Per my other question, I’m trying to remodel a 3 piece bathroom (toilet, vanity, tub/shower combo) for under 7k. What are the best ways to save money? I don’t want all the finishes to be low end, so I was thinking of buying high end tile, but basic, builders grade toilet, shower and vanity. Where should I spend money and where can I save?
You’re on the right track. You can get a decent toilet for under $100, an undermount sink for $50, and a tub for $125. Those items aren’t worth splurging on. I would spend a little more on your shower valve since this is going to be buried in the wall behind your tile and hard to replace. But again, you can get a reasonable valve and trim from Home Depot for under $100 (like a Delta Foundations). Faucets are easy to upgrade later, so get whatever fits in your budget. I would get nice tile, but be careful not to break the bank. You can find plenty of great tiles for under $4 per square foot. If you want to pack a big punch, you can consider spending a lot of money on a decorative inlay that runs along the shower wall. Maybe get that mosaic tile that’s $15 per square foot, cut it down into 4" strips and run it through the shower walls. For $60 you could make a big visual impact.
And one final thought, don’t go with the cheapest contractor you can find. There’s nothing worse than having $2,000 worth of tile that is laid crooked or uneven. Ask every contractor for referrals to make sure they can deliver. If they don’t have a long list of satisfied customers that they can refer you to, then you probably won’t end up being a satisfied customer. Good luck!
1 Like
I don’t think you should go cheap on the toilet, shower or vanity. The high end tile is a nice idea but there are lots of tile options out there that look amazing yet can be had very inexpensively. I would find a relatively inexpensive tile that looks great and install that. I would also spend the extra few dollars on the toilet & vanity and shower fixtures…it really doesn’t cost that much more for nicer products and if you select correctly you may end up with a much better warranty and more peace of mind that your cheap toilet isn’t going to end up leaking all over your new tile!
“Good work a’int cheep and cheep work a’int good.”
I would suggest hiring a pro that knows what he is doing with correct Licensing etc. You will get what you pay for - I guarantee it. I have 20+ years experience.
Hi Courtney! Here are a few ways to save money on your bathroom remodel.
-
Plan layout and design
If you really want to save money on your remodel, keep the layout of the bathroom fairly close to what it originally was. If you have to move any of the water lines or drain lines, it can get costly. -
Budget and Research
If your budget is under 7k, decide how much of it you want to spend on materials and how much has to be used to pay for labor or if you are going to do it yourself. Ask yourself what you really want to change and how you want it to look.
When you are confident with the design you want, you can begin doing your research on contractors to find out who will help your vision become a reality. Budget time too. Find out how much time it will take for the work you want.
If you are getting a stone surface vanity you can save money by getting prefab.