Epoxy grout definitely has its perks—I've used it in a couple flips myself and the difference is noticeable. Regular grout, even when sealed properly, tends to discolor or chip eventually, especially in high-traffic bathrooms. Epoxy grout does cost a bit more upfront, but considering the time and hassle saved on maintenance, it's often worth the investment.
As for remodel costs, they can vary wildly depending on your region and how extensive your project is. My last bathroom flip ran me about $8k total—mid-range finishes, new fixtures, epoxy grout, and I did some of the demo myself. If you're hiring everything out or opting for higher-end materials, you could easily double that figure. But if you're handy and selective about where you splurge (like epoxy grout or quality fixtures), you can keep costs pretty reasonable and still get a beautiful, durable result.
Your breakdown sounds pretty spot-on. Did you find doing some demo yourself saved you a lot, or was it more about having control over the details? I've done a couple flips too, and while epoxy grout does feel pricey at first, it seriously pays off in the long run. My last remodel ran around $9k, but I splurged a bit on fixtures. Guess it depends on your priorities...sounds like you balanced yours really well.
"while epoxy grout does feel pricey at first, it seriously pays off in the long run."
Gotta admit, epoxy grout hasn't really impressed me enough to justify the extra cost. Did a bathroom remodel last year, stuck with regular grout and just sealed it properly—still looks great today. My total came in around $7k, but I did most of the demo myself. Honestly, for me it's less about control and more about saving cash...demo crews charge way too much for swinging a hammer around.
Interesting to hear your experience with regular grout. I'm still in the planning stage for my first bathroom remodel, and honestly, epoxy grout sounded tempting at first...but now I'm second-guessing it. Did you find sealing the regular grout tricky or time-consuming? I'm all for saving cash too, especially if the results hold up just fine. Good to know demo's doable solo—might have to dust off my hammer skills after all.
Sealing regular grout isn't too bad—just tedious. Good podcast helps pass the time, trust me. And yeah, demo day solo is oddly satisfying...just watch out for flying tile shards, learned that one the hard way.
