15 Tips About Bathtub Renovation from Industry Experts

Renovating your bathtub can give your bathroom a whole new look without having to complete an entire remodel. By installing a new bathtub and updating the area around your tub, you can immediately make your whole bathroom look and function a whole lot better.

If you're thinking about renovating your bathtub, some tips from people who know what they're talking about can help you to make the right decisions.

1. Plan Smartly

Planning well is a key part of successfully remodeling your bathtub. If there's one piece of expert advice you should take, it's then you need to think about what changes to make and plan it all out before doing anything. If you start carrying out work in your bathroom without a solid plan, you could end up with a huge mess. Of course, if you're working with experienced contractors, they will make sure that there is a plan in place before they start working on renovating your bathtub. They will consult with you to get everything planned out and ensure you're happy first.

2. Use Existing Plumbing

To keep things simple, it's best to use the existing plumbing in your bathroom when you decide to remodel. If you're only remodeling your bathtub and not the whole bathroom, this can often be fairly straightforward. You can install your new bath where the old one was, making use of the existing plumbing. Having to reroute your plumbing to put in a new bath isn't necessarily something to avoid at all costs, but it will increase the price of the remodel and make the job take a little longer too.

3. Communicate Well

Any bathroom design expert will tell you about how important it is to communicate your desires. Design expert Sushma from @house_on_the_way on Instagram says "If you are working with tradespeople, communicate well and communicate early." The contractors you use can get the job done to your specifications but only if you're clear about what you want. If you want things to be a specific way, be sure to clearly communicate every detail, especially about how you want your new bath and any other features to be installed.

4. Create More Space with the Right Tub

Making the most of the space in your bathroom is a must. Even if you have a small bathroom, you can still have a tub if you choose the right one. The director of Real Living Homes, Ryan Sullivan, suggests that the placement of key features such as the tub make a big difference to how large the bathroom feels. He says "I always find freestanding baths feel like they take up less room than built-in baths." A smaller bath can really help your bathroom to look a lot bigger, even if the size difference between a small tub and a large one isn't that much in real terms.

5. Add Luxury with Your Tub

A new bathtub can be the perfect way to add a touch of luxury to your bathroom. You don't have to complete a new bathroom renovation when switching out the tub and updating the wall surround can make such a significant difference. A free-standing bathtub is an excellent choice if you want to make your bathroom just a little bit more luxurious. As well as helping to make your bathroom look and feel a little bigger, it can also make your bathroom more sophisticated. Free-standing tubs are very popular right now, so you'll be right on trend if you decide to install one.

6. Choose a Bathtub Renovation for Great ROI

If you're thinking about how to improve the value of your home, a minor bathroom renovation where you limit what you remodel could be the best thing to do. It's more cost-effective than a complete renovation so it's excellent for giving you a good return on your investment. In fact, the realtor Beatrice de Jong says that you could get 100% of your money back if you decide to sell your home. Of course, even if you don't decide to sell at any point, a bathtub remodel improves the value and the look of your bathroom so you can enjoy it more.

7. Use a Contractor

Some people might consider taking the DIY route when planning to remodel their bathtub. There are a few reasons you might think about doing this, including trying to save yourself some money. However, before deciding to DIY your bathtub remodel, it's important to think about all the reasons to use experienced contractors instead. While you might be able to attempt the work yourself, the real question is whether you can make it look professional. Can you complete the renovation with the precision that the experts can achieve or is it likely to look uneven and messy? You might save money at first, but you could end up paying someone else to fix it.

8. No Need to Choose Between a Tub and Shower

If you currently have a bathtub but you're considering taking it out and putting in a shower instead, you don't necessarily have to make that choice. Both a bathtub and a shower are possible with the right configuration. You can install a shower over your bathtub if you want both a tub and a shower. You can then have either a shower curtain or install a shower screen above the end of the bathtub where the shower is. This is a space-saving way to have the convenience of a shower without giving up your bathtub.

9. Budget Carefully

It's always important to have a budget in place if you want to renovate any part of your bathroom. When taking on a renovation project, your costs can spiral out of control if you're not careful about managing your costs. Setting a budget should be one of the first things that you do if you want to ensure you don't spend too much. It will give you an idea of what type of bathtub you can afford, how much you can spend on tiles, and even how much you can expect to pay for labor. Do some research into costs for a realistic budget.

10. Upgrade Tiles for a Big Impact

You don't need to completely change the look of your bathroom to make a big difference. One of the best things that you can do is put new tiles in your bathroom. When you're on a budget, changing the wall behind your bathtub is an excellent way to give the room a fresh new look. Combined with a new tub or even just a tub that has been refinished, you can make the area where your bath is look completely fresh. It doesn't cost too much to put in some new tiles and will immediately make your bathtub and your bathroom look a whole lot better.

11. Choose the Faucet Carefully

One of the most visible parts of a bathtub is the faucet. So if you're installing a new tub and taking the opportunity to upgrade the hardware, pay attention to the faucet. In fact, it might be the first thing that you choose because it's going to be so visible. Of course, the bathtub itself is pretty visible too, but you will want to think about how the bathtub and the faucet match. After choosing your faucet, you can consider how any other hardware that you might be installing will fit.

12. Pick Your Tub Carefully

When choosing a new tub to update your bathroom, think carefully about what type will work for you. We don't recommend cast iron tubs or steel tubs, but acrylic bathtubs are excellent for providing a brand new look that's fresh and modern. They are also affordable, durable, and can offer you a deeper tub that's more relaxing to use too.

13. Pick Clean and Light Colors

Making your bathroom look bright and fresh will help to give it a brand new look. It's especially important not to choose dark tiles if you have a small bathroom. Dark tiles can make your bathroom look even smaller and can cause it to look a little gloomy too. So if you're planning on refreshing your bath's wall surround, pick light tiles.

14. Think About Future Needs

A bathroom remodel isn't something you want to do frequently, even if you're only replacing the bath. So it makes sense to think about whether your needs might change in the future. Maybe a bathtub doesn't make sense now but you're planning on having children at some point. Or perhaps you're getting older and a walk-in tub could be a good idea.

15. Use Tub Space for Storage

The wall behind your bathtub could be the perfect place for you to have some extra bathroom storage. This is ideal for small bathrooms but your bathroom doesn't have to be small to make the most of the space that you have available. Use that vertical space for storage so you have somewhere to keep your toiletries.

Learn more about bathtub renovation from EZ Bath to see how transforming your bathtub can make a big difference to your bathroom.