5 Renovation Mistakes You Cannot Afford To Make

Anyone who has watched HGTV has seen plenty of renovation mistakes. Any renovation is an undertaking–ask every contractor and every homeowner that has been part of a remodel. From the accidents that can occur to the ever-growing budget, taking on a reno project requires time, dedication, sweat, and patience. From our experts to you, we have come up with the list of five renovation mistakes you cannot afford to make!

Low-Balling the Budget

Surprises are going to happen. Sometimes they are good: like finding original hardwood floors underneath the carpet in pristine condition. Sometimes they are horrifying: like finding asbestos in your home’s walls. While installing backsplash, you might damage the wall and have to replace some of the drywall. Peeking inside the drywall, you could find electrical issues. Then, the next thing you know, you’re dealing with more than just installing backsplash. We suggest setting aside 15% of the total project cost (potentially more for older homes) for unexpected expenses. This is your safety net in the event that unforeseen issues occur. This will give you peace of mind knowing that you won’t break the bank at the first sign of the unexpected.

Floor Drains: the Laundry Room Essential

This is one of the renovation mistakes that you may not consider. A laundry room drain is required by code in most areas, but some people still omit it. If there is ever a break in your washing machine hose, you’ll flood your house. A floor drain directs the water into your home’s main drain system. And please, do not try a DIY installation. This can turn into another one of our renovation mistakes. You will absolutely need a professional plumber, but again, you’ll have peace of mind, as flood insurance is not covered by most basic homeowner’s insurance plans.

Granite, Granite, Granite

Of course, it is popular, but granite isn’t the only option for the kitchen. Renovators could choose a different material for the countertops that can save tons of money in the kitchen! Our non-granite picks: butcher block, plate steel, or a nice laminate for those who don’t necessarily have the budget for premium marble or granite. Explore the options that will work best for your family to avoid regret down the road. Don’t break your budget trying to keep up with the Joneses.

Hidden Gems

Just because you don’t see it, doesn’t mean it isn’t useful. A bathroom membrane system (which goes under tile) prevents popping and cracking, and keeps water from getting into the substructure. Think about it: If you’re spending $15,000 on a bathroom, spend an extra $1,000 to ensure you’ll never have a mold problem. This is one of those renovation mistakes that could end up costing big bucks down the line.

Floored: Ultimate Renovation Mistakes

Most contractors typically buy 20% extra flooring since it is prone to cuts and breakage during installation. There’s no guarantee you’ll be able to find an exact match if you need to order more during a long remodeling project. Most retailers often let you return unopened boxes for a refund, so you shouldn’t get stuck with too much material. It’s also nice to have extra in case of damage down the road. If you suffer and water damage (especially in the kitchen) or a pet scratches deeply or has an accident that stains, you’ll be glad you did.

For more tips on avoiding costly remodeling mistakes, download our FREE Home Reno 101 Checklist and sign-up for our newsletter, which has the latest tips and tricks, design trends, special offers, and expert knowledge on renovations!

Builders Surplus is a full-service renovation company with locations in Louisville, Kentucky, and Newport, Kentucky, which also serves Cincinnati, Ohio. We specialize in interior design, kitchen design, bathroom remodel, building materials, and home improvement. Interior Design and measurements come as a free service to our clients. We sell building materials ranging in every price point, from unfinished kitchen cabinets to top of the line Wellborn cabinets. In addition to interior design, we also offer installation services. If you have any questions or would like to set up a free design consultation with one of our interior designers, we would encourage you to do so. We love sharing our knowledge with clients & potential home renovators. We write about interior design, home decor, decorating ideas, and home improvement. We hope you’ll check back in for our next article! Happy Renovation!
Written By: KH

October 18, 2019

How The Right Bathroom Layout Can Save You Money!

Today I’d like to discuss an aspect of planning that gets overlooked in a bathroom remodel: Bathroom Layout Options. When it comes to the design, you need to know your layout, first and foremost. The size, fixed plumbing, vanity size you’ll need, and so on. Allow me to dive in a few bathroom layout options! We’ll cover small, medium, and master bath options to make you aware of everything you should consider before breaking ground. Let’s get to it them.

CLICK HERE TO SHOP ALL BATHROOM PRODUCTS!

