Remodel My Bathroom

How Important Is Bathroom Remodeling?

Bathroom remodeling is probably only second to kitchen remodeling in both the frequency and importance. It is going to cost less, or should I say, it should cost lest than kitchen remodeling but it is equally vital during the sale process.

Again, you should be able to recoup money spent on bathroom remodeling or get even back even more than you invested.

As with any project, though, you have to be careful not to over improve. Where your house is located will determine on how much you should invest and to what extend your renovation should go.

I would break down bathroom remodeling into three main categories:

• Major renovation
• Medium
• Minor

The scope of work as well as the amount of money will differ significantly depending on which approach you are going to take.

What would be involved in these three categories?

Major bathroom remodeling would involve total demolition and replacement of all existing plumbing and electric fixtures, bathtub and/or shower replacement, new tiles, vanities, mirrors, countertop, toilet, bidet and paint.

Medium bathroom remodeling would include change of vanities, faucets, shower head, and possibly the whole shower section, lighting, toilets and paint. Broken or damaged tiles on the floor or on the walls could be replaced, re-grouted and sealed, if necessary, bathtub and sink areas re-caulked and sealed.

Minor bathroom remodeling would require re-caulking, re-grouting, new toilet seat cover installation, new lights and a new coat of paint. It would consist mostly of decorative elements that do not require specialty contractors to do the job.

How much is it going to cost?

Depending on how extensive your renovation is going to be bathroom remodeling could cost anywhere from almost as much as you can possibly imagine to as little as few hundred dollars.

Major bathroom remodeling is going to cost you the most money, of course, and the minor remodeling only a fraction of that. The total cost will depend on the quality of products you want to have installed, the brand names, how fancy you want your bathroom to be and on the contractors you hire.
Some fixtures, bathtubs or tiles could get extremely expensive and I’ve seen houses where a bathroom in one area would cost more than the whole house in a different area. The same is true of basically any product. You can get a $10,000 car, for example, and you can get one that will cost you $300,000 and more.

Much of the discussion about kitchen holds true here as well. Remember to be realistic in your expectations and not to over-improve. This is critical if your remodeling is for profit as opposed your own enjoyment.

What improvements should I do during my bathroom remodeling?

You should start with a list of items that require immediate attention as well as those that cause functional problems. Here is a partial list of things you should pay attention to:

Number of bathrooms

If there is only one bathroom in the house it is a huge drawback and a turn-off for a potential buyer. Nowadays one bathroom is not enough for most people. You should try to find a solution to this problem. Is there a room to install a second bathroom? Could I convert one of the closets to make room for a bath? Try to install new bathroom in the area that is relatively close to the existing plumbing as to minimize costs.

The farther away the pipes are the more expensive new bath is going to be. This is one cost that will surely return money on your investment. You can also consider adding half a bath for the use by guests and expending the existing bathroom if it is too small and there is additional room making the expansion possible.

Shower, Bathtub or both?

If you would like to have separate shower from your bathtub consider additional costs and make sure you have enough room to do that. Separate showers are usually installed in upscale homes and they are great but if you do a renovation on a house where the shower/bathtub combination is a standard, think twice before you start the work. Some showers or baths might not have adequate sizes so see if they can be enlarged to meet new standards.

Countertop

It is a good idea to replace countertop and sink if they are outdated. Costs compared to kitchen countertops are going to be minimal and most likely you will get a better price when putting the order for both at the same time. Use double sinks when possible and put in new faucets.

Paint

You should definitely consider painting your bathroom. It is one of the least expensive improvements but the one that often makes a huge difference.

Lighting

Consider installing some more decorative lights above your mirror instead of the cheap mirror bulbs. You can find very nice lights for a price that won’t break your budget yet will make a big difference in the way your bathroom is going to look.

Toilet

Replace the toilet if there are stains that would be difficult or impossible to remove. There are some great toilets by Toto you might want to consider. Some Japanese companies offer high end toilets that blow warm air and water and have cushioned seats but they are pretty expensive so save them for your really upscale remodeling projects.

Storage

Storage is very important so make sure that you have enough of it. If you are planning to install pedestal sink in a small bathroom think twice. They certainly look great but where are you going to store all your cleaning supplies, toilet paper, deodorants, perfumes and other items that belong to the bathroom?

How can you make an impact without spending a fortune?

The things that make a big difference don’t necessarily require tons of money. You can make your bathroom more presentable by doing the following:

• Caulking the areas around your bathtub and sinks
• Changing faucets
• Replacing doors and trim
• Re-grouting tiles
• Changing the toilet seat
• Replacing shower door
• Paint
• Installing new lights

That, of course, will work only in case the bathroom is in a decent shape and total bathroom remodeling is not necessary. If you have a bath that is outdated, with damaged plumbing, more work and money will be required to bring it up to date.

Follow the link of National Kitchen and Bath Association in order to learn more about bathroom remodeling.

You can also visit website of Bathroom Manufacturers Association if you want to learn more about bathrooms.