Townsville Bulletin

Get a bang for your bathroom buck

- CARA JENKIN

A new bathroom can revitalise

your mornings, setting you on the right path to a good day, but the cost of doing so can be a big downside for home renovators. Still, there are ways to get that new-bathroom feeling on a budget.

The basics

Home owners do not have to look, as tweaking them is a simple, cheap way to get the same impact. Changing the light globe from cool to warm – or vice versa – can put an instant change in the air, and may also give the colour of any paintwork a new hue. Speaking of paint, applying a new colour

Go one

step

further and change

look and feel; replace the taps; or perhaps even install a new cistern for the toilet. The cost of upgrading the basics start from as little as $10-$200.

Keep a lot of what you've got Identify what really irks you about the bathroom that has made you decide to renovate. For example, is it the fact the vanity is out of date? Do you want a bath,

is a waste of space? Determinin­g what the real problem is may help cut costs on unnecessar­y changes, or enable you to splash all your money on what your heart really desires. If you can avoid relocating the sink, bath, shower and/or toilet

in your renovation, plumbers say that you could save as much as $2,000 from having to move so if you can keep your existing

down. Meanwhile, cleaning or re-grouting the bathroom is the easiest way to improve the look of tiles in a matter of hours.

Weigh up luxury and reality The luxurious feeling of a rainfall showerhead may be great when on holiday, but these modern

pressure as a normal showerhead. If quickly rinsing the shampoo out of your hair in the morning rush is a necessity, beware you may quickly regret spending the money on that upgrade. Heated towel racks and heat lamps also sound like great ideas for cold winter days but can boost electricit­y use – and therefore your electricit­y bill. If possible, try luxuries before you buy, get feedback from friends and family who have installed similar features and research the pros and cons of products online to determine if on your next holiday.

Trust the profession­als

As much as it saves money getting your handy relative to come in and do the work for you, for the cost of a bottle of their favourite beverage, contractin­g amateurs to do the work can cost big bucks down the line if mistakes are made or the quality of their labour fails. Take the time to talk to and trust the trained experts,

profession­als and seeking their advice or suggestion­s on how to stick to your budget.

Find profession­al, experience­d tradies for your bathroom reno below or online at buysearchs­ell.com.au

 ??  ?? Home renovation­s can be expensive so it's important to keep an eye on the wallet and plan carefully.
Home renovation­s can be expensive so it's important to keep an eye on the wallet and plan carefully.

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