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For homeowners looking into remodeling their bathrooms, options are endless and only limited by your imagination. Maybe you just want to replace the tub and a few other fixtures. Or maybe you want to change the whole look, with modern top-of-the-range fixtures and a chic glass shower. Or perhaps you’d rather go with a rugged look with stone-like tiles giving the room a cave-like feel. Or you might be looking into the feasibility of putting in an additional bathroom. Possibly you’ve even thought of going all out by adding a hot tub with jets, a sauna room, or even kitting your bathroom out with a fireplace and television.

Whatever your bathroom renovation plans, it’s important to involve a plumber. You can get a designer to make the bathroom look stunning, but you’ll need an expert to ensure everything works right. After all, what’s a bathroom that looks good but has a toilet that leaks or a shower that requires constant adjustments to keep the temperature from becoming too hot or too cold.

Adding Resale Value

If you’re a homeowner in Benbrook, TX looking at remodeling your bathroom as a way to help sell it in the near future, there are many additional things to consider. While a newly remodeled bathroom design will definitely add to the value of your house, it can also prove costly. So, if you’re looking to sell in the near future, you’ll need to weigh your budget versus how much your bathroom renovation can add to the purchase price.

Yet those looking to buy a home generally want houses that don’t require a lot of work, and the bathroom is one of those rooms that most buyers want already finished. Renovations can cause headaches, and home buyers will look at other options if your bathroom doesn’t suit them. Though they’re expensive to remodel, a sleek new bathroom will also increase the chances you’ll get your asking price, or close to it. It’s definitely something you should consider if you want to sell your home quickly and for the price you want.

Older Homes

If you’ve got an older home, the age of the piping also becomes a factor. Older plumbing may need to be replaced, and a bathroom remodel provides the perfect opportunity to do just that. Putting in brand-new pipes can provide reliable plumbing for many decades to come, especially if you install good quality plumbing and use an expert plumber.

You can put in modern pipes along with fixtures to save on utility costs, not to mention making your home greener and more water friendly. Often plumbing in older homes will have a certain amount of seepage, as rust or wear inevitably allows leaks to develop. And again, for those looking at resale value, potential buyers place great value on a recently renovated bathroom.

Preparations & Considerations for Major Renovations

While you don’t need to call in a plumber if you just want to change tiles or fixtures, if you want to put in a new bath, shower, or toilet, you’ll definitely need an expert. Moving the position of the bath or toilet should also involve a professional plumber, otherwise you’re just asking for trouble.

Another thing to consider is where your bathroom’s positioned. If it’s on the ground floor, the job will be easier, as it’s closer to sewer connections. Additionally, the water doesn’t have to deal with gravity. But if you’re looking at a bathroom renovation on any other level of your home, it means tearing apart your ceiling.

Here are some other basics to bathroom remodels that homeowners should consider:

  • Permits: Depending on how big and complex your bathroom renovation is, you may need to apply for a permit. The permit process can be one of the most frustrating parts of home remodeling, especially when it involves plumbing. There are important safety-related reasons behind permits, and no reputable plumber will go ahead with a major bathroom renovation without first making sure all the right permits are in place before they start work. Changing anything connected to the sewer system or electrical work requires homeowners to get the right permits, and it means whoever’s doing the work will need to be licensed as well.
  • Drainage: It’s important to build your bathroom so that its layout works with your drainage system. Those supporting joists under the floor can’t just be cut and replaced. You need to ensure that the configuration of your sink, toilet, bath, and shower all work within the parameters of your house’s drainage system, and this is where an expert can help save you money. An experienced plumber will be able to determine the costs of creating those changes you want, and help you determine whether they’re worth it or not. For plumbing that’s already antiquated and corroding, adding new pipes while you renovate can be very cost-effective.
  • Access: Building in access panels for your sink or toilet is a fairly easy task. But accessing showers or baths is trickier, and requires a professional plumber. Putting it in the sidewall or an under-utilized adjoining room may also be an option, though the best solution is a closet.
  • Water Supply: