I hear you on the “add 20%” thing—honestly, I tried to budget for every possible disaster, but my 1962 bathroom didn’t throw any wild surprises at me either. Maybe it’s just that mid-century construction was built to last? I did spend a few evenings with a flashlight and a screwdriver poking around before demo, though. Found an old razor blade stash in the wall (apparently that was a thing?). Anyway, ended up pretty much on target, give or take a couple hundred bucks for some last-minute tile splurges. Sometimes being nosy pays off.
That razor blade stash thing is wild, but yeah, it was actually pretty common—old medicine cabinets had slots for used blades, and they’d just drop into the wall cavity. Not exactly OSHA-approved by today’s standards.
I’ve noticed the same thing with mid-century builds. The framing lumber is usually denser, and the tile work tends to be set in a thick mortar bed, which is a pain to demo but holds up forever. I do think poking around before demo makes a huge difference. I spent a couple evenings mapping out plumbing runs and checking for weird electrical before I started my own project. Ended up catching a hidden junction box that could’ve been a headache later.
Budget-wise, I still padded mine by 15% just in case, but like you, didn’t hit any major surprises—unless you count the cost of low-flow fixtures, which aren’t cheap if you want something that actually works well. Sometimes the prep work really does pay off... or at least saves you from those “how did this get here?” moments mid-reno.
That razor blade stash thing is wild, but yeah, it was actually pretty common—old medicine cabinets had slots for used blades, and they’d just drop into the wall cavity.
That’s a smart move, mapping out the plumbing and electrical before demo. I’ve seen too many projects where someone skips that step and ends up with a mess—hidden junction boxes are no joke. And you’re right about the tile work in those older homes; demoing thick mortar beds is brutal, but it’s impressive how well they last.
Padding your budget by 15% was wise. I usually recommend something similar, especially since, as you mentioned, “the cost of low-flow fixtures, which aren’t cheap if you want something that actually works well,” can sneak up on you. Prep work really does save headaches down the line, even if it feels tedious at first.
Funny you mention the hidden junction boxes—when we did our last bathroom, we found one tucked behind a wall that nobody had touched in decades. Gave me a minor heart attack thinking about what could’ve gone wrong. Our remodel ran just over $14k, but we did some of the demo and painting ourselves. The tile work was definitely the hardest part, especially chipping out that old mud bed. Worth it in the end, though—feels solid as a rock now.
Hidden junction boxes are like the horror movie jump scares of home reno—never where you want them, always a little terrifying. $14k sounds about right, especially with tile work (that stuff is brutal... my knees still haven’t forgiven me). Doing your own demo and painting is the way to go, though. Plus, there’s something satisfying about knowing every inch is solid and safe now, even if you had to wrestle with ancient mud beds to get there.
