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

That’s a lesson I learned the hard way, too. Cutting corners on waterproofing or skipping demo work to “save time” usually backfires - especially when you’re dealing with older homes where surprises lurk everywhere. I’ve found that investing in a thorough inspection and proper prep typically adds 10-20% to my upfront costs, but it’s worth it. Not just for peace of mind, but also for resale value down the line. Sometimes those extra days and dollars save you a world of headaches later.

- Couldn’t agree more about not skipping the prep work. I tried to “save” on demo and waterproofing in my first place - ended up with a leak that cost way more to fix than if I’d just done it right the first time.
- For my last bathroom reno (small, 1950s house), I budgeted around $8k but it crept up to almost $10k once we found some old plumbing issues behind the walls. That extra inspection up front would’ve flagged it, but hindsight’s 20/20.
- I get wanting to keep costs down, but cutting corners on waterproofing is just asking for trouble. I’d rather spend a bit more now than deal with mold or water damage later.
- One thing I do push back on: sometimes contractors want to replace *everything* “just in case.” I’ve found you can save a bit by reusing fixtures or keeping the layout if it’s functional. Not everything needs to be gutted.
- In my experience, plan for at least 15% over your initial budget, especially in older homes. Surprises are almost guaranteed.

- I get the logic behind budgeting extra, but honestly, I managed to keep my last bathroom reno under $6k by doing a lot of the demo and painting myself. Not saying it’s for everyone, but DIY can really help if you’re careful and willing to learn.
- Also, sometimes those “surprises” aren’t as bad as contractors make them sound. I had one try to upsell me on a full pipe replacement, but a second opinion said a simple patch would do. Saved me a chunk.
- Agree on not gutting everything - if it works and looks decent, why toss it? My old vanity just needed a new top and some paint.

I’m with you on not gutting everything just for the sake of it.

“Agree on not gutting everything - if it works and looks decent, why toss it?”

On the surprises front, I get skeptical when contractors push for major work without clear evidence. Had one tell me my subfloor was “rotting out,” but when I checked myself, it was just surface staining from an old leak. Moisture meter is your friend here - don’t just take their word for it.

My total ended up around $7k, mostly because I splurged on tile and decent fixtures. If you’re detail-oriented and willing to research, you can definitely keep costs down, but there’s a learning curve. Wouldn’t recommend skipping contingency in the budget, though… stuff always pops up.

- Totally agree about not demoing stuff just to “start fresh.” There’s a lot to be said for working with what’s already there, especially if it’s in good shape.
- Reglazing is such a smart move - way less waste, and honestly, most folks can’t even tell the difference unless you point it out.
- I hear you on the DIY plumbing. Some things are better left to pros (learned that the hard way with a leaky shutoff valve that turned into a mini flood).
- Contractors sometimes overstate issues, for sure. I always ask for photos or try to see for myself before greenlighting extra work. Moisture meter is clutch - wish more people knew about that trick.
- My remodel was about $6k, mostly because I went with recycled glass tile and low-flow fixtures. The up-front cost felt high but the water savings are real.
- Contingency is non-negotiable. I budgeted 15% extra, and still had to dip into it when we found old wiring behind the vanity... never fails.

Couldn’t agree more about not gutting everything just for the sake of it - so much waste, and half the time the “old” stuff is better built anyway. I did a partial remodel for under $4k by keeping the tub and just painting the vanity. Reglazing is a game changer if you’re on a budget. Also, totally with you on the contingency fund... seems like there’s always some surprise hiding behind the walls, right?

Reglazing is a game changer if you’re on a budget. Also, totally with you on the contingency fund... seems like there’s always some surprise hiding behind the walls, right?

Right? That contingency fund has saved my sanity more than once. I worked with a client last year who wanted a “simple” update - just new tile and paint. We opened up one wall and, surprise, there was ancient wiring barely hanging on. That ate up half their cushion right there.

I’m totally with you on not gutting everything. Some of those old vanities are solid wood, and honestly, you just can’t get that quality from most of the stuff at big box stores now. Painting or refinishing can make such a difference for way less money (and hassle). Reglazing is underrated too - did it in my own place and it made the tub look brand new for a fraction of the cost.

Funny how people think remodels have to mean starting from scratch. Sometimes it’s just about working with what’s already there - and not getting too stressed when you find something weird behind the drywall... because you almost always do.