Planning a Bathroom Layout

Before we start looking at some of the more popular bathroom layout options, let’s go over what we need to consider first, shall we? Again, the most important step in any remodeling process is planning. Get all of your ducks in a row, so to speak, meaning, hone your vision and then act on it. Have a good basis of what you want to achieve before setting up your design appointment, measurements, what you like, dislike, etc. That way, when it’s time, everything is decided and ready for action.

Size: Define what you’re working with first and accommodate. Are you remodeling the main bathroom in the living area, small/family bathroom upstairs, or the master bath, full of space and opportunity? Your layout, you’ll find, is contingent on the amount of space you have.

Privacy: In understanding that this isn’t the customary approach, it’s one I am quite fond of, having designed and installed some myself. If you have space, make some sort of barrier between the entrance and the toilet, for privacy’s sake. Apparently, there are studies show that hiding the toilet from sight “can make a big difference mentally.”

Note A privacy panel of tempered glass atop a half wall, for example.

Vanity: This also depends on space, but you need to know what size vanity you’d like. Are there going to be two people sharing this bathroom, would you like his or her sinks, or maybe you just need a single vanity? Save some space and possibly put a separate “getting ready” station next to it, another grooming station, if you will. All things to consider.

Shower/Bath: Walk-in showers are all the rage in the industry. They maximize space, emphasize luxury, and are incredibly appealing for resale. If you have space, the perfect layout, to me, would be a beautiful, walk-in, tiled shower accompanied by a freestanding tub, either set in the middle or niched in a space. For less spacious bathrooms, many homeowners are just going for the walk-in. As long as you have a tub somewhere in the house, you’re good for resale.

Plumbing: When you start moving plumbing around, your labor costs skyrocket. If you can manage it, try to layout your design with the existing plumbing. It could literally save you thousands.

Popular Bathroom Layout Options

So there’s this term called “wet walls,” which means any wall that has plumbing on it, pretty much. The wall your shower, tub, sinks are located on. You should know that fewer wet walls mean lower cost because plumbing is not cheap, folks. If you’re looking for a low-budget bathroom, go with one wet wall. The only drawback is that you’re limited on your design in that way. A layout with plumbing in two walls is a bit more work, but it allows for a few options. A three wet wall design offers the most flexibility, but of course, can get costly.
I’ve detailed three of the most prominent bathroom layouts in bathroom design right now below! Use this as inspiration to gain a better understanding of what you’d like to do with your remodel!

Three-Quarters Style: Featuring one wet wall, all of the bathroom’s plumbing adheres to one wall, like a circuit of sorts. This saves labor and supply expenses, but you’re limited on design. Even so, with a bath and a sink, this is a pretty popular design for smaller areas.

Full Bath: As I stressed before, this is the most ideal. Having a shower in your bathroom with the option of a bath just covers most people’s wants and wishes. There’s usually room in this design for a double vanity, or as I mentioned before, an extra “grooming” station of the sort.

Storage Space: Two sinks extend out for an appealing entry, across from a linen closet. This design is centered storage for toiletries and cosmetics. Perfect for Master Baths, and as you can see, the Master closet in the above picture extends into the bathroom, shielding the toilet and providing just a little more privacy. Also features a walk-in shower!

If you’re ready for a full bathroom remodel, don’t start without speaking to one of our professional bathroom designers first! It’s FREE! Click here to get started!

April 10, 2019

Why A Freestanding Tub Could Change Your Life!

Ah, the freestanding tub. I can’t tell you how many people in my life have said, “I want one of those so bad,” but fail to tell me why. Well, today I’m going to talk about why these baths are so appealing and continue to be such a hot commodity. If you have one, fill it up, grab the iPad, and read along as you slowly nod your head in agreement. If you don’t have one, I can guarantee that by the end of this post, you’ll at least consider it if you haven’t already.

A Freestanding Tub WILL Relax You

There’s a reason why in every movie or show that has a scene with one of these bad boys, the actor/actress is super relaxed. Case in point, taking a bath in one of these tubs is simply soothing. Unlike the Jacuzzi tubs fitted with jets and streams, a freestanding tub is set in silence, allowing you to soak in the solace that will inevitably de-stress you. Pour a glass of wine, light a candle or two, fill up one of these wonders with warm water, climb in, and you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about.