The kitchen and bathrooms in the majority of houses will eventually require upgrading. Since they get the greatest use in the entire house, they need to be comfortable places to spend time. Almost one in seven of the kitchens and bathrooms that clients engage us to repair have already been poorly renovated by someone else. In light of this, we have compiled a list of the top 8 mistakes people make while upgrading their kitchens and bathrooms.
1. Unrealistic Budgeting
The most frequent issue we see is an unrealistic budget. Comparing home renovation businesses is not like comparing the make, model, and mileage of cars before you buy one. You compare the caliber of the supplies you use and the expertise of the contractors you choose when remodeling your home. This is the reason why ten quotes can result in ten totally different prices. Be cautious when picking the lowest candidate because you can discover that your contractor needs more money to continue working on your project. Check out Artistic Stone for one-stop location of beautiful kitchen & bathroom countertops, cabinets, and tile.
2. Accidental Damage to Your Home or Your Neighbors
Accidents can occur throughout any home remodeling project, but they become a concern if your contractor is careless or won’t correct a problem they’ve created. Untrained contractors frequently make costly errors while remodeling a kitchen or bathroom, which can have detrimental effects. You must thoroughly investigate your contractor, and ask to see before and after pictures of their prior work. If it’s possible, request to see client testimonials to ensure that they are competent.
3. Choosing Poor Materials
Many home remodeling businesses will let you bring your own materials, but some may insist that you use theirs so that they can guarantee the quality. Although purchasing your own materials can be less expensive, you are not required to guarantee their quality. With inferior materials, your installer is only capable of so much. Make sure to read the reviews of any materials you decide to utilize, and keep in mind that some businesses will actually pay consumers to write positive evaluations for goods they have never tried. Remember that a 4-star product with 1,000 reviews is preferable to a 5-star product with only two reviews.
4. Hiring Unskilled Contractors
Another common error in kitchen and bathroom remodeling is hiring unqualified contractors. When it comes to speaking out when the work is above their capabilities, many people will say what you want to hear rather than what you need to hear. In light of this, be sure your contractor has undergone a thorough screening process and is qualified to undertake your project. Ask them whether they have previously completed work similar to yours after looking at their ratings. If they have performed this type of work, they should be able to respond truthfully and provide you with images of completed projects.
5. Removing a Wall Only to Make the Room Worse
A wall may be removable, but that does not automatically mean that it should be. Even if a wall is load-bearing, many home repair shows make it look simple to remove it. They fail to emphasize, however, that demolishing a wall can prove to be not just costly, but also problematic. For instance, combining the living room and kitchen into one space frequently results in a noise issue. While one person is trying to watch television, the other is simultaneously utilizing a noisy appliance.
6. Choosing High Maintenance Flooring
There are so many flooring options available nowadays, but many of them are troublesome and not worth the trouble. Make your life easy by selecting a low maintenance floor if you are the one who will ultimately clean and maintain these flooring. Although wood flooring is lovely and sturdy, it does occasionally need to be refinished. A tiled floor is another excellent choice, but keep in mind that the grout will eventually need to be cleaned and possibly replaced. Personally, we like luxury vinyl plank, particularly in wet areas like bathrooms and kitchens.
7. Removing the Only Tub
Numerous folks prefer to age in place and change their bathtub into a standing shower. Although it’s not a strict guideline, we’d say it’s a remodeling faux pas to remove the single tub in the house. But only if you intend to sell your home in the future is it a mistake. In American houses, tubs are typically more for small children, whereas most adults have fewer showers than in other countries.
8. Choosing Trendy Countertops Rather Than Functional Ones
Every few years, a brand-new countertop material becomes popular, and all of a sudden, everyone wants it. Countertops vary in their ease of upkeep and cleaning, though. Avoid using surfaces made of easily discolored materials, such as butcher block or laminate. Additionally, keep in mind that materials like concrete and countertops made of low-grade granite will require regular sealing. Opt for low-maintenance counters like quartz or granite that has already been sealed.
Conclusion
As a homeowner, you will undoubtedly remodel a bathroom or kitchen at some time in your life. Make sure you are familiar with the most frequent mistakes individuals make while upgrading their kitchens and bathrooms before you start. Ensure that your budget is reasonable and neither too high nor too low. Select high-quality materials and work with a qualified contractor. Choosing the lowest bid does you no good and could end up costing you in the long run. Only take down walls if you’re certain they’ll expand the room rather than just be an expensive distraction. Opt for materials that you can properly maintain over trendy ones that will take too much work.