Master Bathroom Remodel:

Taking on a project the size of a master bathroom remodel is a huge undertaking. Not only do you have to plan for all the tearout and installation of your floors, vanity, shower, tub, etc. you have to consider that you will not have access to your master bath for several weeks while the work is being done. Many people choose to do a master bath remodel when they are just moving into a house or when they will be gone a vacation. I know several couples that suffered through the entire process by using their kids bathroom while theirs was getting redone. You will want to find a good contractor (which is the hardest part) that can coordinate tile guys, plumbers, electricians, carpenters and whatever other type of trademen you may need to finish the remodel. Some homeowners take on this responsibility themselves, but the vast majority turn it over to professionals. You can save up to 20% on the cost of the project by being the project coordinator but that means you need to be around to get things done. Trying to work a full time job and be in charge of the remodel is not a good idea.

---

The first to do is get a general design of what you want. Will you tear out walls? Replace bathtubs with showers? Tear out carpets and put in tile floors? There are countless changes you could make, so start with the general layout that you want and then fill in the blanks from there. Most bathrooms have preconfigured plumbing that will limit some of what you may want to do without replumbing the entire room. Some people are lucky enough to have room for expansion projects in their bathroom where they can add a soaking tub or even sauna. We currently have a shower and separate jetted tub. Our biggest complaint is the carpet in the master bathroom which is well worn out and pretty grimy. We want to get tile flooring - perhaps with radiant heat built in for those colder winter mornings. The old vinyl shower siding will be torn out and replaced with a nicer tile. The shower won't have the current 2 slider door system - we will go with a single door and a partial wall where the current door is. The shower fixtures will be taken out (brass is no longer in) and brushed nickel shower head and water control will be put in. The jetted tub will stay but we will redo the tile around it and replace the faucet fixtures on it as well. The older vanity unit with one solid mirror will go and we are looking into a custom vanity if it's within our budget. The toilet area is separate - in a small room just off the main flooring area. It will need new floors and perhaps a more modern water efficient toilet. We will get into costs down below, but a basic remodel of this size is going to set us back a minimum of $15,000 and upwards of $30,000. With all the variables on tile, slate, plumbing fixtures, flooring, shower styles, and design accents, it can really add up. It's always best to get 3 estimates from reliable contractors. Also, we found a great bathroom remodel magazine/book which listed what work was done and how much the project cost. That gave us a good idea of what we were in for. Our 2 neighbors had their master bathrooms remodeled so that was another source for us to see what was put in and how much the bill was. Ultimately you need to set a budget and stick to it (+/- 10%).

Master Bathroom Remodel Costs:

Our 3 estimates were all over the board - from $15500 to $22,500. We were looking for something not too extravegent but at least new fixtures, floor, shower with tile, and a few extra items. When we searched online at websites like Costhelper.com we found that bathroom remodels for master bathrooms can go from as low as $4000 up to $50,000. What is the average master bathroom remodel cost is closer to $18,000 to $20,000. Keep in mind that tile selection, fixtures, complexity of shower or tub, vanity, heated floors, and more can really add to the final bill. Getting estimates is one way to get some rough numbers on the cost of your project, but as you can see by what we found out, they can vary by almost 50%. I have come to distrust contractors over the years as they seem to take advantage of homeowners on big projects like this. Whenever possible order your own fixtures, pick out your own vanity, buy the jetted tub yourself, and really just hire the contractor to schedule the work itself. Too often they mark up items 50 or 100% when they are purchasing them for you. Ask neighbors who they worked with and perhaps you can find an honest contractor that will do the work and get things done in a timely manner. Make sure you get an end date to the project or else they have to pay you a daily fee for being in your house still. One neighbor had a contractor take 2 extra weeks to finish their master bathroom and it totally disrupted their life.

Do you have a quality site or product that belongs in this guide? We are always happy to evaluate or review new products and websites. Feel free to contact us at the email address below and let us know about you. If you have a demo product you'd like us to look at, please contact us before sending anything. Thank you.

Review and Internet Guide Index: Computers and Internet: - Amazon Kindle Review - Best Selling Wireless Routers Household/DIY: - Replacing a Furnace - Most Popular Bread Makers Cars and Automobiles

Audio/Video Electronics - Best 50" LCD TVs - What is Tivo and how does it work? Top-Rated Digital Cameras and Photos: - Top HD Video Cameras - Buying a Digital SLR Camera Entertainment/Hobbies

Health & Fitness: - Teeter Inversion Tables - Recumbent Exercise Bikes Travel - Disneyland Hotel Guide - Hotels and Lodging - Top 10 Things to Do in New York Sports and Outdoors