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In terms of both improving your lifestyle and your home value, bathrooms might be best for improvements and upgrades. However, it can get expensive fast, so set priorities and decide where to splurge and where to save.
Continue ReadingThe cost to add a bathroom to your home ranges from $25,000 to $75,000 depending on where it will be, if you install tile and what type, the styles you choose for the tub, shower, vanity and lighting. Spa-like finishes will price higher. Check out the Cost Guides below for more detailed bathroom project costs.
In terms of both improving your lifestyle and your home value, bathrooms might be best for improvements and upgrades. However, it can get expensive fast, so set priorities and decide where to splurge and where to save.
Continue ReadingIn terms of both improving your lifestyle and your home value, bathrooms might be best for improvements and upgrades. However, it can get expensive fast, so set priorities and decide where to splurge and where to save. There’s a big difference between upgrading fixtures and completely remodeling or build a new bathroom. In the latter case, it’s worth getting a quote from at least three bathroom contractors.
Second to a kitchen remodel, a bathroom remodel is the greatest home improvement you can make in terms of return on investment (ROI). Though the ROI on a bathroom remodel varies from year to year, the average return is 60 percent. (Some years it can climb to 85 percent, depending on market trends.)
As you might expect, your budget will determine the scope of your project. If money is tight, you might focus on paint. Light, neutral colors make a small bathroom feel bigger. And if everything else is in good shape, a little new paint may be all you need. If you’ve got a bigger budget, however, you may want to consider a few remodeling upgrades.
The first question you should ask yourself before undertaking any bathroom remodel is whether you want a shower, a tub, or both.
Average Cost: On average, it costs about $740.00 to $1,400.00 to have a bathtub professionally installed. The average cost to have a shower installed is about $1,200.00 to $2,000.00. (Note: This pertains only to replacement tubs and showers for which the proper plumbing and supports are already in place.)
Tile is another bathroom upgrade that can have a profound effect. Tiles are available in linoleum, ceramic, glass, stone and other materials. And they come in various sizes and colors. Different colors and shapes can make your shower stand out, while a unified look incorporating matching shower and floor tiles offers the appearance of a continuous floor design.
Average Cost: The cost of your bathroom tiling project will depend on whether you go the DIY route or hire someone for the job. Tiles can be installed by the homeowner with a little skill and patience. But if you have any doubts about your ability, it’s generally worth it to hire a professional. The price difference is about $500.00 (for a 53-square-foot area -- DIY: $200.00 to $300.00, contractor $700.00 to $800.00).
New toilets, sinks and fixtures are one of the best ways to give your bathroom a quick boost. In fact, even a tired, old sink can get a new lease on life with some updated hardware.
Average Cost: Typically, the homeowner supplies the toilet to be installed by the professional. Most toilets cost about $100.00 to $200.00. Installed, the total cost generally falls between $200.00 and $400.00. Installing a bathroom sink costs around $300.00 to $500.00.
DIY bathroom remodelers often overlook towel racks and hangers, but they can tie a room together when they match the rest of the décor. Cabinet hardware such as hinges and handles can also be the perfect accent to finish off a bathroom. They should match the style and the finish of the sinks, towel racks and showerheads hardware. After all, it just wouldn’t do to pair rustic country cabinets with sleek, modern faucets and spouts.
Average Cost: The cost of towel racks and cabinetry hardware ranges from only a few dollars for basic models to more than $100 for designer names. The cost will depend entirely on the style for which you’re shopping.
The floor is the visual foundation of any room. What you do with the floor essentially defines the space. You have many options for your bathroom floor. And, since it’s a small space, costs are easily kept to a minimum -- although choosing high-end material can still make it quite expensive as well as the price to rip out the existing floor.
When remodeling, there is one rule of thumb: if you don’t have to modify or move it, don’t. Any changes made to the internal electrical or plumbing systems inside of your walls will require permits and contractors.
Use existing plumbing and electrical systems whenever possible. As you’re recouping only around 60 percent of your investment, completely moving things doesn’t usually pay off. If you absolutely must move things (to make room for another addition, for example), be sure to hire a reputable contractor and, if possible, make the blueprint for your home’s wiring and plumbing available.
Moving the plumbing isn’t as difficult when you have a basement or good crawlspace. Oftentimes, the plumbing is run beneath the house and involves very little work between the walls. The work must still be done by a licensed plumber or electrical contractor, but it’s much less disruptive to the interior of your home.
