Renovation Costs: KITCHEN & BATHROOM

Considering a renovation this year? Want to freshen up your home with a new look?

When it comes to the rooms in your home, it's relatively common knowledge that the kitchen and bathrooms are the two areas that - if renovated properly - will add the most resale value to your home.  Whether your kitchen and bathrooms require a minor refresh or a total overhaul, you need to know your budget is and what to expect cost wise before jumping in.

Here’s a brief overview of basic kitchen and bathroom renovation costs.

CONSIDER NEW COUNTERTOPS
Countertops are staples of any bathroom and kitchen. It's important to keep in mind that countertops are subject many factors that influence price, such as material, thickness, edging, number of cuts, angles and the number of slabs required. The cost will also vary depending on the material’s finish (such as honed, polished, or leathered).

• According to contracting experts, the average price for supply, fabrication and installation is $70 to $80 per square foot for most quartz and granite. 
• The least expensive materials, such as basic granite, typically cost around $15-$20 per square foot for supply only. 
• The average cost for a natural stone or quartz countertop is $25-$30 per square foot (supply only).
• More expensive material like marble typically cost $30 per square foot and higher (supply only).
• Labour costs vary depending on the materials used; the more expensive the material, the more expensive the labour required to fabricate and install.

MAKE A SPLASH WITH YOUR BACKSPLASH    
A beautiful backsplash can change an entire room.  Much like countertops, the average installation and labour cost for a tiled backsplash ranges depending on the materia and surface area needed to cover. As an baseline however, you can budget between $800 and $1,000.

• The most affordable materials - like ceramic subway tiles for example - generally start at more than $2 per square foot and go up from there.
• The next level up would be stone and/or glass tiles, which generally run anywhere from $15 to $20 per square foot.
• More expensive stone tiles, such as marble typically start at $20 per square foot and go up in price from there.
• The average price for a natural stone slab is roughly the same cost as the aforementioned countertop, at $25 per linear foot.

A good tip is research and visit a few stone and tile suppliers to see what the wholesale costs are for the material(s) you're interested in. From there, when you speak with a contractor (assuming you're not DIY'ing the project), you're armed with some perspective when you discuss pricing. Many contractors benefit  from trade discounts from wholesalers; by doing your homework in advance, you're in a better position to determine if you should source the materials yourself or have your general contractor supply, fabricate and install it. 

These price guidelines can help act as a benchmark when starting your research, but it's recommended that you talk to the experts and thoroughly do you homework. Speak to friends, families and colleagues who have undertaken similar renovation projects to get their feedback on the experience and ask for any tips or referrals they can share with you.

Thanks for taking the time to read The Home Blog.

If you have any questions about renovations or real estate in general, please contact (416) 577-8011.

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