Ask the expert

LITTLE ROCK — We’re thinking of doing major remodeling of our master bathroom and, like most people, want to get the most for our money. Can you provide any thoughts and suggestions that will get us started in the right direction?

Remodeling a bathroom is a solid investment, says John Riha, who has written hundreds of articles and six books on home improvement, on houselogic.

com, a consumer website of the National Association of Realtors. Remodeling magazine’s annual cost vs. value report claims that a $15,000 bath remodeling will recoup almost 75 percent of those costs when you sell your home.

“You can maximize the value of your investment by using smart strategies to help you to get the bathroom of your dreams while keeping costs under control,” he wrote in the story, “7 Smart Strategies for Bathroom Remodeling.” Here they are:

Create a plan and stick to it.

Adequate planning is absolutely required. “You need to thoroughly evaluate how you plan to use the space, what kinds of materials and fixtures you want, and how much you’re willing to spend,” Jeani Lee told him.

Lee is a certified kitchen and bath designer who has served as president of the Iowa chapter of the National Kitchen and Bath Association.

In fact, the association recommends spending up to six months evaluating and planning before beginning the work, so that you know your priorities and won’t make decisions under duress. Once work has begun, a process that averages two to three months, do not change your mind. Stopping work and altering your plans add costs.

Some contractors include clauses in their contracts that specify premium prices for changes to original plans. And if planning isn’t your forte, consider hiring a designer, who helps establish style and effective use of space, and that contractors and installers are set up in the proper order. A professional charges $100 to $200 per hour and spends 10 to 30 hours on a bathroom project, Riha said.

Keep the same footprint: You can save a major amount by not rearranging walls and by installing any new plumbing fixtures near existing pipes.

Make lighting a priority.

While such creature comforts as multiple shower heads and radiant-heat floors may pop into your mind first, good lighting for everyday grooming is even more satisfying and at a much lower cost than other amenities.

Well-designed lighting surrounds vanity mirrors to eliminate shadows on faces. A scheme might include two ceiling- or soffit-mounted fixtures with 60-75 watts each, and side-fixtures or sconces with another 150 watts each distributed vertically across 24 inches.

Clear the air: Ventilation systems are hidden but are essential to remove excess humidity that fogs mirrors, makes the floor slippery and contributes to mold and mildew. The latter is vital to indoor air quality and protecting the value of your home. A bathroom vent should exhaust air to the outside between ceiling joists. Better models have quiet and humidity-controlled switches.

Think storage: Think vertically: Use upper wall space with shelves. Create niches between wall studs. Install shelves over towel bars. Also think moveable: Baskets onthe floor can store towels; a floor-stand coat rack can hold drying towels, bathrobes or clothes. A slide-out tray in vanity cabinet compartments provides access to stored or lesser-used items.

Contribute sweat equity: Doing some of the work yourself saves money - about $250 if you install window and baseboard trim yourself, or $150 if you put in the toilet.

Use low-cost design for high impact: For visual interest, try a soft scheme, Riha wrote. Hemeans neutral colors for permanent fixtures and surfaces, adding pizazz in the shower curtains, window treatments, towels, wall colors and such that are easily changed.