| Bath Budget Basics
What your remodeling dollars will buy, whether you're simply sprucing up your bath or planning an all-out rehab.
Remodeling a bath with the help of a design pro cost an average of $11,605 in 1998, according to the National Kitchen & Bath Association. Of that totai, the typical homeowner spent 31 percent on cabinets, 25 percent on installation and labor, 15 percent on fixtures and fittings, 11 percent on countertops, 7 percent on design, 6 percent on flooring, and 5 percent on miscellaneous extras. What can you expect to do, given a tight, moderate, or all-out budget?
Cosmetic Makeover
- Take advantage of local home center "how-to" workshops. Small budgets can be stretched by doing some work yourself.
- Concentrate on cosmetic changes; freshen the space with a new stok vanity, a coat of paint, new window treatments.
- Replace a worn-out sink or toilet with modest updated fixtures; choose a stock solid-surface all-in-one sink and counter unit.
- Reglaze rather than replace the tub; frame it with a one-piece fiberglass surround,
- Install new vinyl flooring; choose laminate for countertops.
- Get creative. Try using freestanding furniture in place of built-in items.
- Incorporate universal design features such as grab bars, a handheld showerhead, and a temperature-control valve.
Full Remodeling
- Hire a design professional to help you maximize your investment.
- Focus on good-quality mid-range upgrades. Choose a more expensive item (a whiripool, a beautiful vanity) as the focal point.
- Install high-end stock cabinets and increase storage space.
- Replace up to three windows.
- Install solid-surface countertops or use natural stone as accents.
- Upgrade sink, faucets, and toilet.
- Improve lighting; upgrade electrical to meet current codes.
Custom Jobs
- "Borrow" space from an adjoining closet or room for a dressing/sitting area. Add custom enclosures for toilet and dressing areas.
- Invest in luxury shower/bathtub features, such as a whirlpool or a separate shower stall with multiple showerheads or a steam unit.
- Seiect a custom vanity and expand storage with custom cabinets.
- Replace an ordinary sink with a deluxe console, a double-bowl solid-surfacing unit, or a large sink of natural stone or a luxury metal. Choose top-quality, stylized faucets with a high-end finish such as brushed nickel.
- Use handcrafted wall or backsplash tiles and countertops of lavish materials such as granite or marble to create a luxurious, unique ambience.
- Add skylights, French doors, or a bay window; upgrade remaining windows and doors.
- Choose a one-piece toilet; add a bidet and towel-warmer racks.
- Lay cerarnic tile or natural stone flporing.
- Install a skylight and/or picture windows.
- Choose top-of-the-line accessories (cabinet knobs/pulls, doorknobs, robe hooks, shelf brackets, toilet tissue holder, towel racks, etc.) of solid brass or another luxury material.
|
|
