Sometimes I wonder if I should’ve splurged on more modern comforts, but there’s something about keeping those old details.
Honestly, I think you made the right call hanging onto the clawfoot tub. Those things are built like tanks and have way more character than most of what’s out there now. I did a full demo last time—down to the studs, which was a pain, but I wanted to fix some ancient plumbing. Still, if you can keep good bones, it usually pays off in the long run. Heated floors are a treat, but old tile’s got its own charm.
Kept my clawfoot too—couldn’t bring myself to toss it. My last bathroom redo (not a gut job, but new tile, paint, and plumbing tweaks) ran about $8k. If you’re keeping original features, you can save a lot, but those little surprises behind the walls... yeah, they add up fast.
Kept my old tub too—there’s just something about those originals you can’t replicate. My last reno was closer to $6k, but I did most of the demo and tiling myself. You’re right about the surprises... found some ancient wiring that needed updating, which wasn’t in the plan. Always seems to be one thing or another hiding back there.
I get the love for the old tub, but I went the opposite route—mine was so chipped it looked like a crime scene. Hauled it out (with help... and a lot of cursing), then splurged on a new one. Honestly, my costs ballooned way past $6k, even with DIY. Maybe I’m just unlucky, but every “quick fix” turned into a saga. If I ever see another mystery pipe, I’m running.
Honestly, my costs ballooned way past $6k, even with DIY. Maybe I’m just unlucky, but every “quick fix” turned into a saga.
That’s not uncommon, especially once you start opening up walls or floors in older bathrooms. Mystery pipes are the bane of every remodel—sometimes you’ve got original plumbing from the '50s spliced with random updates over the decades. It’s rarely straightforward.
Cost-wise, $6k+ is pretty typical if you’re replacing a tub, fixtures, maybe some tile, and running into unexpected plumbing. People see “DIY” and assume it’ll be cheap, but materials have gone up and any hiccup—like a rotted subfloor or weird venting—adds both time and cost. I’ve seen “simple” bathroom jobs snowball fast when old valves won’t shut off or you find hidden water damage.
If anyone’s planning a remodel, I always recommend budgeting at least 20% extra for surprises. And yeah... sometimes hauling out that old tub is the least of your worries compared to what’s behind it.
