Renovations back on radar
Federal tax credit appeals to those eager for change
Katherine Dedyna,Times Colonist March 4th 2009.

Bathrooms are the most costly and complicated rooms to renovate per square foot, but there's major payback every time you close the door.

Dave Johnstone of Andrew Sheret shows a tub that sells for close to $600 and a sink that is less than $200. He explains the prices of plumbing fixtures for a new bathroom.
Photograph by : Debra Brash, Victoria Times Colonist

The federal Home Renovation Tax Credit of up to $1,350 on $io, ooo is geared to induce even more homeowners to transform pit stops into home spas -or at least spruce up the basics.

The credit is "definitely getting the conversation started," says Victoria bath showroom consultant Gail Manning.

"You can do an awful lot with $10,000," says Michael Anderson, owner of Michael Anderson Home Repair and Renovations, who does about 20 bathrooms a year. Most customers prefer a project rate, but Anderson will also work for $45 an hour, usually requiring 60 hours per bathroom. Many tally at $8,000, including new fixtures, ceramic wall tiles, tub surround, painting, flooring, vanity, faucets and lighting.

The tax credit applies to reno purchases, permits and wages.

Last year, he installed a $5,000 faucet, but people can also choose a $50 set from a DIY store -an indication of how anything goes in bathroom renos.

Other costs to consider:

In older homes, a sub-floor costing $200 to support a new tile floor. Do not skimp on flooring, Anderson advises: "It takes the most abuse." He pegs a "very good" vinyl sheet floor at $30 a square yard.

No need to cover floors or walls with high-end hand-crafted tiles when well-placed examples will accent your originality, says Melissa Stuart, a designer at Gazzola Tiles. Shimmery recycled glass tiles cost $76 a square foot compared with $2.89 for trendy subway-style tiles. For floors, leather-look tiles cost $14 a square foot compared to an average, including octagonals popular in heritage homes, of $5 or $6 a square foot.

If counters are your thing, quartz can set you back $i, ooo but a "remarkable" granite look-alike is now made by Island Marble for a lot less, says Wendy Marley, owner of Design One -Stevens Interiors.

Keep costs under control by keeping fixtures in place. "If somebody wants to move a toilet, that's a big thing," says Nicole Watson, manager of the Rona home improvement store in Victoria, which offers up to $750 in cashback cards to piggyback on the tax credit.

Don't forget to ventilate. Installation of new fans runs from $70 for basic models to $400 for the strong and silent types.

Tubs can set you back $150 for steel enamel to $300 for Fiberglass to $4,000 for a super-soaker with lights and jets.

Whether people purchase a porcelain pedestal sink for $100 or a $2,500 console with basin, the tax credit kicks in only after $1,000 total in purchases and labour.

"I think it's going to work well for us," Johnstone says.
Kdedyna@tc.canwest.com
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THE $1350 SOLUTION
The federal government's new budget offers homeowners a tax break of as much as $1,350, if they spend up to $10,000 on renovations.
Over the next two months, Times Colonist writers look at some of the projects you could tackle for $10,000.
Watch for the next instalments in the Wednesday At Home section.

TOILET REBATE
A replacement toilet that uses six litres or less per flush qualifies for a $75 rebate from the Capital Regional District, which is concerned that flushing accounts for 28 per cent of household water use.
To qualify, residences must have been built prior to Jan. 1, 2005, and be connected to the municipal supply.

Info: www.crd.bc.ca/water/conservation/household/toilets/index.htm,

see rebates and scroll to "choosing a toilet" to discover why cheaper isn't always better. Phone: 250-474-9684
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