Title: How Much Did Your Bathroom Remodel Run You (Roughly)?
- Demo was a nightmare—found a pipe that looked like it belonged in a museum.
- Ended up at $12k, mostly because I tried to DIY the tile and, uh, let’s just say I’m not quitting my day job.
- Did anyone else get totally blindsided by how much fixtures cost? I thought faucets were like $50... nope.
Yeah, the sticker shock on fixtures is real. I went in thinking I could do a “budget” reno for under $7k, but the universe laughed at me. Once you start shopping for things like faucets or even towel bars, you realize that “nice” doesn’t mean “affordable.” I fell in love with this brushed gold set and nearly fainted at the price tag—ended up compromising with a knockoff brand that looks decent but, honestly, you can tell it’s not the fancy one.
Demo was wild for me too. The previous owners had tiled over tile... over linoleum. It was like an archeological dig just getting to the subfloor. I tried to save money by doing some of the labor myself, which sounded romantic and empowering until I realized demo dust gets everywhere (I’m still finding it months later). But I will say, there’s something satisfying about smashing up old tile—even if my back disagrees.
I totally get wanting to DIY the tile install. I thought, “how hard could it be?” Turns out, aligning those suckers is an art form and grout is not as forgiving as YouTube makes it look. Ended up calling in a pro to fix my wavy lines. Worth every penny for my sanity.
In hindsight, if you want to get creative without blowing the budget, pick one statement piece—like a cool mirror or bold paint color—and go cheaper on other stuff. Fixtures are important, but they’re not always where you get the most visual impact for your dollar.
All told, mine ran about $10k once I factored in my mistakes and last-minute upgrades. It’s more than I wanted to spend but less than some horror stories I’ve heard. At least now I know where every penny went... and why plumbers drive nicer cars than I do.
Demo was wild for me too. The previous owners had tiled over tile... over linoleum. It was like an archeological dig just getting to the subfloor.
This made me laugh—my last bathroom reno felt like I was unearthing a lost civilization too. I swear, every layer I peeled back revealed a new “design era” (shoutout to the 70s for that avocado green linoleum). And yeah, demo dust is basically immortal. I’m convinced it multiplies when you’re not looking.
I totally relate on the fixture sticker shock. I went in thinking, “How expensive can a shower head be?” Turns out, if you want one that doesn’t feel like a garden hose, it’s basically a car payment. Ended up mixing high and low—splurged on a vanity light, then grabbed generic towel bars from the hardware store clearance bin. No one’s noticed yet.
Tile install nearly broke me. My lines were so crooked my partner joked we’d need to warn guests about “seasickness.” Called in a pro too—worth every cent for straight grout lines and my sanity.
All in, mine hit about $9k after all the “little” things added up. Still cheaper than moving, but man... next time I might just buy more candles and call it mood lighting.
$9k sounds about right for a full gut, especially if you brought in a pro for the tile. I’ve seen some wild stuff under old floors too—one place had three layers of vinyl and a patch of carpet glued down for good measure. Demo is always a gamble. I usually budget extra for “surprises,” but it’s still a shock when you hit that first weird layer. Fixtures are a rabbit hole... I’ve had to rein myself in after falling for those fancy rain shower heads. At the end of the day, it’s all about balancing what adds value and what’s just for the vibes.
I hear you on the demo surprises—my last bathroom reno had a layer of old linoleum under the tile, and beneath that, some kind of tar paper that took forever to scrape up. I ended up spending closer to $10k, but I went with recycled glass tile and a low-flow toilet, which bumped up the cost a bit. Honestly, I think it was worth it for the energy savings and knowing I used more sustainable materials. Fixtures are a slippery slope though... I almost splurged on a smart mirror but decided to keep it simple.
