how much did your bathroom remodel run you (roughly)?

The second you start moving drains or supply lines, it’s like opening Pandora’s box... and your wallet.

That’s the truth - plumbing surprises are the fastest way to blow a budget. I’ve seen a “quick” bathroom flip spiral into weeks of delays just because someone found galvanized pipes behind the wall. $1,200 is pretty reasonable if you kept it mostly cosmetic. I usually try to avoid moving plumbing unless there’s just no way around it. It’s tempting to chase perfection, but sometimes “good enough” really does save your sanity (and your margins).

- Couldn’t agree more about the plumbing - once you start opening up walls, you never know what you’ll find.
- My last bathroom update ran about $2,800, but I did end up moving the shower drain a few inches. That alone added a few hundred bucks and a lot of cursing under my breath.
- I always tell folks: if you can live with the layout, leave it. Swapping out fixtures and tile is way less stressful (and cheaper) than rerouting pipes.
- Sometimes I wonder if people regret going all-in on moving everything around just for a “better flow.” Anyone actually happy they did a full re-plumb? Or does everyone just end up wishing they’d left well enough alone?
- For me, “good enough” usually wins out, especially when the budget’s tight and the house isn’t some high-end flip.

Curious - did anyone here actually save money by doing their own plumbing, or did it just end up costing more in the long run?

Swapping out fixtures and tile is way less stressful (and cheaper) than rerouting pipes.

Yeah, I learned that lesson the hard way. Tried to DIY a full re-route once - thought I’d save a bundle, but between unexpected “vintage” plumbing behind the walls and three trips to the hardware store for the right fittings, my budget (and patience) took a hit. Ended up calling a pro halfway through anyway. These days, I just stick to the cosmetic stuff unless I’m feeling particularly brave (or foolish). Sometimes “good enough” really is the sweet spot.

Honestly, I get where you’re coming from, but sometimes I wonder if we overestimate how tough rerouting pipes really is.

- If you’ve got access (like an unfinished basement or crawlspace), moving supply lines isn’t always a nightmare.
- PEX has made things way easier compared to old copper or galvanized - flexible, fewer joints, less soldering.
- Sure, surprises behind the wall can be a pain, but demoing tile and replacing fixtures isn’t always a walk in the park either (especially if your walls aren’t square... ask me how I know).

I guess it depends on your comfort level and what you’re starting with. For my last reno, moving the shower drain was actually less hassle than getting the new vanity to fit the existing plumbing. Sometimes “good enough” works, but other times biting the bullet up front saves headaches later. Just my two cents - sometimes the “scary” jobs aren’t as bad as they seem, especially with the right tools and a little patience.

My bathroom remodel ended up around $7,500, but that was doing most of the work myself and being pretty strategic about what to tackle. I hear you on the plumbing - honestly, I was dreading it at first, but once I got into it, moving supply lines with PEX wasn’t nearly as intimidating as I’d built it up in my head. The flexibility really does make a difference, especially if you’re working in tight spots or awkward corners.

That said, I think people sometimes underestimate how much time gets eaten up by the “little” things - like making sure everything lines up once you start putting walls back together. My walls weren’t even close to square either, so getting the new tub and tile to look right took way longer than actually moving the pipes. Demo was messy but straightforward; reassembling everything so it looked intentional was the real test of patience.

I did end up hiring out the shower pan install because I just didn’t trust myself with waterproofing (and honestly, if it leaks, that’s a nightmare I don’t want). But for the rest - moving the toilet over a few inches, rerouting the sink supply, running a new vent - I managed with a weekend here and there. If you’ve got access and you’re comfortable learning as you go, it’s doable. Just budget extra for those “oh wow, didn’t expect that” moments behind the walls.

All in all, materials were about $3k (tile, fixtures, PEX, etc.), and labor for the shower pan plus a couple electrical tweaks ran me another $4.5k. Not cheap, but way less than quotes I got from contractors for a full gut job. If you’re willing to get your hands dirty and have some patience for surprises, it’s manageable. Just don’t underestimate how long trim work and finishing touches take... that stuff dragged on forever for me.