Cost to do a bathroom

5 years ago

I am in the process of redoing my kitchen and bathroom. I told the story about my kitchen dilemma in another post.

So I am talking to a couple of bathroom designers and am told I should expect to spend $15-$20K redo my bathroom. I cannot understand why it is so expensive..

Assume my bathroom is composed of three parts: (1) built-in shower with glass doors, (2) vanity one sink, and (3) a toilet area.

I am not replacing the flooring; (2) I am not replacing/touching the shower area: (3) the toilet area also is not being touched; and (4) lighting is not being touc

What I am doing is replacing a 70.5 inch cabinet, removing wall to wall mirrors from the cabinet top to the ceiling and replacing the built in medicine cabinet with a new model and moving the sink from the right side of the cabinet to the middle.

Now I have priced some cabinets at local shops. Since this is a bathroom, it will not be a fancy cabinet. Cabinets should run me from $2500+. I plan to use a corian or similar countertop, etc.

So what am I missing. Where are these $15-$20K ball part estimates coming from?

Or is this just a case of them talking about the average cost and not considering what actually is being done?

Also given the limited nature of what I plan to actually do, what do you think the price range should be.

Thanks

LJK

Featured Answer

millworkman

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

"I live in a Honolulu high-end condo"

nuff said....................................

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (10)

smit2380
5 years ago
That would not be $15k to $20k where I live. I live in a low cost of living area, and that would be $5k or under depending on finishes.
P Banos
5 years ago
Lets see you have demo and carting (500), painters (500), new cabinet (3000 installed), new mirrors (500),sink/fixture (500), plumber (500), countertop and install (500) - so yep about 5000-6000. Less of course if you are handy, do the demo yourself, buy a vanity with a top etc. and just bring in a plumber, painters and carpenter. I wanted to do a similar update in a bath, but ended up just replacing the hardware on the cabinet, getting Mirror-mate frame for the mirror, adding a pin-up sconce on the side wall, replacing the overhead light, replacing the curtain rod, towel and tp holders plus the shower curtain, rugs, towels. For about $500 and a days work, I had a fine looking bath.

But if you had a designer come in I can see the higher price, plus they may figure once you start looking at designs you will want to do more updates...
Related Discussions
How much did your Bathroom Remodel Cost? Survey??
Q
Comments (41)
We are just getting prices from contractors in NYC for our 35 sq ft (actually a little less since it's not quite 7 x 5) and prices are $7,500 - $20,000 from 4 different places. The bathroom is over 50 years old and we have just been living with it for a while. It's all contractor work, no DIY. We cannot move plumbing so the layout won't change. I'm not really sure what the $7,500 price includes since the contractor would really not elaborate beyond "a basic bathroom" that includes wall to wall new tile (what we have now). One vendor who did not do a site visit (only looked at photos) came in around $15K. I am waiting on formal proposals from 2 contractors that visited this week and I gave them the wish list below that does not include any fixtures choices or finish choices but they are steering us toward custom and semi custom. One vendor said not to spend too much since we could price out the market for resale (we are not selling anytime soon, if at all) so he came down to $20K from $25K. There is one more contractor on the list that we plan to call for an estimate. A neighbor spent $40K on her bathroom. I have not seen it but just heard the price this week so I will make it a point to visit to have a look. replace bathtub/drain & replace fixtures, adjustable rain shower with separate handheld replace medicine cabinet make laundry hamper area into storage (framed with shelving) demo wall to wall tile, replace tile add recessed storage on rear shower wall install new lighting paint entire room (replace bathroom and bedroom doors - only two doors in the apartment so they should match) replace metal towel bar in shower replace storage cabinets (towels & other products) install vessel sink and fixtures add handheld sprayer for toilet (may get washlet seat if elongated toilet will fit) cover and tile over pipes; add mesh venting remove shower door (install curved shower rod) replace ceramic towel bar (8 hooks?) & switch plate add vertical toilet paper holder upgrade & add electric outlets (2 x 2); not on same circuit as lights Labor only estimates so far: $12,650 $13,200 Materials $3,355 (low) - $7,355 (high) One GC sources and stores the materials which seem to be at least 25% -50% higher for some items than I've seen locally. This post was edited by kdnyc on Tue, Jun 3, 14 at 15:24
...See More
what do I do for bathroom countertop? White bathroom, navy walls
Q
Comments (4)
I do like the countertop choice. But I am also a fan of a less busy quartz countertop like this one. Still has the subtle veins in it, but it's not too busy for a bathroom. Plus I love the idea of a white vanity popping against the navy color the room. The sample in your photo could take away from the "pop" factor in my opinion. But I do think your sample is a beautiful piece of stone for sure. Good luck with your renovation!
...See More
Ugliest Bathroom in the World: Basement Bathroom Renovation
Q
Comments (2)
are there bedrooms down there as well? if someone will be using the bedroom in the basement, then they will want a decent bathroom to go with it. 6 inches really isn't worth the hassle of taking down or moving a wall. A foot, maybe, 6" ? no. once you put on the wall or tile, you've got maybe 4" total. Maximize the space by choosing a good vanity w/storage, and possibly building a niche into the wall for additional storage. (use the area between the studs as a built in cabinet) using a prefab shower is fine, but pick a decent one as opposed to those flimsy acrylic pieces. you don't say want the resale value is, so i have no way of knowing how much you should invest. You say you bought mid-range, but I don't know what else you need to redo. anything under a 15% profit really isn't worth it. as for fitting it over the existing drains, usually you will need the new drain cover. if the drain needs to come up, there are extensions. I would advise your husband to do some research on how to fit those into an existing bathroom. If he's handy and can build his own slope, mortar bed and waterproof the shower, then he could prob tile it himself. Just depends on how much work you want to do and what the return is on what you choose. by the looks of what you have there currently, you may have some water damage underneath all the mess. Tear out what you can and then determine what you need to do.
...See More
Help Understanding Kitchen and Bathroom Remodel Costs
Q
Comments (22)
The one week time frame for the project raised my eyebrows, if only because we are dealing with a similar bathroom project, except we removed a tub and are making that space a shower. We are going into our 6th week (including one week of vacation for the GC). Our single contractor and his helper laid the marble tile floor and tile shower and updated the light fixtures and switches themselves. He brought in the plumbers and painters. He is here almost every workday without fail. I won’t even get into the material costs. Except to say I did most of the buying under his instruction with the exception of installation materials like grout, sealer, and shluter bits and pieces, etc., which he purchased. I had good luck finding higher end towel bars, light fixtures, and other ’jewelry’ on E-bay and “Amazon Warehouse”, but I was willing to try ’open box’ items. I will say that our costs were way beyond your estimates, but I have trouble staying on budget. We have not received a bill from our GC yet, but I expect it to be double what the Remodeling Magazine estimated and we live in (low rent) Cincinnati. Maybe I will be pleasantly surprised. We have used our contractor on five other projects so I knew what I was in for. We work well together and do everything on a handshake, which of course is not recommended, but it works for us. We have a lot of trust between us which is valuable to me, after having worked on other home remodeling projects with other contractors who were not so dependable. Good luck with your project.
...See More
User
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Important for you to research your project.

