Adding another bathroom to your new home

Unless you live on your own, you've most likely considered adding another bathroom to your new home. The luxury of not waiting for other people to finish is always alluring. Add to that the increase in home value that an extra bathroom brings, and the idea of adding one sounds better and better. But, what does adding an additional bathroom to your home involve, and should you undertake such a large project? Well, that is what we are here to find out.

Before adding another bathroom to your new home

The average cost of installing an extra bathroom is $15,000. Therefore, unless you are a well-off millionaire, adding one should be a well-thought-out decision. Not all homes can benefit from an extra bathroom. And, just like any other home remodeling project, the final cost might be far greater than you first anticipated. So, let's first see whether you actually need to add another bathroom to your new home.

Do you really need another bathroom?

The mere fact that you are considering this leads us to believe that you don't live alone. If you do, the only possible reason for adding an extra bathroom is if you plan on having a guest room. In this case, an extra bathroom is more of a luxury and less of a life improvement.

The value of an extra bathroom

If, on the other hand, you have multiple people living with you, an extra bathroom can be of great help. Ideally, you should have a bathroom for every 1,5 people living in your home (or two for every three people). So, if there are three of you, have two bathrooms. If there are 5, have three. While you definitely can make do with less, having more bathrooms ensures that people can enjoy their privacy and don't have to hurry with morning preparations for work or school.

Furthermore, even if this is your new home, you might end up selling it at some point. And before that happens, know that adding an extra bathroom can dramatically increase the value of your home. Most buyers look for the 2:3 ratio of bathrooms to bedrooms. But, if your house can accommodate it nicely, it certainly doesn't hurt to have more.

Adding the extra bathroom

So, let's assume that you need an extra bathroom. How are you supposed to go about adding it? Well, there are a couple of things you need to take care of.

Plan in advance

The first thing to do is to carefully consider where your bathroom will be. Know that the term "bathroom" can cover anything from a sink and toilet to a full-fledged spa with a hot tub. Even when renovating their bathrooms, people can be pretty creative. So, figure out what your bathroom will have and where you will place everything. Remember to factor in the necessary sockets for appliances and consider whether your bathroom will have the required ventilation.

Furthermore, when it comes to plumbing and electricity, you should also plan and measure carefully. A skilled plumber can pretty much install the necessary pipes for a bathroom wherever you see fit. And electricity, by its nature, is relatively easy to spread out wherever need be.

But that doesn't mean that you should push your luck. If you put your bathroom in a difficult spot, you can be in for major plumbing renovation. This will mean that you'll need to pack your things and move out of your home for a while, as there will be no running water. And even if you pack in the most efficient way, this usually means that you will have to put your items into storage until the project is done. 

The closer your bathroom is to the original pluming, the safer, cheaper, and more resilient it will be. So, take a close look at your home, and create a detailed and careful plan before you start. Don't shy away from consulting with a professional home designer.

Preparing for the project

Once you've figured out where you will put your extra bathroom, you need to start preparing for the ordeal. As we have said, depending on the complexity of the project, you might need to move out. Given the stress you will inevitably be under, it’s important to stay healthy when moving. And seeing that health comes first during relocation, even if it is temporary, you really should prepare adequately for it. Our advice is to either move in with family members or find a hotel (if the bathroom installation will last longer than a week).

The second thing to consider is finding the right professionals to take care of your bathroom for you. An all-in-one contractor is a good start as they can go over your plans and see whether they are feasible. To find them, you can look online and see whether there are any reputable contractors in your area. While price is a significant factor, don't let it be the only one. Poor contractors can put you in a difficult situation where you need to redo your bathroom in a month or two. And, while bathroom renovations might not be as terrible as they seem, you really ought to avoid them whenever possible.

All in all, the safest and the cheapest option is to do things right from the start. This means ensuring that you find the best possible contractor (ideally one with bathroom installment experience). Check for reviews online, and don't shy away from asking for referrals. The more you know about your contractor before hiring them, the better the odds that you will avoid bad ones.

Final thoughts

All things considered, adding another bathroom to your new home need not be a challenging endeavor. The main thing to do is to do your research, prepare properly, and hire the right person for the job. Do that, and you will soon enjoy the peace and quiet of having a bathroom all to yourself.

Guest Contributor: Sophia Perry