Reader Bathroom: New Spa Shower in an $11,000 South Carolina Redo
A couple update their vanity area and trade a never-used soaking tub for a bigger walk-in shower
This series profiles bathroom remodels shared by homeowners on Houzz.
Bathroom renovations are one of the more popular home remodeling projects in the U.S., but their costs run the gamut. The final price tag depends not only on the work that is done, but also on the cost of labor and materials for that area. To get a sample of projects and their prices, we asked Houzz readers to share their stories. Here, we profile a $10,945 renovation in South Carolina that took place in two phases over four years.
Bathroom renovations are one of the more popular home remodeling projects in the U.S., but their costs run the gamut. The final price tag depends not only on the work that is done, but also on the cost of labor and materials for that area. To get a sample of projects and their prices, we asked Houzz readers to share their stories. Here, we profile a $10,945 renovation in South Carolina that took place in two phases over four years.
BEFORE: Jennifer and Robert Gresham moved into their two-story home in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, in 2011.
Robert was on his way back from a deployment in Iraq and hadn’t seen the home in person — just in photos. Jennifer, an interior designer and now a stay-at-home mom, decided to surprise him with some superficial but significant changes to the bathroom.
RENOVATION, PHASE 1: She replaced the plate-glass mirror, towel bar and lights over the vanity with two round mirrors, towel rings and new lights. A fresh coat of paint changed the feel of the bathroom.
Wall paint: Hallowed Hush, Behr
Wall paint: Hallowed Hush, Behr
RENOVATION, PHASE 1: But the soaking tub remained intact for another four years. “While the idea of soaking in a tub always sounds glorious, we never used the tub once,” Jennifer says. “From the pristine condition, it didn’t look like the previous owners did either.”
AFTER: The top goal for the full renovation was removing the tub and expanding the stand-up shower. “We loved the idea of just walking into the shower … no door, no curb to grout or stub your toe on,” she says.
Jennifer interviewed four contractors to find one willing to put a walk-in shower in their second-floor bathroom. The first three were not, but the fourth was willing — and quoted less than half the price. This photo shows the result.
Rain shower head: Signature Hardware; shower fixtures: Moen; subway tile, Delfino mosaic accent tile and Delfino tumbled-mosaic shower floor tile: American Olean
Jennifer interviewed four contractors to find one willing to put a walk-in shower in their second-floor bathroom. The first three were not, but the fourth was willing — and quoted less than half the price. This photo shows the result.
Rain shower head: Signature Hardware; shower fixtures: Moen; subway tile, Delfino mosaic accent tile and Delfino tumbled-mosaic shower floor tile: American Olean
The rain shower head provides a spa-like feel, as does the luxurious recessed niche for bath products. The 8-by-4-foot anti-mildew frameless glass was also a splurge, but one that Jennifer says was well worth the cost, having spent a lot of time cleaning the glass of the old shower.
She chose the tile and finish materials for the remodel herself, searching online for the best deals. This was the approach the Greshams followed in general for the project. “The sinks and faucets we finally purchased are exactly like ones we saw in a high-end showroom, but less than half the cost.”
She chose the tile and finish materials for the remodel herself, searching online for the best deals. This was the approach the Greshams followed in general for the project. “The sinks and faucets we finally purchased are exactly like ones we saw in a high-end showroom, but less than half the cost.”
Where the tub once stood, Jennifer left open space for a bench, rug and towel rack — and most important, for drying off.
Lessons learned: “We wanted to save some cost on materials, so opted not to tile the entire back wall,” she says. But now she believes that decision was a mistake. “The walls and floor are all water-sealed, but the baseboard still gets wet. We should have tiled the whole wall and put in a cultured marble window sill.”
Lessons learned: “We wanted to save some cost on materials, so opted not to tile the entire back wall,” she says. But now she believes that decision was a mistake. “The walls and floor are all water-sealed, but the baseboard still gets wet. We should have tiled the whole wall and put in a cultured marble window sill.”
The barn door leads to the toilet and was inspired by her frequent watching of HGTV. It also remedied an awkward situation. Previously, the door to the toilet area opened directly into a linen closet. Jennifer bought the unfinished door for $100 at Home Depot, and Robert and their daughter stained it.
“Uh-oh” moment: The Greshams had anticipated a straightforward, simple demolition. But when “the contractor removed the existing floor tile, we discovered three more layers to be removed to get to the plywood subfloor,” Jennifer says. “It took two contractors almost four days to scrape the board and remove thousands of staples. How that floor still creaked when you walked on it, I’ll never know.”
