Bathroom Renovation

The bathroom renovation reminds me of those scary movies such as "Friday the 13". In many aspect the bathroom renovation can cost more nerves than running away from the ghost. The first thing which removes half of your concerns is to precisely determine what do you want to change. The old method of "must" and "wish" list still applies here.

One of the most common mistakes is to use catalogs as the reference for the bathroom renovations. Most bathroom-magazines display oversized bathrooms which are loaded with an unlimited budget.

How to Start Bathroom Renovation

The main thing which blows costs is the uncertainty. If you are not sure about what you need to add and remove then you should not start the renovation process. It is not always necessary to rip-off old bathroom sinks, tiles, showers and baths.

You can get free quotes on bathroom resurfacing, layering and patching jobs which can safe you thousands of dollars. If you are unhappy about the layout of the bathroom then think whether you have money to change the setup. If not, then bathroom renovation will not solve your problems.

DIY Bathroom Renovation

A lot of people think that DIY method will save money. If you are not a qualified and experienced tradesmen in the field then you will probably fail. It is true that there are parts of the bathroom renovation which are simple to do. Changing seals, replacing doors and smaller concreting jobs can be DIY.

However, plumbing, electrical wiring must be done by licensed professionals. Otherwise, you can face legal action if something goes wrong.

Bathroom Resurfacing

A lot of "bathroom renos" can be replaced with resurfacing methods. To resurface a bath you pay around $550. New bath costs $1300 to $1600. However, it is the cost of the installation which runs into thousands.

The same applies to showers and basins. You pay around $450 to resurface the shower and $220 for the basin. To completely renovate a bathroom shower you will spend about $1500+. Resurfacing tiles is also a cost-effective alternative to the conventional bathroom renovation. You need to ask experts about new methods to camouflage chipped tiles and torn surfaces.

Bathroom Tiling

You do not need professionals to put bathroom tiles or the waterproof wallpaper. The same applies to painting. However, the floor tiles can be tricky because water in the bathroom often needs to be directed to a certain point. In this case, the experienced "tradie" is the must.

Setting bathroom floor tiles under an angle is a skill. For very tricky jobs you will have to part with those nice large 20 inch tiles. Most tilers will charge substantially more or refuse to place large tiles altogether. Thus, to cost-effectively renovate bathroom you may need to compromise.

Bathroom Renovation Cost

Generally, to renovate bathroom of an average size you need $8000-$21000. However, more prestigious materials and modern bathroom essentials may inflate the cost to $30000. The above figures apply to the bathroom renovation done by external contractors.

The DIY "bathroom renos" will be lower, provided that you know exactly what you are doing. The DIY option will cost more if mistakes have to be rectified by the professionals. However, there is a trade-off.

Bathroom Renovation and Work with The Tradie

A lot of home owners who have some "know how" choose to work with the contractor. This option is very popular because it tackles the high cost of the contractors and reduces chance of DIY mess-ups. You can safe about 40% of the total price if you delegate specialised "bathroom renos" to the expert. The smaller jobs requiring less experience can be undertaken by the owner.

Legal Aspects of The Bathroom Renovation

You do not need a council approval to renovate bathroom. However, larger windows, unusual external protrusions will need a development application. Any building work worth more than $12000 needs home warranty insurance.

Bathroom Renovation Contractors

There is plenty of small and big bathroom renovators. However, the word of mouth is worth more than the flashy advertising. If you choose to work with the tradesman (the smart option) then ensure that you can get along with the guy.