Contingency fund is basically my emotional support animal at this point. Every time I think, “This’ll be a quick flip,” something wild pops up - like last time, when I found a squirrel’s nest in the vent. Agree on saving those old vanities, too. They just don’t make ‘em like they used to - most of the new stuff feels like it’s made out of cardboard. Curious, has anyone actually regretted reglazing? I keep hearing mixed reviews but mine’s held up surprisingly well...

Title: Bathroom Remodel Surprises and Reglazing Regrets

I hear you on the contingency fund - mine’s basically a line item for “weird old house stuff” at this point. Last year, I budgeted for a “simple” bathroom update and ended up replacing half the subfloor because of ancient water damage. Never fails.

About reglazing, I actually had a different experience. I went for it on our 1930s tub, hoping to save some cash and keep the original look. Looked great for about a year, but then the finish started peeling in spots where water pooled. Maybe it was the company or just bad luck, but I ended up wishing I’d just bitten the bullet and had it properly refinished or replaced. The touch-ups never really matched, either. I know some folks have better luck, but if you’ve got heavy use or hard water, it might not last as long as you’d hope.

And yeah, those old vanities are tanks compared to what’s out there now. I tried to salvage ours, but the drawers were warped beyond saving. Ended up finding a mid-century one at a salvage yard that’s way sturdier than anything new I looked at.

Remodel cost? Hard to say since it snowballed, but all-in (including surprise subfloor and plumbing), probably around $14k. Could’ve been less if nothing weird popped up, but...old houses, right?

That “weird old house stuff” line item is so real. I swear, every time I open up a wall or pull up tile, it’s like a time capsule of questionable decisions and mystery leaks. I had a similar experience with my last bathroom redo - planned for a low-impact refresh, but once we pulled the toilet, the subfloor was basically compost. Ended up sourcing reclaimed lumber to patch it, which was a whole adventure in itself.

Reglazing is such a gamble. I tried it on a clawfoot tub in my first house, mostly because I wanted to avoid sending more cast iron to the landfill. Looked amazing for about 18 months, but then the finish started bubbling near the drain. I did some research and apparently, if the prep work isn’t absolutely meticulous or if you use harsh cleaners, it just doesn’t hold up. I get why people try it - cheaper, less waste - but I’m not sure I’d do it again unless it was a guest bath that barely got used.

The salvage yard route for vanities is underrated. I lucked into an old dresser that we converted into a vanity, and it’s held up way better than the MDF stuff at big box stores. Plus, there’s something satisfying about giving old wood another life. Only downside is wrestling with plumbing around all those drawers, but worth it for the sturdiness.

Costs are all over the place, but mine ended up around $11k, mostly because I reused what I could and did some of the demo myself. Still, the “surprise” category always seems to eat up whatever savings I think I’ve found. Old houses keep you humble... and handy with a crowbar.

That “surprise” category is the real MVP of every old house project. I swear, my budget always looks great on paper until I find the 1950s plumbing “fix” behind the wall. Salvage yards are goldmines though - scored a solid wood medicine cabinet for $40, just had to sand off three layers of mystery paint. If you’re handy with a jigsaw and not afraid of weird angles, you can save a ton... but yeah, wrestling with drawers around pipes is basically an arm workout. My last bath redo came in just under $9k, mostly because I did all the demo and tile myself. Still ended up eating ramen for a month after the surprise mold remediation.

That “surprise” line item is always lurking, isn’t it? I thought I was being clever by budgeting a 15% cushion, but my 1920s bungalow had other plans - turns out, plaster walls hide all sorts of sins. Ended up at about $11k, mostly because I splurged on vintage-look tile and then had to reroute some ancient wiring. Salvage yards are a lifesaver though... snagged a clawfoot tub for $100, just needed a weekend and a lot of elbow grease. Still, ramen and PB&J became my best friends for a while.

That’s the thing with these old houses - no such thing as a straightforward job. I tried to anticipate hidden issues too, but my 1915 Craftsman still managed to surprise me. My remodel landed around $9k, mostly because I did demo and painting myself and found some fixtures secondhand. Salvage yards really are goldmines, though… sometimes you just have to be patient and willing to scrub decades of grime off a gem.

$9k is honestly not bad for a 1915 place, especially with all the curveballs those old walls can throw at you. Did you run into any plumbing surprises behind the plaster? I swear, every time I open up a wall in my 1920s bungalow, I find something weird - last time it was knob-and-tube wiring tucked behind the tub. Curious if you kept any original features or had to swap everything out?

