How Much Should You Spend on a Bathroom Renovation?
Planning a budget for a bathroom renovation can be one of the biggest challenges you’ll face, despite the excitement of finally getting your dream bathroom! But, how much should you spend on certain materials? What can you spend too much, or too little on? Where should you invest your money during the bathroom renovations?
As it is difficult to put an exact number on what you should spend, we advise you to reach out to Crystal Bathrooms for a quote, or to learn more about how our interior design experts can help you make budget-friendly decisions!
The Dream Bathroom: But What’s The Price Tag?
Building your dream bathroom is an exciting time! The bathroom renovations are in full swing. You’ve got all the visions in your head for what you want it to look like. Maybe you’re removing the old, worn bathtub and putting in a gorgeous claw-foot tub, or you’re creating a walk-in shower unit. Maybe it’s a complete remodelling of an older style bathroom, paint, flooring, cabinetry: it’s all being ripped out and replaced!
Your partner/neighbour/friend asks, “How much will this all cost, anyway?” And then you realise that you haven’t priced it out. Your grand visions of Sydney bathroom renovations have no price tag. Let’s explore how to create that price tag for your dream bathroom renovation.
How to Budget Properly For a Bathroom Makeover:
Your first step in understanding how much you should spend on your bathroom renovations is to figure out your budget. Unless money is no object, you’ll need to work out exactly how much what you want to do to your existing bathroom will cost.
Budgeting properly for a bathroom renovation means pricing up the various parts of your intended renovations. Are you replacing flooring? If so, what type of flooring do you want to use? Can you afford it? Are there more budget-friendly alternatives that will achieve a similar look?
You can also look at long-term money-saving alternatives despite the additional upfront cost. Things like low-flow toilets or showers are becoming more popular as Australians look for ways to save money, and the planet simultaneously.
Breaking Down the Numbers Behind Your Bathroom Reno
No matter the scale of your bathroom renovations, several key factors will influence the overall cost.
Scope of Work
One of the main things that will affect your bathroom renovation budget is how much work is being done. If you’re just re-doing the flooring or the cabinetry, but are leaving the major plumbing work alone, then that will cost less than a full-scale renovation. You’d be amazed at how a simple refresh of paint, flooring or cabinetry can make an old space new again!
Size of Bathroom
Unless you’re knocking down a wall to increase the size of your bathroom, then a smaller bathroom will naturally require less materials and labour to renovate. Measure your bathroom’s size to get a better quote from your contractors.
Materials
Different types of materials will cost more than others. For example, marble or concrete flooring is far more expensive than vinyl or porcelain/ceramic tiles. Ornate bathtubs and taps will cost more than your standard fare at Bunnings Warehouse. Choose your materials carefully and be willing to compromise to fit within your budget.
Labour Costs
Unless you’re doing the work yourself, you’ll need to factor in how much labour costs you’ll incur from fees for carpenters, plumbers, electricians and other professionals. Electricians in Sydney will cost roughly $90 to $130/hour. Plumbers generally charge between $100 and $200/hour. You can expect your other professional labour rates to fall somewhere within that spectrum.
The labour rate is hugely variable depending on the size and complexity of your project.
Unforeseen Problems
As with anything to do with renovations, unexpected issues are par for the course. Sometimes you don’t notice a water leak until you peel back the tiling in the shower and suddenly, there’s mould growing like a (very) bad weed. Or, you weren’t counting on things in the room not being square and extra cuts or creative design being necessary to make things fit!
It’s wise to put an extra 20% on top of your overall budget for unexpected issues that may arise.
Budgeting Strategies for Less-Expensive Bathroom Renovations
If money is tight, but you still want to try and create your dream bathroom, here are some budgeting strategies you can employ to get your beautiful bathroom without breaking the bank.
Sacrificing Wants for Needs
You may want a beautiful, ornate clawfoot bathtub with a lavish privacy curtain that looks like something out of Downton Abbey, but that may be a bridge too far for your budget. Make a list of what you need in your bathroom renovation. The toilet needs to be replaced, the cabinetry is falling off the walls… Putting your needs first and then seeing how much money you have left is a great way to prioritise.
Set a Realistic Budget
Being realistic about how much you can afford to spend is important! By setting a realistic budget, you’ll ensure you’re not overspending unnecessarily.
Get Multiple Quotes
Different contractors charge different rates for the same job. Obtaining multiple quotes from different highly rated or recommended contractors is a necessity to ensure you’re not being overcharged for the same job!
Consider DIY’ing Some Things
If you’re comfortable with certain aspects of DIY’ing in the bathroom (painting, laying flooring, etc), then consider getting stuck in yourself! This will lessen the labour costs of your bathroom renovation considerably. However, you must leave electrical and plumbing work to the professionals.
Getting The Most Out of Your Bathroom Renovation Budget
There are many ways to make your bathroom renovation budget go further. Below are a few!
Invest in Quality over Quantity
Like most things, the adage “you get what you pay for” also applies to bathroom renovations. Consider paying a few extra dollars per square metre for better quality flooring that will last decades versus a few years, or consider paying for new technology like low-flow showerheads to save money on water usage over time.
A Functional Focus
Above all, a bathroom renovation should make your bathroom more functional. By changing the layout in a certain way, you can add more floor space by getting rid of clunky cabinetry that’s too big for the room or adding accessible shower fixtures or recessed shower ledges for built-in storage in the shower. Functionality should be front of mind during any bathroom renovation!
Aging in Place?
If you are considering aging in place, then your bathroom renovation should have this in mind. Whether your bathtub becomes a walk-in shower, or your vanity or cabinet’s heights are changed to accommodate wheelchair users, by planning for the future while you still can, you can reduce your stress levels and overall costs when the time comes.
How Crystal Bathrooms Can Help You Create the Bathroom of Your Dreams, Whatever Your Budget!
No matter your budget, the friendly, helpful interior design professionals at Crystal Bathrooms would be happy to help you create your dream bathroom. Whether you need help figuring out your budgeting options for specific materials or are ready to throw out the bathroom sink and put a whole new bathroom in, we’re here for you.
Contact Crystal Bathrooms today to learn more and receive a quote on your dream bathroom renovation.
