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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