The Hidden Costs Of Remodeling Your Bathroom

Next to your kitchen, the bathroom is one of the most expensive places in your house to remodel. That's why when potential homebuyers tour, they're always looking for a kitchen and bathroom already done up in their style - that way they don't have to do it themselves!

Keep in mind that remodeling your bathroom isn't just about switching out some tile and updating to

a jetted tub. There are a lot of hidden costs involved, and our goal today is to help you identify them before you set out dismantling your bathroom and building from the ground up. Know what you're getting into before preparing that budget.

From Old Plumbing To New

One of the biggest hidden costs that will infiltrate your bathroom remodel is the plumbing. You may open up the wall and discover that your pipes are leaking or are so old it's a miracle they're not leaking yet. The bad news is that replacing your plumbing will cost thousands of dollars. The good news is that it will add all that and more to the overall value of your home.

What you want to watch out for: old copper plumbing that would never see the light of day today. If you live in a place that gets really cold, upgrade your pipes to something that doesn't freeze as easily.

Mold

There's another nasty surprise waiting for you behind that wall. Not just the plumbing, either. A renovator's worst nightmare is opening up a wall and finding living organisms that aren't supposed to be there. Namely, mold.

Mold is a huge health hazard that occurs when there's too much moisture behind your walls. This may come from leaking pipes, a hot and humid environment, or poor insulation.

What's so dangerous about mold? Aside from how quickly it spreads, it will destroy any material it touches. This includes your lungs, which will not get along will with mold invading them.

What to watch out for: black mold especially. This is the most dangerous and requires highly regulated ways of disposing it. Depending on where you live, you will need to get any mold you find tested and then go from there. Most places will let you simply remove if it's not classed as dangerous. Otherwise, you may have to pay to involve a particular agency.

New Amenities

Redoing your bathroom isn't cheap even when everything goes right. While toilets are fairly inexpensive these days, you can count on any new tiling or jetted tubs costing you a small fortune if you want it to look great and add value to your house. The relieving news is that these are probably things you've already budgeted for, especially if you know what you want.

Watch out for: bad deals. Just because you're quoted one price doesn't mean that's the best one around. Always do some comparison shopping before committing.

There are lots of tiny money pits that can break your budget when you're doing a bathroom remodel. Always have a strong buffer to cover those costs.