Will we ever get our money back if we renovate our bathroom?

Like kitchens, a renovated bathroom returns more than 70 percent of the cost to the home owner if the house is sold within a year. That's good news since most jobs can cost thousands of dollars. A minor renovation easily can run $10,000. That cost will double if you want something truly luxurious.

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Where do we start? 
You can do anything from a makeover to a full facelift. The key is to know what you need and can afford. Remodeling a bathroom can get expensive. If you're just tired of the decor, new paint or a new vanity may 

Will I need a professional plumber?

The least-expensive bathroom projects usually involve some paint or wall paper, a new vanity and sink, flooring and new lights. The most you'll likely do is pull out the old fixtures and replace them with new ones. But what if the room isn't laid out for the most efficient use? The toilet works better in that corner. And how about a double sink instead of a single one? Now you're getting into some major work that involves moving some pipes.

You'll want to have a plumber involved in any bathroom renovation, whether to replace the faucet or to move drains. A big issue for bathrooms is water pressure. No one wants to be standing in the shower ready to rinse off and all of a sudden the water reduces to a trickle. A professional plumber will know the correct size pipes to use to assure the best water pressure. 
Your plumber will be involved in many aspects of your bathroom renovation. He'll install new fixtures, move pipes and drains, set new toilets or add a shower head or massage jets in your new shower. 

There is a wide variety of cabinets and vanities available. What you choose should be based on your tastes and needs. Pick a vanity with drawers for a small bathroom. In a spacious master suite, a pedestal sink may be nice since you don't need the storage below. Pick cabinets and vanities that match your overall design scheme for the bathroom. A hot trend now is to add a hutch or other free-standing furniture to a bathroom, often matching furniture in the adjoining bedroom for continuity. 
 
For the cabinet counter top, you can choose from the same range of materials that work so well in the kitchen. Corian, granite and laminate are the most popular because they are easy to clean. Tile is gaining popularity in high-end renovations. Fusing the sink with the countertop gives you an uninterrupted surface.

Remember, with hot water comes  vapor. Regular drywall doesn't hold up well when wet, even if it's painted or covered with wallpaper . You'll want to use a higher grade of wallboard in the bathroom, especially anywhere that water will splash. The best products to use are gypsum-based greenboard or cement board. Both are made moisture-resistant by adding a special emulsion to the core and the paper. Greenboard is easier to work with, but cement board is the best at resisting water. 
 
There are two other things you can add to your bathroom to prevent water damage: A vapor barrier and adequate venting. Tough plastic sheeting can be added to the walls to avoid water damage. A good ventilation fan will whisk away heat and humidity. This not only alleviates problems with mold buildup, but keeps the room cool so you're not clammy after stepping out of the shower. 
 

The fixtures you pick will add the crowning touch to your newly renovated bath. The best ones to buy are solid brass. They last longest and need the least maintenance. You can tell a fixture is solid brass by its weight. Die-cast zinc alloy faucets hold up well too, and are a bit less expensive 

Don’t forget lighting. Lighting adds to the bathroom's glamour. Avoid fluorescent light because its cool-spectrum light alters the look of skin tones in the mirror. But you want to make sure you have adequate lighting for applying makeup or shaving