How Much Does A Bathroom Remodeling Really Cost?

You know the old folks’ saying that the bathroom reflects its owner? We think so, too, our bathrooms truly define us. They are more personal than we may think of them and not only do they say a lot about our homes, but our personalities as well.

It is important to create it in line with what we stand for and what we may wish others to perceive us. Over time, our bathrooms deteriorate and need more maintenance than before. Whether you are dreaming of a refreshing change in your fixtures, or simply recreating or having a new inspiration that you want to achieve in your bath spaces, a remodeling or renovation may be the solution you are looking for.

1. Remodeling & Renovating, Which Is Which?

But what is the difference between remodeling and renovating? Remodeling is renovation and construction. It involves not only doing renovation jobs such as having new paint and tiles, improved lighting or adding a fixture, but also additional construction work such as tearing up a portion to create a bigger space, doing plumbing and electrical works to achieve the intended outcome. Renovating works within the existing space and footprint to either change, modernize, or functionally improve the space. Some of renovation include repair, paint or wallpaper, tiling, replacement flooring, and new lighting.

2. How Much Does It Cost To Remodel Or Renovate A Bathroom

Now that we have discussed the difference of remodeling and renovating, the next question would be the cost for remodeling a bathroom. According to Forbes, bathroom remodels cost about $10,000. It could be as low as $2,500 for a simple remodel, while high-end projects can cost as much as $30,000.

In the following section, we will discuss the costs related to bathroom remodeling and renovation to give you an idea on where to spend your money.

A. Cabinets

Cabinets usually take up to 25% of the total bathroom cost, as most homeowners would love to have larger spaces to move inside the bathroom and keeping it clutter-free by having storage spaces.

Depending on the size, material used, and functionality, cabinets range from $400 – $2,000. Keep in mind though that installation fees are usually separate from the cost of the cabinet itself. You may also consider having your cabinets customized to your preference.

B. Countertops

There are a variety of countertops choices from pre-cut to customized, depending on your preference. Ceramic, porcelain and laminate countertops are the cheapest, while corian, granite slab, stainless steel, and marble costs a little pricey. Pre-fit countertops cost between $100 and $2,600, while custom countertops cost $500 to $2,800.

You may also need additional $2000 to have them installed which will also cover the adjustment of pipes and fixtures.

C. Tile & Flooring

The cost of remodeling your bathroom floor will depend on materials that you will choose. Consider what look you’re going for when deciding which to install in your bathroom. Vinyl tiles are the cheapest at $1 each, or you may want to have ceramic tiles which ranges from $1-$4. If you are into a more elegant finish, marble tile and hardwood are great choices that range from $6-$8.

Tile and flooring will make up 10% of the total cost of remodeling, with the average cost for porcelain tile flooring ranging from $860 to $2,600, and stone tile flooring from $900 to $2,800.

D. Facets & Plumbing

Plumbing is expensive, but having it done correctly is worth it. There are plumbing professionals that cater to repairs and adjustments in your bathroom and you may spend up to $250 to $1,450 in materials and labor depending on the scope of work done. However, remember that your plumber may also discover more complex repairs during the process and may charge more.

E. Shower & Tub

The cost to remodel a shower range from $200 to $15,000, with prefabricated shower kits costing around $600 with materials and labor, while customized showers may carry a steeper price of $10,000 since they require more time and labor for getting measurements, construction, and installation.

For a bathtub replacement, it ranges between $4,200 to $11,000. Acrylic or fiberglass are one with the cheapest prices while models made of cast iron, steel, or cultured marble costs a bit more.

F. Ventilation & Lighting

Giving your bathroom a brighter and refreshed ambiance by upgrading light fixtures and a new ventilation is one of the ways to remodel your bathroom. Light fixtures are available at home stores and online, with an average cost between $100 and $400.

G. Walls, Doors & Ceiling

Updating the surrounding structure of your bathroom makes a lot of difference in how your remodeled bathroom will look and feel like. Installing a new door cost between $360 and $1,200.

To spruce up your walls and ceilings, you may opt for painting it anew which costs around $50 – $100 on materials. You may also want to do this yourself since painting is an easy skill to learn, you’ll just need to have an understanding of which kind of paint you will be using for your walls and ceilings, plus you get to choose the colors that you want.

Alternatively, you may also use wallpapers which costs from about $2 to $6 per square foot for materials and $1 to $7 per square foot for labor. Remember that while you can opt to DIY wallpaper installation, it takes a lot of muscle and coordination to do so since it requires an error-free installation to prevent it from tearing or crumpling, which may cause irreversible damage on the product.

H. Permits

In order to start your bathroom renovation or remodeling, a you must secure a construction permit. Local construction permits heavily depends on where you live. This is estimated from $100 to $1,000 for major construction activities, like changes to plumbing and electrical.

Conclusion

There is no straightforward quotation on how much a bathroom remodeling can cost. However, we could all agree that for smaller projects that require replacement or repair existing traditional fixtures, it can cost around $2, 500 – $10, 000, depending on the size of your bathroom, but if you wish to upgrade your bathroom’s existing fixtures, be ready to shell out a much higher budget of $10,000 – $30,000.