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

I hear you on the matte black. Looks great in photos, but in my 1920s place, I tried it once and regretted it - every little spot showed up.

“I started leaning toward brushed nickel or even chrome. Less maintenance, and they still look modern enough for most buyers or tenants.”

Totally get where you’re coming from - old houses are full of surprises. I had plaster walls too, and the “simple” job turned into a full-on puzzle. Love your point about brushed nickel; it’s such a forgiving finish and doesn’t fight with vintage details. Doing demo yourself is no joke either... those lath and plaster clouds are wild. Feels good to keep some character, though, right?

Doing demo yourself is no joke either... those lath and plaster clouds are wild.

You nailed it - demo in these old places is a workout. For cost, I usually tell folks to budget $15-25k for a full gut, but it really depends on surprises behind those walls. Keeping character can mean extra labor, but it’s worth it when you see the finished space. Brushed nickel’s a solid call - timeless and hides fingerprints better than chrome. If you’re doing some work yourself, you might shave off a few grand, but always leave room for the “uh-oh” fund.

Yeah, demo in these old houses is like a gym membership you didn’t sign up for. I thought I’d save money doing it myself, but those hidden pipes and mystery wires had other plans. Ended up around $18k, mostly because of “surprises.” Worth it, though.

That $18k sounds about right for an older place, especially once you start peeling back the layers. I always tell folks - budget for the “uh-oh” factor, because those surprises are almost guaranteed. Did you end up keeping any of the original features, or was it a full gut job? Sometimes I’ll try to salvage old tile or a funky light fixture just for character, but it’s not always possible.

That “uh-oh” fund is a must - my last bathroom reno, I thought I’d just swap out the vanity and paint. Next thing I know, I’m knee-deep in 1960s linoleum and a mystery leak that’d been hiding for years. Ended up keeping the original medicine cabinet, though. It’s got that weird beveled mirror and a squeaky door, but there’s something charming about it. Sometimes those old quirks are worth the hassle, even if they don’t match the new tile.

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

That “uh-oh” fund is no joke. I went into my first bathroom reno thinking it’d be a quick weekend project - just new paint, swap out the faucet, maybe update the light fixture. Ended up turning into a three-week ordeal after I pulled up the old vinyl and found water damage under the subfloor. Turns out, the previous owners had just layered new flooring over the old stuff, and there was a slow leak from the toilet that had been soaking into the wood for who knows how long.

I tried to keep costs down by doing as much as I could myself, but between replacing the subfloor, patching drywall, and then realizing the shutoff valves were corroded (which meant calling in a plumber), it added up fast. All in, I spent about $4,200 - way more than my original $1,500 estimate. The biggest surprise was how much little things add up: dump fees for the old materials, extra trips to the hardware store for random fittings, and then splurging on a slightly nicer tile because the cheap stuff looked awful next to the new paint.

I actually kept my old medicine cabinet too. It’s got this weird little latch and a mirror that’s just slightly warped at the edges, but I kind of like it. There’s something about those original details that makes the space feel less like a showroom and more like home. I know some folks want everything brand new, but I think a few quirks give it character.

If I had to do it again, I’d definitely budget at least 25% extra for surprises. And double-check what’s under the floor before making any plans... Learned that one the hard way.

That “uh-oh” fund has saved my skin more times than I care to admit. I once thought I could get a bathroom done for under $2k, but after demo I found cast iron pipes that were basically crumbling. Ended up at $6,800, mostly because of plumbing and having to reframe a wall. I totally get hanging onto the old medicine cabinet - sometimes those little quirks are what make the space feel lived-in. Honestly, I’ve learned to expect the unexpected, especially in older homes. Every time I think I’ve seen it all, something new pops up...

- That “uh-oh” fund is no joke. I budgeted $4k for my first bathroom reno, thinking I’d covered everything.
- Demo day revealed a weird patchwork of old wiring and some water damage behind the tub - ended up needing an electrician and a bunch of new drywall. Final cost: $7,200.
- I get wanting to keep the old medicine cabinet. I tried to replace mine, but the new one didn’t fit the opening (of course), so I just cleaned up the original and now it’s kind of charming in a retro way.
- One thing I learned: always assume plumbing will be worse than it looks. Those old pipes are sneaky.
- Not sure if it’s just me, but every time I open a wall in this house, it’s like a time capsule of questionable decisions from previous owners...
- If I ever do another bathroom, I’m doubling my contingency fund. No way around it with these older places.

