Bathroom renovation, on a cost-per-square-foot basis, is among the most expensive home construction jobs, and when an old toilet begs for replacement, the cost difference between a remodel and also a new addition is an important consideration. In most cases, renovation will be more economical than an addition, but the benefit of one option over the other isn’t always clear cut.
Total Cost
Generally speaking, the cost of renovating a toilet will be cheaper than constructing a new one in case the homeowner is able to retain the vast majority of the room’s construction, mechanical systems and finishes. The price of constructing a new room is much more than the cost of renovation if the inclusion alters the property’s footprint, makes significant changes to plumbing or electrical systems, or needs extensive replacement of fixtures and finishes such as flooring and wall coverings.
Fixtures and Finishes
Replacement of finishes and fixtures is usually a goal of a bathroom remodel, so in this area, the cost difference between a renovation and an addition is minimum. In some cases, however, the reuse of existing fixtures is possible. If the present bathtub is in good shape, as an example, it might be a good idea to keep it; replacing a bathtub will add labor costs to your remodel in addition to the cost of the bathtub itself. Refinishing a cast iron bathtub is also frequently a cost-effective option to buying a new bathtub.
Systems
Material and labor costs associated with plumbing systems are a significant component in the overall cost of a bathroom remodel or addition, and also the more changes that will need to be made to the plumbing, the more expensive the project will be. In a relatively minor remodel, where new fixtures are installed at exactly the same places as existing fixtures, the plumbing may need no renovation. Moving fixtures or adding new ones will add significantly to the plumbing expenses, and including a new toilet will, of course, require the inclusion of entirely new plumbing systems.
Environmental Impact
The setup of new, efficient fixtures will turn an old toilet into a more environmentally friendly room; several newer bathrooms and shower heads in particular are intended to use much less water than older versions, and replacing ineffective models can reduce the long-term cost of a bathroom remodel too. But replacing fixtures and rebuilding the toilet will create waste and refuse that will probably be taken to a landfill; in terms of waste production, a minor renovation generally less of an environmental impact than a new bathroom addition.