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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Turn to a Professional Remodeling Contractor and Plumber Team for Full-Service Bathroom Renovation

Anyone who has lived in a home with either an exceptionally nice or an exceptionally unpleasant bathroom will attest to the value that an aesthetically pleasing and functional bathroom space can provide! In order to achieve this marriage of form and function, it's important to make sure that you consider, plan for, and execute both an internal and external remodel of your bathroom space when you embark upon such a project. Getting your bathroom contractor to work in concert with your residential plumber will allow you to rest easy knowing that your whole bathroom will turn out the way you want it to.

When it comes to renovating your bathroom, you and your remodeling contractor can conceive of and design anything that you want. In reality, though, any changes to your bathroom's structure or layout will either have to fit in with your existing plumbing structure, or you'll have to change and adapt your plumbing to support the new design. Either way, it is in your best interest to coordinate with both your general contractors and your plumbing team to make sure that everything you have in your vision will work together. Unless you know both a great deal about plumbing in general, and about the specific plumbing situation in your home, trying to tackle this type of infrastructure-based planning and work is a task best left to the professionals.

Working with both your contractor and your plumber during a bathroom remodel not only allows you to make sure that all the changes you have in mind are possible and get executed correctly, but it also provides you with a great opportunity to make sure that your bathroom's plumbing is in the best shape it can possibly be. remodeling isn't just for the surface level. When you embark on a remodeling project in your bathroom, you also have a great opportunity to engage in a full scope of drain clog clearing and pipe repair as necessary. No matter how old or young your home is, or how well you take care of your plumbing system, it's likely that there's at least one part of it that could use a little TLC. Since you're in the middle of a renovation process, there's no reason not to get a comprehensive diagnosis of your plumbing situation and address any trouble spots before they get worse. Nipping any potential issues in the bud will make your life easier and will likely save you money in the long run. Plus, you'll be able to enjoy your new bathroom knowing that it's in tip-top shape inside and out.

Whether you're looking to spruce up the layout of what you already have, or you want to gut and revamp your whole bathroom space, it is worth your while to employ both a general contractor and a residential plumbing contractor to make those changes happen. Unless you have a lot of time, energy, and know-how, doing any bathroom renovation work, from installing waterproof tiling to conducting extensive drain cleaning, is best left to the professionals.

Simple Bathroom Remodeling Solutions For Contractors

Here's a list of problems that contractors run into when designing, planning, and remodeling bathrooms. These bathroom remodeling solutions listed below, often create problems for homeowners as well as contractors. Some of these problems have created contract disputes and could have been solved if the contractor or a homeowner was informed properly.

1. Problems with Old Galvanized Water Pipes: This is one of the biggest problems with older homes. Metal rusts and water running through these metal pipes will speed this process up, considerably. The problem arises when the galvanized water supply pipes cannot be taken apart or unthreaded, to add new plumbing fixtures or pipes, during the bathroom remodel.

Solution to the Problem: Experie nce contractors should inform their clients, about problems like this and what they propose to do, if they run into a situation where the galvanized water pipes are badly damaged. There will usually be extra work, which leads to extra money and this could create a problem between the contractor and a homeowner.

2. Problems with cast-iron drainpipes: these pipes often rust or become separated at the joints, creating water leaks and even areas for tree roots to enter the drainage system. These tree roots of course will cause the drainpipes to clog and eventually will have to be cleared in order for the drainage system to work properly.

Solution to the problem: informed the home owner of problems with cast-iron plumbing. If the contractor explains to the homeowner, any problems that could arise and a solution, you will find the process of bathroom remodeling a little less stressful. This stress can be eliminated or the contractor and a homeowner with a little preparation.

If you're a remodeling contractor, it wouldn't be a bad idea to make out a list of potential problems for the homeowner. List as many of the problems as you can think of, that you have ran into in the past or have heard other contractors and homeowners talking about. These lists can be given to your clients when you sign the contract.

Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors.

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.

Bathroom Remodeling - Wheelchair Accessible

Being confined to a wheelchair doesn't mean the end of the world. While it may alter the way in which you interact, there are ways to adapt in order to ensure your daily tasks are easily accomplished. When it comes to bathroom access in the home, some layouts can prove rather tough to navigate. With smaller doors, a cluttered interior, and generally unwelcoming features, the bathroom can pose quite a few issues to those who are wheelchair bound. In this article, we will outline a few ideas to incorporate within a bathroom remodeling project to make life just a little less stressful.

Step 1 - To start, you will want to replace your door with one that meets the specifications outlined in the Americans With Disabilities Act. The space a wheelchair requires to enter a doorway is generally 36 inches wide. Additionally, you will want to install the door in a way so that it swings outward.

Step 2 - The bathroom should have a minimum of 60 inches of space in the center area to afford the occupant maneuverability. A structure remodel may be required in order to move the wall to the appropriate position. Get in touch with a home builder in order to determine the more efficient means of enlarging the area during the process.

Step 3 - A roll-through shower should be installed which provides the occupant the ability to move to a shower chair. These showers are found through plumbing supply stores. Another option includes building a custom shower, built to the specifications required.

Step 4 - For bathroom remodeling, the toilet height should be raise for easy access from the wheelchair. Bars must be installed on the sides of the toilet to enable swift and easy transfer with the arms. Otherwise, a lift can be installed beside the toilet, provided enough room is available.

Step 5 - Sinks should be mounted in a way in which they are easily accessible to wheelchair occupants. Mirrors should also be adjusted accordingly. Under sink storage space should be made accessible as well.

Be sure to find yourself a reputable professional to help with the bathroom remodeling process. Due to the extent of the conversion, the job may prove too much for the novice DIY handyman. Evaluate various contractors in your area and check for pricing, and various services. Finding someone who is experienced enough to complete the entire project can work to save you time and money, and is worth the effort to find.