Remodelling Costs

Better Homes and Gardens , Baths Your Guide To Planning And Remodeling, Received FEB 27 1997 Castro Valley, Better Homes And Gardens Books , Des Moines, Iowa

10 Easy Ways To Cut Costs

1. Do as much of the work yourself as you can. Wallpaper stripping, light demolition, and cleaning up after subcontractors all take more elbow grease than skill. There’s no sense in paying skilled carpenters their normal hourly rate to push a broom.
2. Instead of using costly marble or stone, choose synthetic materials for floors, counter-tops, and walls. today’s laminates, vinyl flooring, ceramic tile, and paint techniques can produce rich- looking surfaces, but you don’t necessarily have to be rich to buy them.
3. Instead of having cabinets custom- made, find a line of stock cabinets that you like. Lumberyards carry some styles; your contractor or designer can probably give you literature on many more. Adapt prefabricated cabinets to your needs with easy- to -install storage devices such as wire shelves, retractable baskets, hooks, and drawer dividers.
4. Keep fixture and faucet styles simple. Chrome faucets and basic white fixtures are less expensive than the latest shapes and colors, and they won’t look out of fashion in a decade. Update your decor periodically with more easily changeable accessories, such as wall coverings and window treatments.
5. Leave fixtures where they are or at least keep them against walls that contain existing pipes and vent stacks.
6. If you want a whirlpool tub, look for models that come in standard tub sizes. you’ll save money by replacing the tub you have instead of rearranging the space to fit an oversize tub.
7. Consider hiring a design professional. Despite the additional fees, you may actually save money because professionals can help you avoid costly mistakes and ensure that the job is done efficiently.
8. If you have the time, act as your own general contractor. This can save you a contractor’s markup of 10 to 25 percent. Don’t undertake the job lightly, however on what’s involved.
9. Purchase building materials during the winter, when demand- and prices- often are lower. Also take advantage of clearance sales.(This assumes that you can store all your materials in a secure, sheltered place until they’re needed for the project.)
10. Establish your design in detail, and make sure all your materials are available before the first tradespeople arrive. Changes and holdups during construction can escalate costs.

Cost Ranges for Bath Fixtures

As you know, all bathroom fixtures are not created equal. Toilets, for example, range in price from about $ 50 to more than $ 500. This chart compares the costs of fixtures in four price/ quality categories.

• Basic prices indicate the least expensive fixtures available at hardware and do- it- yourself discount stores. Standard sizes and colors- white for sinks, tubs, and faucets; chrome for faucets and shower heads- make these items the most affordable.
• Upgrade prices refer to a wider range of colors and shapes. In some cases, the price increase indicates the use of sturdier finishes or materials- for example, drawers made of wood rather than particleboard.
• Top- of – the- line prices represent fixtures that have special features, such as colored finishes, shell- shaped basins or ones of other shapes, or one- piece toilet construction.
• Specialty prices reflect top- quality materials such as marble and gold plating. Items are available in nonstandard sizes and colors, and feature amenities such as heated toilet seats. Specially items usually are ordered through bathroom showrooms or designers.

	Basic	Upgrade	Top-of-the-Line	Specialty
Vanity sink	$50-150	$125-250	$250-400	$400+
Pedestal Sink	$100-225	$200-350	$300-750	$750+
Sink faucets	$50-90	$90-125	$125-500	$500-1,500
Toilet	$50-120	$120-300	$300-600	$600-1,000
Standard tub	$150-200	$200-350	$300-800	$800-4,000
Tub faucets	$75-125	$100-175	$175-500	$500-1,500
Showerheads	$15-50	$30-70	$70-125	$200-400
Shower enclosures	$150-250	$250-400	$475-600	$800-4,000

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