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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To spend all of our savings on refurbishing both bathrooms

51 replies

Loosemoosegoose · 01/12/2021 07:13

We have two bathrooms that are both in absolutely appalling condition. The ensuite is actually not usable as the toilet leaks and the shower drain is misaligned so can't actually drain so we've just closed that door and ignored it completely since we moved in. The main bathroom is just old and horrible but functional.
We bought everything we needed so DH could remodel the ensuite himself however, he's just got a new job which will involve more hours and we have a toddler and we just both feel taking on this massive project would be taking too much time away from us as a family as he's not a professional and would have to work very slowly to be sure he got it right. He can do it, but just not quickly.
DH thinks it would be better to continue ignoring the ensuite and be able to better enjoy the main bathroom even though we already have everything we need for the ensuite, it just needs fitting where the main bathroom needs supplying too. I disagree and think we should get the ensuite working because then we would have two bathrooms that are at least functional even if we still hate main bathroom. DD has baths, not showers so wouldn't benefit from us having the ensuite done really but also, she doesn't give a damn about the aesthetics of the main bathroom either.
So we got quotes for both bathrooms to be done and they've all come back about the same price and we can actually afford to do both one after the other but it would use all of our savings. We don't have any debt other than mortgage and we wouldn't need to take any on for this as the saving would cover it but would essentially take us back down to nothing (we have allowed for £1000 in case the quote is off slightly with unexpected costs)

WWBU to just say sod it and get both done? DH has had a small pay rise with his new job and we do save a little each month between us anyway so we could just focus really hard on getting our savings back up after again though obviously it would take a while. It would make such a difference to our enjoyment of this house to have two nice (not in anyway fancy) and functional bathrooms. But is it foolish to have no savings just in case.

OP posts:
SeasonFinale · 01/12/2021 08:19

@Reallybadidea

So the cost would be about £4500 each? I would get the en suite done so that you have 2 functioning bathrooms. You will have £4500 left in savings. 9 months of saving will allow you to get the 2nd bathroom done, which really isn't long to wait.

You will also get that happy feeling of having a lovely new bathroom two separate times, so I think you'll get more pleasure from getting them done separately overall.

Actually it should be less as she already has all the fixtures and fittings for the ensuite it will just be a labour cost but I agree just ensuite for now.
riotlady · 01/12/2021 08:22

I’d do en-suite for now and save up and do the other one in a year or so. I wouldn’t want to deplete all my savings on something that’s not entirely necessary

tanstaafl · 01/12/2021 08:24

Either
Main bathroom first using trades, then have DH do the en-suite at the weekends ‘for free’

Or

En-suite using trades and take experience from that to better inform you when it comes to the main bathroom.

Classicblunder · 01/12/2021 08:27

How secure are your jobs?

If the shit hit the fan, do you have any back up? E.g. ability to skip mortgage payments, support from parents

We are about to clean out our savings on home renovations but we both have very secure jobs and the ability to refinance etc if the worst came to the worst and parents who would help out

ittakes2 · 01/12/2021 08:33

Is the quote £8000 for the two bathrooms? Or if you have all the kit for the ensuite is it £8000 for the work? That sounds a huge amount for just labour on one bathroom so I hope not.

FlamingoQueen · 01/12/2021 08:35

That sounds very expensive! Have you looked into shower panels instead of tiling? A lot cheaper, looks great and much easier/quicker/cheaper to fit.

tulips27 · 01/12/2021 08:41

I'd do one of them, max. The economy is looking a bit dodgy at the moment, look at some people who lost their jobs at the start of Covid- you never now what might happen in life.

Atla · 01/12/2021 08:48

I'd get ensuite done, as you have the stuff for it and as it is unusable at the moment. Then wait 6 months to a year and get the main bathroom done. You are saving loads each month, so you'll soon build up savings again, but I wouldn't wipe all your savings out in one go.

You'll probably find you are waiting ages for trades at the moment anyway.
Envy our ensuite is desperate - I wish I could get it done!

sotiredofthislonelylife · 01/12/2021 09:07

I agree with many posters who suggest getting the en-suite done as soon as you can. If you have the sanitary ware, it will annoy you having lovely stuff stored but unusable.
My en-suite was similar - previously done under a grant for an elderly person, but the shower didn’t drain, and caused water to penetrate through tiles on top of tiles (the workmanship was truly atrocious), and into the Strammit board behind. Fortunately, I decided to get it done before too much damage was done.

