Out of all the rooms in your home, remodeling your bathroom is one room that will usually give back a good return on your investment. As your home ages and your family’s needs change, the bathroom is definitely one room that needs to be upgraded in your home. Whether it is replacing worn out fixtures, outdated tiling, leaky tub or a water-wasting toilet, there is a good chance your bathroom will need to be remodeled at some point.
When it comes to remodeling your bathroom, the main question to consider is whether you actually know what you are doing or are you being overly ambitious by attempting to remodel it by yourself. You may have watched a few home improvement shows that make remodeling a bathroom look easy; however, they may have glossed over the potential pitfalls of undertaking such a project. Therefore, you may really want to consider these 5 reasons why you may be in over your head if you take on this sort of project instead of hiring a professional plumber.
#1 – Plumbers Know What They are Doing
Let’s face it, if you needed surgery you would go to a medical doctor that specializes in the type of surgery you need instead of doing it yourself. While not as extreme, the same principal should hold true when you need work performed in your home that you have no prior experience doing. There are many things that need to be considered when you remodel your bathroom and one false move on your part could result in a problem or multiple problems that most likely add to your costs. Consider the following things you may not fully be prepared for:
- Advantages and disadvantages of different types of toilets, shower enclosures, tubs and sinks
- Proper ventilation of pipes
- Different types of bathroom fixtures
- Electrical issues in the bathroom for outlets and lighting fixtures
Worse yet, if you cause damage to your bathroom without even realizing it, you will most likely have to deal with it later on after the project is complete. This usually will require the work to be redone at an additional cost by a plumber. You can get the job done right the first time by hiring an experienced plumber.
Hiring a professional plumber helps prevent mistakes from happening the first time. A plumber has the advantage of training and experience to know how certain designs may or may not work with your particular space or with your existing plumbing. You still have control over your remodel, but you also have the advantage of a professional who can work with you to make your ideas a reality while advising you about efficiency and current trends in bathroom remodeling.
#2 – Leaking Pipes and Damage to Your Home
While you may be reaching for the sledgehammer as your first approach to remodeling your bathroom, a professional plumber’s first move will be evaluating the plumbing in your home. If you begin busting through walls to remove tile or gain access to pipes, especially older ones, you may wind up damaging your pipes. A full inspection and analysis is required before you start any demo work.
The pipes may already be leaking in the walls without you knowing it. Until you break through a wall or remove molding or tile you might not see signs of water damage, including mold. Imagine how surprised you might be if you were in the process of removing a tile floor and find that your toilet’s flange has been leaking all along and has caused a rotten subfloor. Once this damage has been discovered, it will need to be repaired and the mold remediated before the remodeling job can continue. Failure to do so can compromise the structure of your home and the health and safety of your family if mold were to develop from leaking pipes.
#3 – Conforming to Building Code
If you have an older home, you may be getting in over your head when remodeling your bathroom. It is very likely that both your existing electric and plumbing do not conform to current building codes. A professional plumber will know the local codes and what will need to be involved with upgrading your bathroom to be in compliance. This will keep your remodeling project legal and prevent problems in the event you sell your home later on.
#4 – Better Pricing and More Options
Depending upon the fixtures and supplies you need for your bathroom model, you could be looking at a small fortune if you are buying from a big box home improvement store. You are usually limited to the styles and designs that the store carries and might have to deal with delays along the ordering process.
A professional plumber will have better purchasing options with more vendors than the average homeowner would have. They usually are able to get better pricing than you would be able to get, as well. This will help you keep your costs in check and stay within your set budget.
#5 – Less Stress and Disruption
If you have only one bathroom in your home, you could be dealing with a big inconvenience if you run into any delays because of unexpected problems. This means stress and disruption in your family’s routine. Even if you have two bathrooms in your home, not having the use of one can be inconvenient for a busy family. An experienced plumber will work with you to schedule your remodeling project to keep it within a certain timeframe and keep the process as stress-free as possible.
Why Choose Fenwick Home Services for Your Remodel?
When you are planning a remodeling project for your Jacksonville home, your first call should be to Fenwick Home Services. Our team of remodeling experts can handle all aspects of your remodeling project in addition to plumbing including:
- Electric
- Drywall and sheetrock
- Painting
- Tiling
We take the stress and hassle out of bathroom remodeling and can advise you of all the latest trends in bathroom design. You get the design you want without the hassle and worry because your satisfaction is guaranteed. With Bill Fenwick on the job, you won’t have to worry about getting in over your head with you remodeling project.