Reality check- cost of bathroom renovations

[Anonymous]

We're looking to redo our bathrooms in our 1940s house. They are both on the small side, but need everything replaced, including some plumbing most likely. Otherwise no structural changes. We're hoping to spend only ~$10k on each, but is that feasible, even if we choose modestly priced fixtures? Unfortunately we're not handy so can't do much ourselves.

[Anonymous]

Yes, 10K can be reasonable. In my last house, which was only 2-3 years ago, I replaced our sink/vanity, tile floor, toilet, tub, tile above tub, shower head and painted for about 10k. I didnt move any plumbing.

[Anonymous]

We added a bathroom in our basement before we sold our last house. It was unfinished to begin with but the plumbing was in place already. Total cost was 1500, nothing fancy just looked like hotel bathroom to make it easier to sell. I imagine you could do a lot with a 10k budget

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We're looking to redo our bathrooms in our 1940s house. They are both on the small side, but need everything replaced, including some plumbing most likely. Otherwise no structural changes. We're hoping to spend only ~$10k on each, but is that feasible, even if we choose modestly priced fixtures? Unfortunately we're not handy so can't do much ourselves.

We have been quoted that as rock bottom pricing for "pull and replace" in our 1960s house with 3 small bathrooms. I think you can do it, but will need to shop around.

[Anonymous]

We have a toilet, sink and free standing shower stall in our unfinished basement. We were quoted $15-20K to create a full finished space. And this is from a "reasonable" contractor...hmm.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We added a bathroom in our basement before we sold our last house. It was unfinished to begin with but the plumbing was in place already. Total cost was 1500, nothing fancy just looked like hotel bathroom to make it easier to sell. I imagine you could do a lot with a 10k budget

Where do you live? Impossible to spend that little here and have it look like a hotel bathroom.

[Anonymous]

$12 to 15K might be easier to pull off.

[Anonymous]

Are you including labor in the cost of $10K? We had to do a complete tear down of a 1950's bathroom due to leaking from the shower pan and tile. To bring the bathroom back to the studs and build it back up got quotes of 30-50K. We ended up doing it ourselves and the cost for supplies was 10K. Somethings were low end and others like the glass doors we went high end. However, if you aren't touching the walls and flooring and you select low level vanity, tub, lights etc and you might be able to do it. I was shocked though how much more it cost when we added in the tear down and labor (we didn't move any plumbing or electrically either for the high quotes).

[Anonymous]

I think you can do this for $10k if you stick to moderate to low end basic finishes and make smart decisions:

- toilet: $300 will get you a decent quality one.
- vanity: $1000 for a pretty nice one
- light fixture: $200
- mirror: $100
- tub: $300.
- tile materials for tub: $200 if you do subway tiles or basic marble tiles from HD.
- floor tile: $200 if you find something basic at HD. There are some nice options.
- fixtures (toilet paper holder, towel racks): $150
- faucets: $250 times two (for sink and tub) will get you decent quality ones.
- $1000 electrician (including some materials - like new vent, can lights, new electrical outlets and switches)
- $1000 plumber (hopefully won't be this much if you're not moving anything)
- $1000 tile guy (they're expensive)
- $4000 GC to coordinate the work.

glass shower stall would bring up costs a lot - because the glass work is expensive, and the tiling the whole thing is expensive. Much cheaper to do tub sliding door or just a shower rod. But otherwise $10k is reasonable for a 10x5 small bathroom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you including labor in the cost of $10K? We had to do a complete tear down of a 1950's bathroom due to leaking from the shower pan and tile. To bring the bathroom back to the studs and build it back up got quotes of 30-50K. We ended up doing it ourselves and the cost for supplies was 10K. Somethings were low end and others like the glass doors we went high end. However, if you aren't touching the walls and flooring and you select low level vanity, tub, lights etc and you might be able to do it. I was shocked though how much more it cost when we added in the tear down and labor (we didn't move any plumbing or electrically either for the high quotes).

You got quoted too high to do this job, unless it was huge and/or something else funny going on. Costs go up when you have to do new subfloors, drywall and move plumbing and electrical. But if you're just tearing out existing vanity, toilet and tub, and tile, and replacing with new - it shouldn't be that high.