Bathroom Renovation Tips: Getting the Plumbing Right the First Time
Planning on renovating your bathroom? Learn how to do it without any plumbing disasters.
Every year thousands of homeowners tackle a bathroom renovation only to realize they’ve made some serious plumbing mistakes. Nothing kills the mood of new tiles and sexy fixtures like leaky pipes behind freshly painted walls.
Here’s the deal…
Bathtub and shower installations gone wrong almost always start with improper planning of your bathroom plumbing. Incorrect plumbing can cost you money… But it can also stall your project for weeks or even months!
Don’t fall for these rookie renovation mistakes.
The good news? By taking the proper steps during your initial plumbing plan, you can save yourself a lot of headache (and money) down the road.
Let’s dig into:
- Why your plumbing needs to be planned first
- Common plumbing mistakes to avoid
- How to work with a commercial plumbing contractor
- Planning your bathroom layout around existing pipes
Deciding when to call in the professionals
Planning your bathroom plumbing before demolition starts is crucial to keeping your renovation on-time and on-budget.
Why You Should Plan Your Plumbing First
- If you’re planning a bathroom renovation you may not realize…
- Your bathrooms’ plumbing layout is the foundation everything else is built around. You can’t just decide on an epic walk-in shower without knowing how your pipes work behind the scenes.
- Did you know over 83% of homeowners use professional help when renovating their bathroom?
- Why is that?
- Working with certified plumbing experts ensures your pipes are handled correctly without turning your dream renovation into a nightmare. Don’t let limited DIY plumbing experience cost you thousands down the road.
- Let’s use this example:
- If you move your toilet across the bathroom by even a couple of feet, you may need to:
- Reroute drain lines
- Adjust venting
Ensure correct pipe slope
That kind of change can cost you thousands if you don’t have a plumber involved from the start.
Planning is everything when it comes to bathroom renovations.
Common Bathroom Plumbing Mistakes
Okay, now that you know planning is important. Let’s discuss what happens when you don’t go into your renovation with a foolproof plumbing plan.
Planning your bathroom plumbing incorrectly is often the cause of:
Mistake #1: Not considering existing pipes
Your bathroom was put on your home for a reason.
Your water lines, drains, and pipes are located where they are for a reason. Making major changes without considering how everything else will fit into your plan is a disaster.
Mistake #2: Picking out fixtures first
Believe it or not, this is one of the most common issues I see.
Households see a beautiful freestanding tub or think, “I want that!” without realizing how their existing plumbing will work with the new design. Researching online and getting inspired is great… But save the final fixture decisions until you consult with a plumber.
Mistake #3: Not pulling proper permits
Are you required to pull a permit for your project?
Don’t skip this step! Getting approval from your local building authority isn’t fun. But allowing an inspector to come take a look at your work ensures your project is done safely and up to code.
If you cut corners now, it may come back to haunt you when you try to sell your home.
Mistake #4: Not planning for surprises
Most bathrooms hide surprises behind the walls and underneath flooring?
The truth is no matter how well you plan, something will come up. Old bathrooms leak. Plumbing gets swapped out over the years without documentation. Your best bet is to plan for the unknown by calculating 10-20% of your budget to go towards unexpected repairs.
Work with a professional plumbing contractor.
How To Work With a Professional Plumbing Contractor
- Finding the right plumber for your project makes a big difference in the outcome of your renovation.
- When interviewing potential plumbers, ask about:
- Licensing and Insurance
- Job-specific experience
- Collaboration with other contractors
- Communication about budget & timelines
Past client references
Your general contractor should work closely with your plumber. These two entities need to plan their work together so bathroom renovations don’t come to a grinding halt.
Pro Tip: Have your plumber walk through the bathroom with you before demolition begins. They can catch simple issues before it’s too late.
Planning your bathroom layout with existing pipes in mind saves you money.
Planning Your Layout Around Existing Pipes
- While many homeowners try to design their dream bathroom from scratch, an expert plumber can save you money by configuring the new bathroom layout around the existing pipes.
- Rule of thumb:Keep all your wet areas close together.
- Your toilet, sink, and shower should all be close to one another by sharing walls. This doesn’t always happen, but keeping related plumbing close helps minimize costs.
- Here are some common things to consider when bathroom planning:
- Drain locations– It’s costly to move drains. Design around existing drain locations if possible.
- Vent stacks– Each drain needs to be vented properly. Adding plumbing far away from current venting can create challenges.
- Water pressure– The more fixtures you add, the lower your water pressure could be.
Hot water – How far is your bathroom from the hot water heater? The further away, the longer it takes to heat up.
Labor makes up 40-65% of your total cost. Proper planning can help reduce your overall bill.
When Do You Call The Plumbing Professional?
- You know when to call a professional plumber. But when can you DIY certain plumbing tasks?
- Here’s a rule of thumb:
- Call a professional plumbing contractor for help with anything behind walls.
- That includes:
- Toilet installations
- Shower and bathtub drain moving
- Water supply lines
- Tankless water heater installation
- Any changes to main drain lines
- If it can’t be seen after installation, you shouldn’t be doing it yourself.
- That being said, there are certain projects the average DIYer can complete.
- Swap out faucets
- Install new showerheads
Replace toilet seats
Get your plumber involved early in the game.
Getting Your Bathroom Renovation Timeline Right
One of the biggest reasons homeowners are disappointed in their final bathroom bill is due to inaccurate timelines.
Here’s what a typical bathroom plumbing timeline looks like.
Phases of Bathroom Plumbing
- Planning– Initial consults and finalizing design
- Demolition– Removal of existing bathroom
- Rough-in plumbing– Installation of pipes behind walls
- Rough plumbing inspection– Checking proper piping by inspector
- Wall/floor finishes– Drywall and flooring go up
- Fixtures– Installation of sinks, showers, toilets
Inspection/Testing – Everything is inspected and tested
Pushing any of these steps will only lead to frustration. Drywall goes up before plumbing is inspected? Now you need to rip it out again.
Expect your plumbing to take longer than you think.
Having a bathroom renovation done in the winter? Plumbing companies get backed up on projects when nice weather hits. Parts you thought would be available are not in stock.
Be realistic about timing, and you’ll avoid added headaches.
Bringing It All Together
- Hopefully, this guide has you feeling confident about your bathroom renovations and how to handle your new bathrooms’ plumbing.
- Remember:
- Plan before purchasing– Work with a professional plumber before finalizing your bathroom design
- Plan with what you have– Your existing water lines should help determine your new bathroom layout
- Pull permits– Trust me. You don’t want to have to rip your bathroom’s plumbing out because you skipped this step.
- Allow for the unknown– Expect to find something unexpected when ripping your old bathroom apart. Plan for it.
If in doubt, call a professional – Never be afraid to get a second opinion. Most plumbers will offer a free consultation.
Your bathroom renovations should be fun and stress-free.
Preparing for common plumbing pitfalls will ensure you love your bathroom renovation for years to come.