Is $10K for a complete bathroom remodel unreasonable?

[Justin]

So I've had my bathroom completely remodeled, and the cost was $10K. A bunch of people who evidently didn't want to offer to do the work are now claiming I'm getting ripped off. I don't necessarily agree, but then again, I've never had home renovation work done before.

Here's a list of everything they did:

Complete demolition of the old bathroom
Replaced section of the floor support area that had rot
Installed new flooring (that synthetic wood stuff that floats on top of the sub floor)
Installed a vent fan (previously there was no fan at all, so they had to wire it to a switch, and install vent piping to one of the vents in the attic)
Installed new toilet
Installed new sink
Installed new, taller, vanity
Installed new light fixture
Installed new tub
Installed new shower head/faucet
Installed tile around the tub
Converted a coat closet into linen shelves (basically they took out the door in the hallway, installed new sheet rock/paint/etc. to seal up the old door, and then cut a hole in the wall of the bathroom so that space could be better utilized as linen storage)
Painted
Handled all purchases of fixtures and materials

The contractor I picked has had two guys working on it for seven days, 8am-3pm.

FWIW, I'm completely pleased with the work that's been done, the bathroom looks a million times better than before.

But, am I getting ready to pay too much for this work?

[Snowman78]

The 10k was parts and labor correct? Sound about right for this market, how many SF is the bathroom?

[Irving]

I don't think so. I did my own bathroom remodel and think I probably ended up spending about $5,000. I'm willing to bet that my bathroom is smaller, and I likely purchased cheaper vanity and maybe even tile than you did.

[Justin]

The 10k was parts and labor correct? Sound about right for this market, how many SF is the bathroom?

Yep. Parts and labor. The whole shootin' match.

It's a small bathroom, so one sink, one toilet, one shower.

[BladesNBarrels]

I think you did well.
I have had estimates to complete a roughed-in bathroom in my walk-out basement.
10-15k is right in there, but no one wants to take on the project just now.
Uh, okay.

[Little Dutch]

It depends on your material cost.

I spent close to 10 k total when I did our main bathroom about 8 years back.

ETA- I bought all the materials, but had a wood worker build my cabinets, an electrician do the wiring work, and a meth-head do my tile, drywall, texturing, paint, and vent work. The cabinet guy may have been a meth head too actually, but he did excellent work.

[Wulf202]

I got asked to bid a bathroom a month ago where the competing bid was 12K$ to replace the tub with a shower only.

You did fine.

[ChickNorris]

Yep. Fine.

[newracer]

I think it's a pretty good price. Besides if you are happy with the work and OK with the price does it really matter what anyone else thinks? Seems like now a days it's hard just to get a quality contractor at any price.

[TFOGGER]

I spent almost 8K to do one myself(all work, stripped to the studs and subfloor, but leaving the tub as it was), so you definitely did ok...

[Great-Kazoo]

Not bad for work done. Seems to be an average price ~ amenities you're adding in.

[Justin]

I think it's a pretty good price. Besides if you are happy with the work and OK with the price does it really matter what anyone else thinks? Seems like now a days it's hard just to get a quality contractor at any price.

The other half is who's unhappy, which is why I'm asking for a (likely to be ignored) sanity check.

[beast556]

10k sounds right to me. Avarage cost now a days seems to be 10-15k.

[Tim K]

Totally fair from your description.

[sandman76]

Probably not too bad of price. Was that with a granite counter top?

[MarkCO]

Agree, sounds legit based on the description. If the "other" half wants to negotiate with a contractor who already did the work, let her do so...while standing behind her signaling to the contractor that she is crazy. :)

Only question I would have is did they pull a permit? If not, that is on you as much as them, but might be a bargaining chip.

Supplies cost me about $2.5K to do my complete bathroom in 2009 that sounds like it was close to what yours is. Gutted and complete remodel, brother-in-law did the drywall. Took about 80 hours all in and I did not buy high end fixtures or tile.

[20X11]

If you are happy with the work and the outcome, pay the man and be happy and thankful for a job well done.

