Renovating a bathroom is a challenge in any home, and depending on where you live, it can come with additional obstacles. However, it’s not all doom and gloom, and as long as you follow a few of our go-to-tips, the end result will be a new bathroom that will be the crowning glory of your Santa Monica home.
Check Out the Local Building Codes
Before you start any type of renovation or construction on your Santa Monica home, you must know what you’re allowed to do without a permit and which projects require approval. At this point, you should also know what you need to do to ensure your bathroom renovation is up to code. This will need to include a Single Trade Building Permit if you only need one type of contractor, but if you are moving fixtures around, you will need to apply for a Combination Building Permit.
Seek Professional Advice
Hiring an architect, building engineer, or contractor may not factor into your budget, but it should. These professionals know the ins and outs of bathroom renovations, and their advice may prevent a lot of frustration and unnecessary costs down the line.
Existing vs. New Space
Are you happy with the position of your bathroom, or do you find it’s totally out of place in its current spot in your home? Moving the bathroom to the other side of the house may need structural changes to your home, adding to the renovation costs. You may need a Combination Building Permit, a Demolition Permit, and an Electronic Plan review, just to name a few.
Moving The Fixtures
The interesting thing about bathroom renovations in Santa Monica is that not every project requires building permits. As an example, if you leave all the fixtures such as the toilet, shower or tub, and sink where they are, your renovation may not need a permit since this type of work falls under the cosmetic category. Once you start moving these fixtures around, you will need a permit, and the cost of this extra work will add to your renovation budget, not to mention lengthen your renovation schedule while you wait for approvals.
Demolition and Removal
One of the hidden costs of any home renovation is demolishing the old and carting it away. Even if you do the demolition yourself, you still need to get rid of the old materials. You will need to rent a dumpster or debris bin at best.
Design and Storage
Every bathroom will need some type of storage, so you need to decide what will work for you. Your decision here will largely depend on the size of your bathroom, and your choices will come down to open shelving, cabinets, or a combination of the two. A frosted window will also allow you to maintain your privacy and keep your bathroom well ventilated. One thing you do want is lots of sunlight and you will notice that in Santa Monica, where the homes are dominated by large windows to flood homes with natural light.
Do your homework to ensure you understand everything you need to know for your Santa Monica bathroom renovation. Seek help to avoid frustration and delays, so your project runs as smoothly as possible.
