When planning renovations for your bathroom, it is natural to fantasize about extravagant touches you feel you cannot live without, such as wall-to-wall handmade tiles, fancy European hardware, and large skylights. However, the cost of perfection is high, and reality can hit hard when you calculate the price for such items.

This leads you to wonder if you can stay within your budget, yet still design a dreamy bathroom. Fortunately, the answer is yes, provided you understand when you must conserve and when it is okay to splurge.

Below are five tips for your bathroom renovation project that will save you a substantial amount of money without affecting quality, function or style:

1. Complete Your Demolition

Before installing your new mosaic tiled shower, you must remove old, worn out fixtures. This is an integral part of the demolition phase for which you may want to hire a professional. However, he or she will charge approximately $1000. If you choose to tackle all or some of the demolition as a DIY project, you will naturally have extra money for other items you truly want.

It is essential, however, to avoid making assumptions that a DIY demolition does not call for careful planning. According to Caliber West Bathroom Renovations, a home-improvement expert, you must have a prybar, a large crowbar, a sledgehammer, and an old claw hammer that you can live without should it get ruined during the process. Additionally, never begin swinging before you know what is behind a wall. Water pipes, electrical wires, and other items can create a nasty surprise. Finally, avoid making assumptions that your DIY demolition comes with no price tag.

On the contrary, tools, a dumpster, and hiring a service to hall away the debris are all aspects of the job that cost money.

2. The Role of a Recycling Center

You may wonder what a recycling center has to do with your bathroom renovation, but the price tag for recycled and lightly used building materials and fixtures is only a fraction of what their costs would be if you bought them new. Habitat for Humanity, Diggers List, and other national resources offer virtually everything, such as laminate flooring, bathtubs, faucets, double hung windows, and tile.

Of course, there is no guarantee you will get the exact fixtures for which you are looking. However, recent items sold through such establishments included an antique, brass-finished faucet set, and a contemporary vanity with built-in sink, for $400 and $100, respectively. The brass finished faucet set would have retailed for well over $2000.

3. Update Lighting Creatively

When completing your renovations, remember that even though it is essential to brighten up a dark bathroom, adding skylights or windows considerably inflates the cost of your project. If you need more light in your bathroom, but prefer not to cut a large hole in the side of your house or your roof, consider a solar tube, also referred to as a sun tube. These flexible tubes funnel natural sunlight from a tiny opening in the roof to your bathroom. Ranging from 10 to 20 inches in diameter, they cost a mere $200-$400, when compared with the approximate cost of a skylight, which is about $1500.

4. Consider Subway Tile

Although mosaic, glass tile accented with pewter is a beautiful option, you may find its price tag of $100 per square foot a bit costly. If this is the case, you may wish to consider using expensive tiles as decorative borders and plain, white subway tile for other surfaces. At less than three dollars per square foot, this look is simple, classy and has a timeless appeal that matches virtually all types of interior decor.

5. Invest in a Can of Paint

Even cost-effective tile can quickly chew up your renovations budget. Fortunately, however, floor to ceiling tile is not necessary to create a dramatic look for your new bathroom. You can save a significant amount of money by painting the walls and limiting tile to the shower and floor. For additional texture and warmth, you can also quickly add an affordable wainscot of faux beadboard. The latter is easy to install and offers an attractive appearance.

Bathroom Renovations in Vancouver BC

Caliber West Renovations
Suite 600 – 1285 West Broadway
Vancouver, BC V6H 3X8
(778) 785-7395