How Long Do Bathroom Renovations Take?

Undoubtedly, bathroom renovations are rewarding projects that can significantly improve your family home’s value and design. However, it is undeniable that these are lengthy processes that can be effort-consuming if not adequately planned. Generally, a medium bathroom renovation should last no longer than 23-27 days. However, this can depend on many factors – and you should always allow for hiccups and inconveniences along the way!

Bathroom Renovations – a Timeline

Here is what to expect from your bathroom renovation.

Assessment and Demolition

2 days

This is the first step to remodelling a bathroom, and it creates the foundations of the new bathroom. Demolition can be particularly tedious and time-consuming if your apartment is on the second floor or hard to access.

Carpentry, Plumbing, and Electrical Rough-ins

4 to 6 days

There is nothing as crucial as creating a durable, reliable structure for the bathroom. This is what carpentry, plumbing, and electrical rough-ins are for. These steps allow tradespeople to run the electrical lines and plumbing before any fixture is installed. A first inspection should happen after this step.

Insulation and Drywall Installation

1.5 to 2 days

These are quick processes that can be completed in less than a day each. As soon as the insulation system is up, the drywall can be hung – if you need it.

Inspections and Painting

Up to 4 days

Once the bathroom’s drywall is up, it is time for tradespeople to apply the joint compound and sand it once it is dry. This process will require drying, so it can take longer than expected. And sometimes, it might need to be repeated twice. Then, it is time for painting! 

Cabinetry and Hookups

4 days

While there are not many cabinets and closets in a bathroom, you might need to allow at least a day for tradespeople or carpenters to fix all of your design details safely. They will then install fixtures such as toilets and sinks and connect them to the plumbing and electrical system.

Tile Work and Flooring

Up to 4 days

Whether you are redoing your bathroom floor or not, you will need to allow for extra time to complete the process. However, if you are tiling your bathroom, you should keep in mind that drying times can extend the process’s length.

Total Bathroom Remodelling Time

23 to 27 days

The total time needed for remodelling a bathroom can be as much as one month. However, you should always consider that hiccups can happen, and planning ahead allows you to build realistic expectations. This is particularly critical if you are remodelling before selling the house or working around tight deadlines!

How to Speed up Your Bathroom Renovation

The time needed to remodel a bathroom can depend on many different aspects. The most important ones are:

  • The number of tradespeople you have hired for the job
  • How you have organised their schedule
  • The types of remodelling you are going through. A structural renovation will take much longer than a cosmetic or superficial fix!
  • Are all the materials picked readily available? Shipping times can significantly slow down the work of tradespeople and contractors.
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The Latest Trends in Kitchen Designs

In the past, the kitchen was one of the most neglected rooms in the house – a place of daily toil and struggle. In 2020, though, the picture is just about as different as it could be. Modern kitchens are bright and roomy places in which people discover new flavours and culinary delights. 

So what new trends do we see this year? What’s coming down the pike that can make you excited? 

Indoor/Outdoor Kitchens

Nowadays, people want to entertain outside. But ferrying food from the kitchen to tables on the patio can be a chore. The current trend, therefore, is to connect kitchen and garden spaces with French or sliding doors, bringing the two areas of the home together. This basic concept has been around for a while. But in the past, it just meant opening up some aspect of the back of the house, not explicitly the kitchen. Now the trend is towards installing large glass doors or even add-on conservatories to the room itself that brings light into the home.

Embellished Backsplashes

Just because you regularly splatter your backsplash with food doesn’t mean you should neglect it. Having a stylish area behind your hob can impact your kitchen’s atmosphere. 

At this juncture, most people choose tiles, but today, there are many more choices on the market. Easy-clean synthetic modern panelling is one option, for instance.  

Go Smart

Going smart is perhaps the most significant trend in 2020 so far. Homeowners want to imbue their kitchens with the power of computers, getting them to do all kinds of things, from responding to voice commands to alerting you when your groceries are running low (and occasionally ordering them on your behalf). 

