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Bathroom Renovation Expenses
Remodelling as a whole is a significant decision that requires a lot of consideration on your end because of the financial investment involved. No part of the house needs more labour or costs to remodel per square foot than your bathroom. This may come as quite the surprise, but it is essential to understand that the unique demands of redesigning what is probably the smallest room in your house are what make the cost of this project so high.
Depending on the bathroom size, what needs to be changed, and the cost of materials, fixtures, and labour, renovating can range anywhere from around $10,000 to around $30,000 or more. The typical average bathroom renovation cost in Australia is around $17,000.
Therefore, if you are thinking of remodelling your bathroom because it is outdated but are concerned about the high cost, you need to first understand what drives up the total cost and what you can do to effectively reduce that cost. This article will provide you with information to help you better understand why the renovation cost for bathrooms tends to be so high and the factors that make the price add up.
How Much A Bathroom Remodel Costs
When evaluating the cost of your bathroom remodel, there are various elements to consider. Do you want an expensive-looking bathroom that will appeal to potential buyers, or does your bathroom merely require a little upgrade in terms of fixtures and materials? You must also determine whether your budget allows you to achieve your goals.
People frequently desire luxurious bathrooms but are unaware that this means that they need to spend more money. As mentioned before, your bathroom's dimensions significantly affect the cost of your bathroom renovation. In addition, required structural alterations, such as installing skylights, a shower screen, new windows, shifting the plumbing or electrical outlets, replastering walls, and so on, can greatly inflate the cost too.
Some of the key reasons why one bathroom makeover could cost around $8,000 to $10,000 while another could cost around $20,000 to $25,000 include:
- Whether you will need to do any structural work.
- Are you opting for high-end or low-cost wall tiles, floor tiles, fixtures, and so on?
- Do you want skylights or need to put in new windows?
- Is the bathroom's size simply an ensuite or a big family bathroom?
- Suppose you intend to relocate pipes and fixtures. Extensive plumbing work tends to significantly drive up the renovation cost.
- Whether you're remodelling an existing bathroom or starting from scratch.
- Do you want underfloor heating?
Experts You Need To Renovate Your Bathroom
Excluding those who are skilled with tools (or those who are making minor DIY improvements), your bathroom makeover will almost certainly necessitate the hiring of tradespeople. Hiring professionals will cost you depending on what you want to be done, the size of your bathroom, accessibility of the area, and your location.
It's no secret that tradies in significant cities and metropolitan areas are more expensive per hour than tradies in smaller towns. Before diving into the cost, you need to know what tradies you need for your bathroom renovation. We've provided a list below to guide you and ensure that you do not overlook any.
A tiler, plumbers, electricians, carpenter, and sometimes a handyman to manage demolitions or other odd chores is required for a standard bathroom remodel. Below is a detailed guide on what each tradesperson's role is:
- You will need a plumber to move or add plumbing and install baths, showers, and toilets, among other fixtures.
- If you install new lights, a heating system, exhaust fans, a heated towel rail, or a water heater, you will need an electrician.
- Waterproofing and retiling the walls and floors will require the services of a tiler. It is important to remember that having a licensed tiler install waterproofing is now a legal necessity, so make sure you follow the rules in your area.
- For custom bathroom cabinets or shelving, you may require the services of a carpenter. For more upscale designs, you might need the help of a bathroom designer.
- Re-painting doors, walls, and ceilings may necessitate the services of a painter.
What Tradies Charge For Renovating A Bathroom
Tradies charge varying fees for different services, and they might charge in various ways. Some tradies, for example, will charge you an hourly fee, while others, such as tilers, charge per job or square metre. As mentioned above, the tradesman's cost is determined by the complexity of the project, its location, and its accessibility.
Below is an approximation of the cost charged by each tradesperson:
- $62.80 per hour for building projects
- $56.45 per hour for carpentry
- $75.56 per hour for electrical work
- $42.56 per hour for painting
- $80.92 per hour for plumbing
- $44.93 per hour for tiling
Finding The Best Bathroom Renovation Tradespeople
Suppose you are looking for a competent tradesperson. In that case, your best option is to ask your friends, co-workers, acquaintances, and relatives for their suggestions on reliable tradies they have worked with before. That way, you are more likely to find a tradesperson that does quality work, is nice to work with, and has a strong sense of ethics.
