Hello all. It's been a while since I've posted from personal experience, but today I'd like to discuss real life events because I feel they help today's homeowner understand that they are truly not alone in their thought processes.
I just recently designed a master bathroom remodel for a lovely couple in East Mesa. Their last remodel was a good ten years ago and their master bathroom was well appointed with a massive deck for a whirlpool tub, a long walk in shower with a ceiling suspended rain head and multi-spray body massage jets, his and her sinks in a separate area, his and hers closets set into their bathroom hall. Their home is nicely done but in need of updating to a more modern look. The tile in the shower is showing wear and the grout line along the bottom of the shower is dark and discolored. Their tile is ceramic, which was the most common tile at the time. It came in limited colors and textures and can now be replaced with a much more durable porcelain or even upgraded to a travertine- which we selected. Where the problem usually lies with such a remodel, is exactly what occurred with this client. You know that your bathroom has all of the basic components of a luxurious space and it really just needs a new "skin" as my client called it. So, you don't expect it to cost so much, perhaps a few thousand dollars and it's done. The problem with this theory is that there is no less labor in replacing items than starting from scratch... in fact, there's more.
There are lots of key factors to consider when looking to update your master bathroom. Here are a few of the most major:
Tile-
When considering tile, labor is your most important factor. First, the old tile must be demolished and disposed of. Then prep work may need to be done to accept your new tile. This can cost as little as a few hundred dollar, but must be considered.
The average professional tiler (in AZ) charges between $12.00 and $16.00 a square foot to tile a shower wall. Walls are a bit more complicated than floors. They require more materials- usually backerboard or metal lathing (depending on the preference of your tiler). Although your tile, as in the case of my clients, may be only $6.00 a square foot, combined with the labor, you are looking at an average of $18.00 to $24.00 per square foot. A shower is a large item. Let's say your shower is 3' x 5'. Let's say your tile goes up as high as 7'. Let's say your entry into the shower on your 5' wall is 30". This leaves you with approximately 94 sq. ft. of shower wall. If you have a tile that is $6.00 a square foot and a tiler who charges $12.00 per square foot, you are at $1,692.00 to tile your walls and that is just including your basic tile, no trim, no decorative listello, no shower cut outs, no benches and no shower floor.
Each addition to this equation adds additional cost. This is why the average 5' shower remodel can be anywhere from $2,500 to $4,000, including just basic plumbing fixtures remaining in the same place. Here is a link to a homeowner in Oklahoma asking this same question on a forum for Do-It-Yourselfers. http://www.doityourself.com/forum/designing-kitchens-bathrooms/335472-approximate-cost-replace-3ft-x-5ft-tile-shower.html#b
Plumbing-
This couple wished to swap out their current plumbing fixtures, as they were unhappy with the massage jets and the husband always felt cold while his wife showered under the one rain head. We designed a very basic system, per his request of 3 rain heads coming from the ceiling at a whopping 13.8" each head. It will literally RAIN in their shower and they will love it once it's done. We even have a very affordable source for our great quality plumbing products, but even this good source has you spending nearly $200 per rain head (the average rain head of this size costs no less than $250) and then there is the stem and cap coming from the ceiling. Even more importantly one must focus on the amount of water that has to rush through your overhead pipes to ensure that each head pours down with rushing water versus a trickle. A standard shower head is made to accommodate 2.5 gallons of water per minute. The more you add to that one source, the lower the amount of water pressure and volume you have coming from the multitude of heads. Anything beyond a standard shower head increases the cost of the system and the behind the wall work to install it. Usually, when switching faucet brands or types, the valve behind your wall must be replaced, requiring opening up the wall to do your plumbing. This will cost you no less than $250 for the labor, plus, in our client's case, another $750.00 for the two shower valves/ diverters and single sprayer. Plumbing is always a costly project, whether it be the cost of the products or the labor.
Decor Upgrades-
Now you have the items that truly "make" your bathroom. These include your cabinets, countertops, your sinks, faucets, mirror and lighting. In my client's case, we were using pre-made granite countertops. They are a great way to save a little money versus purchasing a custom granite counter. They come in limited colors and can cost as little as $300 each, but understand that they must still be cut to size, have faucet holes and sink holes cut into them and should be professionally installed, if possible. Your countertop has now gone from $300 to $500 per piece. Add to it your $300 sink, in our case beautiful travertine vessels, and then another $250 per faucet in a basic chrome (more for finish upgrades) and consider that we need two of each and we have now added another $2,100 to our bathroom remodel. Yet, we still have not included the cost for our mirrors and lighting and then the installation of each piece. MORE LABOR COSTS...ugh!
I try to make light of this all to make this remodel a little easier to swallow, but the truth of the matter is that doing it well and doing it right costs money. It's a worthy and wise investment to upgrade your bathroom every 7-10 years. Not only does it increase the value of your home, but it also gives you a pleasing and relaxing retreat that you very well deserve. My client's master bathroom remodel came to a very conservative $11,600 before taxes... yes, there's also those darn taxes!
For every $10,000 invested in a basic bathroom remodel, when done right, you recoup $16,000 in value in today's market. That's not too shabby. But, considering the slow jump to our economy, I would urge you to remodel fro yourself and not your future prospective homeowner. Chances are, they will only gut and remodel what you have just done. Trust me, they normally call me to do it!
Now that my clients have a realistic number in their head for what their seemingly simple remodel will cost, they must save for a little while longer to do their project; and that's OK with me. I look forward to working with them in the future and will be sure to post pictures for you all to enjoy!