Smart kitchens offer practical advantages too. For instance, kettles can start boiling water for your morning brew automatically when you enter the room. And you can even get gadgets that monitor your eggs and tell you which are going bad. Zero-waste kitchens here we come!

Dark Cabinets

Dark cabinets weren’t always the top choice in the past, but they’re a big theme in 2020, pushing out their traditionally more popular white counterparts. They’re smart, elegant and discreet. 

Quartz Countertops

While people celebrate marble and granite, quartz is still the king of countertop materials. It’s naturally anti-microbial and doesn’t require as much upkeep as many of its rivals. Plus, many cuts feature beautiful striations throughout the stone.

Effective Storage

Modern homeowners are much more adventurous in their cooking habits than they were twenty years ago. For that reason, they often have a deluge of ingredients spanning multiple cuisines. The issue today is finding space to store them all. 

In 2020, practical storage has become a prominent theme, with people experimenting with tray dividers, pantry storage jars, roll-out trays, and caddies for crockery.

Family-First Layouts

The one-size-fits-all kitchen is fast becoming a thing of the past. Today, homeowners want functional spaces that cater to the needs of all family members, ranging from the youngest toddler to the oldest grandparent. 

Future-proofing kitchens mean incorporating more demanding interior design elements, including central islands of differing heights, food prep areas, breakfast bars and dining spaces. 

Eco-Friendly Design

With more millennials than ever before investing in kitchens, the market has seen a surge in demand for eco-friendly offerings. Homeowners want solutions that will let them cut their carbon footprint and save energy. 

Carbon-neutral kitchens became a real possibility in 2020, with innovations that extend beyond feel-good gimmicks. Things like dedicated recycling bins in cupboards, induction hobs and three-in-one hot water taps are all in-demand features right now. 

Built-In Appliances

While freestanding appliances were par for the course in the past, tastes are changing, and now people want them built into their kitchen. The main reason for this is the sheer amount of clutter on the average kitchen worktop. When you add your blender, microwave, coffee machine, and rice cooker to the mix you don’t have much space left over for anything else, such as prepping meals. 

Built-in appliances are associated with the older generation. But practicality concerns and space constraints now means that even modern buyers have to go down this route. 

Concealed Kitchens

Concealed kitchen concepts are perhaps the most exciting development in the interior design space since kitchen islands came along. The idea is to hide the lion’s share of your appliances, pots, pans and ingredients behind in-built cupboards that line the walls. Then, when you’re ready to cook, you open the doors and slide them back into recesses, getting them out of the way as you prepare your meal.

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How Much Does a Kitchen Renovation Cost?

Kitchen renovations are among the most exciting projects and can give you full control over what the heart of your family home should look like and feel like. However, it is undeniable that they can require a significant investment, especially for a custom kitchen.

Indeed, renovating a small to medium kitchen can set you back around $20,000, while custom-designed, luxurious renovations can cost over $45,000! Of course, you can opt for a cosmetic makeover and spend as little as $5,000, but this is more considered a quick fix.

Nonetheless, many aspects can influence the overall cost, and there are some essential interventions that you truly should not avoid.

What Influences the Cost of Your Kitchen Renovation?

As seen, the cost of renovating a kitchen can range between $20,000 and over $45,000. For an estimation of how much your kitchen renovation will cost, you should consider:

  • Your kitchen’s size
  • Your kitchen’s style (e.g., luxury, custom-made, essential, minimalist, etc.)
  • How many exclusive details you wish to include
  • Any bespoke features you need
  • The type of renovation (superficial vs. structural) 

Kitchen Renovations: The Aspects to Consider

So, renovating a kitchen can set you back as little as $5,000 for a superficial makeover, but small or medium kitchens can be remodelled for around $15,000. Nonetheless, most homeowners commit an average of $20,000 to this project to have long-lasting results. Whatever your budget is, some aspects should not be overlooked!

The Quality and Design of Fixtures

If you just need a superficial fix for your cabinetry and surfaces, you won’t need to spend much more than $5,000. However, during a structural renovation, you will need to consider that the money invested might actually increase your home’s overall value! Therefore, you should strive to include fixtures and facilities that are modern, efficient, and high-quality. These are more likely to last you for longer!

