Everything To Know Before Adding A Bathroom To A House

Is your home starting to feel a little too “shared” when it comes to the bathroom? Maybe you’re regularly waiting in line for the shower, or mold is creeping in from heavy, constant use. If your household is outgrowing your bathroom setup, it might be time to consider adding a bathroom to your house. Not just a remodel, but an entirely new bathroom.

Adding a bathroom to a house can feel like a big leap, but the benefits are even bigger. Whether it’s a half-bath near the living space, a guest suite upgrade, or a full second-floor addition, adding a bathroom to your house can ease the daily traffic jam and add serious value to your home. If you live in Lancaster, PA or nearby areas, Bath Barn can help you with adding a bathroom to your house! With decades of experience, we’re your local, family owned-and-operated team that is here to help make it happen.

Read below to learn more about what you should know before adding a bathroom to a house. Located near Lancaster, PA and ready to get started? Schedule your free consultation with Bath Barn today!

Signs It Might Be Time For A New Bathroom

• You’re constantly waiting for someone to finish in the bathroom
• Morning routines feel rushed and stressful
• Guests don’t have a convenient or private space to freshen up
• One bathroom is being overused and showing signs of wear (mold, moisture, mildew)
• Your family is growing or you’re aging in place

According to real estate experts, adding a bathroom to a house can increase your home’s value up to 10-20%, especially if your home currently only has one. That means this investment not only improves your daily life but also pays off if you plan to sell down the road.

Looking To Add A Bathroom? Here Are Some Things To Consider:

For those looking to add a bathroom, it isn’t as simple as just picking a spot and installing a toilet. Here are the most important things to think through if you want to add a bathroom:

Location & Layout:

Ask yourself:

• What floor of your house is this going on?
• Is there access to existing plumbing?
• Will the space be newly built or taken from an existing room?

Drainage systems depend on gravity. If you want to add a bathroom in your basement, the drainage line may sit above the basement floor, requiring a pump system. On the other hand, adding a bathroom to a second story may mean opening up ceilings and floors to tie in plumbing.

You might think placing a new bathroom next to an existing one would make plumbing simpler, and it sometimes does. But in many cases, trying to share lines can disrupt the function of the original bathroom and complicate the drain design. Every house is different when you want to add a bathroom, so careful planning is a must.

Plumbing Capacity:

Before you add a bathroom, it’s essential to assess whether your existing water lines and drainage systems can handle an additional bathroom. You may need to upgrade lines or reroute piping, especially in older homes.

Structural Impact:

Are you using an existing space (like a closet, office, or under-stairs nook), or building out into an addition or attic conversion? If walls need to come down or be added, you’ll need to evaluate floor joists, beams, and support structures before you add a bathroom. Not all walls are created equal; some carry the load of your house, and others are just partitions.

Bathroom Addition To House: From Function To Finish

Once you’ve tackled the practical questions of a bathroom addition to a house, it’s time for the fun part: designing a bathroom that fits your home and style.

Ask yourself:

• Do you prefer light and airy or moody and dramatic?
• Are you drawn to modern lines or vintage details?
• Will this space be used primarily by guests, kids, or adults?
• How do you want it to feel; like a retreat, an utilitarian space, or a bold design moment?

One of the biggest advantages with a bathroom addition to a house from scratch is that you’re not limited by the footprint of an old layout. You get to choose where each fixture goes, the toilet, shower, vanity, and storage, and make sure every decision supports both style and function.

Choose Quality Fixtures That Last:

When it comes to actual products for your bathroom addition to a house, don’t cut corners. Toilets, sinks, faucets, and vanities are used every single day, and cheap fixtures will show their age quickly. Instead, choose plumbing-grade products designed for long-term performance and timeless design.

At Bath Barn, we carry the following products for bathroom additions to a house:

• Rohl
• Kohler
• Moen
• Toto
• Native Trails
• Bertch
• And more!

All of these products have options that match any design aesthetic, from farmhouse to sleek modern to vintage-inspired. Shop all our products for bathroom additions to a house now!

Adding A Bathroom To A House – Get Started Today

Whether you’re just starting to explore ideas or are ready to dive into plans, we’d love to help you make adding a bathroom to a house happen! At Bath Barn, our team includes experts in product selection, layout, and design who will walk with you through every step of the process.

Stop by our Showroom or schedule a free consultation today. Let’s take the stress out of sharing and make your home work better for the way you actually live.