I just recently designed a master bathroom remodel for a lovely couple in East Mesa. Their last remodel was a good ten years ago and their master bathroom was well appointed with a massive deck for a whirlpool tub, a long walk in shower with a ceiling suspended rain head and multi-spray body massage jets, his and her sinks in a separate area, his and hers closets set into their bathroom hall. Their home is nicely done but in need of updating to a more modern look. The tile in the shower is showing wear and the grout line along the bottom of the shower is dark and discolored. Their tile is ceramic, which was the most common tile at the time. It came in limited colors and textures and can now be replaced with a much more durable porcelain or even upgraded to a travertine- which we selected. Where the problem usually lies with such a remodel, is exactly what occurred with this client. You know that your bathroom has all of the basic components of a luxurious space and it really just needs a new "skin" as my client called it. So, you don't expect it to cost so much, perhaps a few thousand dollars and it's done. The problem with this theory is that there is no less labor in replacing items than starting from scratch... in fact, there's more.
There are lots of key factors to consider when looking to update your master bathroom. Here are a few of the most major:
Tile-
When considering tile, labor is your most important factor. First, the old tile must be demolished and disposed of. Then prep work may need to be done to accept your new tile. This can cost as little as a few hundred dollar, but must be considered.
The average professional tiler (in AZ) charges between $12.00 and $16.00 a square foot to tile a shower wall. Walls are a bit more complicated than floors. They require more materials- usually backerboard or metal lathing (depending on the preference of your tiler). Although your tile, as in the case of my clients, may be only $6.00 a square foot, combined with the labor, you are looking at an average of $18.00 to $24.00 per square foot. A shower is a large item. Let's say your shower is 3' x 5'. Let's say your tile goes up as high as 7'. Let's say your entry into the shower on your 5' wall is 30". This leaves you with approximately 94 sq. ft. of shower wall. If you have a tile that is $6.00 a square foot and a tiler who charges $12.00 per square foot, you are at $1,692.00 to tile your walls and that is just including your basic tile, no trim, no decorative listello, no shower cut outs, no benches and no shower floor.
Each addition to this equation adds additional cost. This is why the average 5' shower remodel can be anywhere from $2,500 to $4,000, including just basic plumbing fixtures remaining in the same place. Here is a link to a homeowner in Oklahoma asking this same question on a forum for Do-It-Yourselfers. http://www.doityourself.com/forum/designing-kitchens-bathrooms/335472-approximate-cost-replace-3ft-x-5ft-tile-shower.html#b
Plumbing-
This couple wished to swap out their current plumbing fixtures, as they were unhappy with the massage jets and the husband always felt cold while his wife showered under the one rain head. We designed a very basic system, per his request of 3 rain heads coming from the ceiling at a whopping 13.8" each head. It will literally RAIN in their shower and they will love it once it's done. We even have a very affordable source for our great quality plumbing products, but even this good source has you spending nearly $200 per rain head (the average rain head of this size costs no less than $250) and then there is the stem and cap coming from the ceiling. Even more importantly one must focus on the amount of water that has to rush through your overhead pipes to ensure that each head pours down with rushing water versus a trickle. A standard shower head is made to accommodate 2.5 gallons of water per minute. The more you add to that one source, the lower the amount of water pressure and volume you have coming from the multitude of heads. Anything beyond a standard shower head increases the cost of the system and the behind the wall work to install it. Usually, when switching faucet brands or types, the valve behind your wall must be replaced, requiring opening up the wall to do your plumbing. This will cost you no less than $250 for the labor, plus, in our client's case, another $750.00 for the two shower valves/ diverters and single sprayer. Plumbing is always a costly project, whether it be the cost of the products or the labor.
Decor Upgrades-
Now you have the items that truly "make" your bathroom. These include your cabinets, countertops, your sinks, faucets, mirror and lighting. In my client's case, we were using pre-made granite countertops. They are a great way to save a little money versus purchasing a custom granite counter. They come in limited colors and can cost as little as $300 each, but understand that they must still be cut to size, have faucet holes and sink holes cut into them and should be professionally installed, if possible. Your countertop has now gone from $300 to $500 per piece. Add to it your $300 sink, in our case beautiful travertine vessels, and then another $250 per faucet in a basic chrome (more for finish upgrades) and consider that we need two of each and we have now added another $2,100 to our bathroom remodel. Yet, we still have not included the cost for our mirrors and lighting and then the installation of each piece. MORE LABOR COSTS...ugh!
I try to make light of this all to make this remodel a little easier to swallow, but the truth of the matter is that doing it well and doing it right costs money. It's a worthy and wise investment to upgrade your bathroom every 7-10 years. Not only does it increase the value of your home, but it also gives you a pleasing and relaxing retreat that you very well deserve. My client's master bathroom remodel came to a very conservative $11,600 before taxes... yes, there's also those darn taxes!
For every $10,000 invested in a basic bathroom remodel, when done right, you recoup $16,000 in value in today's market. That's not too shabby. But, considering the slow jump to our economy, I would urge you to remodel fro yourself and not your future prospective homeowner. Chances are, they will only gut and remodel what you have just done. Trust me, they normally call me to do it!
Now that my clients have a realistic number in their head for what their seemingly simple remodel will cost, they must save for a little while longer to do their project; and that's OK with me. I look forward to working with them in the future and will be sure to post pictures for you all to enjoy!
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