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Pouring Cash Into the Bath
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You can do other spot improvements to address the bathroom's most glaring problems. Home Depot's prices start at $119 for new toilets, and $284 for pedestal sinks. (Old sinks also are candidates for resurfacing.) A plumber will charge a few hundred dollars more for installation. Or perhaps all you need is to freshen the place with new faucets, light fixtures or a mirror. You certainly want to spring for a new toilet seat at least.
But if the bathroom is in such sorry shape that spot fixes won't bring it up to the standards of the rest of the house (or to the standards that buyers expect in your price range), you might consider a full rehab.
Bob Kay, owner of Kitchen & Bath Factory in Arlington, said a typical gut-and-rehab of a 5-by-7 foot bathroom costs $12,000 to $18,000, in line with Remodeling magazine's estimate. Costs hit the higher end if it's an older house that has tiles set into a thick layer of "mud" or concrete. They're tough to remove. Jobs take two to four weeks.
His best tip for making a bathroom look up-to-date: frameless shower doors, which cost $800 to $1,200, installed. "It's just a cool, clean look," he said.
Meredith Hall, president of Hallmark Kitchens and Baths in Bethesda, said their typical gut-and-rehab starts at $15,000 and runs "to the sky." Work takes two to six weeks.
Both companies typically replace the copper water pipes and the drain lines. "You're never going to get a better chance to take a look at your plumbing than when the floor is removed," Hall said.
His best tip: Install a hand-held shower in the tub serving the second bathroom. It's great for bathing young children.
Just remember that you stand to lose 20 percent of your investment -- or more -- upon resale.
E-mail Elizabeth Razzi atrazzie@washpost.com.
