Home Project Summary

Update Powder Room

Ideas, costs, tips and plans - the information you need for a successful Powder Room Makeover project

February 2011

Homeowners have many important questions about their Powder Room Makeover Project. How much will it cost? How long will it take? What problem areas do I need to watch out for? Can I recover my Powder Room Makeover investment when I sell? Can I do some of the work myself? What can I do to make sure that the work is done right?

Costs, materials and best practices for the example Powder Room Makeover project will help you answer these questions. Use this information to develop a budget, bid requirements, hiring contracts and a project plan.

Use the following information to understand your options, make good decisions and get quality work at a fair price.

Powder Room Makeover - Project Overview

The approximate costs and value of a typical Powder Room Makeover project are summarized below. Use higher estimates for larger metropolitan areas and the lower estimates where home prices are below the national average. Adjust costs for substitutions or refinements in the last section. For size differences of up to 25%, scale total costs in direct proportion to the size of your project. Use the adjusted costs as a basis for setting a material budget and for comparing contractor bids (if you choose to have a professional perform the work).

Project description	Replace sink, toilet and fixtures. Add granite countertop. Install new flooring. Paint walls and ceiling. Update lighting and electrical. Use above average quality materials and finishing detail.
Project size	40 square feet
Material and labor cost	$5,184 - $6,048
Material cost	$1,932 - $2,254
Do-it-yourself assessment	The typical Powder Room Makeover project can be completed by a moderately skilled do-it-yourselfer; as with any project, high quality Powder Room Makeover requires attention to detail and careful planning.
First year Return on Investment - ROI	Returns vary widely and are affected by the range of home prices in your neighborhood, the overall condition of your home and sensible design choices. A high quality Powder Room Makeover project in an appropriate neighborhood can return as much as 77% - 91% of its initial cost.
Long term Return on Investment - ROI	Returns will be impacted by the range of home prices in your neighborhood, the overall condition of your home and sensible design choices. A high quality Powder Room Makeover project can return as much as 67% - 78% of its initial cost
Green rating	Powder Room Makeover projects can employ renewable resources and environmentally friendly construction materials. Efficient lighting, HVAC, insulation and appliance choices can significantly reduce the energy footprint of your home.

Powder Room Makeover - Proven Ideas and Project Tips

Review these tips, design suggestions, options and lessons learned before finalizing your Powder Room Makeover project plan.

For best resale value, select a taste neutral design for your Powder Room Makeover
To maximize return on the Powder Room Makeover project, limit cost to no more than 1.8% of home's total, post project value
For best home resale value, follow a consistent design and decorating theme throughout the home
For best resale value, select components, appliances, finishes and fixtures of comparable quality
To minimize risk of electrical shock, have all circuits protected by GFCI
Update or restore electrical switches, receptacles and switch plates
Use low voltage interior lighting to illuminate pathways used at night
Install electrical receptacles inside cabinet where electrical devices are stored

Powder Room Makeover - Project Plan and Details

The following list includes major work tasks commonly performed during Powder Room Makeover. Use this list to understand the timing and sequence of different steps in the Powder Room Makeover project. Click any Task name for a complete written specifications, FAQs and quality checklist for the task - this essential information will help you control Powder Room Makeover project cost and quality.

Task

Service Provider

Duration

Do-it-yourself difficulty

Target cost

Develop Project Budget

General Contractor

2 to 15 d

Level 2 - Challenging

$140 - $234

Specify Materials

Interior Designer