Adding a bathroom to your home can feel like a real gamechanger. Whether you are looking to add space for your growing family or increase your home’s resale value, a second bathroom can significantly improve your home. But before your dream bathroom can become a reality, careful plumbing planning is key to avoiding headaches down the road. Here are a few critical tips to guide you as we tackle your project.
Check Local Codes and Permits
Before anything else, we research your city’s plumbing codes. Every city has specific codes for drainage slopes, venting and pipe sizes. Unpermitted work can cause issues down the line, like fines or redoing work, so we prioritize this to get everything right the first time.
Evaluate Your Current Plumbing Layout
One of the things we do early on is look at where your existing water and drain lines are located in your home. Once we do this, we are able to strategically plan the perfect location for your additional bathroom. If we are able to place the new bathroom next to or above an already existing bathroom, we might be able to save on material and labor costs.
Plan Your Drainage and Venting
In order to set your additional bathroom up correctly, every fixture in your bathroom needs to have the right drain and vent setup. Not all drains for your toilet, sink or shower are the same, so different sizes and materials may be required for the installation. We ensure that all of your fixtures have the correct drain lines, as well as proper venting. Proper venting will allow your drains to flow freely and keep sewer gases out of your home.
Check Your Water Heater Capacity
Your new bathroom will require an increase in your hot water usage. Before adding any features to your space, we check to make sure that your water heater can handle the additional demand. We want to ensure that no one will run out of hot water during a morning shower just because a new bathroom was installed.
Real World Example
Here is a real-world example of how Schuler Service would help a homeowner who wants to turn their attic into a guest suite with a compact bathroom for visitors:
First, we check the existing water lines to make sure we can move forward without any major demo work. If we are able to find any existing plumbing in the space, we can move forward faster and save thousands of dollars in materials and labor. After we help gather the right permits, we finalize the layout and connect the water lines and drains. We also check to make sure that the water heater can handle the addition of an extra shower, to make sure it does not negatively affect anyone else in the house. By going through these steps methodically and in accordance with all regulations, your new bathroom will be ready for all your guests all year long.
If you are considering adding an additional bathroom to your home, Schuler Service is here to help you make it happen. Our licensed professionals are here to help you figure out how to bring your ideas to life. Together, we can create the perfect bathroom without worry. Contact us today to learn more.
