Renovations, even if it is just your bathroom or kitchen, are expensive – especially when it comes to the plumbing. Even remodelling an ensuite can run into the tens of thousands of dollars, while changes to the structure of your house are likely to run close to the cost of building a whole new home!
Apart from the expense of demolishing and then rebuilding walls, moving wires and getting everything approved and done safely by a qualified electrician Wellington based, you also need to factor in the pipes and water fixtures. When you think about it, it takes a lot of work to remove toilets, sinks and baths, and even more to get the pipes out.
You are also likely to have to pay for at least some new piping, particularly if you are making rooms bigger or adding new ones. If your existing plumbing network is getting a bit older, you may also need to replace your existing pipes and drains.
Save money on plumbing renovations with an experienced plumber
Don’t despair! There are a number of ways for you to cut down your plumbing costs as far as possible. The main things you can do may seem simple, but they all add up and can result in you saving thousands of dollars that you can then use to furnish your newly-renovated home.
The most important way you can save money (overall) may seem counter-intuitive: you need to spend the money required to get a highly experienced plumber. While they will be more expensive than someone who has just finished their apprenticeship, an expert plumber will be able to help you to minimise all of your other costs and future plumbing issues.
Experienced plumbers will be able to replace your fixtures and pipes faster and more efficiently than a novice, meaning that you are paying them for fewer hours. They will also hold up the rest of your renovation for a shorter time, reducing your overall labour costs.
An expert knows how to minimise the amount of demolition required to remove your existing drains and fixtures. While you may not care about the tiles and drywall if you are redoing the entire room, keep in mind that doing less demolition while the plumbing is still in means that the pipes themselves will be kept in better condition, and you will be more likely to be able to reuse them.
You will also save money in the long term if you use an experienced plumber, because they will typically be able to do the work to a higher quality. This means that your ongoing costs will be lower, with less maintenance and repair required – and the pipes are less likely to burst and flood your home!
Minimise your material and relocation costs
If you can keep your toilets, sinks and baths where they are already then you won’t need to move the pipes, or buy new ones. This can significantly cut down on the renovation costs. You will save money even if you are redoing the tiles and walls, because even though the pipes will need to come out they can go back in the exact same spot and you won’t need to buy new material.
If you can’t (or don’t want to) keep your water fixtures in the same spot, then try to at least keep the same overall layout of the house. Moving the kitchen to the other side of the building will cost a lot more than keeping it in the same general area! This also applies to bathrooms and any other rooms that need plumbing access. The one exception is the hot water heater – the closer this can be to any showers, the better.