Remodeling a bathroom comes with many of the same requirements and considerations as adding a new bathroom. But there are differences, especially where electrical and plumbing are concerned. In a remodel, you don’t usually have have to install new systems, but an additional bathroom will require new lines.
Adding a bathroom can cost from $3,000.00 for a simple conversion of existing space to $25,000.00 for a new addition to your house. The national average for a 100-square-foot, spa-like bathroom is over $75,000.00, so watch your budget carefully.
A new bathroom adds value to any home, especially when there is only one to begin with. But how much you’ll recoup depends on the part of the country in which you live. In the west, you can expect an ROI of roughly 67 percent; in the east you might get around 47 percent.
The shower or tub is most often the focal point of a bathroom. Nobody goes to the bathroom sink to get away from the stress of the day. A deep, luxurious tub can be a ticket to paradise, as can a large, walk-in shower with jets that massage you from head to toe. Even a small corner shower can be an escape with the right upgrades.
Average Cost: The average cost of having a tub or shower installed is around $3,000.00. Shower/tub combos involve more plumbing and can cost a little more.
When designing your new bathroom, think about the tile and how it will affect the feeling of the space. A small tub or shower will benefit most from light colored tiles, which will give it an open, airy feel. Larger tiles are also good for small showers, but remember that shower floor tiles should be no larger than 6 inches square. This helps the grout provide grip on a wet surface, and it’s easier to provide a drain slope with smaller tile.
Give yourself artistic license in laying out the tiles. Some designs match the bathroom floor to the shower floor to give a unified look to the whole bathroom; others draw attention to the shower by giving it a look all its own. Tiles can go up the wall to the ceiling, and some continue on the ceiling to make the shower look like a separate room altogether. Changing tile styles -- using larger tiles with smaller tiles as accents, for example -- provides an attractive visual pop that works well in larger showers.
Average Cost: Tiles range from $1.00 per square foot to $18.00 per square foot, depending on the material.
Though a shower or tub is the focal point of a bathroom, the toilet and sink can define the room as well. Sleek and modern fixtures give a bathroom an updated look while classic styles offer warmth and comfort.
Average Cost: The average cost to install a toilet ranges from $250.00 to $460.00, depending on who supplies the toilet. A bathroom sink or vanity averages from $300.00 to $500.00.
Wherever there’s a sink, a backsplash is a good idea. As its name implies, it keeps water from splashing back onto the wall where it can cause damage and mold.
The backsplash can make a statement all its own. A popular option for backsplashes is a set of interlocking tiles that attach with normal bonding material. This allows for more coverage in less time than it would take to set individual tiles.
Average Cost: A backsplash can cost $12.00 to $21.00, depending on the kind of tile used. Larger coverage areas will cost more.
Installing a new bathroom means installing new plumbing. It’s best to locate your new bathroom near existing plumbing. Otherwise, the cost of running new lines to your bathroom can dominate your budget. Sewer lines must have a specific grade to ensure drainage to the city lines, and certain lines have to be of a specified diameter to accommodate a certain volume of that drainage.
It’s for these reasons and considerations that licensed contractors should be called in to add plumbing. Not only can contractors be reasonably expected to install new plumbing according to local and state codes, they should also be able to obtain the necessary permits. This also gives you a means of legal recourse if the job is done incorrectly.
Average Cost: The cost of plumbing a new bathroom depends on many factors, including the purpose of the bathroom (guest, kids, master bath, etc.), the layout of the existing plumbing, the location of existing plumbing features such as the cleanout, and what sort of foundation you have. If you have a basement or crawlspace, it will generally cost less than if you have a concrete slab foundation that has to be cut through. A basic bathroom addition can cost from $10,000.00 to $25,000.00.
Depending on the job and location, a plumber can cost from $45.00 to $150.00 an hour.
Adding new electrical components to your home, such as those required for a new bathroom, is a bit more involved than it sounds. Adding a new room means adding new outlets and switches. These put a demand on your power supply and its interface, the breaker panel (or fuse box in older homes).
On average, an electrician can cost about $70.00 to $80.00 an hour.
Before beginning your project, you should always check your state and local codes to see what permits and inspections are needed. While these can change from region to region, a good rule of thumb says that you need a permit if you are going to:
Since all of the above items are involved in putting any new addition to your house, it’s a given that adding a bathroom of any size will require permits. Discuss with your contractor whose responsibility it is to get the permits.
This is a question that many homeowners ask themselves right after deciding that a new bath is needed. Many experts agree that converting a half bath to full bath can increase your home’s value by around 20 percent versus a half bath at 10.5 percent.