I am thrilled with what I have now, and I can choose hotter water in the shower than the old restricted one allowed.

Go for it, and then save up for the main bathroom. You may have new ideas by next year with all the techy stuff that’s around.

welshladywhois40 · 01/12/2021 09:26

Do you have a working shower in the main bathroom? If not it's a definite get the en-suite done.

I lived for 5 years with a broken en-suite and no shower over the bath and it drove me crazy. I would have done anything to get a working shower again.

daisybrown37 · 01/12/2021 09:31

I would do ensuite first and then main bathroom later. That way you don’t use all your savings up in one go.

littlebilliie · 01/12/2021 09:36

Interest free on purchases at B&Q I think, so at least you could pay for the fitting and repay the loan and still keep some emergency savings

ForeverSinging · 01/12/2021 09:40

I'd do the en suite and save for another 6/8 months towards the bathroom.

WhatAWasteOfOranges · 01/12/2021 09:45

Get the main bathroom done by the professional and in the new year have your husband book off 3 days to fit then en-suite himself

CrotchetyQuaver · 01/12/2021 09:50

I'd get the en-suite done now as you've got all the sanitary ware sitting there already by the sound of it. Then the main bathroom can be 2023's project...

SpeckledlyHen · 01/12/2021 10:04

@ittakes2

Is the quote £8000 for the two bathrooms? Or if you have all the kit for the ensuite is it £8000 for the work? That sounds a huge amount for just labour on one bathroom so I hope not.
Agree.. I paid about £12k for two bathrooms but this included all the fixtures, fittings, cabinets, lighted mirrors, showers with special coatings on them etc - all hansgrohe or gerberit fittings. So £8k for just the labour seems very steep to me.
Rainbowqueeen · 01/12/2021 10:04

Do the ensuite now. You’ve got the fittings and the leaks are a worry Could you save some money by DH taking everything out and doing the painting??
Save for the main bathroom but book it in for 6 months time.

Pellewsmate · 01/12/2021 10:10

I must be odd. In a very similar position and have decided to do the family bathroom first, because it's the larger room and easier to share and visitors get to use a decent bathroom without having to traipse through my bedroom. I am going to get the pipes/wastes in position in both rooms at the same time so we're ready to go on the ensuite when the time comes.

HermioneWeasley · 01/12/2021 10:21

I’d go for getting en suite working and then save up for main one. I wouldn’t empty your savings if it’s functioning

Sparkai · 01/12/2021 10:35

@Pellewsmate

I must be odd. In a very similar position and have decided to do the family bathroom first, because it's the larger room and easier to share and visitors get to use a decent bathroom without having to traipse through my bedroom. I am going to get the pipes/wastes in position in both rooms at the same time so we're ready to go on the ensuite when the time comes.
Not odd. I think most people are saying ensuite first in this case because OP already has the stuff, it just needs fitting and also it doesn't work, whereas the main bathroom is functional
icedcoffees · 01/12/2021 10:45

@Pellewsmate

I must be odd. In a very similar position and have decided to do the family bathroom first, because it's the larger room and easier to share and visitors get to use a decent bathroom without having to traipse through my bedroom. I am going to get the pipes/wastes in position in both rooms at the same time so we're ready to go on the ensuite when the time comes.
But the OP currently only has one functioning bathroom - so it makes the most sense (imo anyway) to fix the one that's unusable so they have two bathrooms. That way when the family bathroom is being upgraded, people can use the en-suite.
Myotherusernameisshy · 01/12/2021 11:17

En suite first because if you do the main bathroom now you will leave yourself with no working bathroom at all while it's being done. It should be cheaper too if you already have the fittings.
Then do the main bathroom in 6-12 months once you have replenished your savings.
Nobody needs 2 new bathrooms and no contingency fund, especially in the current climate.

Chloemol · 01/12/2021 11:22

Personally I would do the main bathroom, you all use it at the moment

Then let your husband do the en-suite in slow time

icedcoffees · 01/12/2021 11:46

@Chloemol

Personally I would do the main bathroom, you all use it at the moment

Then let your husband do the en-suite in slow time

But they need a bathroom to use while the main one is out of action. Using a bathroom that's halfway through being renovated is a right PITA.
Cornishclio · 01/12/2021 22:59

If you will be left with £1000 as a basic emergency fund and can save £500 a month I would get both done.