Although a kitchen remodel is probably a bigger undertaking that does not make a bathroom remodel any small feat. Since the bathroom is such an important room, a bathroom remodel is still a big deal, even if it’s not a complicated as redoing the kitchen. And that’s why many people start by questioning how to start a bathroom remodel.
Our advice? Start with your budget. Below you’ll find tips for starting on your budget and other tips for keeping it in check…
A bathroom remodel is a sound investment
Although you might be motivated by a need for more space or a desire to update your bathroom to get rid of the pink porcelain, a bathroom remodel is a sound investment in your home. So when you see the costs, keep that in mind. Experts say it’s a sure way to increase your home’s value, and you’ll get a return on your investment of up to 80%. That means if you spend $20,000 on the remodel, you might increase the value of your home by up to $16,000.
Not that $20,000 is a magic number. I only used that example for easy math. An average bathroom remodel cost just over $11,000 in 2016 according to the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA), although plenty of people will spend upwards of $30,000 and more for a bathroom remodel.
How to start a bathroom remodel? With a budget breakdown
When you’re starting on your budget, keep this basic breakdown in mind:
- Most of your cost will go toward labor and installation, about 20%
- Your cabinets and hardware will probably be your second biggest cost at 16%
- Then fixtures at 15%, meaning tub, toilet, shower, sink
- And plumbing plus faucets at 14%
Obviously, you’ll have costs for flooring, painting, sheetrock, lighting and more, but the costs above will probably be your biggest so they are the costs that will eat up a bulk of the budget. Anything you can do to keep these costs down will help you know how to start a bathroom remodel without feeling overwhelmed.
Advice for keeping bathroom remodel costs down
Is the cost of a bathroom remodel starting to make you nervous? Then consider ways to cut the costs before you start putting numbers down on paper. When it comes to the big cost of labor, you can do some of the work yourself to keep that cost down. For example, you can probably do the demolition of the old bathroom and paint the walls and trim once they’re installed.
Keeping fixtures in place also cuts costs. If the tub and toilet can be replaced but not relocated, you’ll save a lot on labor and plumbing costs, for example. The same is true of the sink and shower. Any time the plumbing can stay, try to make it so and you’ll save big on labor and plumbing costs both.
You can also keep your bathroom cabinet costs down by buying from a bathroom cabinets company that offers semi custom cabinets (which are more affordable than custom cabinets). A company like Wellborn Forest Products offers dozens of door styles and countless finish and color options, giving you a plentiful choice without making you pay a plentiful price.