The three items more likely to impact on your budget are:

  • Ovens ($380 for a budget model, over $2,000 for a premium one)
  • Dishwashers ($400 for a budget model, up to $1,500 for a premium one)
  • Sinks ($200 for a budget model, up to $1,400 for a premium one)

Flooring, Tiling, and Cabinetry

These are what constitutes a kitchen, and their cost totally depends on the quality of materials and the kitchen’s size. Generally, your prospects are:

  • Cabinetry ($5,000 on average, up to $18,500 for high-end models)
  • Flooring (around $10 per square meter plus fees, $4,000 in total on average)

Tradesperson Charges

Tradesperson charges can add up to just as much as the cost of your fixtures and design! And, due to the many systems involved, you will need a team of carpenters, plumbers, electricians, tailor, and painters to achieve the results wanted. 

Their average cost is:

  • Carpenter – $50/hour
  • Electrician – $75/hour
  • Plumber – $80/hour
  • Tiler – $45/hour
  • Painter – $42/hour

Kitchen Renovations on a Budget

While it is undeniable that renovating a kitchen is expensive, you can lower this project’s cost by shopping for designers or renovators. This can offer you a fair idea of the price you should pay. Also, opting to keep your current plumbing and give your cabinetry a cosmetic makeover can reduce the costs involved.

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How Much Does a Bathroom Renovation Cost?

Renovating your family home’s bathroom is one of the most important projects for any household. Undoubtedly, it can increase your home’s market value and make it a much more comfortable place for the whole family. 

However, it is not one of the kindest projects on anybody’s wallet! While it can grant you a return on investment of up to 60%, a bathroom renovation can cost anything between $10,000 and $25,000. 

Bathroom Renovations: A Cost Breakdown

For you to face such expenditure in the best way, it is worth shopping around to get a quote from at least three experts and build realistic expectations of the costs involved. Let’s start from here!

New Baths and Showers

If you are renovating your bathroom, that’s because you wish to upgrade your baths or showers’ look and quality. Installing both might be too costly, but the choice between the two is tough. Understanding your household’s habits and assessing your bathroom space is the best way to decide on the best fixture option. 

Showers are generally cheaper options than bathtubs, which can cost up to $2000, without installation costs. But there are so many baths and showers models on the market to accommodate any budget or design preference. 

Installation of New Facilities and Fixtures

The other essential aspect is the bathroom facilities and sanitarian fixtures. These often include a toilet, a sink, a bidet, and vanities. Considering your personal preferences is essential, but, luckily, the choice can be made easier by buying a set. So, you won’t have to deal with matching the right fixtures. 

Speaking to an expert designer can be an excellent way to make sure that you have picked your fixtures’ right size, height, and design. Since these can vary greatly and be very costly, making sure that your first choice fits well is paramount. 

Generally, sleek, clean-looking designs are preferable to give the impression of a modern, spotless bathroom. However, the price of fixtures will vary depending on the quality, material, and design picked. Indeed, you can spend between a few hundred and a few thousand per piece, especially for designer fixtures. 

Tiles, Flooring, and Walls

Designing the right flooring for your bathroom is paramount because the temperatures and humidity levels in this room are usually higher than the rest of the house. While you might wish to save a little, opting for lower-quality tiling can have you deal with water damage and plumbing issues in just a few months.

Usually, tiles are the optimal choice for this room, and they can come in several materials, such as stone, glass, ceramic, and even linoleum. Depending on the design and the material picked, tiling your bathroom can set you back between $1,500 and $3,000. You should also consider the cost of calling in a tradesperson for installation, who can charge around $65 per hour.

Electrical and Plumbing Systems

Lastly, don’t forget about the costs involved with creating a long-lasting internal structure for your bathroom. While this might not be visible or improve your bathroom’s look, it will undoubtedly improve its functionality. Even more importantly, dedicating a significant section of your budget to this aspect can help you count on a healthy bathroom and foundations for longer.

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