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

Kept mine just under $6k, but that was with a lot of sweat equity and skipping some upgrades I wanted.

“Sometimes I wonder if I’m just bad at budgeting or if these projects always snowball...”

I totally get the “can of worms” thing - my first reno was a 70s bathroom and I swear every fixture I touched led to another problem. I thought reusing the tub would save money, but it ended up costing more to fix the old plumbing than just replacing it. Did anyone here actually manage to keep their original tub or shower, or is that just wishful thinking?

Title: How Much Did Your Bathroom Remodel Run You (Roughly)?

Did anyone here actually manage to keep their original tub or shower, or is that just wishful thinking?

I tried to save our old cast iron tub from the 60s because it looked solid and I figured, hey, why not keep some character? But once we started opening up the walls, it turned out the drain was corroded almost shut and the support underneath had rotted. The plumber basically laughed and said, “You can keep it, but you’ll be fixing leaks every year.” Ended up yanking it out and putting in a new acrylic one. Honestly, factoring in the extra labor to work around the old tub, I probably spent $400 more than if I’d just demo’d it from the start.

That said, my neighbor managed to keep her original clawfoot tub during her reno last year. She paid for professional reglazing (about $500) and had a plumber update all the supply lines. She swears by it - says it’s her favorite part of the house now. But she got lucky with the plumbing being in decent shape behind the wall. I think that’s pretty rare with older places.

For our whole remodel (smallish bathroom), we ended up at about $13k all-in, but that included moving some pipes and upgrading electrical. If you’re just swapping fixtures and not touching plumbing behind the walls, you could probably do it for half that - or less if you DIY most of it.

Long story short: keeping original tubs/showers is possible, but only if what’s behind them isn’t a disaster. Once you start poking around in a 70s bathroom, though... well, you know how that goes.

- Totally agree about the hidden surprises - once you open up those walls, it’s a gamble.
- We tried to keep our 70s shower stall to save cash, but the tile was basically glued to crumbling drywall. Ended up costing more in labor to “save” it than just replacing.
- Our budget was tight, so we did demo and painting ourselves. All-in, about $7k for a mid-size bath, but we didn’t move plumbing or electrical.
- If your pipes are solid and you like the old tub, reglazing is a solid option. But yeah, most older bathrooms have at least one nasty surprise lurking...
- Honestly, I’d say plan for extra costs if you’re hoping to keep anything original - sometimes it’s just not worth the hassle.

Title: How Much Did Your Bathroom Remodel Run You (Roughly)?

“We tried to keep our 70s shower stall to save cash, but the tile was basically glued to crumbling drywall. Ended up costing more in labor to “save” it than just replacing.”

Nailed it with that story - trying to salvage old stuff is where most folks get tripped up. I see it all the time: people want to keep the original tub or tile, thinking it’ll cut costs, but once you start pulling things apart, you’re at the mercy of whatever’s behind those walls. Sometimes the “cheap” route means double the labor and frustration.

Here’s how I usually break it down for clients, step by step:

1. **Demo**: Doing it yourself saves a chunk, but be ready for dust and surprises. If you’re not careful, you can damage pipes or wiring, which adds costs later.
2. **Keeping vs. Replacing**: Reglazing a tub or keeping old tile only works if the structure underneath is solid. If you see any water damage or soft spots, don’t bother - rip it out and start fresh.
3. **Plumbing/Electrical**: Not moving these is a major money-saver. Once you start shifting layouts, costs climb fast.
4. **Hidden Surprises**: Always add a buffer - at least 10-20% extra for “unknowns.” Mold, bad wiring, rotten studs... they pop up more often than you’d think.
5. **Finishes**: Paint, fixtures, and tile can swing your budget big time. DIY painting is smart, but don’t cheap out on waterproofing or tile work if you want it to last.

Honestly, that $7k for a mid-size bath with no major changes is about as low as you’ll get these days unless you’re doing everything yourself and buying bargain materials. I’ve seen folks spend $15k+ just because they wanted to keep an old vanity or tub, only to find out halfway through that everything underneath was shot.

If you’re on the fence about keeping original features, weigh the sentimental value against the real risk of hidden damage. Nine times out of ten, starting fresh is less hassle in the long run - even if it stings up front.

And yeah, bathrooms are like a box of chocolates... except sometimes there’s black mold inside.