Sloppy work and a poor work ethic are the last things you want to deal with. Therefore, to ensure that you choose the perfect tradesperson for your renovation project, try to gather multiple recommendations from your network. If that isn't successful, you can always ask the tradies you have worked with previously for advice.
Tradies commonly work in groups and are frequently assigned to the same tasks. For instance, if you have worked with a terrific electrician before, chances are he knows of a fantastic local painter or plumber who can help you with your bathroom renovation.
You can also hunt for reliable tradies on the internet. However, ensure that you subject any professional you find that hasn't been suggested to you thorough online research. It is crucial to confirm whether they actually have a licence and read any online reviews available on their services. You can also request references and examples of previous work from any potential tradesperson.
Before settling for a tradesperson, ensure that you get three quotes at the very least. This way, you will better understand how much the bathroom makeover will cost you. If all of the quotes are identical, this will give you the confidence that the tradies you have chosen aren't ripping you off.
What Is Your Bathroom Remodel Budget?
If you are remodelling to sell, you need to consider the rise in resale value that comes with some of these rooms before you can decide. One of the most significant selling features will be your bathroom. However, it is easy to overspend or underspend on your bathroom renovation.
You should consider the worth of your house and what prospective purchasers will wish to see. They certainly wouldn't expect to find a bathroom in a mid-range home that stuns them with exquisite high-end tiles and furnishings. If your property is priced in the middle, buyers will seek a clean, neat, and practical bathroom. You might not need to conduct a complete makeover with extensive structural alterations in many circumstances.
Bathroom Renovation Considerations
Here are some crucial considerations when renovating your bathroom:
Look Through the Available Flooring Options
If you seek a low-maintenance flooring option, choose glazed and porcelain tiling options. Porous materials, such as natural stone and limestone, should be avoided. If not properly sealed, they absorb everything under the sun, leaving them discoloured and unattractive, making them difficult to maintain.
Consider Younger Children and Those With Mobility Issues
If you have younger children or adults with mobility challenges, using non-slip flooring for your bathroom is advisable. Tiles with rough surfaces, matte finishes, and sand-based glazes are ideal. When walking on their surface, this will assist in providing a bit more 'grip.' Smaller tiles with a lot of grout lines are another possibility.
Do Not Overlook the Significance of Ventilation
Your bathroom's deadliest enemy is moisture. It doesn't make sense, does it? However, if you want to minimise stains, mould, and unattractive mildew, ensure that whoever you choose to renovate your bathroom pays attention to air movement. Check to ensure the vent fan is properly functioning and is the right size for your space, as a rise in moisture levels can result in structural damages and mould growth, which are costly to repair.
How To Save Money On Bathroom Renovations
One of the most fundamental investments you'll ever undertake for your house is a bathroom renovation. Renovating will be quite advantageous in the long term, whether you want to sell the home or just improve or upgrade its style. On the other hand, total refurbishment can be costly because it entails replacing old tiles with new ones, changing the plumbing, materials, and fittings, and, if necessary, repairing the electrical system.
Renovations might cost anywhere from around $20,000 to $40,000, depending on the size of your bathroom. You can apply several strategies to save money on your bathroom remodelling project, such as carefully selecting your finishes and sticking with your current plan.
It is recommended not to overdo adjustments or installations when it comes to fittings and materials. If you are on a relatively small budget, go for the cheaper products. It's even more ideal to let a professional interior designer go over your bathroom plans to provide further insights and cost-cutting solutions.
Combining projects to save on the overall cost-per-square-foot is one of the best ways to save money on your renovation project. For instance, if you have two bathrooms that you are thinking of renovating, doing them simultaneously will save you a lot of money. Similarly, if you plan a kitchen remodel, an extension, or any remodelling, you can consider batching your projects to save money.
Make Your Budget Bathroom Look Luxurious
Most people believe that getting their bathrooms to look fancy entails spending a lot of money on decorating and upgrading them. However, by simply learning and applying some helpful tips and tricks, you may still get the desired look. A simple modification in lighting or a new colour scheme may make a massive difference in the appearance of your bathroom.
For instance, if you need to replace the tiles, instead of going in a vertical or horizontal line, tile diagonally to give your room a unique vibe. When it comes to getting your bathroom to appear more luxurious, interior designers are the experts. Therefore, make an appointment with a reliable interior designer ASAP to learn how to give your bathroom an elegant look without spending a fortune.
