When you’re trying to up-level the appeal and comfort of your home, you might be trying to think of ways to save money on a bathroom remodel. After all, every room of your house is going to show its age, but there’s something about an old or outdated bathroom that’s especially troubling — it’s the place you go to get clean, so shouldn’t it be the place in your home that feels the freshest and spic and span?
The only problem, of course, is that a full bathroom remodel is pretty expensive! At least, it can be. But if you’re smart about the choices you make, there are plenty of ways to save money without compromising on a fully finished and satisfying end result. You could have a sparkling new bathroom at a fraction of the cost you would spend if you were just frivolously throwing money at the project — and who can afford to do that?!
Here are a few ways you can be smart about your bathroom remodel and ultimately save yourself lots of money:
Plan ahead.
As with any major home project, you should make a full assessment of your goals — what needs to change and what can potentially stay the same. It can be helpful to talk with a professional and get their opinion about what your priorities should be. You might think that your bathroom needs a new sink but a professional might advise you to focus your budget on the toilet (or vice versa). A professional can also provide input on what other expenses might be necessary based on certain plans you’re making. If you’re adamant about wanting a multi-head shower system installed, then this might require some plumbing changes to increase your water pressure. In turn, this might call for a bigger water heater so that you don’t run out of hot water too quickly.
Focus on changing surface-level aspects of the bathroom.
Sure, you might be thinking about how luxurious it would be to put your bathtub near the window overlooking your backyard, and move the toilet back to the corner where it’s out of the way. But unless these rearrangements are absolutely necessary, you should forget them. That includes choices like building out a wall to give your bathroom a little more room or even switching where the electrical sockets are located.
That’s because the biggest expense in any home renovation happens when you change the size and layout, especially if you’re changing exterior walls of your home (sometimes referred to as your load-bearing walls). Relocating the toilet and bathtub could cost upwards of thousands of dollars. Instead, focus on cosmetic changes you can make.
Of course, major changes like these might be a priority for you. Not having an electric socket right next to the sink drives you crazy because nobody in your family is able to plug in a hair dryer or an electric razor. If that’s the case — go for it! But make sure you ask yourself why it’s such an important priority.
Don’t replace tile if you can simply resurface it.
Maybe you’re sick of looking at the same dingy tile in your shower. What would you do if you could take it all out and put beautiful brand-new tile in its place? It makes sense that you would want this! Unfortunately, retiling is another major expense. A more reasonable priced solution is refinishing the tile instead of replacing it. Refinishing involves a thorough cleaning and then the application of a protective sealant that will keep it looking fresh and almost as if it were new. If refinishing isn’t an option and you really have to go with new, consider opting for a pre-fabricated shower installed instead of retiling the entire shower. (This isn’t always an option, however, as some bathrooms have doors that are too narrow to bring in a prefabricated shower.)
Think practically to avoid wasting money in the long run.
Saving money on the renovation doesn’t always equate to saving money in the long run. You might be wiser to invest a few hundred dollars more during the renovation and avoid larger bills in the future.
You know you need tile in your shower, but what if you were to do wood paneling on the other walls instead of tile? That would save money. But wood is much more susceptible to mold than tile is, and unless you have a great ventilation system in your bathroom, you might be paying for mold remediation in a few years.
Remember, certain parts of a bathroom remodel are not meant to be DIY projects. You might think you know what you’re doing, but just as you consulted a professional about your budgetary priorities, you should also trust a professional when it comes to installing certain new toilets or sinks.