Establishing a Bathroom Remodeling Budget

Designing and planning your bathroom remodel project is one of the most important steps of the bathroom remodeling process. Planning your bathroom remodel is not as easy as going to the local home improvement store, buying some tile, a new vanity, and some new fixtures, and going home to start tearing your bathroom apart. If you try this approach, you will quickly realize that it is not an effective or productive approach.

A very important component of the bathroom remodeling project is establishing your budget for your project.. To provide you with a starting point, I detailed the basic material costs for a bathroom remodel. Please realize that these costs are general estimates for a basic bathroom remodel to guide you when establishing your budget.

* Permits - I budget around 10% of the total construction costs for permits fees.

* Tile - $7 to $15 a square foot

- The cost for tile varies by the amount of tile needed and type of tile chosen

- For more information on tile, please refer to the previous articles that I recently wrote

- Along with the tile you will also need grout and tile sealer

- In-floor heat $14.00 a square foot.

* Bathtub - $500.00

- This is the average cost for a 60" long by 30" wide bathtub; 60" long bathtubs usually range in width from 30" to 36" and in height from 14" to 18"

- Soaker tubs start at $1,000

- Whirlpool tubs start at $1,500

* Vanity - a good estimate is $125 per linear foot for the vanity

- This amount is for a semi custom made vanity of Maple, Cherry, or Oak, with soft close drawers

* Vanity top

- Cultured marble - staring at $80 a square foot

- Granite - starting at $90 a square foot

- Cambria - staring at $90 a square foot

* Sink - A good starting estimate is $200

- Depending on the vanity top that you select, you may need to purchase a separate sink. Cultured marble vanity tops have the sink molded in the top as one unit.

* Bathtub and shower Faucet - $350

- The finish you select for your faucet will impact your cost; a chrome finish is generally less expensive while brushed nickel and oil rubbed bronze cost more.

* Vanity Faucet - $150

- The finish you select for your faucet will impact your cost; a chrome finish is generally less expensive while brushed nickel and oil rubbed bronze cost more.

* Mirror - $200

* Bathroom Accessories - $200

- Towel bars, toilet paper holder

- Again, the finish you select will impact the cost

* Lights - $200

- Be sure to have adequate lighting in your bathroom; the bathroom is where you begin and end each day.

- Use more than one light for the services of the bathroom such as vanity, mirror, and the shower space.

* Primer, paint, accessories - $125

- To help with lighting in the bathroom, I suggest using a subtle color for the walls to help reflect the light.

* Construction Materials - $10 a square foot, this is a good starting point.

- Construction materials include tile backer, thin set, screws, drywall, joint compound, and etc.

- If you have a 5 foot by 8 foot bathroom, you have 40 square feet. I would budget $400 for materials.

* Dumpster - $300

* Plumbing - $1,000

- Disconnect the sink, faucet, toilet, bathtub, and shower valve

- Install a new sink, faucet, shower valve, toilet, and bathtub

- Install new shut off valves for sink and toilet

* Electrical - $800

- Inspect bathroom for a dedicated circuit to comply with current electrical code

- Update electrical, install new outlets and lights

- Connect in-floor heat

- Install bath fan switch

- Remove and replace vanity light

It is important to stay within your overall budget. Once you have a budget established for the items that are needed, it is time to decide who is going to complete the work. Undertaking a bathroom remodel can be a time consuming and stressful situation if you decide to complete the remodel on your own. Some questions you need ask yourself before attempting a remodel on your own include:

* Do you have the time to complete the remodel?

A bathroom cannot be properly remodeled in one weekend. As a contractor, I suggest that you develop a remodeling timeline, and then add extra days. Some unforeseen problems will occur. To save yourself unneeded stress during the remodeling project, pad your timeline by a minimum of a few days.

* Do you have the necessary tools to complete the remodel?

Whether completing the remodel yourself or choosing to work with a contractor this information should be helpful in deciding what you would like to spend on your remodel and what you expect for your money.

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Factors That Will Affect Your Bathroom Remodeling Estimates

Many persons today are considering the option of remodeling their bathroom for a more luxurious feel. However, having an idea of how much this will cost can be extremely helpful in assisting persons to set a budget and plan how and when the remodeling will take place. One of the places that persons tend to go to get an idea of the cost is the internet and remodeling magazines. In most cases these will only give you the average cost which you may find to be different from the actual estimate. As a result, you need to at least have an idea of the various factors that can affect your estimate and how the average cost is calculated.

The average bathroom remodeling estimate found in magazines and on the internet is normally calculated in three groups namely, the average, upscale or custom and economy group.

• The Economy class refers to a remodeling that does not require installing or moving plumbing fixtures. Hence it is a reflection of the homeowner trying to achieve the remodeling of their bathroom at the lowest cost possible and hence this option also assumes the use of materials of a low quality.