Yeah, $9k is pretty reasonable for a house that old - people underestimate how much those “little surprises” add up. I’ve opened up walls and found everything from ancient galvanized pipes to random bits of newspaper stuffed in as insulation. Plumbing’s always a gamble; I had to replace every inch in my last place because the old stuff was basically rust. I try to keep original tile or trim when I can, but sometimes it’s just not worth the headache if it’s too far gone. Honestly, sometimes you gotta pick your battles with these old houses.

I hear you on the “little surprises” - my last bathroom remodel was a real lesson in that. I went in thinking I could do it for under $5k, but once I started pulling up the old vinyl, I found water damage that had basically turned the subfloor into mulch. Ended up having to replace all of that, plus some joists. That alone ate up a good chunk of my budget.

Here’s how it broke down for me, roughly:

1. Demo & disposal: Did this myself to save cash, but still had to rent a dumpster - about $300.
2. Subfloor & framing repair: Materials were around $600, but I did the labor with a friend (pizza and beer as payment).
3. Plumbing: This is where things got dicey. I thought I could keep the old copper, but nope - corrosion everywhere. Plumber charged me $1,800 to redo everything.
4. Tile: I really wanted to keep the original hex tile, but half of it crumbled when I tried to clean it up. Ended up going with a similar style from Home Depot - materials and install came to about $1,200.
5. Fixtures: Kept it simple - basic tub, toilet, and vanity from the clearance section. All in, maybe $1,000.

All told, I landed just under $6k, but only because I did a lot myself and made some compromises. If I’d hired out everything or gone for fancier finishes, I could see it hitting $9k or more pretty easily.

I get wanting to keep original stuff for the character, but sometimes you just have to let go if it’s too far gone (or if you don’t want to be dealing with leaks every year). It’s always a balancing act - what can you save, what’s worth replacing, and where can you stretch your dollars without cutting corners on safety or durability.

Honestly, every old house is its own adventure... sometimes more of a comedy than a drama.

You nailed it - old houses are a wild ride. I had the same dream of keeping the “good bones” in our 1920s bungalow’s bathroom, but reality had other plans. Pulled up the tile and found a patchwork of repairs from who-knows-when, plus a nice surprise: knob-and-tube wiring running under the tub (seriously?!). Ended up having to gut more than I wanted, and rewiring alone set me back $1,200.

I get stubborn about saving original details, but sometimes you just have to admit defeat. We salvaged the cast iron tub (with a ton of elbow grease), but everything else was too far gone. My budget ballooned from $4k to almost $8k by the end, mostly because I refused to cut corners on electrical and waterproofing. It stings at first, but honestly, peace of mind is worth every penny.

It’s tough letting go of that old charm, but you’re right - safety and durability have to come first. And hey, at least now I can shower without worrying about falling through the floor...

“I get stubborn about saving original details, but sometimes you just have to admit defeat.”

Totally get this. I tried to save the old hex tile in my 1915 place, but half of it crumbled when we started demo. Did you end up finding any surprises behind the walls? I swear, every time I open something up, there’s a new mystery. You’re right though - peace of mind after all that chaos is worth it.

“I get stubborn about saving original details, but sometimes you just have to admit defeat.”

I hear you, but I’m not sure I’d call it defeat. Sometimes, patching in new tile that matches the old (or even going for a close-but-not-exact look) can actually highlight the history of the place. I’ve done a few bathrooms where we kept a section of original tile as an accent and replaced the rest - kind of tells the story of the house’s age without stressing over every crumbling bit. Ever try that approach? It’s less stressful than chasing perfection, and honestly, most guests never notice the difference.

I get what you mean about not chasing perfection, but I’m still figuring out where to draw the line. I tried to save the original floor tile in our bathroom, but half of it just crumbled when I started demo. Ended up having to pick something new that was “inspired by” the old stuff, but honestly, it looks pretty different. My partner says it gives the room character, but I still notice the difference every time I walk in there.

Did you have any issues with matching grout or weird transitions between old and new? I had a heck of a time getting the new tile to sit flush with what was left of the old. Maybe I should’ve just ripped it all out and started fresh, but I was stubborn about keeping at least a piece of the original. Curious if anyone else ran into that and how you dealt with it...