Our house is 20 years old and we have renovated two bathrooms. When we decided to update the downstairs bathroom, we were dismayed to learn that the construction company we had been using was out of business. So we decided to act as our own contractors. Our goal: Update the downstairs bathroom tastefully and inexpensively.
Alex Brooks writes about bathroom remodels in his article, “Back to Basins,” published on the renovation planning website. “Bathrooms are a bit like high-waisted jeans,” he writes. “What looked good a decade ago stands out like a sore thumb when trends move on.” According to Broos, people renew their bathrooms every 17.9 years.
Before you do anything, Brooks says you need to decide how much you’re willing to spend. If he’s thinking of updating a second bathroom (in our case, a little-used basement bathroom), he may not want to spend $15,000.
Susan Rich writes about bathroom makeovers in her article, “It’s About You,” posted on the Northwest Renovation website. “The bathroom is the second most remodeled room in the house,” says Rich. Before starting a project, she says that she must decide if she needs a complete redesign or a partial makeover. “Make sure you arrange the merchants in the right order,” advises Rich, “otherwise there can be costly revisions, extra work, and added costs.”
To stay within our budget, we decided to keep the existing cherry shower and vanity. The makeover began with the removal of a giant mirror above the dresser. A local glass company was willing to do the job for $92 an hour, which included broken glass removal. It turned out the job took less than an hour and our bill came to $62, a bargain as far as we’re concerned.
A new mirror was next on our makeover list. After comparing purchases at local home improvement stores, we found a horizontal beveled mirror that matched the dresser. Talk about luck! We felt even luckier when we saw the half price tag. Lighting was next on our list and we purchased a brushed nickel lamp that was a cross between traditional and modern design.
Timing is key to a successful bathroom makeover. Steven Carter addresses this issue in his article, “Renovations: A Work in Progress,” posted on the Cooperator website, which serves cooperative and condo owners. You must calculate the cost per square foot before work begins, according to Carter. “Scheduling is especially important in co-ops, where there are often strict guidelines on forklift use, dumpster locations and construction schedules,” he explains.
Scheduling can also be important if you live in a neighborhood that has covenants. Check neighborhood and city restrictions before starting your makeover. Your city or town may have restrictions on how long a dumpster can sit in front of your house, for example. Tradesmen go from one job to another and you need to contact them in advance to meet your schedule.
We are hiring a professional carpenter to raise the vanity to a comfortable height and install a Formica countertop, a plumber to install a comfortable-height toilet, and a mason to lay the tile floor. Our neutral color scheme will attract shoppers when we need to downsize. Thanks to planning, our budget bathroom makeover is done on time and within budget. Planning will help you transform your outdated and ugly bathroom into a beautiful swan.
Copyright 2009 by Harriet Hodgson
