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

Couldn’t agree more about not gutting everything just for the sake of it - so much waste, and half the time the “old” stuff is better built anyway. I did a partial remodel for under $4k by keeping the tub and just painting the vanity. Reglazing is a game changer if you’re on a budget. Also, totally with you on the contingency fund... seems like there’s always some surprise hiding behind the walls, right?

Reglazing is a game changer if you’re on a budget. Also, totally with you on the contingency fund... seems like there’s always some surprise hiding behind the walls, right?

Right? That contingency fund has saved my sanity more than once. I worked with a client last year who wanted a “simple” update - just new tile and paint. We opened up one wall and, surprise, there was ancient wiring barely hanging on. That ate up half their cushion right there.

I’m totally with you on not gutting everything. Some of those old vanities are solid wood, and honestly, you just can’t get that quality from most of the stuff at big box stores now. Painting or refinishing can make such a difference for way less money (and hassle). Reglazing is underrated too - did it in my own place and it made the tub look brand new for a fraction of the cost.

Funny how people think remodels have to mean starting from scratch. Sometimes it’s just about working with what’s already there - and not getting too stressed when you find something weird behind the drywall... because you almost always do.

Contingency fund is basically my emotional support animal at this point. Every time I think, “This’ll be a quick flip,” something wild pops up - like last time, when I found a squirrel’s nest in the vent. Agree on saving those old vanities, too. They just don’t make ‘em like they used to - most of the new stuff feels like it’s made out of cardboard. Curious, has anyone actually regretted reglazing? I keep hearing mixed reviews but mine’s held up surprisingly well...

Title: Bathroom Remodel Surprises and Reglazing Regrets

I hear you on the contingency fund - mine’s basically a line item for “weird old house stuff” at this point. Last year, I budgeted for a “simple” bathroom update and ended up replacing half the subfloor because of ancient water damage. Never fails.

About reglazing, I actually had a different experience. I went for it on our 1930s tub, hoping to save some cash and keep the original look. Looked great for about a year, but then the finish started peeling in spots where water pooled. Maybe it was the company or just bad luck, but I ended up wishing I’d just bitten the bullet and had it properly refinished or replaced. The touch-ups never really matched, either. I know some folks have better luck, but if you’ve got heavy use or hard water, it might not last as long as you’d hope.

And yeah, those old vanities are tanks compared to what’s out there now. I tried to salvage ours, but the drawers were warped beyond saving. Ended up finding a mid-century one at a salvage yard that’s way sturdier than anything new I looked at.

Remodel cost? Hard to say since it snowballed, but all-in (including surprise subfloor and plumbing), probably around $14k. Could’ve been less if nothing weird popped up, but...old houses, right?

That “weird old house stuff” line item is so real. I swear, every time I open up a wall or pull up tile, it’s like a time capsule of questionable decisions and mystery leaks. I had a similar experience with my last bathroom redo - planned for a low-impact refresh, but once we pulled the toilet, the subfloor was basically compost. Ended up sourcing reclaimed lumber to patch it, which was a whole adventure in itself.

Reglazing is such a gamble. I tried it on a clawfoot tub in my first house, mostly because I wanted to avoid sending more cast iron to the landfill. Looked amazing for about 18 months, but then the finish started bubbling near the drain. I did some research and apparently, if the prep work isn’t absolutely meticulous or if you use harsh cleaners, it just doesn’t hold up. I get why people try it - cheaper, less waste - but I’m not sure I’d do it again unless it was a guest bath that barely got used.

The salvage yard route for vanities is underrated. I lucked into an old dresser that we converted into a vanity, and it’s held up way better than the MDF stuff at big box stores. Plus, there’s something satisfying about giving old wood another life. Only downside is wrestling with plumbing around all those drawers, but worth it for the sturdiness.

Costs are all over the place, but mine ended up around $11k, mostly because I reused what I could and did some of the demo myself. Still, the “surprise” category always seems to eat up whatever savings I think I’ve found. Old houses keep you humble... and handy with a crowbar.