Renovate Your Bathroom

Planning your bathroom renovation budget

Some of the major costs to plan for in a bathroom renovation include:

·         Plumbing, especially if you are moving plumbing or installing new elements

·         Tiling, which could include floor and wall tiles

·         Frameless shower screen, semi-frameless shower screen or standard shower screen

·         Bath, which could be integrated or freestanding

·         Toilet, which could be a standard version or have an in-wall cistern

·         Vanity, standard or wall mounted which looks cleaner and gives you more floor space

·         Lighting, which could be task, general or mood

·         Waterproofing, to ensure your bathroom doesn’t leak

Now let’s take a look at some of these projects and what they may cost, on a per hour basis for labor or a per square metre basis for materials like tiles. If you're ready to do some bathroom renovations, sites like https://www.smartstylebathrooms.com.au/ can help make the process easy.

Finished Products vs. Labor and Expenses

Like a kitchen remodel, there will be substantial costs in finished products from flooring, bathtubs, shower surrounds, cabinets, countertops, and numerous bathroom fixtures. These products, however, don’t typically have the same price tags as major kitchen appliances and full cabinet and countertop installations. Plus, bathroom remodeling is a more labor-intensive process between tearing out old bathroom amenities and tedious tile and plumbing installation. 60-70 percent of bathroom remodel costs are labor and expenses and about 30-40 percent is finished product. Of course, this cost breakdown indicates only an estimated average, as the cost breakdown of specific projects can vary quite a bit.

Difference Makers: Plumbing, Bathroom Designs, and Bathroom Tile

Undoubtedly, the biggest difference maker is plumbing and bathroom blogs on design. Already one of the costliest and involved subcontractors for bathroom remodeling, if a homeowner wishes to relocate a toilet, sink, or bathtub within the bathroom, extensive plumbing installation will be required, causing a substantial spike in the cost of labor and expenses. In fact, if you’re set on relocating your bathroom plumbing, not only will you need a substantially larger budget, but you’ll need more contingency room in your budget, as any number of obstacles can arise once the walls are torn out.

Another reason bathroom remodeling costs tend to skew toward labor and expenses is the prevalence of bathroom flooring and shower tile. Even the size of the tile will play a role in the cost breakdown of your new bathroom floor. Smaller tiles may cost less from the manufacturer but will require more labor to install. Dot inserts for your tile can also get expensive quickly, as tile accents can cost $12-$40 to cut per insert.

Do Your Own Demo

Before you install your new mosaic tiled shower stall, you'll need to tear apart those icky existing fixtures. You can hire a pro for this all-important demolition phase, which will set you back about $1,000. Or, by tackling some or all of the teardown yourself, you'll have more money to spend on something you really want.

However, don't assume that a DIY demo doesn't require some planning. For one, you'll need the right tools, cautions Home Renovation expert. He suggests a sledgehammer, a large crowbar, a prybar and an old claw hammer that you don't mind ruining. And make sure you know what's behind the walls before you start swinging. Surprises you definitely want to avoid include anything from live electrical wire to water pipes. Finally, don't assume that your demo won't cost anything. In addition to the right tools, you'll probably need to rent a dumpster or hire a hauling service to cart away the debris.

Check Out A Recycling Center

Lightly used and recycled fixtures and building materials cost a fraction of what you'd pay for new at the neighborhood home center. At well-known national resources such as Diggers List and Habitat for Humanity Restore Resale Outlets, you'll find everything from tubs, faucets, and tile to double-hung windows and laminate flooring. While the assortment can be hit-or-miss, recent items included a contemporary vanity with built-in sink for $100 and an antique brass-finished faucet set for $400 (retail price $2,300).

Add Light, Not Holes

Adding a window or skylight is a popular - and pricey - solution for brightening up a dim bathroom. But you don't have to cut a big ol' hole in your roof or the side of your house to let the sunshine in. A sun tube, also known as a solar tube, is an ingenious device that you install between the rafters in your attic. These flexible tubes range from 10 inches in diameter up to 20 inches or more and work by funneling natural sunlight down to your bathroom from a small opening cut into the roof. Sun tubes cost between $200-$400, as compared to $1,500 for a double-pane insulated window or skylight installation. If you need a little inspiration, there are many blogs on design that can help provide that creative spark.

Learn to Love Subway Tile

That glass mosaic tile with pewter accents you picked out is certainly gorgeous. But at $100 per square foot, it probably won't be covering your entire bathroom. Instead, consider using the expensive choice as a decorative border or feature wall and going with white subway tile for the remainder of your tiledsurfaces. Clean, simple and less than $3 per square foot, classic subway tile has a timeless appeal that harmonizes with nearly every décor.