Estimating the Cost of a Bathroom Renovation
Renovators Place Columnist
Oct 08, 2009
You are
committed to moving forward with the bathroom renovation. You’ve visited
countless showrooms and clicked through even more renovation and designer
showcases on the web. Your vision is in place. But are your vision and budget
in the same league?
To
determine how closely they line up, you will want to get a number of estimates
from qualified contractors. Most designers and contractors recommend securing
three estimates.
When
estimating the cost of your project, there are two primary categories to consider:
- Functional costs –
electrical, plumbing and structural, and labor costs
- Fixture costs – the
decorative components such as counters, vanities, tile, tubs, etc.
Functional
Costs
The costs
associated with electrical, plumbing and other structural related costs often
are the most complicated to estimate. This is particularly true in older homes.
There are
many potential surprises and no contractor can be certain what is behind the
walls until they are opened. For that reason, it is wise to add anywhere from
10 to 25 percent to the estimate as part of a contingency plan.
Some of
the surprises that could lurk behind those walls include:
- Electrical wiring that
doesn’t meet code – if a contractor finds knob and tube or some other
outdated wiring, it likely will have to be replaced to meet local code and
to reduce the risk of fire
- Deteriorating pipes – that
slight discoloration by the base of a tub was really indicative of a
bigger problem and a costly plumbing repair bill
- Plumbing configuration –
creating a new bathroom layout will improve the flow of the room, but
often will mean that pipes need to be rerouted.
- Structural – expansion of the
room means rebuilding or relocating a load bearing wall
No one
likes surprises, but they happen. The best approach is to begin by looking at
this category. Then determine how much money is left for more decorative items.
Fixture Costs
Fixture
costs are much more predictable. This doesn’t mean there won’t be surprises
along the way. These surprises, which generally come in the form of last minute
upgrades or work order changes, certainly are much more predictable.
Further,
the choices involved don’t represent the same risk as fixing a plumbing problem
now or waiting until later. Instead, it’s a matter of choice and what the
budget will allow. Do you add that armoire for towel storage? In most cases,
consider how much is left in the budget.
Some
tips:
- Shop around. You may be able
to find certain items at a home improvement center or second hand store,
while other items will come from specialty outlets or manufacturers.
- Keep some alternative choices
in mind (and written down in a folder somewhere). That way, if a surprise
does come along, you can react quickly without making a rash decision.
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