Save clients some money with savvy sourcing and building.
By Matt Lee
Each year, the cost of construction gets higher, thanks to spiking prices on raw materials, labor and equipment that generally trend up. This can undermine the return on investment of building and renovation, leaving developers and homeowners unsure as to whether or not their planned project is feasible.
While the construction bill is something that will never go away, some modern materials and techniques can help soften the blow when designing a bathroom or kitchen.
Use Synthetic and Engineered Flooring
When building the bathroom and kitchen, it is important to have flooring that is durable and nonporous to prevent staining. As such, hard materials such as ceramic tile and solid hardwood are favorite flooring materials for these applications.
However, not only do these classic products carry a high price tag, but they are time-consuming to install, requiring close attention from a flooring professional to lay properly.
As an alternative to these traditional options, consider modern synthetic and composite flooring, such as vinyl tile and engineered hardwood. These products will retain the desirable aspects of quality kitchen and bathroom flooring — but they’re less costly. Vinyl tile can be locked in place without the use of grout, significantly lowering installation time, while engineered hardwood is slightly less expensive than solid hardwood on a per-square-foot basis.
Choose Surfaces that Can be Fabricated Off-Site
Bold materials such as concrete and marble are among the popular choices for kitchen countertops. However, they’re also expensive and cumbersome to install, as they require heavy equipment and must be set in sections on-site, which can leave the kitchen indisposed for a significant amount of time. A more affordable alternative would be to choose a material that is fabricated off-site, such as an acrylic solid surface. Besides lowering construction resources, this type of material is fabricated in a durable, nonporous, one-piece design that is easy to clean and unlikely to need future replacement.
Maximize Efficiency Before Increasing Size
One of the most expensive undertakings in a remodeling project is adding more space, as going bigger requires more raw materials, sometimes a foundation, slab or other structural elements — which all elevate costs.
If a kitchen or bathroom feels cramped, try to make the space more efficient before making it bigger.
Some ways to do this include:
- Opening up a full-length wall to create a 42-inch-high bar
- Adding drawer or cabinet space beneath islands
- Placing open shelves on any under-utilized sections of the wall
- Installing handrails and other fixtures on which to hang towels or cookware
Look into Recycled Materials for Industrial Style Spaces
Industrial is a contemporary trend in bathroom design, with modern residential spaces attempting to mimic the look of lavatories in 19th-century factories. Characteristics of this look include exposed pipes, oversized knobs and wheels as water handles, and bold brass and stainless steel fixtures.
The upside to this style of bathroom is that some minor signs of wear can actually enhance the appearance, as an ambiance of imperfection is natural in a heavily used industrial space. Therefore, before starting an industrial bathroom project, scour second-hand vendors of bathroom tile, door hinges, and sink/door handles to help save on materials — and using recycled materials helps save the environment, too.
Matt Lee is the owner of the Innovative Building Materials blog and a content writer for the building materials industry. He is focused on helping fellow homeowners, contractors, and architects discover materials and methods of construction that save money, improve energy efficiency, and increase property value.
