Where to save and where to splurge in a renovation

A simple rule

Spend on what is hard to change later and what you touch every day. Save on what is easy to swap and what nobody notices. Anything inside a wall, under a floor or behind tile is expensive to fix once the room is finished, so that is where quality pays back. Paint, light fixtures and hardware can be upgraded in an afternoon, so they can wait.

Where to splurge

• Structure, plumbing, electrical and ventilation. Replacing old pipes and wiring while walls are open costs far less than opening them again later.
• Waterproofing in showers, tub surrounds and wet rooms. A good membrane is invisible and prevents the most expensive repairs a house can have.
• Windows, insulation and air sealing. They affect comfort and energy bills for decades.
• Cabinet boxes, hinges and drawer slides. See our cabinet guide.
• Faucets and shower valves. You use them every day, and good valves are hidden inside the wall.
• The kitchen counter you work on, and flooring in high-traffic areas.
• Design and planning. A good layout costs little compared with living with a bad one.
• A lighting plan. The fixtures can be simple, but the wiring and layers need to be in the right places. See our lighting guide.

Where to save

• Decorative light fixtures, which are easy to upgrade later once the wiring is in place.
• Paint colours and wallpaper, which change with taste anyway.
• Cabinet hardware, which takes minutes to replace.
• Tile in large areas. Choose a simple, well-made tile for the field and spend on a small feature area instead.
• Appliances you rarely use. Spend on the range or fridge if you cook a lot, and choose solid mid-range models for the rest.
• Secondary rooms such as guest bathrooms and laundry rooms, which can be well made without luxury finishes.
• Countertops in low-use areas, such as a laundry room or a desk.

Splurge on one thing per room

Rooms look more considered when one element stands out and the rest supports it. A statement range and hood with simple tile, a dramatic stone island with plain cabinets, or a beautiful freestanding tub with a quiet floor all read as luxury without everything being expensive. Trying to make every surface special usually costs more and looks busier.

What never to cut

• Permits and inspections. They protect you, your insurance and your resale value. See our permit guide.
• A contingency. Keep 10 to 20 per cent aside for what shows up once walls are open, more in older homes.
• Licensed trades for electrical, plumbing and gas work.
• Proper prep. Flat subfloors, level framing and good substrates are what make expensive finishes look expensive.
• A written contract with a clear scope. Our guide to contracts and payments explains why.

Saving without cutting quality

• Keep plumbing where it is when you can. Moving sinks and toilets adds cost quickly.
• Keep the layout if it already works, and spend on finishes instead.
• Choose finishes during design, so nothing is rushed or reordered later.
• Phase the work sensibly. Our guide to the order to renovate a house helps.
• Refinish rather than replace where the bones are good, such as hardwood floors or solid cabinet boxes.

Know your number first

The easiest way to decide where to spend is to know the realistic total first. Our renovation cost calculator and free Calgary renovation cost guide give planning ranges, and our guide to how much remodeling $100,000 buys shows what different budgets achieve.