Style muse: Jennifer often created bathrooms for her clients in elegant neutral tones, and during the 1990s, that was her ideal. But when she and Robert went on their honeymoon to Italy in 2002, she “fell in love with the colors of Tuscany.” That region and the beach and the colors of the coast have provided inspiration for nearly 15 years. “[A]ll three houses we’ve lived in have followed those two themes,” she says.
Wall paint: Behr’s Hallowed Hush color-matched in Valspar paint; Brazilian pecan porcelain plank floor tile: Lowe’s
“Uh-oh” moment: The Greshams had anticipated a straightforward, simple demolition. But when “the contractor removed the existing floor tile, we discovered three more layers to be removed to get to the plywood subfloor,” Jennifer says. “It took two contractors almost four days to scrape the board and remove thousands of staples. How that floor still creaked when you walked on it, I’ll never know.”
Style muse: Jennifer often created bathrooms for her clients in elegant neutral tones, and during the 1990s, that was her ideal. But when she and Robert went on their honeymoon to Italy in 2002, she “fell in love with the colors of Tuscany.” That region and the beach and the colors of the coast have provided inspiration for nearly 15 years. “[A]ll three houses we’ve lived in have followed those two themes,” she says.
Wall paint: Behr’s Hallowed Hush color-matched in Valspar paint; Brazilian pecan porcelain plank floor tile: Lowe’s
The homeowners found a new vanity at Rooms to Go in North Carolina and brushed two coats of polyurethane on so that it could withstand the steam from the walk-in shower. They kept the existing vanity lights, which they had installed when they moved in four years earlier.
Walls moved: No
Plumbing moved: Yes
Plumbing replaced: Yes
Professionals hired: Brandon and Martin John, Beaver Built Construction
Special features: Walk-in shower with recessed niche and 10-inch rain head; custom barn door
Splurges: 8-by-4-foot anti-mildew frameless glass for shower
Savings: Repurposed wood dresser for new vanity; discounted sinks and faucets
Cost breakdown
Shower: $1,950 ($1,300 for custom glass, $150 for rain shower head and $500 for fixtures from Lowe’s)
Cabinetry: $600
Vanity: $600
Sink and faucet: $250
Tile: $255 ($115 for subway tile, $100 for mosaic accent tile and $40 for shower floor tile)
Lighting: $200
Accessories and decor: $180 ($100 for mirrors and $80 for bench from a local consignment store)
Flooring: $260 for Brazilian pecan porcelain plank tiles
Doors: $100 for unfinished door
Labor: $6,550
Total: $10,945
Up next: $25,000 for Master and Guest Bath Fixes in Switzerland
More Reader Bathrooms: DIY Updates for $1,800 in North Carolina | New Shower and a Spa Look for $6,100 in Iowa | $39,000 Brings New Jersey Bath Into the 21st Century
Walls moved: No
Plumbing moved: Yes
Plumbing replaced: Yes
Professionals hired: Brandon and Martin John, Beaver Built Construction
Special features: Walk-in shower with recessed niche and 10-inch rain head; custom barn door
Splurges: 8-by-4-foot anti-mildew frameless glass for shower
Savings: Repurposed wood dresser for new vanity; discounted sinks and faucets
Cost breakdown
Shower: $1,950 ($1,300 for custom glass, $150 for rain shower head and $500 for fixtures from Lowe’s)
Cabinetry: $600
Vanity: $600
Sink and faucet: $250
Tile: $255 ($115 for subway tile, $100 for mosaic accent tile and $40 for shower floor tile)
Lighting: $200
Accessories and decor: $180 ($100 for mirrors and $80 for bench from a local consignment store)
Flooring: $260 for Brazilian pecan porcelain plank tiles
Doors: $100 for unfinished door
Labor: $6,550
Total: $10,945
Up next: $25,000 for Master and Guest Bath Fixes in Switzerland
More Reader Bathrooms: DIY Updates for $1,800 in North Carolina | New Shower and a Spa Look for $6,100 in Iowa | $39,000 Brings New Jersey Bath Into the 21st Century
Who lives here: Jennifer and Robert Gresham and their 11-year-old daughter, Amanda
Location: Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
Size: 110 square feet (10 square meters)
Total cost: $10,945
Construction time: About six weeks for the second phase