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

- Swapped out all the galvanized for PEX: $2,200 right there.

Pipes are always the wildcard. I’ve lost count of how many “quick” flips turned into marathon jobs because of old plumbing. Swapping to PEX is smart, though - less hassle down the road. Personally, I’d rather spend a little more up front than deal with leaks later. Your breakdown looks about right for a midrange update, especially keeping the old tile. Too many people rip out good materials just because they look dated, when a deep clean and regrout can do wonders.

- Smart call on the PEX upgrade - it’s one of those things you only appreciate after a few years with zero leaks.
- Keeping old tile can be a gamble, but honestly, if it’s solid and you like the look, why not?
- I’ve seen folks spend thousands redoing perfectly good walls just for a trend... sometimes less really is more.
- Your numbers sound right for what you’re doing. Avoiding hidden plumbing surprises is half the battle in these remodels.

- PEX is a solid move, no argument there.
- Gotta push back a bit on keeping old tile though - seen too many “solid” tiles hiding water damage or mold behind them. Sometimes what looks fine on the surface is a headache waiting to happen.
- Trends come and go, but if you’re already opening up walls, it’s usually cheaper in the long run to just do it right the first time.
- Plumbing surprises... yeah, those are the budget killers. Always budget a little extra for the stuff you can’t see until demo day.

I get where you’re coming from about demoing all the old tile, but sometimes it’s not always necessary. If there’s no sign of movement, cracking, or musty smell, I’ve had good luck leaving original tile and just regrouting or sealing. I do check with a moisture meter first though - saves a ton if everything checks out. Just my two cents... sometimes “if it ain’t broke” really does apply.

sometimes “if it ain’t broke” really does apply.

I get that logic, and honestly, I’ve done the same thing in a couple of my own projects. If the tile’s solid and there’s no moisture hiding underneath, regrouting can make a world of difference for way less cash. Here’s how I usually approach it:

1. Check for loose tiles or hollow sounds by tapping around.
2. Run a moisture meter over suspect areas - especially near the tub or shower.
3. If everything checks out, I’ll scrape out the old grout (oscillating tool helps), clean up, and regrout.
4. Seal everything once it’s cured.

Last time I did this, my “remodel” was under $500 - mostly just materials and a weekend of elbow grease. Full gut jobs I’ve done have run $5k+ even DIY, so yeah, sometimes leaving good tile is the move.

That said, if you’re already seeing signs of water damage or moldy smells, demoing is probably safer in the long run. It’s always a bit of a gamble with old bathrooms... but sometimes you win big by not overdoing it.