Budget Bathroom Remodel

This budget bathroom remodel is going to blow your mind! This bathroom was dirty and neglected. From the linoleum floors to the acoustic drop tile ceiling tiles, the whole space needed a refresh. My goal is to keep this project under $1000, keep reading to see how I did!

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Problems Right Away

When I removed the fixtures on the tub I found that the tub drain was so corroded the crossbars were missing. Because of this, the removal was almost impossible. I tried to cut a notch into the metal where a prybar could go. This prybar will hopefully tension in the drain and allow me to unscrew and pull it out. Even with the leverage of locking pliers on the prybar, the drain would not come out, so unfortunately we had to call a plumber. The plumber could not remove the drain without cracking the PVC, so he just took out all of the old piping and replaced it with new. This was a huge blow to the budget.

Cleaning the Tub and Floors

This bathroom is in the basement of my friend’s home, we are working on a tight budget so we are doing this bathroom DIY style! Rather than getting a new tub surround, we are trying to resurrect the current one which is very mildewy. My friend spent hours scrubbing the tub. It was fastest to sand the fiberglass surround with 400 grit sandpaper to get the mildew and stains off. The floor is textured, so she can not sand it. Instead, she tried using bleach, barkeeper’s friend, and pink stuff, but none of this worked. She was able to get the floor clean using a metal scrubby and elbow grease. After everything was clean, I applied polish to the surround to reseal the porous fiberglass to make the tub easier to clean in the future.

Painting

This bathroom started as a dark and dirty brown color. We chose to lighten it up with a warm white color. We want to make this small space look bigger and because it is windowless, a light color will brighten it up. It took three coats of paint to cover the brown that was there.

Flooring for a Budget Bathroom Remodel

Once the floor and tub are clean and the walls are painted, it is time to lay flooring. I picked up LVT click-together flooring on clearance to save money. Flooring the entire bathroom only cost $135! Since it is made of plastic I can cut the tricky parts on my scroll saw. The 12 x 24-inch dimensions make it look like real tile and I laid it so that the seams were staggered at exactly the center to make it even more convincing. I laid this new flooring directly over the linoleum that was there before. This was possible because the new flooring did not require underlayment and the door thresholds had space. For a more in-depth explanation on how to install flooring click here. After the floor was installed, I installed the new toilet which we got on clearance for $140.

Upgrading the Ceiling

Something has to be done with this outdated acoustic ceiling. The whole home’s plumbing runs through here, so we decided that it is important to still be accessible. Because of this, I have to hunt for a better, and more attractive, drop ceiling tile. To begin the ceiling upgrade I am rolling the grin that the tiles sit on with a couple of coats of black paint. We ordered beautiful new drop ceiling tiles that have detailed ridges in a dramatic black color. They are made from very thin PVC, so thin that you can cut them with just scissors! The entire ceiling cost us $154.

New Vanity Mirror Install

We found a budget-friendly new vanity light with reeded glass that my friend loved. I also installed a new LED mirror above the vanity. It was decided that we would plug the mirror in rather than hardwire it. I also installed new faucets in matte black. The shower system cost $175 and the faucet cost $52. Thankfully there are no more plumbing issues and I can install the shower DIY.

Budget Bathroom Finishing Touches

I taught my friend how to use my nail gun and she put back all of the trim. We wanted to keep the honey oak because the doors, vanity, and trim work all match throughout the entire house. I made a painting for the room and I am so happy that my friend loved it. It brought the whole room together! Without the plumber’s bill of $480 I would have been under budget on this project! The total for everything including paint, accessories, shower curtain and rod, and plumber came to $1326.

Before and After

I am proud of how much my friend and I accomplished together, how I inspired her to DIY and learn new skills, and how budget-friendly this space is. If you love this bathroom remodel and want to see more, check out the final reveal of the bathroom in my house!