Ask The Contractor: Things To Know About Saving Money On Your DIY Bathroom Remodel (2024)

A: Bathrooms are such important rooms in a house, and whenever dealing with a space that water is a part of, it seems like cutting corners would almost always be a bad idea—For the most part, that’s true. However, there are several places where you can skip the luxury pieces and use alternative products that cost less.

• Install a bath surround instead of an expensive tile shower.
• Leave the plumbing where it is and work with it instead of reworking the floor plan.
• Consider refinishing the existing cabinetry instead of purchasing new pieces.
• Reuse pieces if possible. Does your current toilet really need to be replaced?
• Shop used home material stores for bargains.

But Spencer Weidner, Digital Marketing Manager at Bio Bidet, says to be sure to “Invest in the benefits of a quality product that you’re going to have long-term.” Meaning there are definitely places not to cut any corners at all.

A: Spencer goes on to say, “You’re going to notice (the wrong paint color), but you’re going to experience the lack of quality in a product if you take shortcuts with a fixture.”

Although you can save money by purchasing some items second-hand or buying a shower kit instead of building a custom bath and shower, scrimping on plumbing fixtures that you rely on every day isn’t a good idea, both for comfort and safety.

Avoid cutting corners in the following situations too:

• Never cut corners if an item or a method jeopardizes your or anyone else’s safety.
• Always get a permit, or at the very least, check to see if you need one, even for the tiniest remodeling project.
• If you’re really unsure of how to do some part of a project, it may be less costly in the end to hire a pro instead of risking property damage.

A: When the job is done right, a bathroom remodel can add value to your home. If you were able to save some cash by doing it yourself, you have the option of leaving that in the bank or using some of it to splurge on a few luxury items for your new space.

When asked about luxury faucets, Spencer mentioned that purchasing an upgraded faucet with motion or touch activation is an excellent splurge that could only cost about $50 to $100 more than a decent model without those features.

Another excellent use of your saved cash could go to a luxury showerhead to wash away the DIY dust in style.

James Amburgey, Director of Product Line Development at Bio Bidet and Flow, says an excellent way to spend the extra money is on a bidet. Except, he says, “We use the (bidet) term pretty loosely.” But you don’t have to purchase and install a separate porcelain fixture, as many people think of when hearing the word. Instead, consider a much more budget-friendly, “all-in-one bidet toilet seat.”