The average consumer wants a custom, luxury bathroom, and is willing to shell out the big bucks to pay for it. Previously, consumers would not pay anything north of $15,000, but recently that price has increased to $20,000, according to Tom Sertich of Kirk Development Co. in Phoenix.
However, some bathroom remodels can fetch prices as high $50,000, said Dale Conrad, owner of Conrad Kitchen, Bath and remodeling. “People are getting used to spending more money for their bathrooms,” Conrad says.
Many consumers are leaving the bathtub out of the equation when remodeling their homes. “We have a lot of people who are just putting in a nice master shower and leaving the tub out,” says Geoff Horen, CEO of Lifestyle Group Residential Remodeling in Indianapolis. These showers have multiple sprayers and rain head faucets.
Previously, having a bathtub was necessary for a home’s resale value. With a growing homeowner longevity, comfort and accessibility trump resale value.
Those who keep a tub often opt for more contemporary freestanding tubs, such as the contemporary basin style or antique clawfoot tubs, rather than whirlpools or fiberglass.
Continuing the luxe trend, fiberglass is out. Over 89 percent of renovations are selecting tiles for showers and floors.
The results are here: 12-inch by 24-inch tile is in. Staggering rectangular tiles creates a sense of flow through the room.
For general living areas, wood-grain tiles, made of ceramic or porcelain, remain popular. These tile come in sizes from 6-inch by 36-inch to 8-inch by 8-feet, and come in traditional oak or rustic barn wood finished, among many others. “People like the look of wood, but they don’t like the maintenance,” Horen says, adding tile doesn’t swell when wet or need to be refinished like wood.
Tile has increased in popularity in part because of the rise in use of radiant floor heating, once a luxury market perk, it has been slowly making its way into the mainstream.
Gray has become the modern standard for walls, cabinets and tile. “It’s the new neutral,” Horen says. “It’s just a trend that we’ve seen come into play in the last few months that I expect to continue.”
Cohen says consumers get a better value if they spring for custom cabinets, and they’re choosing custom more frequently. “People should definitely consider getting custom cabinetry done, especially in the kitchen, because that’s going to be used on a day-to-day basis,” he says.
Although there are rumors that stainless steel is falling from grace, the overwhelming trend, according to 70% of contractors surveyed on Angie’s List, is to select stainless for a remodel.
As for countertops, granite remains the most popular. According to Sertich, “People are looking at quartz or Silestone [a brand of quartz],” he says. “But I would say that we’re probably still putting in 80 percent granite.”
Most consumers are willing to spend more on their remodel. According to this survey, 62 percent of remodeling contractors agreed customers were willing to spend more, while 29 percent saw no difference. A total of 51 percent say their recent remodels grossed $1,000 to $5,000 more on average than in 2013, while 23 percent say their jobs were up $5,001 to $10,000.
Consumers should expect to pay more up front, as many businesses are starting to charge for design fees or estimates. “I’m not charging [for] it because I’m too busy. I’m billing them because I want commitment,” Conrad says.
DnG Millwork & Cabinetry is a custom cabinet and millwork manufacturer located in the heart of Aventura, just north of Miami, FL. They provide commercial and residential millwork solutions throughout South Florida. Dov Gruska is a master carpenter with over 25 years industry experience. He leads a team of some of the finest craftsmen in South Florida to deliver unparalleled products and exceptional service.
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