Maybe you don’t know it yet, but I’m a DIY enthusiast. From paint and tile to entire home renovations, I don’t shy away when it comes to a challenge.
I’m working to restore a 100+ year-old house. I got the house for an absolute steal, but I quickly realized why when I flushed the upstairs toilet and it immediately drained…into the kitchen below. Yuck.
Undeterred with visions of shiny new bathrooms dancing in my head, I set off to rip out the upstairs bathroom with gusto. I knocked out tile, ripped out the cast iron tub (those suckers are heavy), and even began to take out a wall all in the first day of demo.
After a good 12+ hours of demo hammering and dodging flying tile bits, I was ready to call it quits for the day. Covered in more dust, dirt, and unidentifiable demolition grossness than I care to admit, I went into the first floor bathroom to shower the day away.
I turned on the faucet and that’s when I heard it: Water. Water gushing everywhere. Water pouring through the floor and into the basement below. $@#^&@#T&^@#&@
Needless to say, a quick investigation revealed insanely rotted pipes, drains, and stacks. That, my folks, is the beauty of buying a house as-is.
With my hopes of a shower completely dashed, I had a sinking sensation that this was about to be a very, very expensive day. I just ripped out one bathroom, yet I have another completely non-functional one below it?! How on Earth would I appropriately demo, re-build, and outfit two full bathrooms at the same time–and have money leftover for the other necessary repairs? Oy vey.
As I drove to the gym to shower (yes, please don’t judge), I began to brainstorm some ideas for how to save money on a bathroom renovation.
Here’s what I came up with:
How to Remodel a Bathroom on a Budget
Entire room re-builds are no joke. Far more than a cosmetic upgrade, they require ripping everything out. And when I say everything, I mean everything: The fixtures, the wiring, the pipes, the walls, the floors, the ceiling, etc, etc, etc.
But you can save money on a bathroom remodeling if you’re smart and you plan well. It also doesn’t hurt if you don’t mind getting really dirty. Some general money-saving ideas include keeping the same layout for the new room, scaling the renovation according to the value of your home, and staying level-headed when it comes to buying the fixtures and finishes.
Do the Work Yourself, but Know Your Limits
Hands down, the easiest way to save money on a bathroom renovation is to do the work yourself. The caveat here is knowing your limits. You’ve never worked with electrical systems before? Hire an electrician to run the wires and connect them to the main (you can easily figure out how to hook up the switches and outlets yourself).
Unsure about the structural integrity of the room? Bring in an engineer, stat.
But tiling, painting, drywalling, and installing fixtures? You can do this yourself, trust me. Pick up some books, watch some YouTube videos, call in some favors from friends and family. With a bit of time, sweat, and elbow grease, you can easily save yourself thousands.
At the bare minimum, do the demo yourself. Work slowly and methodically around pipes, wiring, and fixtures you’ll be saving and reap the benefits of your hard work through drastically reduced contractor fees. I estimate that the demo I did on both of my bathrooms by now has saved me around $4,800 (actual quotes I obtained).
Shop Around
Shopping at the local big box stores is a great starting point, but don’t limit yourself to the stock on-hand at Home Depot and Lowe’s. Seek out clearance deals and promotions at specialty shops. Also, check out online retailers who can offer larger discounts because they lack the overhead costs of a brick-and-mortar store.
If you see a high-end fixture you’re obsessed with, seek out less expensive alternatives that are similar. Notice how I said ‘less expensive’ rather than ‘cheap.’ Do not, and I repeat, do not cheap out on bathroom fixtures. The potential water damage you’ll repair down the road when those things eventually give out (which is much faster than you think) isn’t worth your hard-earned dollars. It can also end up costing double or triple the original work. After all, water is the #1 enemy of any home.
Do Your Own Shopping and Hauling
When I did hire an electrician to run new wires and a plumber to replace the stacks, I requested a material list before the work began. I bought everything myself and had it in the house in time for their arrival.
While this might have cost me a bit more time and effort, it saved me from those pesky up-charges that most contractors will tack onto the price. Plus, I was able to purchase some things on sale, get cash back on my credit card, and learn about all of the various options out there.
Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle
This one is a no-brainer for any homeowner….
Reduce your expectations and list of “must have” items
Reuse and recycle materials you already have or purchase items from local salvage yards.
It’s amazing what a bit of paint, stain, and/or Dawn dish detergent can do for a well-worn item. Plus, you’ll be gaining a truly unique bathroom by reusing things in creative ways. I’m currently building a custom L-shaped vanity for the upstairs bathroom using reclaimed wood that I can’t wait to share with you!
What ideas do you have for how to save money on a bathroom renovation?
