Bathroom renovations are popular with homeowners because they provide a good return on investment. When looking at the overall value of a house, bathrooms, along with kitchens, carry a large majority of both the actual and perceived value. Renovating your bathroom will not only give you a space to escape the hustle and bustle of daily life but also help increase your property value and lower time spent on the market if selling is in your future.
Before You Start
Before setting a budget or picking out fixtures, it’s important to understand why you want to renovate your bathroom. The reasons can help you determine the scope of the project and set goals to stick to throughout the process.
Are you trying to:
- Make it more modern and functional?
- Increase resale value?
- Accommodate a change in family size or use?
- Preparing to sell the home?
Once you know the reason for your bathroom remodel, you can start to prioritize and plan out your budget, layout, and design.
Creating the Plan
Once you’ve identified the reason(s) for your bathroom renovation, you can start to create your plan. There are three basic categories of information to consider.
Start by identifying what you don’t like about the space:
- Is it the finishes?
- Use of space?
- Lack of storage?
- The massive jacuzzi tub that only gets used for dirty towel storage?
Next, identify what you’d like to have in the space:
- Heated floors?
- Custom tile shower with built-in niches or a bench?
- Floating vanity?
- Freestanding soaker tub with a chandelier above?
Finally, identify what needs must be met:
- How many bathrooms are in the house and how many tubs/showers already exist?
- Although tubs and tub/shower combos are becoming less common, having at least one tub in the house remains a top priority for home buyers.
- What will the heat source be?
- In-floor heat for warmth is great on cold mornings.
- Baseboards using your existing heat source can help keep your costs low.
- How many people will be using the space and how often?
- Perhaps that floating vanity or pedestal sink won’t cut it for a large family with only one bathroom.
- Consider a double vanity in order to increase storage space and functionality.
The information you identify will inform your final design and help you set a realistic budget that will match your goals. Facebook, Pinterest, Houzz, and the latest flip this or your favorite renovate show are great resources for idea starters and other considerations to help plan your bathroom renovations.
Things to keep in mind:
- Intricate tile patterns involve more labor and tend to be more expensive.
- Visit a local tile supplier to check prices, you’d be surprised how quickly tile costs can add up and eat away at your budget and remember there will be additional labor costs for installation.
- Electrical components including pot lights, vanity lights, bath fans & in-floor heat add up quickly and can be costly when completed by a licensed professional.
- If possible, maintain existing plumbing locations (especially the toilet) in order to avoid expensive plumbing bills.
- Consider quality and be selective with your fixture selections. A simple rain head can range from $50 to $500, but it’s not much of a deal if it stops working after a short time.
- Depending on the scope, size, materials, and fixtures, a bathroom renovation can run from $5,000 to $30,000 so do your homework and stick with your plans.
The process:
Regardless of the size of the bathroom or the reason for renovating, the bathroom renovations process should always follow the same steps:
- Separate your wants from your needs.
- Do your research on materials and design options.
- Set a realistic budget and have a plan for adjustment if unexpected expenses arise.
- Contact a professional renovator to help with the design, budget and product selection.
- Obtain a permit – if plumbing is being moved, structure changed, or the cost is estimated to be over $5,000 YOU NEED A PERMIT!
- Enjoy the process – renovations can be stressful but remember why you’re doing it. Keep in mind this is something you will be able to enjoy for years to come.
All-Craft takes the time to educate our clients on the latest trends and styles for bathroom renovations in Halifax, Nova Scotia. It is important that you have all the information before picking out materials, working with a professional renovator will help you plan your bathroom renovations.
