Did you know a bathroom addition or renovation is one of the best improvements you can make to your home? It can provide a great return on investment, but it can also be a lot of work.
If you’re spending money, time, and energy on adding a bathroom to your home, you want to make sure you’ve considered everything before you start.
Planning everything from the tile to the plumbing placement is a lot to put on your plate, but that’s why we’re here to help. Here’s a checklist of 7 things to consider before adding a bathroom to your home.
Read on to learn everything you need to know.
- Why Do You Want a Bathroom Addition?
The first part of any renovation is to identify the pain points of the room, and how it would add value (personal and monetary) to your home.
For a bathroom, your pain points might be:
- The size
- The layout
- A lack of storage
- The kind of tile
- There’s no bathtub/you don’t need a bathtub
- Bad lighting
Sometimes a gut job is enough to fix all these things, but other times you just need to add an entire bathroom to your home’s floor plan.
Value
The next step is identifying what an extra bathroom could do for you and your home. Monetarily, bathrooms have a high return on investment, but there are other reasons you might like the thought of another bathroom.
If you need a bathtub, this is a huge reason. Maybe you have kids and not enough space to get ready in the morning. Maybe you just need something bigger to escape to on a self-care night in your home.
- What Does Adding a Bathroom Mean for Your Home?
No matter the reason, once you’ve identified your purpose for adding a bathroom, the next step is to figure out what the purpose actually means to you. Basically, this is the part where you decide if this investment is actually worth all the reasons you just mentally listed.
If you’re reselling and want to add more value to your home, this is a huge reason. If that extra space for everyone to get ready in the morning is necessary, then it’s time to give everyone what they deserve.
Even if your reason is wanting a spacious spa retreat, that’s enough to move ahead with your plan.
- Are You Sacrificing Anything?
Now comes the hard part—do you have to make any sacrifices for a new bathroom?
You either know the exact answer to this question or you’re still trying to figure it all out.
Maybe you’re taking out an extra closet, or losing out on living room space. No matter what, you’re going to have to work that extra bathroom into your floor plan somehow.
- Can Pipes and Electrical Reach the Space?
When you’re adding a new bathroom, you’re also going to have to consider your current electrical and plumbing configuration.
If everything isn’t up-to-code, it may result in needing to update entire household systems and circuits. You may even need an entirely new septic tank design.
Considering plumbing and electrical might just have an impact on your new bathroom’s location. If you can place the bathroom on the other side of a wall the existing bathroom already occupies, it’s going to save you a lot of time and money on plumbing and electrical.
- Think About Ventilation
Ideally, your bathroom can be placed on an outer wall with a window so it gets the air ventilation it needs. This is especially important if you’re building a full bath with a shower or tub.
If there’s no window, you’re going to need to make sure your bathroom is equipped with an exhaust fan so your bathroom remains odor, mold, and mildew free.
- When Do You Need It Done?
Are you on a time crunch for this bathroom addition? Timing is everything when it comes to home renovations, and planning a bathroom installation one month before your child’s first birthday party might be more stressful than it’s worth (unless you can have it done in time).
Cutting it close isn’t usually a good idea with home renovations, though. You never what you’re going to find once you kick out drywall and pull up bathroom tile. A little forward-thinking and planning ahead can take a lot of the headache and unnecessary stress out of the entire process.
- What Do You Want to Include?
Lastly, you want to think about what you’d like to include in your bathroom. This is the time to get creative and go all out with your wishlist.
Once you do, consider whether or not it needs to be narrowed down. Getting crafty with lighting solutions and vanities might mean you’re able to squeeze in the amazing hardware you’ve had your eye on for months.
Don’t forget to take your measurements and layout into account when considering all the things you’d like to include in your bathroom designs. It could have an effect on the things you end up purchasing.
Remember to Enjoy the Process of Adding a Bathroom
While adding a bathroom to your home can be stressful, it’s also a process that can be enjoyed.
Whether it’s a renovation you’ll be able to enjoy for years to come or something you’re going to immediately sell, that bathroom addition is going to be a small reflection of you and the mark you left on your home.
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