The Benefits of Bathroom Remodeling
For a small home improvement that will help you to recoup most, if not all, of your costs at selling time, while significantly improving your quality of life, it's hard to top a bathroom renovation. In fact, you can expect to fetch about 80 cents on the dollar for a bathroom redesign, according to Remodeling magazine's 2008-2009 Cost vs. Value Report. And the National Association of Realtors (NAR) suggests that in older, established neighborhoods, kitchen and bath remodels and redesigns can generally be expected to return your costs to you at selling time.
Trends in Bathroom Renovation
Green and energy-efficient products, as well as items designed for the safety and comfort of the elderly, top the NAR's list of most popular design trends - both of which can be heavily incorporated into bathroom remodeling projects. These may include low-flow toilets, grab bars in tubs or showers, recycled glass tiles, on-demand water heaters, and radiant floor heating, which the U.S. Department of Energy estimates will save you about 20 percent per year in energy costs. Plus, energy-efficient upgrades can earn you tax credits, further saving you money.
Technology makes it easier than ever to upgrade existing bathrooms. For example, above-floor plumbing systems can save consumers an average of $1,000, by taking pipes over existing floors, as opposed to digging new lines below ground.
Still, it's the simple, cosmetic changes that are among the most popular design trends. Consider fixing up existing cabinets instead of replacing them, replacing hinged doors with pocket doors to add space, using paint to brighten a space instead of adding skylights, and replacing old windows with energy-efficient ones.
Ultimately, in today's stressful economic climate, it makes sense to turn your home into a sanctuary, and your bathroom is a wonderful place to start.
