Remodeling Your Bathroom: Tips & Budget

 Print This Article

Often when remodeling a bathroom, the most pressing question is where do I start? 

Many bath remodel projects start small to solve a specific problem, like a leaky faucet. But this may able be a perfect time to replace the sink, and maybe the vanity as well! When the sink project is done, the toilet might look dated. What to do? By taking time to plan the project first, you are more likely to feel good about the results and final cost when it’s complete. Below is a simple checklist to help you plan your bathroom remodel.

As you plan any project, keep your focus on your overall objectives. If you update your kitchen and baths instead of moving and plan to stay in the house for 10 or more years, you are investing in your lifestyle. Alternately, if you plan to move in a few years, you may consider scaling back your project to focus on what will help sell your home with the highest payback.

Assess Your Current Bathroom

An easy starting point is to make a list of what you like and don’t like about the existing bathroom. Think beyond today- as every room should meet your lifestyle. For example, you may consider installing a second sink if you have several children sharing a bathroom or grab bars for frequent grandparent visits. For each item that you would like to change, assign a priority of high, medium or low. Jot down your ideas for how you would like to change the item, i.e. maybe you’ve always wanted a whirlpool tub or a tile floor and marble thresholds.

Plan Your Remodeling Budget

Now you need to decide who will do the work. A remodeling company will work with you on the bathroom designs, help you select the fixtures to be used, purchase everything and execute the entire project. You will pay extra for this start-to-finish project management, which is a wise choice if you have the money and lack the time and/or patience the project may require to get involved. You should also use a remodeling contractor if you are adding any type of addition (new foundation and roof) to support changes to a bathroom.

A handyman company, like My Handyman offers homeowners flexibility. We will work with you so you can handle some aspects of the project, like demolition or purchasing the materials, to help control costs. Alternatively you might choose to do the project in several smaller stages,  completing one before you start the next.

My Handyman is frequently called in to finish projects started by the home owner, simply because they find they don’t have enough time. My Handyman’s bathroom remodels typically run 2 to 3 days for a half bath and 4 to 6 days for a full bath and are considerably less expensive than the average New England bathroom remodel costing $16,302.

The table below will help you match priorities to your budget. Begin with the highest priority requirements and continue to add items until you reach your budget. To insure you complete the project on budget, you want to reserve 10 – 20% of the budget for costs you are unable to predict before starting (the higher number should be used if your are doing a lot of plumbing work and/or moving walls).  Add items in the following sequence: First priority is safety, i.e. non-slip floors for children and seniors; Next priority is resolving any water issues as repairs cost more when deferred; Next pick your bathroom’s focal point, i.e. it might be a new vanity and matching mirror or a jacuzzi and tile floor; Finally, you can work through the other requirements from highest to low priority.

After you have add up projected costs, consider the following ways to keep costs down:

Re-glaze bathtub/shower to save the cost of removing and installing a new unit Avoid moving plumbing, which adds cost. Be aware that many new vanities will require the plumbing to be moved several inches Find creative solutions to add space or storage without having to move walls, i.e. you can add shelving in the wall Buy less expensive parts when they don’t have moving parts like your sink or vanity. You will save time/money with higher quality toilets and faucets that are manufacturer quality (not typically found in the box stores). Go to plumbing supply outlets that sell to the public or use the web for known brand names like Kohler and Sterling. www.build.com has a nice selection of discounted, brand name products plus good customer service and they package their products to withstand the rigors of shipping.

The ideal solution isn’t always obvious. My Handyman worked with a customer to remodel a half bath. They found a beautiful cherry vanity and searched for months for a matching mirror. They were thrilled when My Handyman’s technician offered to build the mirror (above right).

 Print This Article