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​Remodeling a bathroom can be hectic especially on finances. It could easily affect your wallet without you realizing it at first. Common problems in the bathroom can be costly even though we tend to think they are not. However, there are some ways of handling the remodeling so that we enjoy some savings at the end of the remodeling.

The best thing to start is by planning. If you do not plan and decide the things that will be needed at each stage in terms of material and labor, you could have an unpleasant surprise. A simple alternative for bathroom improvement could prove less expensive at times.

1. Rearrange the bathroom layout

Problem: Rearranging or enlarging your bathroom involves moving the plumbing pipes. This can be expensive. Sewer and toilet discharge pipes can be quite expensive to move to.

Solution: To remedy this issue, you need to alter or resize your bathroom only in the cases where it is very necessary to accommodate any needs that you may be having. This is one of the most expensive things about renovating bathrooms and you should avoid it if you can.

2. Remove load-bearing walls

Problem: These are walls that hold the roof or upper floor. When you need to move such a wall, it involves many structural changes and a lot of work.

Solution: Before you decide to move these kinds of walls, first explore any possibilities of using non-load-bearing walls. The walls can be removed quite easily utilizing simple tools. Depending on your location, you may not need any special permits to do this. The exterior walls are load-bearing in most cases while the interior ones running parallel to ceiling joints are not. Moving a load-bearing wall could involve buying beams that can handle the load.

3. Replace the drywall

Problem: During bathroom renovations, it is often necessary to replace the drywall completely. This is because this is an environment that has got very high moisture levels. This is something that everyone should anticipate.

Solution: If you want to replace the dry walls, you need to take precautions. The wisest thing to do in such a case is to get in touch with the contractor who can then evaluate to determine whether a full replacement is necessary or not. In some cases, they can determine that you only have to replace the areas affected only.

4. Replace sink, tub, and shower

Problem: When you need to replace or remove the shower, tubs, sinks, and other fixtures, it means more costs for the workmanship and buying replacements. You could have to deal with demolition as well as changes in construction to handle new installations.

Solution: The best thing is to first evaluate whether you want the replacement for aesthetic or functional reasons. If they can be operated in their current state, then you could choose to renew or dress them instead of replacing them entirely. Consider installing levers on your shower tub as necessary. Refinishing the bathtub is another option.

5. Add custom shower tile

Problem: Removing a shower surround and base and then replacing it with tiled walls and base can be an expensive improvement made within the bathroom.

Solution: You should first consider using a one-piece or pre-formed shower stall instead of adding a tiled shower. This is less expensive especially in the sense that you will not need to hire tile setters that are quite costly. The pre-formed stalls can be installed in a matter of hours. To complete tiled showers, a lot of work is involved and this could take a couple of days to conclude. You could also consider a prefabricated base and then do the tiles yourself. Labor is the main issue here.

6. Choose a simple toilet

Problem: While you may want to replace an old toilet model with a new one that saves water and has extra features, new toilets can be expensive. Maintaining them can also be costly in case they break down in the future.

Solution: You need to pick a toilet with a good design even if it is simple as long as it flushes well and conserves water. There is no need to use an expensive toilet if there is a cheaper one that still works the way it is supposed to. Toilet installation can be a DIY so the labor costs are not high. Some homeowners can handle the task without outside help.

7. Rewire the bathroom electrical circuits

Problem: When you remodel a bathroom, you may need to do upgrades to the wiring especially if the wiring already in place is not as per the current code standards.

Solution: If the wiring in the bathroom proves to be functional, you could evaluate whether it is possible to grandfather it in. This is something that the permitting office should be able to determine. If you need to improve for purposes of coding, tweaking may be enough in some cases. In some cases, consider getting a second opinion from a qualified electrician instead of relying on the word of the contractor entirely.

Conclusion

If you are remodeling the bathroom, it does not mean that you have to break the bank while at it. Take time to evaluate your needs by talking to professionals. Assess the very necessary things and the ones that are not. Before undertaking any project, take time to understand the project in its entirety and plan to avoid unpleasant surprises and more costs.