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

Man, the hidden stuff is always what gets you. We tried to DIY as much as we could - demo, painting, even tiling - but the second we found some sketchy wiring and old pipes, we called in the pros. Ended up replacing everything behind the walls just for peace of mind. Did you find the permits and inspections part as much of a hassle as the actual work? That was a whole saga for us...

Did you find the permits and inspections part as much of a hassle as the actual work?

Honestly, the permits and inspections were almost more stressful than the remodel itself. The paperwork, waiting for approvals, and scheduling city inspectors dragged things out. I get why it’s necessary, but it felt endless. We spent about $18k total, mostly because once we opened up the walls, we had to bring everything up to code. If you’re in an older house, budget for surprises - those hidden issues are almost guaranteed.

- Had a similar experience with my 1920s bungalow.
- Permits took forever, and every inspection felt like a mini heart attack.
- Ended up spending around $21k, mostly because the old plumbing was a total mess.
- Wish I could say the process was smooth, but honestly, the charm of old houses comes with a price - literally and figuratively.
- Would I do it again? Maybe... but I'd definitely brace myself for more surprises behind those plaster walls.

the charm of old houses comes with a price - literally and figuratively.

That’s the truth. I tackled a 1940s bathroom last year and thought I’d budgeted for “surprises,” but the electrical was a whole saga of its own. Did you end up having to rewire anything, or was it mostly plumbing headaches? Curious if you found any original features worth saving, or did everything have to go? Sometimes I wonder if it’s better to gut or try to work around what’s there...

We had to rewire a bunch of it, actually - old knob-and-tube everywhere, and the inspector wasn’t having it. Plumbing was a mess too, but at least that’s pretty standard in these places. I did keep the original medicine cabinet and tile floor, though; just couldn’t bring myself to toss them. Sometimes working around what’s there is more work than just starting over, but man, the character you get from those old details is hard to beat.

- Rewiring old knob-and-tube is always a budget killer. I’ve run into that a few times and it’s never cheap, especially if you’re dealing with plaster walls.
- Plumbing - yeah, that’s almost a given with these old houses. Cast iron and galvanized pipes are always a surprise waiting to happen.
- Keeping the original medicine cabinet and tile is a solid move. Salvaging those details is a ton of work, but you just can’t replicate that kind of charm with new stuff.

For numbers, here’s how my last one broke down (midwest, 2023, 5x8 bathroom):

- Electrical: $2,200 (full rewire, new GFCIs, vent fan, LED can light)
- Plumbing: $2,800 (replaced all supply and drain lines, new shutoffs, moved shower valve)
- Tile: $1,500 (kept floor, but retiled shower surround)
- Fixtures: $1,200 (mid-range toilet, sink, faucet, shower hardware)
- Misc (paint, drywall repairs, trim): $600
- Labor: Did demo and some finish work myself, hired out the rest

All in, I landed just under $8,500. If you’re keeping more original stuff, you might save a bit, but honestly, sometimes working around old features ends up costing more in labor. Had one job where keeping the old cast iron tub meant spending extra on refinishing and custom plumbing to make it work. Worth it for the look, but definitely not for the wallet.

If you’re in a pricier area or hiring everything out, I wouldn’t be shocked to see it hit $12k+. Just depends how deep you go and how much you’re willing to DIY. Every old house has its surprises... sometimes you open up a wall and just have to laugh (or cry).

You nailed it about the surprises - old houses are never straightforward. I had a client who wanted to keep their original hex tile floor, which sounded easy at first, but matching the old grout and repairing a few cracked tiles ended up taking way longer (and costing more) than just retiling. Still, the end result was worth it for the character. Labor is always the wild card, especially when you’re working around vintage details. Sometimes you save, sometimes you just cross your fingers and hope there aren’t too many curveballs behind those walls...

Yeah, labor is where it gets you every time, especially with old tile. I tried to salvage a 1920s floor once - thought I’d save money, but between matching the grout and finding replacement tiles, it ended up costing almost double what I’d budgeted. Sometimes it’s just easier to start fresh, but I get the appeal of keeping the original charm. Those surprises behind the walls are no joke... found an old newspaper stuffed in mine as insulation.

I tried to salvage a 1920s floor once - thought I’d save money, but between matching the grout and finding replacement tiles, it ended up costing almost double what I’d budgeted. Sometimes it’s just easier to start fresh, but I get the appeal of keeping the original charm.

I get where you’re coming from - those hidden costs can really spiral. Still, I think there’s a case for sticking it out with the old tile, even if it takes more time and patience. Here’s why:

- Salvaging original features can actually add value in certain neighborhoods, especially if you’re somewhere with a lot of historic homes. Buyers notice that stuff.
- Even when replacement tiles are pricey, sometimes you can get creative - rearrange the layout, use contrasting tiles as an intentional “border,” or even repurpose tiles from other parts of the house.
- Labor is a killer, but if you’re willing to DIY some of it (demo, prepping surfaces), you can shave off a decent chunk.

That said, I totally agree on the “surprises behind the walls.” My last place had what looked like horsehair plaster and about five layers of wallpaper under the tile. Took forever to get everything prepped. Still, I’d argue that starting fresh isn’t always cheaper in the long run - modern materials and labor aren’t exactly a bargain either.

