A bathroom remodel is a great investment for your home. It not only makes the space beautiful and can increase the usability of the space, but adds resale value to your home. As with any home remodeling project, keep in mind your budget. As well, it is recommended that you hire a contractor, such as us. Contractors are there to help you stay under budget and are experts at troubleshooting any unforeseen issues that may arise.
Checking for Issues
Bathroom remodels can get expensive, and choosing where to save and to splurge can be a difficult decision. Typically, a bathroom cost over $100 a square foot, but the benefits definitely outweigh the cost. Before anything else, make sure the guts of your bathroom are in working order, i.e. plumbing, drywall, no mold, ventilation, etc. It would be catastrophic if you had a beautiful new bathroom and a pipe burst or mold problems ran rampant. Mold can be a dangerous thing, it can cause illness and you might even find that you are allergic. As well, by making sure that these things are up-to-par, you will prevent a number of possible unforeseen issues right away, this way you can immediately adjust how your budget is allocated.
Where to Splurge
Now that you have checked for issues, you can go on to make design decisions. But what should you splurge on? This really depends on you, but there are things that will benefit you when you go to sell your house. Having a decent quality vanity and having nice tile will really catch the eye of any future buyer. Buying a quality vanity will ensure that it lasts years. Lower quality vanities are made mostly of particle board, which is susceptible to moisture. For tile, there are many different types you can pick. This can be tile for your shower, flooring, or even decorative.
Tile comes in many different materials, including marble, ceramic, and porcelain, just to name a few. Choosing which material depends on your budget and the amount of maintenance you want to deal with. One of the most durable tile materials tends to be porcelain because of the firing process it goes through.
Overall, choosing where to splurge is all up to you. Certain choices will help you get as close to your dream
bathroom as possible that also adds plenty to your home’s value. So go ahead and get that beautiful decorative tile that caught your eye if you really want to.
Where to save
There are several ways you can save a few bucks. One way is to keep your old toilet and just change the seat if need be. Another way is to get a quality tub insert rather than a custom tile shower, or choose a tile that’s costs less. The finish that you have on your plumbing fixtures is something to consider as well. Chrome is typically the cheapest finish to choose from, and it still looks good. Finally, keeping plumbing where it is will save you a ton. Moving around plumbing can be very costly as it is a labor intensive job that involves tearing up floors.
By saving in these areas, this opens up more options for beautiful, more expensive upgrades that you love.
Shakespeare Home Improvement Co. is a full service remodeling contractor out of Lancaster County, PA, including bathroom remodels. If you are considering a bathroom remodel, we offer free estimates to help you get the ball rolling. We work with quality companies including Clarion Bathware, Starmark Cabinetry, and more.