A bath remodel is one of the most expensive upgrades you can make to your home on a per-square-foot basis. A recent study by the National Association of Realtors estimates the cost of a midrange Seattle bathroom remodel (replacing fixtures, vanity and medicine cabinet in a 5’ x 9’ bath, including tile floor and tub surround) at a little over $10,500. An upscale remodel (involving enlarging an existing space, tile floor and surround, top-of-the-line fixtures and counter, plus relocating and partitioning the toilet) is estimated at over $24,000. Such a sizable investment encourages lots of planning and up-front research to ensure you’ll be happy with the results for a long time.
Maximize your investment in terms of conservation, health, and environmental performance of your bath by considering the following:
Water-wise fixtures
Older toilets can be huge water wasters. But new models can vary substantially in their performance. Look for “Flush Star” models that work well on the first flush. See www.savingwater.org (click on “Conserve Inside”) to find the Flush Star list. Additionally, you can take your water savings to a higher level by purchasing a “dual flush” model. These toilets have two flush volumes, allowing you to tailor your water use to the job.
Look for showerheads that use two gallons of water per minute or less. Choose one that works for your hairstyle—households of short hair can be more adventurous with their water saving showerheads, purchasing models that use as little as 1.5 gallons per minute. Users with longer hair may find this volume insufficient for rinsing.
A faucet aerator of half a gallon per minute is sufficient for a bathroom lavatory. Standard lavatory faucet aerators run 2.5 gallons per minute.
Durable materials and water management
The wet nature of a bath can shorten the life of materials. Look for materials impervious to rot and rust (tile, old-fashioned linoleum flooring, glass and stainless steel are good candidates).
Try to keep water contained with well-designed shower doors or curtains. Protect windows in shower areas with additional water-resistant curtains.
Washable nylon curtains will last longer than flimsy vinyl curtains, and are free of plasticizers that are causing health concerns.
Reused or salvaged materials
Consider reusing elements of your existing bath that are in good condition. This can be a major cost saving activity, and is environmentally beneficial at the same time. The exception is with water-consuming fixtures: if they’re inefficient, decommission them and replace with high efficiency fixtures. In Seattle and other communities, old toilets can be recycled.
Shop your local used building materials retailers for sinks and tubs that fit your scheme for the new bath. Good condition vintage elements selected for the era of your home can help tie the remodel to existing features.
For more on green remodeling, visit www.seattle.gov/dpd/citygreen and click on the Residential section to find the Bath and Laundry Green Home Remodel guide.
Thor Peterson is a Residential Specialist with the City of Seattle’s Green Building Program. Six years of experience in the green building realm gives him expertise in a wide variety of green design strategies and products, including water and energy conservation, healthy and eco-friendly materials, indoor environmental quality, and low impact development approaches. Thor is a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Accredited Professional and a graduate of the Sustainable Building Advisor certificate program.
