There are plenty of reasons why a homeowner might embark on a bathroom remodel! Sometimes, it’s out of necessity, as the current bathroom needs some serious work done to resolve problems! Other times, it’s done before selling your home to make it more attractive to prospective buyers. And well, there’s certainly those times where you just need to spice it up a bit and want a more modern feel! In any case, there’s no hiding the fact that the project in itself can be a significant investment. With this said, as a Kansas City homeowner, you’ll want to be confident of two things before any demo commences: (1) The project is done correctly the first time and (2) All of the work is done within the budget you have set. Whether you opt to do the project yourself or will be hiring contractors to do the work, these two points will always hold true!

As a Kansas City plumbing company, we’ve been involved in our fair share of remodeling projects! We’ve worked with homeowners on amazing transformations and it all comes down to creating a vision for the space with a budget in mind. In this week’s blog post, I’ll walk you through how to make the most of your remodeling dollars and ultimately, create an aesthetically-pleasing bathroom!

Plan It Out

The first step in every bathroom remodel (and any household renovation project) is to have a defined plan and budget. Just writing it down is half the battle though, as you’ll want to abide by it throughout the project. If you opt to hire a contractor, they should be able to help you set up a design and align monetary figures with each item rather easily. On the flip side, if you’re wanting to make this a DIY project, it wouldn’t hurt to still get some assistance from professional, at least for the initial set-up stages. This will ensure there’s no surprises and you’ll have an estimated number for each piece. If all of this means delaying the project a couple weeks, it’s definitely worth it with all the headaches you’ll save yourself from!

Hiring a Contractor

Alright, now let’s assume you’ve gone the route of hiring a contractor (Don’t worry if you’re renovating it yourself! We’ll have plenty more tips throughout this post!). With a project as large as a bathroom remodel, hiring a professional helps avoid things from going south and you, the homeowner, finding yourself going way over the budget! Having said that, you still have your work cut out for you vetting potential contractors and making sure you get the right one for the job! Whether it be an electrician, landscaper, plumber or any other contractor, you need to do your diligence to ensure everything runs smoothly!

In this case, make sure to do your homework. Get bids from a few different companies and don’t rank them solely on price. The lowest bid might not have as much experience and know what all is entailed with a project of this size. Meanwhile, the highest bid might end up trying to work on all the plumbing in the entire home! All in all, don’t let the price make the decision for you. Once you’ve gotten some bids, start doing a little research online. Look at Google Reviews, check out their social media channels, and see what their reputation looks like online!

Keep The Permanent Plumbing As-Is

Believe it or not, all bathroom remodels don’t actually require you to move a bunch of plumbing pipes around! Assuming the existing piping is still in reasonable shape, you should be able to avoid this charge that can easily add over $5000 to your project! For a quick lesson on knowing the lifespans of different types of pipes, check out our recent blog here. There are still plenty of ways to transform the space with new fixtures and so on WITHOUT moving permanent pipes. 

Choosing Tile

If you’ve ever taken part in a kitchen remodel, then you’ve been through the process of picking out a granite style and color. With the amount of options available, it can seem a little bit intimidating when you first walk into the showroom or warehouse. Well, this plethora of options is no different when it comes to tile. The key thing to keep in mind during this process is simplicity. You’ll only want to consider tile options that are durable and timeless. Natural stone, glass, cement, porcelain and subway tile should help narrow down the list. With the material selected, you’ll mainly be deciphering between colors.

PRO TIP: It you’re looking to cut some costs on the project, you might consider eliminating tile from any potential places where it’s not truly needed. One of these locations is the shower. A tiled shower can get a little pricey, so ponder the idea of a prefabricated shower unit. 

Environmentally Friendly

It never hurts to go green. It’s not only a great move for the environment, but also can be financially beneficial for you! Recent years have seen remarkable advancements in environmentally friendly products in the plumbing industry! We discussed some of these eco-friendly cleaners a few weeks ago, but the same holds true with appliances. Low-flow showerheads, toilets, faucets and more are terrific ways to ensure you’re not wasting any water. While the price tag isn’t much different from traditional fixtures, you’ll definitely notice a difference on your monthly water bill thanks to the enhanced efficiency. As an added bonus, these eco-friendly appliances typically have a modern look to them and definitely increase the appeal of your bathroom as a whole!

Timeline

Having a set timeline is something that will save you more headaches than anything else! Anyone that’s had a home improvement project carry on for weeks (or even months) longer than originally estimated will agree with me on this statement. Maybe it was a new patio that resulted in a dumpster being in your driveway for a couple weeks extra or even a new home build that seemed to drag on. In any case, if you pick a reliable contractor for the project, everything should run smoothly and efficiently. You should have a set schedule from the start and assuming nothing unforeseen pops up, you’ll know what’s happening when. This is one major advantage to working with an experienced contractor! 

Fixture Quality

One positive to being around and installing fixtures every day is an opportunity to see which brands are really worth the investment. As with tiles, there’s certainly no shortage in manufacturers in the various plumbing fixture industries. We compiled a guide detailing some of the most popular brands, but the biggest takeaway for remodelers is that this a great spot to save a little money. Obviously, we’re not recommending going cheap on these, but you don’t necessarily need a European-imported faucet or a nearly $6000 toilet. Companies, like Delta and Toto, provide top-notch products that not only look great, but are functional and durable! If the budget is tight, keep your options open on fixtures! 

Not Ready for a Full Remodel?

After going through all of these tips designed to get the most bang for your buck on a bathroom remodel, not everyone may be ready to do a full demo and start fresh! Whether you don’t have the budget to do a full remodel or any other reason, there’s always opportunities to liven up the space. Maybe that means refinishing the tile? Or it could also mean swapping out some of the basic fixtures, such as faucets, which has become increasingly popular approach in recent years for Kansas City homeowners. Nonetheless, you can do a remodel without a complete demo!

Get It Done Right the First Time

As you can see, there are plenty of ways to make the most of your bathroom remodel and have a finished product that you’re truly proud of! The biggest thing is breaking down which items are most important to you and hiring a contractor capable of making it happen within your desired budget. To make this a reality, go with the Kansas City plumbers that’ve been apart of countless Kansas City bathroom remodels over the years, Stine-Nichols Plumbing. Our approach is simple! Fill out the form here or call us at 816-348-3481, either Doug or Jim will give you a call to set up a free quote and then our team of experienced plumbers will complete the remodel according to the design agreed upon!