You’ve heard the horror stories before: your friend decided to install a new driveway and wound up paying double their initial estimate. Your neighbor got a new roof and was charged all sorts of additional costs. Is this going to happen when you get your bathroom remodeled? Is there any way to avoid hidden bathroom remodel costs?
After completing thousands of bathroom remodels and smaller projects like walk in shower installations, our team at ZINTEX has mastered the art of the estimate. We also know that on occasion, unforeseen problems can arise that might impact your budget, but it isn’t a common problem for experienced contractors.
What are those problems, and what can you do to stay within your budget? Let’s take a look.
What Is Included in a Bathroom Remodel Estimate?
First, let’s talk about what you can reasonably expect to be accounted for when you receive a bathroom remodel estimate. During your consultation, you’ll discuss topics including:
- The current problems you have with your bathroom
- The must-have changes you want to prioritize
- The nice-to-have changes you’d like to incorporate if they fit your budget
- Your specific design preferences, including materials and accessories
At-home consultations have the added benefit of allowing your sales representative to take a look at your bathroom to better understand the scope of your remodel, as well as possible size or space restrictions and potential sources of damage. They can then put together an estimate that includes the cost of:
- Materials, fixtures, and accessories
- Foreseeable plumbing, electrical, and structural improvements
- Installation labor
For a smaller project that focuses on a single appliance, like your tub or shower, you’re probably looking at an estimate in the $11,000-$24,000 range. If you’re going for a full bathroom remodel, estimates may start around $25,000 and extend to upwards of $40,000.
What Costs Can Arise Unexpectedly?
With the right contractor, you don’t need to worry about hidden costs in the traditional sense. There shouldn’t be any hidden fees built into your contract that push your final bill over the edge of your estimate. However, there are a few unexpected issues that sometimes arise after you receive your estimate.
Plumbing and Electrical Upgrade Costs
Most plumbing and electrical costs are predictable and will be included in your initial estimate. For example, it may be obvious based on your property records that your shower installer will have to update your plumbing based on age and condition.
Plumbing and electrical work usually account for about 10-20% of a bathroom remodel budget. You may end up in the higher range unexpectedly if plumbing or electrical issues are discovered during demolition that you and your installer weren’t already aware of.
Structural Repair Costs
There are a few basic structural repairs that can get lumped in with a bathroom remodel, particularly in the wet area (your shower or tub). For example, your installer may need to:
- Level your shower base area to ensure proper drainage
- Remove and replace support beams with water damage
- Replace any materials showing signs of mold growth
Once again, a lot of these repairs are easy to predict. Oftentimes, sales representatives will use moisture detection tools to assess the likelihood that your shower or tub has hidden water damage and mold growth. That said, structural repair costs may be higher than expected if your installer discovers that water damage or mold growth is more widespread than predicted.
DIY Costs
Finally, there are some bathroom improvements you may want to tackle yourself once your professional remodel is complete. DIY improvements are often seen as the cheapest way to upgrade your bathroom, but it’s also easy to underestimate how much they’re going to cost.
Take painting, for example. Painting is an upgrade that many homeowners can easily tackle on their own, but it’s also an upgrade that tends to cost a little more than expected. According to HomeGuide, you can expect to spend between $150-$400 to paint a small bathroom and up to $1,500 to paint a primary bathroom.
If you plan to tackle any DIY projects during or after the course of your professional remodel, consider budgeting them out first. That way, you don’t get halfway through your DIY and have to put it on hold due to costs.
The Surprising Upside to Hidden Bathroom Remodeling Costs
From a budgeting standpoint, it’s hard to see the silver lining of adding these unexpected costs to your total bill. However, there’s an important benefit of discovering problems during your bathroom remodel. The sooner you address things like fault wiring, old plumbing, or structural damage, the sooner you start reaping the related financial benefits, including:
- Lowering utility bills after addressing things like water waste from leaking pipes
- Reducing the need for maintenance to repair what should actually be replaced
- Reducing the risk and future cost for buyers, making your home more appealing to a wider market
Plus, the longer you put off problems like the ones outlined above, the wider-spread the damage can become. In turn, it will only cost more to make the needed repairs in the future.
Can Any Other Surprises Disrupt a Bathroom Remodel?
Your bathroom remodel price isn’t the only thing you’ll receive an estimate of. Your sales representative or design team should also provide you with an estimate of your bathroom remodel timeline. Depending on the scope of your remodel, this could be anywhere from 24 hours to upwards of two weeks, but this timeline could also be disrupted by unexpected surprises.
In fact, timeline disruptions often go hand in hand with cost increases. If your installer discovers that your bathroom needs more structural or plumbing work and that’s going to cost a little more, it’s probably also going to take a little longer.
That said, not all timeline disruptions should increase your final bill. For example, if your contractor is dealing with supply chain disruptions, you shouldn’t be the one who has to make up for any resulting price increases.
Can You Account for the Unexpected in a Bathroom Remodel?
When you’re budgeting a bathroom remodel, the best thing you can do is determine the most you’re able and willing to pay before making any design choices or choosing your contractor. Then, set aside at least 10% of that maximum number to tap into if any unexpected costs do arise.
What does that look like in practice? Let’s say that you’re willing to pay up to $25,000 to upgrade your bathroom. That means that you actually have a maximum of $22,500 to put towards things like materials, accessories, and labor, because the final $2,500 is reserved for unexpected costs.
Bonus tip: If you want to take it a step further, make sure you have all available bathroom records compiled before your consultation. This includes any records the city may have of prior upgrades as well as the paperwork from your most recent home inspection (likely completed right before you bought your home, although some homeowners may have gotten a more recent inspection). The more information you can provide, the better your sales representative can assess the work that needs to be done.
Protect Your Bathroom Remodel Investment With Smart Choices
The last thing you want is to spend way more than you anticipated on your bathroom remodel because of unexpected issues. The best way to ensure that you aren’t shocked by the price tag is to build an extra 10% into your budget. The second-best way is to work with an experienced contractor who isn’t easily surprised.
At ZINTEX Remodeling Group, we bring a collective 75 years of experience to every consultation and installation. This means that we’re able to share our expertise with every customer so they can make smart choices with their money.
What’s next? Discover the ins and outs of bathroom remodel financing and start planning your remodel.
FAQs About Bathroom Remodels
Q: Do bathroom remodels have a good ROI?
A mid-range bathroom remodel that includes a few practical and aesthetic upgrades using quality materials that don’t fall into the luxury category can yield an ROI of up to about 73%. Luxury upgrades will certainly boost your property value, but you typically won’t recoup as much of the investment.
Q: What is the typical bathroom remodel price?
A full bathroom remodel starts at $25,000 but can cost upwards of $40,000. This price range reflects things like material and design choices as well as the scale of your remodel. For example, on the lower end, you’ll have fewer shower wall designs to choose from, and your remodel will focus primarily on the shower or tub area and the floors. On the higher end, you have more design options and can also expect new cabinetry and vanity countertops.
Q: How much does a new walk in shower cost?
If you’re aiming to replace one appliance, like your walk in shower, you’re looking at a range of about $11,000-$24,000. This is a great way to significantly improve the aesthetic and functionality of your bathroom on a smaller timeline and budget. Walk in showers are great for small bathrooms, modern bathrooms, and accessible bathrooms.
Topics:
