- Plumbing was the main headache for me, but I did end up having to rewire a chunk of the bathroom.
I get the temptation to gut all the old wiring—been there, done that—but sometimes I wonder if folks jump straight to “replace everything” a bit too fast. Some of that old cloth-wrapped wire can be perfectly safe if it’s not brittle or frayed. Not saying leave a fire hazard, but I’ve seen people rip out stuff that was still totally solid. Also, $8,500 for a small bath? Mine was closer to $6k by sticking with what worked and upcycling a few fixtures. Surprises in the walls are basically tradition though... found a mummified mouse behind my medicine cabinet once.
Mummified mouse behind the medicine cabinet? That’s a rite of passage, right up there with finding a pipe that goes nowhere. I hear you on the wiring—sometimes it feels like people want to demo just for the sake of demo. If it ain’t broke (and isn’t a fire risk), why not let it ride? I kept my old copper pipes and just swapped out the worst bits, saved a chunk of change and a landfill trip.
$8,500 does sting for a small bath, but honestly, plumbing can eat up a budget fast. I tried to reuse what I could—painted the vanity, kept the tub, even found some tile leftovers at the Habitat store. Ended up around $5k, but I probably spent more time hunting for deals than actually remodeling.
Funny how every wall hides a surprise. My last project turned up a 1970s Pepsi can and a petrified gecko. At this point, I half-expect to find buried treasure or a secret note from the original builder. Anyway, hats off for tackling the wiring yourself. That stuff can be intimidating, but it’s satisfying when you flip the breaker and nothing explodes.
Funny how every wall hides a surprise. My last project turned up a 1970s Pepsi can and a petrified gecko.
You’re not kidding about the surprises—once found a bird’s nest in an attic vent, and the client swore they heard “chirping” for weeks. Did you end up reusing any of that old tile, or was it too far gone? Sometimes I wonder if folks realize how much time goes into sourcing salvage materials. That $5k is impressive, though. Ever run into old galvanized pipes that looked fine but crumbled as soon as you touched them? Those are my nemesis.
Ever run into old galvanized pipes that looked fine but crumbled as soon as you touched them? Those are my nemesis.
- Yeah, those pipes are a nightmare. I thought mine were solid until I tried swapping out a valve—ended up replacing half the line because it just disintegrated. Not fun or cheap.
- Reusing tile sounds good in theory, but in my case, most of it was cracked or glued down so hard it broke coming off. Salvaged a few pieces for a planter, but nothing worth putting back in the bathroom.
- For my remodel, kept it under $7k by doing demo and paint myself, and sticking to basic fixtures. No fancy tilework, just subway tile from the clearance rack.
- Sourcing salvage can take forever. Sometimes you spend more on gas and time than if you’d just bought new. Gotta weigh what your time’s worth.
- Surprises behind the walls are practically guaranteed. Budget at least 10% extra for that stuff.
If you’re trying to keep costs down, prioritize plumbing and waterproofing. Fixtures and tile can be swapped later—rotted subfloor, not so much.
Galvanized pipes are the worst—every time I think I’ve found a “good” section, it flakes apart or leaks at the threads. Can’t blame you for just biting the bullet and replacing more than planned. And yeah, salvage is a mixed bag. I’ve spent hours tracking down “eco-friendly” tile only to realize it’s not worth the hassle or cost compared to basic new stuff. You’re spot on about prioritizing plumbing and waterproofing though. Fixtures are easy swaps, but water damage is a whole other headache. Sounds like you made smart calls all around.
