If you buy an older house, one of the expenses you may eventually face is a bathroom remodel. That means you’re going to have to have some money set aside.
How Much Is a Bathroom Remodel?
The cost of remodeling a bathroom can vary widely depending on several factors, including the scope of the project, the quality of materials, your location, and whether you’re doing the work yourself or hiring professionals.
On average, bathroom remodeling costs in the United States can range from a few thousand dollars to tens of thousands of dollars or more. Here are some cost considerations:
A few months ago, we decided to remodel a bathroom in our Georgia home. I knew that I wanted to take an affordable option rather than go all out on the bathroom renovation.
In this article, I’m going to show you all the steps to take to remodel a bathroom for less.
How To Remodel a Bathroom
Before you get started, you need to consider some things:
Scope of the Project
The extent of your bathroom remodel will have the most significant impact on the cost. A minor cosmetic update, such as replacing fixtures and giving the bathroom a fresh coat of paint, will cost significantly less than a full-scale renovation that involves moving plumbing, replacing all fixtures, and changing the layout.
I knew that I wanted to spend around $5,000 on a bathroom remodel. That automatically meant that whoever I hired needed to be a small business owner and not a big conglomerate that hires a bunch of people.
Design and Planning
If you hire a designer or architect to help plan your bathroom remodel, their fees will be an additional cost.
If you’re married, there is a good chance that your spouse may choose to take on this part of the project. Not only will it save you money (like it did in my case) but it can make for a happy home:)
Materials and Fixtures
You also need to decide if you’re going to buy high-end fixtures from boutique vendors or if you’re going to visit your local Home Depot and Lowe’s for the run-of-the-mill products.
The quality and type of materials and fixtures you choose can greatly affect the cost. High-end materials, like natural stone or designer fixtures, will increase the budget.
Labor Costs
Finding affordable contractors has always been a sport in Atlanta, but it’s a necessary endeavor if you want to save more.
If you hire professionals, labor costs will be a substantial portion of your budget. Labor costs can vary by location and the complexity of the work.
Each of these resources has their detractors, but I found a contractor by looking at the following places:
- Angi
- Google Reviews
- Craigslist
Read our guide on hiring a reputable contractor.
Permits and Inspections
As a rule of thumb, in most municipalities, if you tear down an existing wall, you’ll need a permit to get the work done. This is not only a safety protection, but it ensures that local building codes are enforced.
Depending on your local building codes and the extent of the remodel, you may need permits and inspections, which can add to the overall cost.
Demolition and Disposal
One of the most unexpected costs associated with a remodel is demolition and disposal of the trash. Many contractors will build the expenses of trash removal into their fee, but – as I found out – not all of them.
To save money, I chose to physically remove the trash from my home myself, and it was a major headache!
Removing old fixtures, tiles, and other materials can be a labor-intensive process and may require a dumpster for disposal.
Plumbing and Electrical Work
If you need to move plumbing or electrical connections, it will add to the cost of the project as well.
When you hire a contractor for a job that includes skills of the major trades, it is their responsibility to bring tradesmen in on the job to get the work completed.
Unexpected Issues
No matter how well you plan, there is always the possibility of unexpected and unforeseen problems with a remodel.
In my case, an old corroded plumbing pipe added some significant expenses and time to the project. You’ll have to plan for this whenever doing any kind of remodeling project.
Final Word
Remodeling a bathroom or any room in your house is a major task. There are so many pieces you’re going to have to put together to avoid crazy stress or debt problems.
And you also need to hire a reliable contractor that knows how to get the job done in the timeframe you’ve established.