Bathroom Renovations Under $10,000 – On A Budget – NZ

20 August 2020

 • 

6 min read

banner
With so many designs, beautiful fixtures and brilliant architects, designing a bathroom can seem like a fun filled experience. However, staying within your budget can turn this bathroom renovation process into a stressful experience instead. When clients give us a budget of around $8K to $10K, we always advice them to not try and re-vamp their whole bathroom at the same time. Here are our tips on how you can in fact change the whole look of your bathroom under $10,000.

Bathroom Renovations under $10,000 are a definite possibility! YES it is a possibility! Bathroom Renovation Ideas while spending Under $10,000 – On A Budget – NZ.

Think long and hard about your priorities. Do you want to change the look of your bathroom or are you looking at changing that old bathtub that you have had for ages? Or do you want to add heated floors? The key to bathroom renovations under $10,000 is to have a clear sense of priorities and careful planning.

Renovating the whole bathroom can be a near-impossible task under $10,000. If you are still looking at doing it, then you will have to compromise.

You could choose the most important fixture that you want to replace and get the other fixtures either second hard or of a cheaper variety. Get your plumbing sorted first because the price for plumbing is unlikely to differ no matter what fixture you get. Once the plumbing costs are sorted, then get that one thing replaced that is really high on your list. For example you might be wanting to replace your bath, well then get out there and buy the bath of your dreams. However for the kitchen cabinets and sink, look around your home and see what you could re-use.

An example of this is reusing your living room cabinets that you aren’t using anymore. Get them varnished, polish your old sink and get them fitted in your bathroom. This can prove to be a very elegant touch. This kind of renovation can take up to $10,000.

Choose one extravagant thing that you want in your bathroom and make it a focal point. It could either be a Japanese bath with wooden skirting type benches around it to make it look like a spa or a waterfall shower. This focal point can be expensive but it can still fit in your budget as long as you do change much else in your bathroom.

There are a multitude of possibilities if you are not looking at changing your fixtures and are focused on a re-vamp or a new style for your bathroom.

a) Make one of the walls a focal point: Use tiles, mosaic, marble or wood. Use whatever you most desire and use that material on an entire wall instead of the whole bathroom. This will keep your costs under $10,000 as Mosaic can be very expensive. You can make this wall the focus of your bathroom. You could couple that wall with a few mirrors or antique looking lamps to give it a Moorish look (especially if you use mosaic on the walls!!)

b) Replace your flooring: Replace your bland looking tiles for some colourful tiles. Add a bright rug in front of your sink cabinet, Paint your cabinets a dull gold, hang some brass lamps, add a few plants to add a bohemian look to your bathroom. This kind of renovation will only cost you $5,000-$7,000.

c) Use Laminate: Laminate is no more a cheap and boring option! There are a lot of styles and available in laminate which mimic real wood/texture, plus they do not rot, make you allergic and also have a moisture proof board that will save your surfaces.

d) Picture Windows: You will be amazed at what a difference a picture window can make to your bathroom. Make sure that you buy a good quality picture window which is realistic as you do not want a shabby looking feel. Frame the picture window with a good wooden frame to make it look like a window. This should typically cost about $5000 to $6000.

e) Create an illusion of space: adding mirrors can make your bathroom space look bigger and creating depth which will completely revamp your bathroom. Use mirrors not just for your vanity but perhaps behind the door or the upper half of your walls. This will cost you between $2000 to $6000 depending on the area.

f) Lighting: lighting can do wonders to any room. Basic lighting is a must of course, but think about how you can highlight the special features of your bathroom with lighting. Maybe it is that gorgeous tapestry or a simple clean bathroom with a serene painting as a backdrop. Add ambiance  and charm to these features by adding soft light.


Do I have to organise sub contract specialist trades such as plumbers or electricians?

We have all trades covered. Superior Renovations have a network of trusted and well respected team of trades who understand our system, follow up process and can work effectively with the rest of our team to ensure a smooth renovation project. So you’re just engaging us (not multiple companies) to complete the whole job from start to finish.

Will I have a choice of fixtures and fittings and can I supply them myself?

Absolutely – if you would like to purchase anything directly and provide it for installation at the appropriate time then we have no objections to this but we always suggest clients to choose our suppliers for a number of reasons, we’re confident of the quality, we can manage the logistics, trade prices, and any troubleshooting during the renovation is easier since we can direct contact.

I have a limited budget – do you only do high end renovation projects?

No we cater for all tastes and budgets. We have a standard 3 option range (Budget, Mid and Luxury) for kitchens and bathrooms as well as offering tailor made packages to suit your personal requirements.

How long does tiling a bathroom take?

Tiling a bathroom is done in stages starting with waterproofing (assuming all the preparation has been done) which takes 1 day then another 24 hours to dry and once ready, tiling starts (which is a combination of cutting the tiles and putting them in place which will take between 2-4 days dependant on the size of the bathroom.

How to keep bathroom renovation costs down?

1. Choose lower end fittings/products 2. Instead of full-tile wall, choose half. 3. Keep plumbing where it is 4. Avoid changes that require consent 5. Reuse old fittings if possible 6. Sell anything that still has value 7. Put a budget plan in place 8. Consider doing parts of the renovation yourself

How long does bathroom renovation take?

Generally a bathroom renovation will between 3-4 week from date of demolition, however will be longer if it involves consent.

How much does a bathroom renovation cost?

Average cost to renovate a bathroom in Auckland is between $18,500 - $23,000 (design, supply and build) dependant on choice of fittings/products, whether it needs consent, and complexity of renovation.

Take advantage of our FREE Complete Home Renovation Guide (48 pages), whether you’re already renovating or in the process of deciding to renovate, it’s not an easy process, this guide which includes a free 100+ point check list – will help you avoid costly mistakes.