Ours did cost a bit over a loooong period of time, but we did have the luxury of time and did want some really nice finishes.
One thing we did that cut the cost a little while still keeping the look was to use big tiles. We visited a *fancy* tile shop and found the look we really liked then shopped around at some cheaper tile places to get the look at about 1/2 the price. We chose tiles which were about 300x150mm (White) then tiled from floor to ceiling with them. Our bathroom is pretty small, but with the bigger tiles it actually looks much bigger. I think going floor to ceiling also helps. With the bigger tiles it meant less grout, less work and less $$.
I think good tapware can make a room look great but it is so pricy... I shuddered when I found the receipt for our shower head recently, 3 years after the reno and 5 years after we paid for it! One other way to cut costs could be to go for cheaper tapware now and save up for more exxy ones later. Also keep in mind tapware can really date so its a good idea to go for classic pieces.
And a final word of advice - Auctions! We bought heaps of bits and pieces for our renovation including our toilet for really reasonable prices at Auction houses... Try Grays online dot com dot au
we totally had to gut it out and start again- it was bad!! Tiles had fallen off walls, shower and bath couldnt be used and to top it all off- we had asbestos under the tiles. Most bathrooms that were done pre 1983 were tiled with asbestos underneath- so be aware that could be a factor and add to the cost! They have to spray and dispose of it properly!
we got a new celing
new plaster on walls
bath/vanity moved
new bath,vanity, shower and shower screen and vanity mirror/cupboard
new floor and tiled
walls tiled 2/3 up
heater/light/fan
powerpoints
all tapware including a hand held shower head
and it worked out around $11K
it took 2 weeks and from woe to go! It was going to be 1 week but the wood that the bathroom was constructed with was really hard and they had heaps of trouble cutting through it!
the only thing we had to do in the end ourselves was to paint it!
It looks awesome and it was a easy/great experience
ours was so dear b/c of the asbestos and the extra plastering they had to do to replace the walls and roof, but that may not be needed in your case and save you heaps of $$$
definately if you dont need these types of extras done- it could be done for the price you are thinking of!
good luck!
We also did ours late last year and I think all up it came in at about $11K, but we had some unique challenges (it was on the third floor of our townhouse)... But I did find initially when I called 'bathroom companies' they had much higher prices.
In the end I put an ad on the service central website and got a response from a tiler who then brought along his mate who was a builder. Between the two of them they organised everything (including custom making a vanity to match our other one) and at a much lower cost than the 'bathroom companies'.
If I was you I would try service central or call around to local tradies and get quotes. This sounds awful, but we are in a recession at the moment and I wouldn't be suprised if some tradies are suffering a little and willing to do the job at a lower cost to get the work.
we just gutted ours put in under floor heating, tiled from floor to ceiling new showerhead from teh roof and new small square bath with shower over teh tope, glas shower screen new toilet new vanity new mirror all up 6grand and that included a second toilet into the laundry.
we did it all ourself and got alot of things on sales and from ebay..
ebay is your friend
Thanks for all the replies - even $11K is better than $15K!
Unfortunately my DH (and both our families) are not very "handy" so can't do the work ourselves - but def like the auctionhouse idea. The big tile idea is good too - will def use it! Great tips - keep em coming!
I have guy coming at 5pm to give our first quote so fingers crossed!
new bath,vanity, shower and shower screen and vanity mirror/cupboard
new floor and tiled (DIAMOND SET, LITTLE MORE EXXY THAN SQUARE TILES BEING LAYED AS SQUARE TILES)
walls tiled ALL WAY UP TO CEILING
heater/light/fan
powerpoints (MY DAD ELECTRICIAN....SO DIDNT PAY A CENT FOR ELECTRICAL WORK)
all tapware including a hand held shower head
Separate toilet done too - wall tiles up to ceiling, heater (dont ask, why you need a
heater in the toilet, but DH insisted), and diamond set tiles. Toilet was relatively new, so didnt bother with that....
We had 3 x quotes, and they ranged from $7K - $12K. So do shop around. Also dont go to exxy bathroom and tiles renno places (harvey norman etc). They charge the earth. We went to a wholesaler whom sold tiles and tap fitting to public too.
Hey CF, just thought I would drop in with my 2 cents.
Last year DH and I renoed our bathroom and toilet. We demolished the existing bathroom and toilet ourselves, and sourced everything ourselves too from all different bathroom/plumbing suppliers. We put in a new shower base and screen (800), a free standing bath (950), a vanity (500) and toilet (400). We also had new floor and wall tiles. All up it cost b/w 5.5 and 6k which includes labour and materials.
I found that by looking online at ebay and the trading post I was able to find actual stores that I could physically go to which sold at discounted prices.
To me, what you were quoted sounds a bit OTT, definitely shop around and get a few quotes. Check out your local paper too, you'll find there are tradies who specialise in bathroom renos and do it much cheaper than an actual storefront.
Registered User
(oh but my FIL is a home handyman genius!)
One other way to cut costs could be to go for cheaper tapware now and save up for more exxy ones later. Also keep in mind tapware can really date so its a good idea to go for classic pieces.
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