Most people start with a rough idea based on hope, with an undercurrent of dread. Bathroom remodel cost really is a hard one to pin down until you have identified what you absolutely can’t live without and what you would simply like to have. Let’s say it can maybe start at $5,000, and the sky is the limit. Then it is a question of juggling the details.
The Quick and Painless Solution
There is a contemporary option that not everyone has heard about: the one-day bathroom remodel. It might sound unlikely, but you really can get a makeover done in one day, and because of the short time, it can’t involve too much of the expensive hardware. You can have all the faucets, the shower head, and the light fittings replaced, plus a new shower screen and mirror, towel rail, etc., and the effect can be breathtaking. Possibly all of this in one day, and then you can get back to normal. So, there’s a new player in the cheapest option stakes.
An “Average” Bathroom Renovation
Let’s say you live in a medium-sized house or apartment, with a household of 1 – 4 people, so one bathroom is enough. The thing about bathrooms is that they can be quite small, because there is only ever one person in there at a time. So, size is not a major factor, which brings down the quantity of materials needed for dressing the walls and floor, and even painting the ceiling.
That word “average”, though, is not an attractive one. It is good to have some individuality and to express your personality in the way your home looks. That may mean clean, sleek, and functional, or it could mean ornate; it may be subtle or it may be dramatic.
With the options available today, it is possible to put your stamp on your bathroom without breaking the bank. Some estimates put $26,000 as the median cost of a bathroom in Columbus, so let’s work around that.
The cost of a bathroom remodel in Columbus depends on what you put in it and how long the work takes, because labor adds considerably to the final figure. Choosing fixtures and fittings well can affect the price, so you should take time to look around and find out what is available, whether it would suit your purposes, and if there is a better option for a few dollars more or a suitable one for a few dollars less.
Take tiles, for example. If money is no object, you can use a fancy marble from Italy, but would that really be better than a ceramic option at a fraction of the price? They do the same job to the same standard, and they can look just as interesting. Who is going to know?
If your answer to this is “I will know” and you’ve got the budget to handle it, the world is your oyster, so put some Mediterranean atmosphere in your piece of Ohio if you wish. Granite countertops in your bathroom? Why not? Fancy etched glass in your shower screen? Of course. If it makes you happy and you can afford it, that’s all that matters.
For most of us, though, it’s a matter of making the bathroom look like it cost more than it did (not that anyone is really going to know unless you tell them). But you will know. Achieving a great result by a combination of your imagination and your business acumen can be a very satisfying feeling.
As for the equipment you put in, there are minimum standards to maintain that go beyond appearance. It is important to go for the best quality you can afford in everything from the hot water system to the taps and the toilet seat. The bathroom is used every day, multiple times, so you don’t want cheap and cheerful in there; you want functional and reliable. Getting a bargain is always good, but only if it still stands as a bargain several years down the line.
How to Reduce Bathroom Remodel Cost
There are always options for reducing the cost of having work done, starting with doing it yourself. But be honest: are you an expert plumber, a skilled tiler, a joiner who knows what they’re doing, or an electrician who can get this done without endangering anyone’s life? To be all these things would be truly remarkable. It is also unwise to entrust the job to an all-rounder who won’t admit their limitations.
After all the thought you have put into choosing materials and equipment, why risk spoiling the job at the last minute?
Choose a bathroom supplier/contractor with a good reputation, a company that has all the necessary skills within its workforce. You can take their advice after making them aware of your budget and preferences, but remember, the final decision is yours, and the cost of a bathroom renovation in Columbus is what you sign off on.