Bathroom Renovation Mistakes To Avoid
Spending Excessively or Insufficiently
The cost of your bathroom makeover will vary based on your specific needs, the property's total value, the type of home you have, and the size of the bathroom. Because bathrooms in a family house are used more frequently, they require a more functional design than, for example, a bathroom for a retiring couple in a small one-bedroom apartment.
The design of your house will also play a role. If you have a luxury home and want to complete its appeal, investing in a more lavish bathroom might still be essential. Therefore, spending on your bathroom renovation should be done with moderation and practicality in mind without overspending or underspending.
Contracting Cheap and Shady Contractors
While you might want to save cash wherever possible when renovating your bathroom, it's essential to understand that you cannot scrimp on some aspects. Therefore, ensure that you choose bathroom renovators who are licensed, insured, and have prior expertise.
Qualified specialists should only perform plumbing or electrical work. You can save money by coordinating the tradespeople yourself or paying to have them managed for you by a specialised company or builder. However, if you go this route, make sure the project manager has experience with bathroom renovations and is connected with seasoned and high-quality tradespeople.
Verify that your chosen craftsmen have a current licence with your state, territory, or municipal government entity. Waterproofing leads the list of the most significant building problems in every state or jurisdiction in Australia, as per the Master Builders Association of NSW.
As a result, hiring a highly certified waterproofer to fix your bathroom's waterproof membrane is essential to guarantee it is done correctly. Remember that waterproofing regulations differ from state to state, so be sure you know what's necessary for your project. Depending on the situation, you may require tilers to get a licence or accreditation of the profession.
Choosing the Fashionable Above the Practical
Bathroom designs and styles come and then go, so choose one that will stand the test of time while still focusing on functionality. Bathrooms can quickly become outdated, so less is often more, which means not being overly flashy in your choice of materials and tiling.
The style of your bathroom should be defined by the design of the house, and you should stick to it. Dealing with a historic house is not the same as working with a modernist-style home. So, unless the entire building can be refurbished in a new, distinct design, you have to stick to the house's style. If the remainder of the house is dated, remodelling a bathroom in your older house may not raise the property's value.
Unless you plan on doing a comprehensive remodel, you do not want to only work on the bathroom and make it different from the rest of your house. Style plus subsequent fittings account for a significant portion of the cost of a bathroom makeover, which is why it's critical to shop around to ensure you get the best deal.
Doing Everything Yourself
DIY is viable for cosmetic renovations such as changing wall tiles or grout, creating storage shelves, and painting. When plumbing, electrical, or waterproofing repair is involved, renovations grow more sophisticated, requiring trained and experienced workers. It is illegal and perhaps dangerous to install your cabling and plumbing, not to mention the importance of taking care of your floor waterproof membrane to prevent significant problems down the road.
If you DIY, there's a good possibility something could go wrong, which will cost you much more money to restore or repair. Therefore, it is safer and wiser to leave the renovation to the experts.
Doing a Full Makeover When Unnecessary
It's a common mistake for renovators to rip out and rebuild a perfectly acceptable bathroom when you might have obtained a fresh design with a few cosmetic tweaks. A big remodel may necessitate altering your plumbing plan, which is expensive and time-consuming, but a concept that utilises existing plumbing and only replaces the vanity, tapware, and wall tiles can save you hundreds of dollars.
How Long Should Bathrooms Last?
Although trends come and go, a newly renovated bathroom can last at least 15 years. The quality of the materials used and the craftsmanship of your tradespeople will determine how long your bathroom will last. Waterproofing and tiling are important features since they preserve the structural strength of the bathroom. If your tradespeople cut corners, you will find yourself dealing with leakages and re-tiling sooner than expected.
Stay On Budget With Bathroom Remodel Experts
As a rule of thumb, you should do modifications that are proportional to the worth of your property and will increase the value by twice their cost. You risk overspending and alienating potential purchasers if you go overboard with your improvements. An interior designer is able to advise you on what needs to be updated in your bathroom.
Hiring a trustworthy bathroom professional near you is beneficial as they are familiar with the local marketplace and can assist you in designing a bathroom that will appeal to the broadest potential audience while remaining within your budget.
If you want to carry out a bathroom remodel and ensure it goes smoothly and fast, then reach out to a reliable company that will provide you with excellent services and offer a reasonable cost to renovate it.
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