Home Renovations 101: Budgeting a New Bathroom

How to Remodel a Bathroom

It can be refreshing to give yourself a change of scenery every once in a while. This doesn’t mean that you have to go on a vacation and change up your favorite local destinations, though. Sometimes, making changes at home is enough to give yourself a refresh.

Home renovations are a great way to reinvent your life. You can essentially “get a new house” without having to go through the financial and mental hassle of moving.

Bathrooms are a popular room for people to renovate, but not before asking about costs. You might find yourself Googling "how to remodel a bathroom?" before you start your project. There are a lot of things to consider before getting started.

Remodeling a bathroom can refer to a number of different things. Essentially, a remodel is when you want to change something in the design of your bathroom.

Remodeling can occur in different ways. It can include some minor adjustments, such as new paint, or major replacements, such as new flooring and appliances.

Why Should I Remodel My Bathroom?

There are many reasons why you might want to remodel a bathroom. Below are some of the most common reasons.

Aesthetics

Some people simply want to change the design of their bathroom. Maybe you grew out of it and are looking for something a little different, or maybe you always found it ugly and didn’t have the resources to redesign it when you moved in. Remodeling bathrooms are especially popular among homeowners who have outdated bathrooms that are straight out of the 80s or 90s.

Safety

If you are living with an elderly or disabled individual, remodeling a bathroom may be a matter of safety. Having low-rise tubs, gripped tiles, or adding some railings may make a huge difference in the overall safety of your bathroom. Having a more accessible bathroom can help reduce the risk of accidents.

Expansion

When families expand, we often find ourselves needing a little more space. Maybe you need to add a second sink to your bathroom, or add more cupboards or storage. In some cases, you may need to add an entirely new bathroom! In either case, there are ways to utilize what you already have and turn it into something better suited for your needs.

Investment

If you are planning to move or are looking to appraise your home, some minor remodeling may increase the overall value of your house. This project can be a small investment of time and money that can greatly increase the selling price.

Sustainability

Many new homeowners are finding themselves renovating or remodeling in order to make sustainable changes. Older fixtures often use more water or electricity, and upgrading to newer models will lessen your carbon footprint, and decrease your monthly utility bills. Small changes can make a big difference.

Repairs

Fixing cracked tiles or leaky plumbing is a great idea that can also reduce long term costs. It's always important to address any damage you find as soon as possible. Otherwise, it could get worse and cost more to repair later.

Protection

An even better idea than fixing repairs is preventing repairs from even being needed. There are some steps you can take which can possibly prevent damage before it happens. There are even special ways to paint in order to prevent damage caused by humidity (such as mildew or mold growth).

How Much Do You Want to Change?

Depending on what you are looking to do, there are different items in your bathroom you may want to address. In some cases you might want to do a complete overhaul, but in other situations, minor changes are all that's needed.

• Plumbing: Plumbing is a rather invasive remodeling project, but a very important thing to do if repairs are needed. Upgrading those old copper pipes can also be a smart decision: it is easier to replace functioning pipes than addressing damage caused by broken pipes.
• Bathroom Fixtures: Getting a new bathroom fixture to fit your needs can help give your home a new look or increase the efficiency of your water use. This could include bathtubs, showers, sinks, or toilets.
• Furniture: Give yourself some extra storage space to fit your busy life. Adding proper cabinets or shelving units can help you stay organized and improve the overall look of your bathroom.
• Walls: Whether you are looking to change the color or look of your bathroom, changing up wallpaper or tiles is a minimally invasive project that can completely reinvent your home. Color schemes are often a huge factor in the overall atmosphere of a bathroom.
• Flooring: You can also redo the tiles on your floor to reduce the chance of accidents occurring, or even compliment your new walls! Good quality bathroom tiles will also reduce the maintenance you need to put into it.
• Lighting: Lights are another feature that can really change the appearance in your bathroom as well as contribute to saving costs.

Questions to Ask Yourself

When remodeling a bathroom, you need to decide whether it will be a DIY (do it yourself) situation, or if you will hire a professional. There are advantages and disadvantages to both, but only you can properly gauge your skill-set and patience.

Small projects such as tiling or installing wallpaper are something that is easy to learn. When it comes to more involved projects which require plumbing or electrician experience, it may be better to get a professional involved. You don’t want to accidentally incur damages (or injuries) because you are trying to save a few extra bucks.

Understanding the Cost

The cost of remodeling a bathroom will vary depending on what you want to do. Small updates will obviously be less expensive than putting in new floor and standing shower.

Depending on whether you want to replace a simple light fixture or need to rip out your walls and replace expensive plumbing systems, the process can cost anywhere from $50 to a few thousand dollars.

Talk to a professional about what you want to accomplish and try to set a budget. There is room for anyone to do a little home improvement, no matter their financial situation.