Master Bath Remodel

It’s far more invasive, expensive, and upsetting to your family’s routine than remodeling a kids’ bathroom, guest bathroom, or half-bath.

But with a little planning, a master bath remodel can go along smoothly.  Learn some master remodeling tips to keep costs down and your spirits high.

1.  Keep Room’s Footprint

The first and most important thing you need to consider is whether you want to keep the bathroom’s same size.  Expanding the size of your master bath means either:

• Expanding into other interior spaces (which means decreasing bedroom, closet, or hallway size); or
• Pushing toward the exterior of the house.

The very minute you expand outward, your cost shoot up 1,000% (an exaggeration, but not too much).  So, it’s almost mandatory that you stay within the confines of your existing house.

2.  Three-Quarter or Full Bath?

A 3/4 bathroom has a sink and toilet, plus either a tub or shower. A full bath has both a tub and shower.

Do you think that a master bath necessarily entails having a full bath?  Keep in mind that you need to have the space in order to have a separate shower and tub, and we mean plenty of space.

If you absolutely must have a full bath, but you don’t have the space, then you have no choice but to install a shower/bathtub combination.

3.  Whose Bathroom Will You Use?

“Master bath” implies that your house has a second bathroom that you can use while the first one is out of commission.  If you have no other options for bathing, then you’ll need to move out to a friend’s or relative’s house, or go to a hotel, for at least 2 weeks during the bath remodel process.

4.  Leave Plumbing and Electrical in Place

Electricians and plumbers are the most expensive component of your master bath remodel.  To control costs, minimize your electrical and plumbing work.

You can save wads of money on master bath remodeling simply by leaving the basic services (plumbing and electrical) in the same places.  No, I’m not saying that you need to keep the same fixtures (toilet, sinks, lights, etc.); it’s understood that those will go.

But the locations should stay the same.  For an average-sized master bath remodel, moving plumbing and electrical can, by itself, run you $4,500 or more.

Wouldn’t you rather spend that $4,500 on something else?

5.  Bathroom Flooring Choices

Not every type of flooring is appropriate for bathrooms.  Some of the better types of bathroom flooring are:

• Ceramic tile
• Granite tile
• Sheet vinyl
• Vinyl tile

Bad choices are:  laminate flooring, solid wood flooring, and engineered wood flooring.  And of course:  carpeting.