By all means, there’s something exciting about the idea of ripping out an old bathroom and starting fresh. Like seriously, finally getting that modern feel for your bathroom, rather than a 1970s time capsule, just feels so great (especially when you escape those hideous avocado-green tiles).
Maybe it’s the promise of a Pinterest-worthy tile wall or finally ditching that beige everything. But between the mood boards and tile samples, there’s a side to bathroom remodeling that no one really talks about. The messy, inconvenient, and occasionally bizarre reality of trying to upgrade the smallest room in the house. Yeah, we have to go there.
Okay, so if you’re gearing up for a bathroom remodel, it’s not just about picking pretty things. The hiccups along the way are what really shape the experience. Well, with all of that said, here’s what people forget to mention when they’re showing off their perfect “after” photos.
Pipes Love to be Difficult
We all know this, but old bathrooms have a way of hiding secrets. You think you’re just updating a vanity, and then boom, you’re staring at mystery plumbing that makes no sense and hasn’t been touched since the ’70s. It’s easy to assume it’ll be a quick fix until someone takes a wall down and discovers pipes that run at strange angles or don’t even meet modern code.
Sometimes it’s What You Can’t See
Okay, so let’s circle back, but this time, not specifically the pipes. So, even a straightforward shower remodeling job can reveal weird quirks behind the walls, especially in older homes (almost always). But what exactly? Well, there’s the moisture damage, improper waterproofing, or just lazy past installs that can cause more problems than expected.
What starts as a cosmetic update can spiral into structural surprises if you’re not careful. It’s honestly a total nightmare, but you need to be realistic and understand that usually, it’s not going to be a seamless job.
Okay, so that’s not to say you should be afraid to renovate. It just helps to know what might come up, so it doesn’t throw you completely off balance when something unexpected appears behind the tile.
Grout Regret is Real
Everyone talks about tiles, but no one talks about grout until it’s too late. Like, when it’s way too late. Okay, so there’s the color, the thickness, the maintenance, and it all matters more than you’d expect. Now sure, light grout looks great for five minutes, then starts collecting grime like it’s its full-time job. But of course, too dark and suddenly your bathroom starts feeling a little, well, intense.
If you’ve never given grout a second thought, now’s the time. It’s not glamorous, but it might be the difference between “chic spa energy” and “why does it always look dirty in here?”
Timing is Never as Simple as it Sounds
You hear “two-week job” and immediately start planning when you can take your first long soak in the new tub. But reality has other plans. Yeah, it’s awful, but usually delays happen. Maybe the tile you picked is backordered, or the electrician can’t come until next Thursday, or the walls aren’t straight, and everything takes longer to fit. Honestly, just prepare for some brushing-your-teeth-in-the-kitchen vibes and a lot of awkward towel shuffling.