Setting your Bathroom Renovation Budget

A primary bathroom renovation and a kitchen renovation (we wrote a similar blog about kitchens here) are the best renovations you can do in your home. Why? Simply put, the individual or family purchasing the home spends the most time in those two places, so elevating the quality of these spaces pays off, literally.

However, a complete bathroom renovation is most likely the highest cost per square foot for a renovation in your home (our blog, "Is cost per square foot pricing a Myth?" dives into this). I know what you're asking: "Can you give me a hard number?" The short answer is no. Think of a custom bathroom renovation like buying a high-end car. The term "high-end" has a broad range, with some people thinking of a vehicle over 40K being high-end. In contrast, others start thinking about Ferraris or G-Wagons. Bathrooms are the same: they typically have a floor of cost, but beyond that, well, you can spend whatever you want.

Taste, life stage, budget, and preference dictate price, and each estimate we provide reflects this. Rather than providing hard numbers, it's much more helpful to provide general principles and practical tips to know beforehand how to approach your renovation budget. From our perspective, we follow these principles as we price:

• We always price comprehensively: We list all budget line items in the estimate, including projected costs for permitting, interior design, labor, materials, and fixtures/finishes.

• We always keep you in mind: Your price is for your project, with your budget and tastes in mind.

• We never price to compromise on quality or craftsmanship: Our work bears our name long after we've left your home, and we never build something we aren't proud of.

• We always price for the best experience: We work hard to bring top talent onto our team for customer service and quality craftsmanship.

Now that we've laid the groundwork, let's get into the details.

A custom tiled shower is the most expensive aspect of your bathroom renovation.

No matter how big or small your bathroom is, your shower is always roughly the same size. Whether you have a tiny primary bathroom or a palatial primary bathroom wing, the cost for a custom tiled shower is still the same (for us, starting around $8000 and going up from there). When considering tile, much more goes into it than laying it and adding grout. Even before the tile goes in, we assess the guts of the shower to ensure the last shower didn't have any mold or water damage. Following this, we waterproof the shower - the tile and grout don't. After this, we install tile and grout along with plumbing. Then, we install the fixtures. Finally, we install a frameless glass door.

Many custom options inside the shower can take it to the next level. Adding a marble seat or a curb (an elbow-height shelf running the length of one wall of the shower) is a lovely addition. You can also add multiple shower niches (we include two inserts with each remodel, but more can be added), a diverter with a second shower head, glass shower walls, and polished nickel fixtures (this hardware costs 25% more than a standard brushed nickel).

As a rule of thumb, when considering your shower, think of it as the price thermostat for the bathroom. As the shower price goes, so (typically) goes the bathroom cost.

A simple shower insert allows you to build out the rest of the bathroom economically. A fully tiled shower demands a higher level of craftsmanship and time (and thus price point) for the space's overall design to make sense.

The other big-ticket items include:

• floor tile

• the vanity or vanities

• freestanding tub and tub fixture

• custom closet (this is typically part of a bathroom renovation)

These can all affect the price point dramatically depending on taste and customization. For example, a herringbone pattern will cost upwards of 30% more. Natural stone tiles usually start at around $20 sq/ft., significantly more than traditional tiles.

Items such as freestanding tubs and heated floors are lovely additions but also nonessential if budget constraints apply.

One little industry secret is that a freestanding tub, while a beautiful addition, can be very expensive because the fixture can cost as much or more than the tub! So you could spend $1500 on a tub and think you've gotten a deal, but then the fixture can almost double the price—just something to keep in mind. A good rule of thumb would be to expect to spend (at least) $2500 for materials on a freestanding tub.

For older homes:

Many older homes have a window in the shower, and it's probably a good idea to remove and add a waterproof (as opposed to wood-trimmed) window. You can also add tiled trim to the window as a lovely accent.

Given that code changes over time and materials and quality standards improve, it's a safe bet to bank on a 10% contingency budget of the overall project cost if your house was built before 1980 and 15% if it was built before 1960. For example, if you live in a house built in the '70s and the overall budget is $50,000, expect to spend an extra $5000 on troubleshooting and updating.

Suppose you're more interested in budget-friendly options. In that case, there are great ways to save throughout a project while not compromising on quality. Here are a few options:

Go with a facelift as opposed to a remodel:

• Reface and paint cabinetry, add furniture feet, and new hardware.

• Install a new vanity and toilet, repaint the wall, and change out the mirrors.

Go with acrylic vs. a custom tile shower:

• It costs 1/5 the tile while providing a clean, sleek look. While we typically don't recommend this for primary baths, it's an excellent option for a kid's bath (and easy to keep clean!).

Forego luxury additions:

• Opt out of the heated floor and freestanding tub and go with a traditional brushed nickel finish for fixtures.

• While not allowing for the customization of sizing and finishings, prebuilt cabinets are economical and do not sacrifice quality. You can still get that beautiful white, shaker-style vanity that you want!

Keep the floor plan as-is:

• Moving a toilet, vanity, or shower adds cost by necessitating opening up the floor and walls to replumb the existing system.

Conclusion:

• A primary bathroom renovation is an excellent overall investment to improve your home's value.

• Each primary bathroom remodel reflects your taste, preferences, space, and budget, meaning the price varies significantly from renovation to renovation.

• The shower is the price thermostat for your bathroom, so keep that in mind as you plan and set your budget.

• Several big-ticket luxury items, particularly heated floors and a freestanding tub, are beautiful additions but can only be included if you have budget constraints.

• You do have options for a facelift instead of a full remodel to improve your bathroom at a drastically lower price point.