Update Your Bathroom For $500 or Less!
Renovators Place Columnist
Oct 08, 2009
Bathroom remodeling can become an expensive endeavor, but there are ways to update your bathroom for a fraction of the cost of a complete makeover. In fact, $500 can go a long way if you are handy and creative. Consider these options:
Replace the Bathroom Sink
You can
change from a basic white pedestal
sink to a colorful wall mounted
one or replace a traditional one-bowl vanity with a stylish vessel sink. Add a simple laminate
countertop underneath to complete the look. There are many new styles of sinks
on the market that are priced from $100
to $300. A laminate countertop will cost $50 to $100.
To help reduce the costs, don't make any structural changes and reuse
the faucet, if possible.
Replace the Bathroom Faucet
If you are
tired of that faded brass faucet, consider one of the many trendy finishes,
such as satin nickel, antique brass
or copper. Most faucets are priced from $50 to $200. If you have the skills to
install it yourself, you'll save on labor.
A few tips:
·
Check
the hole configuration on your
sink. One hole means the faucet has to be 4-inches on center, while two holes
means 8-inches on center. Those are the two standard configurations.
·
Blend the finish with the rest of your room. If you have chrome towel bars, look for a
gray metal finish. For brass accents, try a muted brass finish, such as an
antique finish.
Replace the Showerhead
Many new
models are easy to install and
come with 3-5 showering options -- from a pulsating spray to a soft massaging
water stream. The cost for materials? $40 to $150.
Update the Cabinetry
If your
cabinetry is in poor shape, replace it with standard stock cabinetry found in
most home improvement stores. By raising the height a little and adding
decorative molding on the bottom of the cabinet door, you can give the standard
cabinet a custom look.
The cost?
You can find a 30-inch vanity for
around $200. A contractor might charge you $200 to raise it, plus another $100
for the molding.
Change Your Hardware
Cabinet
hardware is an inexpensive way to
give your room a new lift. In the bathroom, it's easy to get whimsical with
bright colored fish, bold colors,
or ornate metal scrolling.
Hardware is
priced from $1 to $25 per piece, so it's easy
to outfit an average sized bathroom for $100 or less.
Add a Half Bath
Yes, that's right. It is possible to add a half bathroom for $500.
If you have a closet under your stairs or a pantry near the dining room, you can convert it to a bathroom. The basic components -- a sink, toilet and faucet -- can be bought for $500. You'll have to add in your own sweat equity, of course, to make it work.
"For $500, you could purchase the
components to add a half bath," said Gary Uhl, director of design for American Standard, a plumbing fixtures
company in Piscataway,
NJ. "With a pedestal lav, a 1.6 gallon toilet and a faucet, you could convert that space under the stairs to a
bathroom and install it yourself."
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