Hidden junction boxes are the stuff of nightmares, for sure. I swear, every time I open up a wall, I half expect to find a squirrel’s nest or a mysterious, unlabeled switch from the 60s. And don’t even get me started on tile—knees, wrists, lower back... it’s like a full-body workout nobody signed up for.
$14k sounds pretty reasonable these days, especially if you’re dealing with tile and any kind of electrical surprises. I’ve seen folks try to cut corners by skipping demo or painting themselves, and honestly, that’s usually where you can save without totally losing your sanity (or ending up with a crooked vanity). Demo is weirdly cathartic too—there’s something about taking a sledgehammer to outdated tile that just feels right.
I will say, though, sometimes people underestimate how much time the “easy” stuff takes. Painting seems simple until you’re on your third coat at midnight, cursing every bit of trim. But yeah, at least when you DIY some parts, you know exactly what’s behind those walls now. No more mystery junction boxes waiting to jump out at you later.
Last place I worked on had THREE layers of tile stacked on top of each other. Like some kind of archaeological dig through decades of questionable taste. The mud bed under all that was basically concrete. I think I still have dust in my hair from that job.
In the end, it’s always a bit more expensive and a lot more work than anyone expects. But knowing it’s done right? Worth it—even if your knees never forgive you.
I get where you’re coming from, but I’d actually push back a bit on the idea that demo and painting are always the best places to save. Demo can go sideways fast if you hit plumbing or find asbestos in older tile or drywall—ask me how I know. And painting, sure, it’s “easy,” but if you don’t prep right or use the wrong primer, you’ll be redoing it in a year. Sometimes it’s worth paying for a pro on those steps just for peace of mind. That said, nothing beats the satisfaction of knowing what’s behind your walls... even if it’s just more dust than you bargained for.
Demo can go sideways fast if you hit plumbing or find asbestos in older tile or drywall—ask me how I know.
Totally agree—demo’s one of those “looks easy on TV” things that can turn into a money pit if you’re not careful. I’ve seen folks try to save on painting too, but if you skip the right primer or don’t sand between coats, you’ll see every brush mark and stain bleed through. Curious, did you end up hiring out both demo and paint, or just one? Sometimes the peace of mind is worth every penny... especially when you’re not the one cleaning up drywall dust for weeks.
We did the demo ourselves to save some cash, but honestly, I’m still finding dust in weird places months later. It wasn’t terrible, but we lucked out—no scary surprises behind the walls. If I’d hit asbestos or anything sketchy, I’d have called in a pro right away. For painting, though, we hired someone. I tried DIY painting once and it looked like a toddler went wild with a roller... never again.
The peace of mind was worth it for the paint job, especially since it’s such a small space and every flaw shows. Demo’s doable if you’re careful and have time to clean up, but painting? I’ll happily pay for that. And yeah, those TV shows make it look way too easy. Real life is just messier (and dustier).
I tried DIY painting once and it looked like a toddler went wild with a roller... never again.
Haha, I feel you on the painting. I swear, no matter how many “pro tips” I watch on YouTube, my edges still end up looking like I painted them with a broom. Did you have to deal with any weird plumbing surprises once you got the walls open? We found an old, capped-off pipe that wasn’t even attached to anything—like some kind of bathroom time capsule.
Curious if you did any tile work yourself or left that to the pros too? I keep hearing horror stories about uneven grout lines and tiles popping up months later. Is it really as tricky as people say, or just one of those things where patience (and maybe a laser level) pays off?
And yeah, those TV reno shows are basically fantasy land. Where’s the episode where someone spends three hours trying to get caulk off their hands?