[brutal]

Sounds about right to me.

My kitchen guy ballpark quoted $8K for a small bath with new (replacement) tile floor, new tub, mix valves, tile to ceiling. Toilet I can do and already bought to matchy matchy the others (they're cheap). Vanity and wall cabinet was considered out of play, and I'll probably just get a manufactured top/bowl that "looks" like granite.

Master bath ballpark was more like $20K but that also was two small rooms with a large double bowl vanity and top. Toilet/shower in one room, sinks in the other. New mixer valve, tile shower, glass door, new (replacement) tile floor. Tile into 2nd room. Drywall refinish.

If you're happy with the work, sounds fair price.

That said, I'm hoping to negotiate a better deal using a tile guy and doing some of the work myself.

Now, paying $10K for a new hardwood floor that ends up 2" off on a 48' span is something to be pissed about. Ask me how I know.

[Irving]

Couple layers of quarter round ought to fix you right up brutal.

[fj605]

We got our final bill today for a new bathroom and the total was right at $6700. I'd already purchased almost everything except some building materials. The guy charged $80/hr labor for himself and his helper.

[def90]

$10k is about right for the average run of the mill bathroom.

Fixtures and finishes can make the price change dramatically. I've worked on homes that had well over $100k 60sqft bathrooms.

[MrPrena]

[approx] 5% to 15% of median annual income for a bathroom remodel is just too much for me.
At those prices, I will get a permit myself and DIY.

[Whacko]

[sniper7]

Yes it is. Learn to do it yourself and you won’t get raped.
YouTube is your best friend....

[Irving]

Yes it is. Learn to do it yourself and you won’t get raped.
YouTube is your best friend....

No way, I would have charged him $13k.

[Grant H.]

Sounds perfectly reasonable to me.

If the bill came in within 0-5% of what the quote was, and the increase is justifiable, just pay him and get on with your life.

[def90]

Having remodeled now four bathrooms myself, I'm a bit mystified as to how someone spends 8-15k on a DIY.

Are you referring to the OP? If so, it was a 100% contractor build out with a little more work than an average bath redo.


either way there are a ton of variables. Brand of fixtures, brand of tub, you could spend a couple grand on the tub alone if you are going for a specific look, marble vs ceramic tile, cabinet build type and materials, type of wood used for the flooring and so on. Throw in a steam shower, heated floor and towel racks and it adds up.

[Irving]

I created a new circuit for my small bath, added a tube skylight, poured a new shower pan, added a light in the closet adjacent to bath, all new plumbing in the shower, insulated the walls, etc.

[Wulf202]

No, was referring to the people chiming in on the DIY side saying they spent just as much, some more. It's definitely not impossible, but more of a "why would you", I suppose. Most people DIY to save costs and amplify the value, if you're blowing 8 grand on fixtures, you're not doing either.

I do presume the OP quote to be fair-ish, because labor isn't cheap, anywhere. Even more so east slope. And there's a lot of small tasks to complete on that one.
The other side of that DIY is they spent the price of a cheap renovation done by a contractor, and got the finish of a high end renovation which would have cost even more.

Then there's the lack of available contractors, with even fewer being good contractors.

[def90]

The other side of that DIY is they spent the price of a cheap renovation done by a contractor, and got the finish of a high end renovation which would have cost even more.

Then there's the lack of available contractors, with even fewer being good contractors.

Yeah, you definitely want to spend what the house and neighborhood is worth. If you can do a $10k contractor job yourself DIY you could potentially make that a $15-20k upgrade value wise.

In the end you want to balance your personal taste with local real estate values and returns at the same time. Putting a $2k bath in a house in a neighborhood with $10k bath finishes isn't going to serve you well down the road unless you plan to live out your life in your current home.

[sniper7]

No way, I would have charged him $13k.

I would have offered my services to help, we could have knocked it out over a few days and walked away with a couple complete LaRue rifles each! [UZI]

[Justin]

Yes it is. Learn to do it yourself and you won?t get raped.
YouTube is your best friend....

If I was gonna do it myself, it woulda been done long before now.