To work out a realistic budget for your bathroom remodel, you need to account for:
- Labor costs
- Material costs
- Building permit costs
These are the three key factors that will determine your total bathroom remodel cost. Let’s take a closer look at each of them…
Labor Costs
Remodeling your bathroom will inevitably require skilled labor.
Most importantly, you will need to find a reliable general contractor who can manage the entire project: help you decide on the scope of your bathroom remodel, calculate its expected cost and draw up a budget for it, procure the necessary materials, hire and supervise subcontractors, and make sure that the remodel is completed on time.
Of course, in theory, you could take on the role of the general contractor yourself, but in practice, that may prove to be a headache, especially when it comes to hiring and managing tilers, plumbers, electricians, etc.
It’s probably best to look for a reputable bathroom remodeling company in your area that can take care of the entire project from ideation to completion.
How to Save Money on Labor Costs
The smaller the scope of your bathroom remodel, the lower the labor costs will be.
The best way to save money on labor is to keep the existing structure and layout of your bathroom, so you won’t need to demolish and rebuild the walls or rearrange the plumbing and electrical systems.
You can also save money by handling simple tasks yourself. Say, you could remove the demolition rubble and dispose of it, repaint the cabinetry and the walls, and clean up once the remodel is done.
However, we would caution against taking on tasks that require skills that you don’t have, especially if it’s something related to waterproofing, plumbing, or electrical work.
Whenever you aren’t sure whether you should do something yourself or hire an expert to do it for you, consider the potential consequences of messing up that task.
For example, if you decide to repaint the cabinetry and mess it up, it’s not that big of a deal. You can leave it as is or repaint it.
Meanwhile, if you decide to do plumbing yourself and mess it up, it might lead to water damage and end up costing you more than it would have had you simply hired a plumber right from the get-go.
DIY is all well and good, but don’t be penny-wise and pound-foolish when it comes to your bathroom remodel. It’s always best to leave tasks that require skilled labor to certified experts!
Material Costs
Material costs can vary wildly depending on the quality of the materials that you choose.
That’s why it’s essential to be intentional, prioritize what matters the most to you, and stay open to compromise when it comes to everything else.
Don’t skimp on the fixtures because the toilet, the sink, the faucet, the shower, and the bathtub are the functional elements of your bathroom that you are going to be using every day.
If you are currently living in what you hope to be your forever home, you might want to consider installing fixtures designed for accessibility, such as:
- A raised toilet seat that makes it easier to sit down and get up.
- A level-access shower with grab-rails that doesn’t require stepping over a barrier to enter it.
- A walk-in bathtub that has a door that can be used to get in and get out, in case stepping over its side as you normally would becomes too challenging.
Fixtures designed for accessibility are more expensive than the regular ones. However, it might make sense to install them if you can afford to do so, even if you don’t need them at the moment.
That way, should you ever find yourself in a situation where you or someone in your household is suffering from reduced mobility, you won’t need to do another remodel just to make your bathroom more accessible.
It’s probably safe to say that most people will experience reduced mobility at some point in their lives, whether due to injuries, illnesses, or old age. Preparing for it in advance shows foresight!
How to Save Money on Material Costs
The best way to save money on materials is to reuse what you have whenever possible.
Before you start remodeling your bathroom, hire professional cleaners to clean it. They may be able to remove water stains, limescale, and so on by using industrial cleaning products.
If you still aren’t happy with how your bathroom fixtures look once the cleaners are done with them, consider refinishing the sink, the shower, and the bathtub instead of replacing them.
In addition, see if you can repaint or refinish the cabinetry instead of throwing it away.
When it comes to tiling, it’s possible to save money by:
- Replacing broken tiles instead of completely retiling the entire bathroom.
- Going with a half-tiled bathroom design instead of fully tiling each wall.
- Using mid-range tiles instead of high-end ones.
That being said, if you are interested in making your bathroom more accessible, you might want to consider using slip-resistant tiles for the floor. They are more expensive than regular tiles but can help reduce the risk of accidents.
Finally, you can save money on materials by shopping around, waiting for sales and clearances, and buying some items second-hand (e.g., cabinetry).
Reputable bathroom remodeling companies can help you choose the right materials for your project and may even be able to procure them directly from the suppliers at a better price!
Building Permit Costs
If all you want to do is upgrade the look of your bathroom by replacing the tiles, cabinetry, and fixtures, you can probably do that without a building permit.
Typically, building permits are required when the remodel includes changing the structure of your house, rearranging its plumbing system, or rewiring its electrical system.
Here are some common scenarios in which a permit may be needed:
- If you have a separate toilet room and bathroom, and want to demolish the wall between them to create a single space.
- If you want to expand your bathroom by moving one or more of its walls.
- If you want to change the layout of your bathroom.
All that being said, once you decide on the scope of the project, make sure to check the local regulations, even if you aren’t planning on making any of the changes listed above.
Also, it’s worth noting that reputable bathroom remodeling companies will tell you if you need a building permit and may even help you obtain it!
Bathrooms by Genie: Oklahoma’s Top-Rated Bathroom Remodeler!
Bathrooms by Genie provides customized bathroom remodeling solutions for Oklahoma residents.
We have a 5/5 star rating on Google Reviews, an A+ rating from Better Business Bureau, and a top rating from Home Advisor.
In addition to that, we have received multiple awards, including the Angie’s List “Super Service Award”.
Whether you want to replace a bathtub or a shower, install accessibility features, or completely remodel your bathroom, we can help you with your project!
Book a FREE Consultation!
P.S. Our tubs, showers, and other bath remodeling products come with lifetime product warranties to protect your investment!
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