge plumbing system. There aren’t many components in the bathroom that don’t rely on your home’s plumbing to work.

Before you think about demolishing and remodeling your bathroom, you need to know a bit about plumbing. Here are our 6 fundamentals on bathroom remodeling and plumbing.

1. Changing The Existing Plumbing Network

One of the most common and costly mistakes homeowners make when remodeling their bathroom is not evaluating and planning the plumbing.

Many people want to move the major components of their bathroom because they don’t work well where they are. You may want to relocate the shower to the other side of the room or move the toilet.

But when remodeling, you do need to keep the existing plumbing layout of your home in mind. Some ideas are great on paper, but not so good when it comes to the reality of execution.

Anything is possible with enough money, but our job is to help advise our clients on the best use of their budget.

Some of the most common questions we get are:

Is it possible to change a garden tub into a shower? Yes! This is completely doable.
Can you move a stand-up shower into the location of another vanity? Yes!
Can you change a dual sink vanity to a one sink vanity with an additional makeup vanity? Yes!
Can you move a toilet to another part of the bathroom? It’s not as easily done, but it can be done!

The key to keeping the budget from skyrocketing is to keep water facilities where water is already plumbed in and toilets where waste plumbing is already plumbed in.

Before getting your heart set on structural changes in your bathroom redesign plan, take your plumbing structure into consideration. A bit of planning can save you time, stress and budget overruns. It is always best to check with your plumber or bathroom remodeling company.

2. Remodel The Bathroom To Be Energy Efficient

A bathroom renovation is an ideal opportunity to make your bathroom energy efficient. By installing and choosing certain components you can save serious money on your monthly utility bills.

Here are just a few tips you can consider:

Water saving shower heads and faucets. Water saving shower heads keep constant water pressure in the shower, without reducing the flow of water. They consume less water than the old traditional shower head – meaning you can enjoy a good wash while thinking about all the money you’re saving!
Energy efficient aerators & arrestors. Aerator taps and arrestors can reduce water consumption by up to 60%. It’s a very affordable option and will save energy without compromising water pressure.
Low GPM(Gallons Per Minute) flow toilets. You should consider a dual flush toilet. It requires less water usage in the home and saves money in the long run. A dual flush toilet has two buttons that are present, one for liquid waste and one for solid waste.

3. Upgrading Plumbing Infrastructure

It’s always a good idea to have your entire plumbing system inspected for worn out, old equipment before you start any renovations.

If they’re starting to fail, you should update the pipes, fixtures, and valves and make sure your piping system is firm and stable. If you’re having pressure problems or your pipes get noisy when water is running, it could be a result of old galvanized pipe failing or corroding.

In most cases, you don’t have to replace the entire piping system – but it’s best to get it inspected for peace-of-mind.

4. Upgrading Your Plumbing Fixtures

Technology advances and design trends change in every aspect of our lives and bathroom design is no different.

Here are some of the upgrades you want to consider when you’re remodeling:

Elongated toilet bowls and seats or a traditional round bowl
Standard or comfort height toilets
Dual-flush action
Integrated bidets
Soft closing toilet seats
Heated toilet seats
One-piece toilet or a standard two-piece
Wall mounted toilet
Motion-activated seat
Automatic deodorizer
No-touch flush
Built-in night lights

5. Stay Away From Cheap Plumbing Fixtures

Since the bathroom is one of the most used rooms in your home, you want to make sure to invest in quality fixtures that will last.

Stay away from buying your plumbing fixtures from your local big box retailer. They do carry name brand products, but lower-quality versions of them to meet the pricing requirements of the retailers. You can only find the premium version of their products at plumbing supply houses or through your bathroom remodeling contractor.

You want to invest in something that will last. For example:

Choose a toilet with a good flush GPM and MaP Score
Purchase faucets and showerheads that have quality reviews and warranties
Purchase professional grade fixtures that are not filled with plastic components like their consumer counterparts.
Purchase sinks, pea traps and pipes that are made from quality materials

6. Design For The Future

Throughout the bathroom design process, think about your family’s ongoing accessibility needs. While the walls are open, you may want to add grab bars so additional framing may be required. Look at the space around the toilet, maybe give yourself a few more inches in the design. All bathroom components should be easy to reach and easy to use.