When to Remodel Your Bathroom

Knowing when to remodel your bathroom can be confusing.  Interior Designers usually suggest 5 years.  Realtors typically will say 10 years while industry experts frequently say 10-15 years.  Others say 7-10 years.  Who is right?  In my over 45 years’ experience remodeling bathrooms, I have never found the correct age to remodel a bathroom.  What I have discovered is when to remodel your bathroom has far more to do with use, quality of fixtures, and who originally built or remodeled the bathroom last.

Knowing When to Remodel Your Bathroom Can Save You Lots of Money

Waiting too long to remodel your bathroom creates the perfect environment for surface wear to create ever more damage under the floors and behind the walls.  Your bathroom may look fine, but underneath the surface, a big bill is lurking.

Recognizing the Signs When to Remodel Your Bathroom

There are signs you will notice when it’s time to remodel your bathroom.  Leaks, mold, cracking or peeling walls, cracked or broken tiles, and degraded fixture functionality are a few.

If you see any of the following, you should consider remodeling your bathroom:

• Mold, mildew, lingering odors and heavy humidity. These are the number one signs to look for.  These conditions can lead to significant damage to your home and create health issues.  If you see or experience any of these, consider remodeling.
• Stains, peeling, or cracks in the wall or ceiling surfaces are strong indicators of a problem and can easily lead to additional damage behind these surfaces.
• Missing or cracked tiles or grout are signs of wear and tear that can lead to further damage.
• Leaky faucets, toilets that won’t turn off, or high water bills.
• If your bathroom has safety hazards, such as slippery floors, inadequate lighting, or you have trouble getting in/out of the bathtub, it’s important to address them before you are injured.
• The fixtures are outdated.
• The bathtub is cracked, severly stained, or moving.
• The shower tiles or pan are cracked, valve is leaking, the walls outside of the shower are damaged.
• Your bathroom looks like a storage shed or messy locker room.

Other Reasons to Remodel Your Bathroom

• Improving the value of your home is important. A well-done bathroom remodel can significantly increase your home’s value.
• If you are simply tied of or no longer like your existing bathroom.
• Your bathroom no longer meets your needs. An example would be if it is more difficult getting in/out of the bathtub, it may be time to consider a walk-in or curbless shower.
• You need more space or the current space you have no longer works.
• Increasing energy and water efficiency is important. Replacing old fixtures and lighting can save you money in the long run.
• You need an accessible bathroom renovation to create a safer and more functional space because of mobility challenges. 

It’s All About Use, Quality of Fixtures, and Installation When it’s Time to Remodel Your Bathroom

Bathroom remodeling is not cheap if you do it right.  A mid-range bathroom remodel in Orange County, California can cost anywhere from $80,000 to $150,000 or more – roughly 10%-20% of your home’s value.  The cost can vary widely depending on factors like the size of the bathroom, the complexity of the layout, the chosen materials, and labor costs.

The bathroom is one of the most used areas of the house.  There is lots of moisture, chemicals (cosmetics, cleaning supplies, personal care items, deodorizers), and appliances (blow dryers, curling irons, cell phones, iPads, etc.) activity in the bathroom.

How Much Use Does a Bathroom Get?

Over a year, assuming two people, the master bathroom alone will experience:

• Toilet – 3,650 flushes using 4,670 gallons of water (1.28 gpf).
• Shower – 730 showers using 19,710 gallons of water (1.8 gpm).
• Sink Faucet – 5,110 uses consuming 6,132 gallons of water (1.2 gpm).
• Light Switch – 10,220 on/off activations.
• Walking on the floor – 36,500 steps.

Bathrooms used by children have significantly higher numbers.

Considering the numbers above, it’s clear that the bathroom is the workhorse of the house.  No other room in the house gets more use, abuse, and neglect.  Most of us never think about how much activity goes on in the bathroom daily.  Consider for a moment that over the 10-year useful life of a mid-range shower, two people will take 7,300 showers lasting 109,500 minutes (1,825 hours)!  Consider further the amount of water vapor and soap/shampoo/cosmetic residue that permeates the tile, grout, walls, floors, and fixtures.  These are averages.  Your numbers can be substantially higher.

The quality of the fixtures goes a long way. 

Homes with fiberglass tubs and showers will need replacement within 5-10 years.  Toilets, faucets, shower fixtures, and sinks purchased through a home improvement store will also require replacement in 5-10 years.  Tile, luxury vinyl flooring (LVF), wood flooring, and carpet purchased from a home improvement store will require replacement within 10 years.

Do not purchase your bathroom fixtures from a home improvement store or internet sellers such as Amazon.  These retailers may advertise the same manufacturer, models, colors, and finishes, however; they are not the same.  With their buying power, they can dictate to the manufacturer what the innards consist of.  This is where they get you.  For example, the outside of a home improvement store faucet looks identical to the outside of a plumbing supply house faucet.  But – the home improvement store faucet is 50% off!  That’s because the inside of the home improvement store faucet is made using cheap, low-quality parts.  Trust me – there is a big difference between the two!

It is a known fact that up to 50% of purchases made from Amazon consist of counterfeit items.  Other internet marketplace retailers such as Temu, eBay, and AliExpress are questionable.  Let your Contractor purchase the materials.

Installation is huge when remodeling your bathroom

Don’t go with the lowest-priced contractor or the person who provides the best dog-and-pony show.  It is no good to purchase a high-quality bathtub and have a low-quality person install it.  The same goes for everything else, including tiles, drywall, paint, electrical, etc.

The bathroom is the most sophisticated room in the house.  Every trade is in that room.  You need an experienced bathroom remodeling contractor who knows how to bring it all together.

There are thousands of parts, pieces, and steps involved in a bathroom remodel.  One mistake can ruin the entire job in just a few short years.  Make sure the person you hire knows what they are doing and has the experience to back it up.  Make sure your Contractor is licensed by the California Contractors State License Board (CSLB).

Always Hire a Reliable and Dependable Contractor to Remodel your Bathroom

Always work with a trustworthy contractor like DAD’s Construction.  We are experts in bathroom remodeling who can manage projects in an efficient manner.  DAD’s Construction will do everything to minimize the possibility of change orders.  Our team will make sure we have all the necessary information to prepare a proposal that meets your requirements.  Rest assured that we will provide you with a detailed, by line-item contract.  We will make sure that the contents of this agreement are properly and clearly communicated to you.  If you have questions or need updates regarding your project, we will always answer your inquiries.

How Can I Receive More Information on Remodeling my Bathroom?

If you would like more information on enjoying the best bathroom, kitchen, and interior remodeling experience in Orange County, call Dan at (949) 380-0177 or at dan@dadsconstruction.com for a free in home consultation.  DAD’s serves all of South Orange County California.  This includes Lake Forest, Mission Viejo, Rancho Mission Viejo,  Foothill Ranch, Portola Hills, Ladera Ranch, Irvine, San Clemente, Dana Point, San Juan Capistrano, Rancho Santa Margarita, Coto de Caza, Dove Canyon, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Hills, Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, Orange, and Aliso Viejo.