Bathroom remodeling can make a great difference in the functionality and beauty of your home. A bathroom remodel can be a big change whether you want to change your style, add value to your property, or improve comfort. Nonetheless, as any renovation project, you need to know where your money will be spent. Certain things in the remodel are costly as compared to others and knowing the costs beforehand can enable you to budget accordingly. In this article, we are going to look at what is the most expensive component of a bathroom remodel and what determines the total price.
The Most Expensive Part: Plumbing and Fixtures
Plumbing Work
In the case of bathroom remodeling the plumbing may be the costly aspect of the project. This is especially so in case you are undertaking major alterations, e.g. relocating the toilet, sink or shower. This is because changing the plumbing system needs professional skills and this may increase the expenses.
The plumbing job can be complex depending on what you are changing. The cost will be less in case you are just changing the existing fixtures with the new ones in the same place. But when you are rerouting pipes, adding new drain lines, or adding new fixtures, you will have to consider labor and materials, which can add up very quickly.
Labor Costs: The average plumber can charge between 50 to 200 dollars an hour, depending on his/her experience and where you are.
Fixture Installation: A new toilet, sink, shower, or bathtub may cost you anything between 100 to 500 dollars or more depending on the cost of installation.
Fixtures and Fittings
The fixtures and fittings such as the bathtub, shower, toilet, vanity, and faucets also consume another big percentage of the bathroom remodel budget. These items may be very expensive or cheap depending on what you want and the style you adopt.
Bathtubs: A regular bathtub may range between 300 and 2,500 dollars, whereas a luxurious freestanding tub will cost at least 3,000 dollars.
Shower: Showers can be more costly, particularly when you are putting in custom tiles, a framed glass door or a premium shower system. Depending on the features, shower prices may vary between 1000 dollars to 5000 dollars or above.
Vanity: A bathroom vanity could be as cheap as 200 dollars or up to 2,500 dollars depending on the custom-made designs or the quality of the finish.
Toilets: Toilets are priced between 100 to 1,500 dollars with other variants such as smart toilets increasing the price.
The Second Most Expensive Part: Labor Costs
Labor can be a big percentage of your bathroom remodel budget particularly when you are paying professionals to do the plumbing, electrical work and installation of fixtures. The labor cost is higher the more skilled are the professionals.
General Contractor: A general contractor will be used to handle the whole process of remodeling and make sure that everything is done as per code. Their services will cost you about 10-20 percent of the total project cost.
Plumbers: As indicated above, plumbing work is a big cost. Plumbers will normally charge at an hourly rate or a fixed price depending on the size of the work.
Electricians: You will also require an electrician, in case you are adding lighting, or upgrading the electrical system, which will cost you between $65 to $120 per hour.
Tilers: Tilers charge between 5 and 20 dollars per square foot of labor depending on the complexity of the design in case you are remodeling your home with new tile work.
The Cost of Materials: Tiles, Countertops, and Flooring
Although plumbing and labor may be the most expensive, sometimes materials may also contribute a big part of the cost. The kind of materials you use will greatly determine your total budget.
Tiles
Tiles are a key feature in many bathroom remodels. Tiles are an important part of the flooring as well as the walls in the shower. Tiles are priced differently depending on the material, style and quality.
- Ceramic tiles may be as cheap as 1 to 5 dollars a square foot.
- Porcelain tiles are usually between 2 and 10 dollars per square foot.
- Natural stone tiles (marble or granite) may range in price between 5 and 25 dollars per square foot.
Besides the price of the tiles, you will have to consider the price of grout, adhesive and labor cost of installation and this can be quite expensive.
Countertops
The countertops of the bathroom can be quite costly too, and it is usually made of such materials as granite, quartz, or marble. Countertop costs vary widely depending on the material:
- Laminate countertops are the cheapest and they cost about $20 to 50 dollars per square foot.
- Granite and quartz countertops cost between 50 and 200 dollars per square foot and higher-end products are more expensive.
Flooring
Your flooring options such as vinyl, tile or wood can increase your total budget as well. Although vinyl is a cheap alternative (costing approximately 1-3 dollars per square foot), hardwood or luxury vinyl planks may cost you between 5-10 dollars per square foot and ceramic tile can be between 2-8 dollars per square foot.
The Cost of Accessories and Finishing Touches
Although labor, plumbing and materials will constitute the majority of your expenses, it is also possible to add finishing touches and accessories to end up with an increased price.
This includes:
Lighting: New light fixtures will range between 50 and 500 dollars depending on the design and brand.
Storage Solutions: Shelves, towel bars and medicine cabinets can cost between 50 and 300 dollars depending on the size and design.
Mirrors and Hardware: A decorative mirror can cost up to 100 to 500 dollars and high-quality hardware such as towel racks, faucets and drawer pulls can cost an extra 10 to 50 dollars each.
Which is the Costliest Part of Bathroom Remodel?
Plumbing and fixtures are usually the costliest aspect of a bathroom remodel, especially when you are moving around the existing items, such as the toilet or bathtub. Also, skilled trades including plumbers, electricians, etc., and high-end materials including tiles, counter tops, and flooring also contribute to a lot of expenses.
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