Bathroom Renovation on a Budget

The month before Christmas is hectic for most people with celebrations and preparations already going on. Like a woman who begins a renovation and then gets pregnant, Gavin and I decided the six weeks before the children arrived home was the perfect time to get our ensuite installed AND remodel the main bathroom. To complete the complete build of one and the renovation of the other I had only a schedule but a very tight budget. We had to be creative with how and where we spent the money so it would complete the job. There’s nothing worse than getting half done and running out of cash. The odds of a job being completed when that happens are very slim. Below are the steps we followed to build/renovate TWO bathrooms for a total of $30 000.

PS: That might sound a lot to you if you live in other parts of the world. Building an entire bathroom from scratch on a budget of $15k is almost impossible in Australia!

Putting the Bathroom Renovation in Perspective

As I said in the introduction we had one bathroom to build from scratch. This was situated in the old kitchen space. As with any renovation, it’s the stuff you can’t see that costs the most, so we knew the build, electric and plumbing would take up most of the budget. I set aside a good chunk of money for this. But not enough! Here’s how the two spaces looked before the bathrooms were installed. The bathroom on the left had no door and there was a hole in the floor where Bonnie was running in that photo.

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How We Scheduled the Bathroom Renovation on a Budget

The first thing we did was to get our ensuite bathroom built. We decided to do this because we could use the old bathroom while it was being built. This would save us money as we would not need to move out or hire a Portaloo and shower for the duration.

TIP #1

One thing I’ve learned when renovating is to ask for a quote. Most smaller builders don’t like to work on a contract price but they can supply you with a rough quote and timeline. After the trades begin work, I pay them weekly so I know how much money I have left as I go.

TIP #2

To save money and help the work get done quicker, we did the demo and clean up each day. There are three kinds of builders in the world. The one who does not clean up after themselves and leaves the site a mess every day. The one who does clean up but on your time (so you’re paying for him to clean). And the one who cleans up after himself but does not charge you. I love this builder but it means he spends 30 minutes less each day on your job because he is cleaning.

TIP #3

I ordered ALL the fixtures and fittings and had them delivered while the trades were on site. It often helps them visualise what you want if they can see the fixtures. Plus, things get put at the right height. There’s nothing worse than a wall sconce that’s too low and you have to pay to have it fixed. So, if you can get everything you will need on site before, that will help.

Budgeting for the Fixtures and Fittings

With two bathrooms to budget for and a fairly hefty rebuild, I had to be creative with our fittings. How did I get the fittings I wanted for this bathroom renovation on a budget?

• The budget didn’t allow for brass in both rooms, so I went with matt black which was cheaper in the main bathroom, and brass in the ensuite. This saved $1000. At some stage, I may swap the black to brass.
• I reused vintage mirrors from our last house. I painted one black. Two new mirrors in a vintage style could cost upwards of $400. Think about how you can reuse what you have. Could your current mirror work with a frame, say?
• An old wardrobe was painted to match and repurposed as storage.
• We purchased two budget vitreous china sinks and two vintage washstands. Because the tapware and waste for the sink are quality nobody notices the sink is a bargain one. The fittings make them look more expensive. These sinks cost $104 each. Other more expensive options were upward of $350. I honestly can’t see the difference.

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TIP #4

Don’t be afraid to think outside the box for fittings. If you’re creative you can do a lot with little money and stick to your budget. Storage does not have to be under the sink. You could have a cabinet with everything you need.

• We purchased the washstands for a total of $300. The marble top washstand was antique. It was in great condition but very cheap because it was dirty. A good clean up and it was perfect. To buy new vanities would have cost over $1000. We drilled a hole in the marble top for the pipework to convert it into a vanity.
• I asked the tile shop to give me a quote for each of the types of tile I wanted. Then I looked at where I could save. My original choice of floor tile in the main bathroom was out of the budget. I found a cheaper alternative at Tilecloud. The tile quality is lovely. I chose to match the pattern with simple classic subway and black grout. The saving was around $2000 on the floor tile.

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• We used $4 generic hooks for towel hangers and painted them matt black to match the tapware.
• I made do without a wall light over the mirror opting for a pendant with a long chord that swags from its original position and hangs over the mirror.
• I sourced the lights on eBay. They were half the price of buying them at the big-name light shops (and they are EXACTLY the same!)

Saving On Trades During a Budget Renovation

• We kept the plumbing in the main bath mostly in the same positions. We did move the vanity to make more of a statement. New pipework was required for everything but it was cheaper than if we moved things around.
• The old aluminium windows were replaced with a second-hand timber sash window. I found it on Gumtree Australia. It cost $20! To have a new one made would have cost around $600!
• I did the painting and waterproofing to save time and money. Our schedule was tight so if I had waited for a waterproofing company we would not have completed the bathrooms in time. The cost was also another $1000 w did not want to spend.