Your mold and wood rot story brought back memories of our first bathroom remodel—thought we'd nailed the planning too, until we found ancient plumbing that had to go ASAP. Budget jumped about $1,500 overnight. Totally agree on padding the budget generously; surprises are basically guaranteed. But you're right, those little upgrades like heated floors or better fixtures really pay off in daily comfort. Sounds like you handled things pretty well overall at $12k, especially considering what popped up along the way.
"Budget jumped about $1,500 overnight."
Yeah, plumbing surprises are notorious for that. I've found electrical issues can be just as sneaky—old wiring behind walls can really throw off your estimates. Did you run into any electrical headaches during your remodel?
Had a similar experience with my last remodel—thought I had everything budgeted down to the penny, then bam, surprise plumbing issue behind the shower wall added another grand overnight. Electrical wasn't too bad for me, but I swear, every remodel has its own hidden gremlins waiting to pop out. Hang in there, though... once it's done, you'll forget the pain (mostly) and just enjoy the upgrade.
"every remodel has its own hidden gremlins waiting to pop out."
Haha, couldn't have said it better myself. Last bathroom I did, thought I'd accounted for everything—then found mold behind the vanity. Quick tip: always add at least 15% extra to your budget for those sneaky surprises...
Haha, the mold behind the vanity sounds painfully familiar. When we redid ours, I smugly thought I'd dodged the bullet—then bam, rotted subfloor beneath the toilet. Ended up around $9k all said and done, but we DIY'd a lot to keep it down. Definitely second your 15% buffer rule; I'd even bump it closer to 20% if your house is older... those gremlins love vintage homes.
