I get the love for cast iron tubs—they’re solid, no doubt. But honestly, have you ever tried moving one? Total backbreaker. I swapped mine for a good quality acrylic and haven’t had any issues, but maybe it’s just luck or the brand. Sometimes lighter is better, especially if you’re working solo. Did you run into any surprises with the rewiring? That’s where my budget always gets blown out...
- Totally get you on the weight—cast iron is a beast to move.
- Acrylic’s come a long way, durability-wise.
- Rewiring is always a wildcard. I’ve seen costs jump by $2k+ just finding old knob-and-tube or sketchy DIY jobs behind walls.
- Did you have to upgrade your panel or was it just fixture wiring? Sometimes that’s where people get hit hardest.
- On average, budget-wise, rewiring can eat 15-20% of a mid-range remodel if you’re not careful... Hidden surprises are brutal for the wallet.
Hidden surprises is right... My 1920s place had wires that looked like they belonged in a Frankenstein movie. Thought I was just swapping out a light, ended up with a full panel upgrade and a week of electricians poking around. Wallet still hasn’t forgiven me. But hey, at least the lights don’t flicker anymore. You’re not alone—old houses love to keep us on our toes.
Hidden surprises is right... My 1920s place had wires that looked like they belonged in a Frankenstein movie.
Yeah, those old houses are full of curveballs. Bathroom remodel in my 1940s place ran about $17k, but I did a lot myself—demo, tiling, painting. Biggest chunk was plumbing and electrical, especially after finding some “creative” wiring behind the walls. If you’re budgeting, always add 20% for stuff you can’t see. Trust me, it’s never just a simple swap.
I get the whole “add 20%” thing, but honestly, I didn’t find that to be the case with my 1950s bathroom. Maybe I just got lucky, but I stuck pretty close to my original budget—probably because I spent a ton of time poking around before demo. Pulled off a few tiles, checked behind the vanity, that sort of thing. Not saying surprises don’t happen, but sometimes a little extra snooping can save you from those wallet-busting curveballs.