Funny you mention the “time capsule” thing - my place is the same way. I swear every project uncovers some bizarre shortcut or mystery material. Did you end up hiring out most of the work, or did you try to DIY any of it? I’m always torn between saving money and not wanting to mess something up (especially with plumbing). For folks who ran into weird surprises, did insurance ever help with water damage, or was it all out of pocket?

I totally get that “time capsule” vibe - my last bathroom reno felt like peeling back layers of a weird onion. I did most of it myself, except for the plumbing. I just didn’t want to risk flooding the place or dealing with code violations. If you find water damage, insurance might help, but only if it’s sudden and accidental (like a burst pipe), not slow leaks. Mine was all out of pocket since it was old, hidden stuff. If you’re on the fence, maybe tackle demo and finish work yourself, then bring in pros for the tricky bits. It’s a balance between saving cash and saving sanity...

I hear you on the plumbing - one wrong move and suddenly you’re in way over your head (and wallet). Curious, did you price out what a plumber would’ve charged for the whole job versus just the tricky parts? I keep wondering if it’s really worth the DIY stress when pros can sometimes get it done faster, even if it costs more upfront.

I actually ran into this exact dilemma during my last bathroom project. I priced out the plumber for the whole job, and it was nearly double what it cost to just have them handle the rough-in and anything involving moving pipes. I handled the rest - fixtures, trim, even the vanity install. Honestly, I’m pretty handy, but the peace of mind knowing the tricky stuff was done right was worth every penny. Sometimes DIY is tempting, but with plumbing, one small leak can turn into a huge headache... and a much bigger bill down the line.

“but the peace of mind knowing the tricky stuff was done right was worth every penny.”

- Totally get the peace of mind thing, but honestly, I’ve seen a lot of folks underestimate how doable plumbing can be with some patience and the right guides.
- If you’re careful and double-check everything, swapping out fixtures or even installing a vanity isn’t as scary as it seems.
- The money saved can go toward splurging on better tile or lighting - sometimes those little upgrades make a bigger visual impact.
- That said, I’d never mess with moving pipes myself... that’s where I draw the line too.

I get what you mean about the peace of mind, but honestly, I’m with you on most of this.

“swapping out fixtures or even installing a vanity isn’t as scary as it seems.”

I hear you on the contractors making things sound scarier than they are. Half the time, it’s just unscrewing stuff and putting it back together - if you can follow a video, you’re golden. I’ve done three bathroom flips now, and honestly, unless you’re messing with the guts (plumbing reroutes, electrical), most of it’s sweat equity. My last one ran me about $4k, mostly because I splurged on tile. Labor would’ve doubled that easy.

$3,200 all-in for me - DIY except for the shower glass install. Agree with you, most of it’s just methodical work and patience.

“unless you’re messing with the guts (plumbing reroutes, electrical), most of it’s sweat equity”

Swapping fixtures and tiling is doable, but I draw the line at moving pipes - just not worth the risk.

I get the hesitation on moving pipes, but honestly, it’s not always as scary as it sounds - at least for basic reroutes. I used to draw the line there too, but after watching a few pros and reading up, I took on a small drain move myself. If you’re careful and double-check everything, it can be manageable. Worst case, you call a plumber to fix what you started (which I’ve done once…). Sometimes the cost savings are worth a little risk, depending on your comfort level.

I hear you on the pipe moving - definitely not something I was eager to try at first. Ended up having to shift a supply line about a foot for our vanity, and honestly, with PEX and the right fittings, it wasn’t as intimidating as I thought. Double-checked for leaks overnight just in case. Saved a few hundred bucks doing it myself, but yeah, nerves were high until everything held. If you’re methodical and take your time, it’s doable for small changes. Wouldn’t mess with anything major though...

If you’re methodical and take your time, it’s doable for small changes. Wouldn’t mess with anything major though...

That’s pretty much where I landed too. I had to nudge a drain pipe over a few inches for our new sink, and I was sweating bullets the whole time. Watched about a dozen YouTube videos, measured everything twice, and still expected a disaster. But like you said, being methodical really helps. I get the hesitation with bigger jobs - once you open up a wall, who knows what you’ll find...