Increase
resale value with a home spa Design magazines are
full of bathrooms transformed from functional to fabulous. Gone
is the utilitarian bath-and-shower combination -- in its place,
there's a sunken whirlpool bath and corner shower unit.
In terms of adding value and enjoyment to your home, a
bathroom renovation is one of the best home improvement projects.
According to the Hanley-Wood 2004 Cost vs. Value Report,
homeowners who remodel bathrooms recoup 85 percent to 90 percent
of the cost when they sell their homes.
A gleaming new bathroom can also help sell your home quickly.
But before you give in to the visions of massaging showerheads
dancing in your head, give some thought to your choices in home
spa equipment and set a budget. Depending on your budget, you
may want to upgrade your bath with new fixtures rather than do a
full renovation.
Bathtubs
Do you want a soaking tub or a jetted tub? Sunken, built-in or
freestanding? When it comes to bathtubs, there's plenty of
choice.
Soaking tubs are available in a range of prices and styles. You
can get a simple, five-foot Jacuzzi soaking tub for about $600
or spend about 10 times that ($5,600) for a cast-iron claw-foot
tub. (The drainage system for most tubs must be purchased
separately).
Whirlpools have become synonymous with relaxation. There are two
kinds of whirlpool tubs: air jets and water jets. Water jets are
the traditional variety, with anywhere from four to fourteen
jets and several speeds. Air jets are a more recent design with
smaller and more numerous jets. Some air-jet tubs have up to 70
jets and 64 speeds.
So what's the difference? Air jets force air into the water to
provide a gentle, diffused stream. Water jets suck water into
the pipes and then project it out, producing a more forceful
stream for a more targeted massaging sensation. Kohler offers
water-jet tubs that range from $800, for a five-foot-long model
with eight jets, all the way up to $8,800, for a 75-inch model
with 12 jets. Air-jet tubs range from about $2,200, for a
five-foot-long tub with 61 air jets, to $2,800, for a five-foot
corner model with 60 air jets.
Water-jet tubs are harder to maintain than air-jet tubs. You
should flush them regularly using household bleach or a
specialized product, and you shouldn't use bath salts, oils or
bubble bath in them.
Shower stall
You can achieve a home spa environment even if you're not a tub
person. A corner shower stall with glass doors, a steam system
and a built-in bench will make you feel like you're in your own
steam room. Since you may not be able to afford the $10,000 or
so it could cost for a fully loaded luxury shower, you may
decide just to add multiple showerheads or body sprays to your
existing shower.
You may need to do some behind-the-scenes adjustments first.
Multiple showerheads may require larger drainage lines or water
supply units. If you install a steam generator, you need to
ensure that your bathroom has proper ventilation or you'll
likely get mildew.
If you forgo a bathtub altogether, keep in mind that some buyers
may not be interested in your home when you decide to sell.
Extra costs
Popular items to complete the home spa include double sinks,
marble vanities and heated floors. Floors can be heated with
electricity or hot water and can be set on a timer so the floor
is warm when you wake up in the morning. You may also need a
larger water heater. Consider installing a tankless water heater
to service only the tub. A tankless heater costs between $200
and $1,000, can produce two to five gallons of water per minute
and can be more energy efficient than a traditional water tank.
Costs can add up, so consider financing your bathroom renovation
with a home equity loan or home equity line of credit with a
lower interest rate than most other types of loans.
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