Bathroom Renovations That Wont Sink Your Budget

The beauty of renovating a bathroom is that all the money spent is 100% recoverable when you sell the house!  If not on the market to sell the new bathroom adds convenience, luxury and brings envy of the visitors.  As a result often big changes in a small bathroom will have a homeowner wanting to renovate other parts of the house.

A properly executed bathroom renovation would include removing all electrical and plumbing fixtures. Drywall should also be removed especially from exterior wall. This gives you an opportunity to check if there is adequate insulation and vapour barrier. Check for mould and discuss with the contractor procedures involved in removing it. 
Update electrical: add GFCI for safety if not present and a bathroom fan to control humidity. If the bathroom feels cold install in-floor heating and/or add a towel warmer which may work as a radiator and warming and drying your towels.
Beginning with the floor, regardless what’s existing, it should be removed.  There are basically two acceptable materials for bathroom floor: porcelain tiles or stone such as trendy limestone, granite or marble.  The sizes of tiles going on the floor or walls are limitless. The 12x12, 12x24, or 24v24 on the walls look great.  Be creative: square tiles may go diagonally; rectangular may be laid in brick pattern.  Another great material is glass tile which give you endless design possibilities.

A complete bathroom renovation would also include a new vanity and sink top. There is a new trend for a sink and it is a simple yet artful large bowl – anchored of course – some with deep ridges for the designs or floral carvings; add a beautiful faucet and depending on the décor of the bathroom, this could be a rustic copper faucet or a sleek, shiny silver stainless steel faucet to complete the vanity’s top. Hang a large, decorative mirror on the wall over the sink and the vanity becomes not only a functional bathroom necessity, it becomes a showplace.

Toilets are no longer regulated to the simple white or off white; they come in several color to match the rest of the bathroom and are high performing, water reducing units that will save homeowners money over a period of time. Many municipalities offer cash incentives for replacing old toilet with water efficient ones.

The lighting in a bathroom should be updated as well. There are beautiful, smaller hanging lights that would complement any style bathroom décor. Or try a row of soft, bare light bulbs running down either side of the large mirror over the sink with their own on/off switch for putting on makeup, brushing your teeth or fixing hair.  Adding a skylight will bring natural light and save energy.

To add pizzazz and something special, an addition of a Jacuzzis or whirlpool tub would complete a new bathrooms look and bring you a comfort up to a spa level; no need to leave home to have a relaxing, unwinding experience. There are also tub enclosures which could replace an old, worn out tub with a beautiful sunken tub, many that fit where the old tub was and include jets for a wonderful water experience.

Some are homeowners are stepping away from bathtubs all together and going with a simple shower enclosure. These can be large, stone or title and have a seat or bench at one end.  Showering in a glass enclosed stall will bring new experience of space and pleasure. Shower valves could include the new ‘rain’ shower heads which are large, flat plates that direct water down and over a person from all directions. Usually these ‘rain’ showers have the water spraying from various hoses and spouts located in different positions on stainless steel poles throughout the shower for an all over body ‘watering. 

An elegant cabinet of cherry wood or maple would complete the look and add a place to keep towels and other bathroom necessities handy but out of the way.

When renovation your bathroom, hire only the best, those who are experienced in all aspects of remodeling: plumbing, electrical and cabinetry. Using only licensed trades will ensure the renovation process and output will be painless and you have long years to enjoy your bathroom.