If you’re watching every dollar like I usually am, sometimes piecing things together slowly over time is less painful than one big expense. It’s not fast, but it keeps things manageable. Plus, there’s something satisfying about making it work with what’s already there... even if it means living with weird grout lines for a while.

I hear you on the surprises - my last bathroom had a subfloor that looked like it’d survived a flood or two, and that was a whole extra project I hadn’t planned for. I do think there’s something cool about keeping the old stuff, even if it means living with a few quirks. Out of curiosity, did you end up finding any decent tile matches, or did you just go with something totally different? I’ve had mixed luck with salvage yards and online sellers... sometimes you score, sometimes it’s a total bust.

I do think there’s something cool about keeping the old stuff, even if it means living with a few quirks.

- Totally agree, some of the old charm is worth the hassle.
- Salvage yards are hit or miss for me too - last time I found three matching tiles and gave up, just mixed in new ones.
- Hidden costs like subfloor repairs always sneak up... but honestly, embracing a bit of “quirky” saved me money and stress.

Honestly, I think you’re onto something - there’s a kind of satisfaction in working with what’s already there, quirks and all. When I redid my bathroom, I kept the original sink (even though it has one weird chip) just because it felt right for the house. Matching tiles drove me nuts too... after a while, I just leaned into the mismatch and called it “eclectic.” Those hidden repairs are a headache, but sometimes letting the space show its age is part of the charm.

I totally get the tile struggle - mine ended up a patchwork too, and honestly, it grew on me. I tried to save costs by keeping the old cast iron tub (even though it’s got a couple scratches), and just reglazed it. The whole thing ran me about $4k, mostly because I did the demo and painting myself. Hidden plumbing issues ate up a chunk of the budget, but I guess that’s just part of the adventure with older houses. Sometimes the quirks end up being the best part.

Kept my old tub too, but honestly, I’m not sure reglazing’s always worth it. I did it a couple years back and the finish started peeling after a bit - maybe I got a bad contractor or didn’t prep right, who knows. Did you notice any issues with yours holding up? Sometimes I wonder if biting the bullet and replacing is better in the long run, even if it costs more upfront. Those hidden plumbing surprises are the worst though... always seem to pop up when you least expect it.

I’ve had mixed luck with reglazing too - sometimes it holds up, sometimes it flakes after a year or two. I think prep and humidity make a big difference, but honestly, I’ve started leaning toward full replacement when the budget allows. It’s pricier upfront, but you dodge those surprise leaks and soft spots under the tub that always seem to show up mid-project. Did you end up running into any plumbing headaches when you did your remodel, or was it mostly cosmetic updates?

I hear you on the reglazing rollercoaster - mine looked great for about a year, then it started peeling like a bad sunburn. I’m with you on full replacement when possible, even if my wallet cries a little. Plumbing’s always the wild card, isn’t it? Last time, I opened up the wall and found pipes held together by what looked like hope and duct tape. Still, nothing beats the peace of mind knowing you won’t fall through the floor during a shower. Sometimes you just gotta go all in.

Plumbing’s always the wild card, isn’t it? Last time, I opened up the wall and found pipes held together by what looked like hope and duct tape.

- 100% relate to this. My demo day turned into a “what even is that?” scavenger hunt.
- Reglazing sounded so tempting, but I chickened out after seeing a neighbor’s tub flake like pastry.
- Full replacement hurts up front, but yeah, sleeping easy knowing you won’t crash through mid-shower is worth it.
- Sometimes you just gotta rip off the bandaid (and maybe half the drywall). It’ll be worth it when you’re not dodging leaks every month.

Sometimes you just gotta rip off the bandaid (and maybe half the drywall). It’ll be worth it when you’re not dodging leaks every month.

That’s the spirit. I swear, every time I open up a wall in this old place, it’s like a time capsule of questionable decisions. I get the temptation to reglaze - looked into it myself - but after seeing a neighbor’s tub peel like a croissant, nope. Full gut was painful, but now I don’t flinch every time I hear water running. Worth it for the peace of mind, even if my wallet still cries a little.

- Full gut here too, and yeah, my wallet’s still in therapy.
- Went with recycled tile and a low-flow toilet - cost a bit more upfront, but I’m hoping it pays off in the long run (and less guilt about water waste).
- Demo revealed some “vintage” wiring that looked like it belonged in a mad scientist’s lair. That added a chunk to the bill.
- All in, around $14k. Painful, but at least I’m not bailing out the tub every storm.
- Honestly, sometimes I wonder if reglazing would’ve been less hassle, but then I remember the horror stories. Peace of mind wins.

- Honestly, sometimes I wonder if reglazing would’ve been less hassle, but then I remember the horror stories. Peace of mind wins.

That “vintage” wiring is always a wild card. I’ve had a couple projects where the electrical alone ate up a good chunk of the budget - never fun, but necessary. Curious if you factored in any resale value for the eco upgrades like recycled tile and low-flow toilet? I’ve seen mixed results on whether buyers actually care about those details or just want the place to look fresh.