Thursday, January 29, 2009

Calculating Costs Of A Bathroom Renovation

By Chet Lystrom

When you are seriously considering a bathroom renovation, one of the key items on your list will be the budget. You alone can determine how much money you have to spent on services and materials, and you will have to do your research carefully to ensure you're spending your money as frugally as possible.

Your time should also be considered and if you will lose more money from taking time off work to contract the job on your own than it would cost to pay a contractor, you may as well pay them to take on some of the headaches.

Remember to include the cost of any permits, subcontractors and inspectors that you'll need to start and complete your bathroom renovation project. In most cases even a minor bathroom renovation will require permits and most states require any electrical work to be done by a licensed electrician.

For you own safety it is a good plan and may even be required for plumbing work beyond the fixtures. Cutting and placing tiles, for example, may require the expertise of a specialist to ensure the quality of the finished product.

What Should You Do Yourself?

There are some areas of your bathroom renovation project that you can do without having to hire a contractor. While it is a necessary part of the job, removing debris and cleaning up at the end of every day is something most homeowner can do. Work with the contractor of the bathroom renovation project and determine if it is worth your time to go home every night and clean up someone else's mess.

New light fixtures are often part of a bathroom renovation and changing them may not require a license. This is work the homeowner may be able to do, but if wiring has to be installed or moved, a professional may need to get involved. A reliable contractor should be able to advise you on what you can and cannot legally do on your own and if you have the expertise can save some money on the cost of the bathroom renovation.

Generally, homeowners are glad to hand the reigns of their project completely over to a contractor so the only thing they have to worry about is paying the contractor. The right bathroom renovation contractor will help you keep track of the entire project, including maintaining a timeline for work completion and completing the project within a budget. - 15615

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