If you’re like many homeowners in Kitchener, you want a master bath that’s more than just a bathroom. A trend toward en-suite bathroom design exists because people want bathrooms that provide privacy, a place to escape and ways to pamper themselves. Of course, you likely have budgetary considerations as well, so here are seven thoughts on how you may be able to save.
1. Know What Your Budget Is and Should Be
The Appraisal Institute advises that a master bath should not cost more than about 10 percent of what the home is worth on the open market. You don’t have to spend that much, of course, but it gives you an idea of expectations. Once you’ve determined your budget, you can prioritize your wish list and begin to eliminate items based on what is most important to you.
2. Recognize When to Splurge and When to Cut Back
Not every aspect of your en-suite bathroom has to be ultra-high-end, and it’s all right to save on features that you won’t use much and aren’t focal points. The areas where you should splurge are the features you will use a lot, such as your shower, toilet and sink.
3. Avoid Reinventing the Layout
If you want to minimize your costs, then avoid reinventing the layout because that kind of building will add to your total cost considerably. If there is some aspect of your master bath layout that is unacceptable, try to limit any changes to that zone in particular.
4. Skip the Tub Unless You Actually Use It
A big mistake that many homeowners make is installing a tub because of a misguided sense of obligation. An en-suite bathroom doesn’t need a tub if you don’t use it, and many real estate agents agree that the lack of a tub is not a big influencer on the modern homebuyer.
5. Consider Radiant Heating
Radiant heating is a great way to heat up a bathroom, and a bathroom renovation is exactly when you want to have it installed. Not only is it very comfortable to have heat radiating upward from otherwise cold tiles, but it’s a cost-efficient approach that can often pay for itself over time.
6. Stone-Look Porcelain Is an Option
Natural stone is a popular modern choice for bathrooms, but it can also be quite expensive. If natural stone is driving your costs up too high, consider porcelain. Porcelain can be used for walls and floors, and stone-look porcelain tile is available that’s hard to distinguish from the real thing.
7. Make Use of Existing Plumbing
Make use of existing plumbing wherever possible. If you require new plumbing, then choose a wall that already has plumbing in, such as one shared by another room. If a plumber has to run pipes into the room, then that is going to drive up the total cost of your renovation considerably.
Alair Homes Kitchener has lots of great design ideas to share. If you’re ready to renovate your master bath, contact us to schedule a complimentary, no obligation consultation.