"Did you run into any plumbing nightmares behind the walls? We discovered some sketchy DIY fixes from previous owners—let's just say duct tape shouldn't be a plumbing solution."
Haha, duct tape plumbing...sounds painfully familiar. When we redid ours last year, we budgeted around $5k but ended closer to $7k after uncovering some questionable electrical work behind the vanity. Turns out previous owners thought wire nuts and electrical tape were optional—yikes.
Totally agree on the dust situation, too. We sealed off everything, taped plastic sheets over doorways, and STILL found drywall dust in kitchen cabinets months later. It's like glitter—you think it's gone, but nope.
Going neutral was smart. We did classic subway tiles for exactly that reason; trends change too quickly and I'm not about to remodel again anytime soon. Definitely learned that budgeting extra for hidden surprises is key—wish I'd known that before we started.
Duct tape plumbing is definitely a red flag—I've seen my fair share of those DIY "fixes" over the years. Another common surprise is finding old galvanized pipes hidden behind walls, which can seriously bump up costs if you weren't expecting to replace them. Always wise to factor in an extra 15-20% for these hidden issues...they're almost guaranteed to pop up, especially in older homes. Sounds like you handled it well though, subway tiles are timeless and practical.
Couldn't agree more about budgeting extra for hidden surprises—our remodel taught us that lesson the hard way. We didn't have duct tape plumbing (thankfully!), but we did discover water damage behind the shower wall, which meant replacing studs and insulation. Definitely added a chunk to our costs and timeline. Subway tiles were our saving grace though, affordable and easy to work with. I'd also suggest keeping an eye out for clearance fixtures or gently used vanities online...you'd be amazed at the deals you can find.
"Subway tiles were our saving grace though, affordable and easy to work with."
Couldn't agree more on subway tiles—they're versatile and timeless, which really helps if you ever decide to update your decor later. It's unfortunate about the water damage; hidden issues like that can be quite stressful. Did you end up adding any moisture barriers or waterproofing membranes behind the new insulation? Those steps can feel tedious at first, but they're worth it to prevent future headaches...sounds like you're on the right track with budget-friendly finds too.
Subway tiles really are a lifesaver, especially when you're trying to stretch the budget. I remember one job where the homeowner insisted on fancy imported tiles, and halfway through we found mold behind the drywall—talk about unexpected expenses. Moisture barriers definitely help, but sometimes older homes just throw curveballs at you. Did you run into any other surprises once you started tearing things out, or was the water damage the main headache?
