Two common mistakes to avoid when renovating your bathroom

Construction & Contractors Blog

Renovating your bathroom is a great way to add value to your property and make this frequently-visited part of the home more enjoyable to use. If you're thinking about taking on this type of project, here are two very common mistakes which you should try to avoid making.

Doing your own waterproofing

Waterproofing is a crucial step that must be undertaken during any bathroom renovation project; this process involves the adding a protective barrier to the floors and walls of a bathroom, in order to prevent moisture produced in this area from seeping into and damaging other parts of the property.

In some regions, only those who hold a valid licence for waterproofing are legally permitted to perform this type of work. However, in other parts of the country, it can be done by anyone, provided the work they do complies with the relevant waterproofing regulations; if you reside in an area which in falls into this category, you may be tempted to do the job yourself. Whilst this might save you a few dollars initially, it could result in some huge (and very costly) problems later down the line.

The reality is that, unless you have the necessary training, you could quite easily make a serious error which could lead to your home sustaining major water damage in a few months' time. Even a seemingly small gap in the waterproofing membrane could eventually result in the development of wet rot and mould behind the walls of your home. As such, it's generally best to hire a professional tradesperson to do this work on your behalf.

If you've already hired a plumber for your renovation project, it may be a good idea to ask them to do the waterproofing, as this will be easier than having to source and hire an additional tradesperson. Bear in mind, however, that not all plumbers are certified waterproofers; as such, make sure that they hold the relevant qualifications before you agree to let them do this job.

Failing to draw up a detailed contract

Before the bathroom renovation begins, you and your construction contractor will need to draw up a contract. If the information in this document is too vague, you could find yourself involved in a time-consuming and stressful dispute with your contractor.

For example, if you expect the project to be finished within six weeks, but you do not mention a specific date in the paperwork and the contractor falls behind schedule, you may find yourself stuck with a half-finished, non-functional bathroom for months on end. In this situation, you may find it difficult to seek legal recourse, due to the lack of information about the project's timeframe in the contract.

As such, it's absolutely essential to draw up an extremely detailed contract before the renovation begins. This should include a list of all of the materials that are to be used, as well as a precise description of the work you expect the contractor to carry out. You should also specify the completion date, the total cost of the project, and the payment schedule.

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18 April 2017

Extending the patio

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