• The Average refers to remodeling with the help of a contractor and use materials of standard quality. This figure will take into consideration buying new plumbing fixtures but not necessarily moving anything.

• The Upscale or Custom estimate takes into consideration the use of materials of a high quality, the purchasing of new plumbing fixtures and specialty items as well as a contractor.

Most times these categories of estimates are mentioned yearly in remodeling magazines, however there are factors which can cause the estimates you receive from contractors to be different such as

• The time of year that you plan to do your remodeling can affect your cost by as much as 15% during the slower periods of the year like around Thanksgiving.

• The amount of work that you plan to contribute to the project, like whether you plan to do the designs on your own or use the services of an architect or bathroom remodeling contractor, or whether you plan to do things like painting and so on. All these will mean that there is less for the contractor to do and hence can have a great impact of the price you pay to remodel.

• Where you are located can also affect the cost, as the cost of materials and labour varies from region to region, and can cause a difference of as much as 20%.

If you so desire you can use the average cost to get a basic idea of your remodeling project. However to get a more detailed and accurate estimate, it is best to take advantage of the many free estimates that are available on line. These estimates will take into consideration, your location, the amount of work you want don, the design you have in mind, the amount of work the contractor will have to do and the timeframe in which you would like this to be completed.

Hiring A Contractor For Your Seattle Bathroom Remodel

If you’re planning to hire a contractor to remodel your bathroom, it’s important that you ask a few questions to ensure hiring the right contractor for the job. This article looks at the most important questions to ask, so you’re sure you not only hire the right contractor, but you also get the bathroom of your dreams and a project well done.

Are You Licensed?

You should only hire a contractor that is fully licensed. Hiring an unlicensed contractor can not only bring your project to a halt if authorities discover this during an inspection, but it could also cost you a lot of money on top of possibly having to pay for shoddy work. Don’t be afraid you’ll offend a potential contractor by asking them to verify they are licensed. Any a licensed contractor will be more than happy to provide you with the information you need. Avoid any contractors that refuse to provide you with their licensing information or try to change the subject when it comes up in conversation.

What Is Your Past Bathroom Remodeling Experience?

While hiring a licensed contractor is important, you also want to make sure the contractor you choose has experience with bathroom remodeling. Although bathrooms are the smallest room in a home, they do require special expertise to ensure a job done right. A contractor that specializes in drywall, hardwood flooring, and garage conversions may not have the skills or experience necessary for completing a successful bathroom remodel. You definitely want a contractor with the experience to handle any situations that arise and that can make an instant decision without having to consult others when needed.

What Kind Of Insurance Do You Have?

While everyone hopes for a bathroom remodel where no problems arise, it’s inevitable that sometimes things just happen that you can’t prevent. This is when you want to make sure your contractor is insured, not only for the remodeling job or for damage done to your home during the remodel, but also for the contractor’s employees who may get injured during the job.

What Is Your Timeline To Completion?

When consulting with a contractor about your bathroom remodel, make sure you not only ask for a timeline to completion, but you also get it in writing as a part of your contract. This is especially important if you only have one bathroom in your home since you’ll have to make other arrangements during the remodel. You should also ask for a timeline of exactly when projects will be completed since this involves having people inside your home. Projects may include demolition, plumbing, electrical, framing, drywall, flooring, painting, etc.

How Much Will The Remodel Cost?

Another thing to get in writing is the estimated cost of your bathroom remodel. This should include an estimate not only for materials, but also for the cost of labor. Don’t be afraid to ask how you can cut costs when necessary. In addition, ask for a payment schedule. Most contractors will ask for a deposit when you sign your Seattle bathroom remodel contract. You can schedule future payments either in one lump sum at the completion of the entire job, or at specific milestones along the way.

Bathroom Remodel Contractors - How to Get a Reasonable Bathroom Remodeling Estimate

Bathroom remodel contractors giving reasonable bathroom remodeling estimate for free in a area near you. The key to getting a reasonable estimate is to picture an image of what you would like your bathroom to look like. Local Insured licensed bathroom remodeling contractors within miles of your residence are willing to give you the best price possible for the work you want to be done to your bathroom. Its up to you to make the decision about what you think is best for you.

These contractors are so eager to gain your business The possibilities are endless when it comes to bathroom renovation. The color of you bathroom can have a great impact on your moods & relaxation. Most people like there bathroom to feel like a spa going the distance by adding luxurious heated tile or stone floors for cold early mornings. The heated floor systems can range anywhere from $300-800 including labor depending on the contractor. We consider showers to be the total opposite of a bath, the shower is a sure quicker way to get cleaned up.

