Of all the rooms in a home, there’s something inherently intimate and rejuvenating about the bathroom. The bathroom is where you jumpstart your day—a space for preparing body and mind for the hoops and hurdles of daily life. In larger households, there can be fierce competition for bathroom time—I’m first! and Hurry up already! For the adults, the bathroom may be a tranquil place to relax after a long day with an invisible Do Not Disturb! sign on the door.

Seeing as how the bathroom is such an important room in homes, it’s understandable that it’s also the most remodeled room. If that is what has brought you to this article, searching for bathroom remodeling plumbing tips and advice, you’ve made a wise decision! From thoughtful planning and budgeting, to upgrading plumbing fixtures, and working with contractors, keep reading for essential pro plumbing and planning tips for your bathroom remodel project!

Planning Makes Perfect

Remodeling your bathroom requires a significant investment of your time and money. You certainly don’t want to waste either. It’s one thing to change your mind on wallpaper or paint color. It’s quite a different situation to later discover that the plumbing needs to be moved around or you need a larger drain pipe. To avoid wasting your time and your money, consider some basic bathroom remodeling questions:

  • What do you like about your current bathroom in regards to function and layout?
  • What do you not like about your current bathroom in regards to function and layout?
  • How much storage space do you need or want? (It’s now or never!)
  • What style of shower space and/or bathtub will you be most happy with in the long term?
  • How many people is the bathroom intended for, and what is their daily routine? (i.e. Do you need one sink or two? One toilet or two? One showerhead or two?)

Plumbing Upgrades and Updates

When it comes to saving time and money, plumbing is one of the most important aspects to look at, to review, and to triple check in any bathroom remodel project. So, the big question was saved for this section:

Do any of the plumbing fixture upgrades—sink(s), toilet(s), and shower/tub—require the current plumbing to be moved around or require any new plumbing to be installed?

You definitely want a legitimate, professional plumber to help answer this question with you so that there are no mistakes to correct later. If plumbing upgrades and updates are required, such as repiping or installing a new toilet or shower drain, make sure that it falls within your budget. If it’s not within your budget, work with your plumbing pro to choose plumbing fixtures that keep your bathroom remodel project on point.

Working With Contractors and Subcontractors

Remodeling your bathroom is a major project. You may be working with a general contractor who may, in turn, subcontract out some of the work, most of the work, or all of the work. You’ll be dealing with all aspects of a wet-room remodel, which typically includes waterproofing drywall and framing, tile for floors and walls, carpentry, electrical work, interior design, and plumbing.

All of these aspects and assets of your remodel project are important. However, you want to make absolutely sure, for the sake of personal safety and preventing damage to your home, that the contractor or subcontractor handling the plumbing and electrical work are true professionals abiding by building codes and bring an extensive track record for excellent work.

Bids and Budgeting

Even before you hire a general contractor, a designer, or any other professional involved in the remodel, you’re likely to have a good ballpark figure of the cost for your bathroom remodel. However, you really won’t know the actual remodel cost until you get bids from prospective contractors. Then, if the bids are more than your anticipated investment, you may have some tough decisions to make.

There’s a good chance that the unforeseen costs are due to plumbing upgrades required of the fixtures you have chosen or due to the expense of the fixtures themselves. Again, work closely with your plumbing pro to bring your bathroom remodel project in on an acceptable budget.

Plain and simple, we at MN Plumbing and Home Services offer the very best plumbing services in the Twin Cities Metro area. We’ll work closely with you during your bathroom remodel project to ensure its success. We provide services to hundreds of happy customers every month! Contact us online or call (952) 469-8341 for all of your plumbing needs!