http://www.remodeling.hw.net/cost-vs-value/2018/

http://starcraftcustombuilders.com/bath.design.rules.htm#.Wz4rNpFOnYX

https://nkba.org/info/why-hire-a-designer

http://starcraftcustombuilders.com/kitchen.design.rules.htm#.WvYPH_9OnYX

[https://www.houzz.com/discussions/10-tests-for-you-and-your-contractors-first-meeting-dsvw-vd~5332686?n=90[(https://www.houzz.com/discussions/10-tests-for-you-and-your-contractors-first-meeting-dsvw-vd~5332686?n=90)

https://www.ceramictilefoundation.org/homeowners-guide-to-hiring-qualified-tile-installer

http://starcraftcustombuilders.com/sources.faucets2.htm

https://www.curbed.com/2018/3/7/17087588/home-renovation-unnecessary-mcmansion-hell-wagner
sowkmom
5 years ago
We did a small bathroom (5x7) 2 years ago and it was $15k. That was with me doing the legwork for all finishes (tile, flooring, vanity, bath, shower, etc). It was completely gutted but we live in a low COL area.
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
5 years ago
If you find that all you want to do is replace the vanity, counter , sink and mirror do it yourself those are all DIYable. IMO most bathrooms need more than just replacing a vanity and without pictures of your space I have no idea.
Kay Addis
5 years ago
Just fyi, we paid $30K each for complete reno of 2 baths in former house — new walk-in showers, new floors, new vanities and lighting, new paint, air-jet tub in one, new toilets and all fixtures. Now we’re paying $20K for reno of smaller bath, removing tub and changing to walk-in shower with glass doors, new floor, new vanity and lighting, and I chose some top-line fixtures. Daughter paid close to $30K for reno of her master bath, which included some tough removal of wallpaper and beadboard. Think it depends a lot on if you go with a “designer” or serve as your own contractor.
Helen
5 years ago
I am in a high cost high rise condo but the estimates for the scope of the work seem excessive.

You are essentially swapping out the vanity and moving the sink a bit. I am currently remodeling and using a GC but if the scope were limited to what you are doing, I would have a plumber give me an estimate of what it would cost to change the pipes for the new configuration and I would go to a cabinet store to order exactly the cabinet I wanted both in configuration and sizing.

If you hire Designer A why wouldn't she or he be able to provide these kinds of fairly minimal services - i.e. you are using a plumber for the kitchen and the plumber could also do the bathroom. If it were me, I would go with Designer A and ask her how much it would be to perform those exact minor changes in the bathroom.
aprilneverends
5 years ago
12 K would be labour cost here(So Cal), for a bath half your size, without moving plumbing, and not taking into account any finishes that can of course vary a lot depending on your choice.

So I guess it's pretty close to reality, your quote

You can save on some things. for example we craigslisted two of three vanities in our house..but they were much smaller, not a master size one. we did reuse either one or two toilets. wherever we used shelves or medicine cabinets in these baths, we also either found them second hand or reused previous owner's one. (except for one we built in a niche between the studs.)

but you want a new model medicine cabinet, and this can be several hundred right there

You don't need electrical which is great but it might be you'll need to repair drywall etc when moving these mirrors? I don't know how heavy yours are.

You don't plan to touch flooring, which is great if doable (I guess you asked and it is doable, in your case)

you can paint yourself..?

in short you can piecemeal it so to say, to make it for a cheaper project

but you mentioned you have a kitchen project too..then I'd just go with one GC, I'm not sure the stress worth the money
PRO
Barnes Custom Builders
5 years ago
Ask what the estimates include. We typically tell people to plan on $15-$30k for a bathroom remodel, depending on finishes. If you are just replacing the vanity and mirror, you have to figure in the plumber to disconnect and reconnect, demo and disposal, drywall and plaster where the mirror is coming down - paint - vanity, sink, faucet and counter top costs - plus install. Electrician as needed...these labor costs will vary depending on the contractor and their hourly rate.

Cost to do a bathroom

millworkman

Comments (10)

smit2380

P Banos

Related Discussions

User

sowkmom

Patricia Colwell Consulting

Kay Addis

Helen

aprilneverends

Barnes Custom Builders

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US