There is nothing like having multiple jet stream shower heads creating a water fall of a spa treatment enclosed in a glass barricade. The bath tub provides a relaxational soak after a long hard day. Some tubs can also come equipped with jet streams to massage key pressure points in our bodies. These two necessities can be very affordable or a little expensive but well worth the time effort to find the best once you have it installed. New sinks & faucet fixtures can give your bathroom a more modern stylish feel also. Your bathroom can tell a lot about your personality & how you like to relax during you leisure time. With that in mind it is very important that you get a bathroom remodeling estimate to know what you can & cant get done at a reasonable price

Effective Strategies For Hiring Bathroom Remodeling Contractors

It's hard to find good help these days and I've heard that my whole life. I wonder if there will actually be a day where we can find good help and we won't ever need to use that phrase ever again. I would like to offer my help as an experienced bathroom remodeling contractor to homeowners and give you a few tips and strategies for hiring good bathroom remodeling contractors.

1. Don't ever higher the cheapest bathroom remodeling contractor. You should always get at least three bids for any remodeling project and that's a must. If someone recommends a friend or another contractor to you, you should still get a couple more bids to make sure that you're not going to be overcharged.

2. Compare each estimate and make sure that each remodeling contractors has enough information in their contracts so that you can actually compare each contract effectively. If there isn't enough information in one contract, explain your situation to the contractor so that they can provide you with more information. This is going to be very important, especially if you're planning on making a good decision on which contractor to hire.

3. Check to make sure that your bathroom remodel contractor is actually licensed if your state requires one. This is where you could get into big trouble, hiring a friend or someone else that isn't licensed or doesn't know what they're doing. Be careful hiring unlicensed contractors, especially bathroom remodeling contractors.

4. Make sure that you get along with your bathroom remodeling contractor. If they rub you the wrong way or can't answer some of your questions, you should think twice before hiring them. I can't stress this enough and this is one of the most important things to me. If I can't get along with someone, I can't do business with them either.

5. Is your bathroom remodeling contractors and their workers qualified to remodel your bathroom? This seems to be a problem that's getting bigger and bigger. Just because you're contractor has 40 years of experience, doesn't mean that his workers will also. These are simple questions that can save you a lot of money and I suggest that you take advantage of them.

Bathroom Remodel Contractors - Bathroom Remodeling Estimate

It would be nice to have bathroom remodel contractors from a real bathroom remodeling company come out to your home & give you a bathroom remodel estimate right there on the spot. There are no surprise charges you get the rundown about how much you would have to spend if you choose to go with that renovation company. These types of services are not hard to find if you know how to find them. Of course, there are many things to think about & consider before you begin to choose a contractor. If you want the best quality for the best prices, I suggest that the homeowner do a little research on the contractor to see what type of reputation the company maintains.

It would also be a great idea to find a specialist that deals with nothing but bathrooms. There are local directories that help you find a remodeling company that suite your needs with proven records of accomplishment. Keep in mind that the beauty of compromise yields great results so do not be afraid to ask questions pertaining to bathroom renovation cost. Get multiple remodeling estimates from local contractors, free! Filter out you options & you budget before you buy. Mostly all local contractors are motivated to earn your business & loyalty. The best thing about getting your bathroom remodeled is that you qualify for a tax credit up to $1500. So if you need a remodel estimate & you don't want to pay just to get a estimate go online & Search for bathroom remodel contractors & find local bathroom remodel contractors that are best for you.

Ask Your Bathroom Remodeling Contractor the Right Questions

Usually when I go to someone's home to give them a bathroom remodeling estimate, I provide them with most of the questions and answers, that they're ever going to need. This is how I do business, but some contractors don't do business this way. Therefore, it's up to you, the homeowner to ask your bathroom remodeling contractor the right questions.

1. How long is the job going to take, before it's completed?

2. Is my job going to be a priority for your Construction Company or are you doing more work right now than you can handle?

3. Are you going to be here every day and if not, who will be overseeing the job? Make sure that you meet and get along with the person who's going to be in charge and working on your home every day, until the projects completed.

4. Do you have a payment plan and does your bathroom remodeling estimate have every item in it, so that I can compare it to the other contractor's estimates?

5. Do you guarantee your work and if so for how many years? Make sure that you understand what your contractor is and isn't guaranteeing. I don't guarantee any products or building materials, simply because I don't make them. As a bathroom remodeling contractor, it's my job to assemble these products, not to guarantee them.

6. How do we handle any problems while the work is in progress or after the project is completed?

7. Will you be working on my project every day until it's completed? This can become a big problem for contractors who are taking on more work than they can handle.

8. Can you provide me with a copy of your liability insurance? And workers compensation insurance, if they have employees?

There are plenty of other questions you can ask your bathroom remodeling contractor about your project. Make sure that you create a list of questions and concerns and go over them with your bathroom remodeling contractor. If you're serious about hiring a good contractor and you really don't want to have a lot of problems while working on your project, you should solve as many of the problems as you can, before the job starts.