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Are you thinking of doing up your bathroom soon, but worried you can’t quite afford it? If so, read on. I’ve pulled together some tips I have learned through experience and from plenty of advice I’ve been given over the years. Here are several things to think about if you want to save money on your bathroom renovation.
Clean your tiles
Nothing makes a bathroom look dingier and dirtier than stained grout. And, in all honesty, it’s the one thing that just makes you want to rip everything out and start again. However, you don’t have to go down that route if you don’t have to. In fact, if you find a good grout cleaner and are prepared to get your hands dirty, it can come up looking as good as new. You might have to replace a few tiles here and there if you fit a new bath or shower, but again, it’s an easy DIY job.
Reduce your tiles
If you do decide to rip out the tiles and start again, just install less. The rest of the room can be painted cheaply in a colour of your choice. All you need to do is make sure that the wet areas are covered and sealed, and the rest is up to you. It might even be possible to get some nice stone tiling in there instead, with all the money you have saved.
Change heads and taps
Another way of getting an entirely new look from your bath fittings is to replace the taps and shower heads. It’s much cheaper than changing an entire unit, and it will freshen things up completely.
Replace old with new
Your bathroom as it is now might not look sparkling clean. And, you might need to buy a new bath, shower, toilet and sink. However, if you are strapped for cash, look for replacements that can slip straight in where their predecessors were before. One of the biggest costs of bathroom renovation is the plumbing. So, if you don’t move things around completely, you will save plenty of money.
Go second hand
There are plenty of places you can pick up second-hand bathroom pieces from, including antique stores, boot sales, and even scrap metal merchants. Take a look and see what you can find. You can get some beautiful old units for a fraction of the cost of buying new.
Invest to save
Finally, don’t be afraid to invest if it means you will save money in the future. Two things spring to mind immediately. Firstly, if you want to save money on your utility bills, then trying something like dual fuel heating for your bathroom should pay itself off in five years or so. Secondly, if you are planning on selling up in a couple of years, then see your bathroom as an investment in itself. It’s one of the key areas that prospective buyers will look at, and can add value to your home.
Well, there you have it. As you can see, there are plenty of ways to save - do you have any more?
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