Permits are the unsung heroes, honestly. I’ve seen folks skip ‘em and end up with a “mystery waterfall” in the basement six months later. Plumbing’s one of those things where a little mistake can haunt you—slow drains, weird smells, or that one spot on the ceiling that keeps getting bigger... Demo and drywall? Way more forgiving. You mess up, you patch it. But with pipes, it’s like playing Jenga behind the walls.
Title: How Much Did Your Bathroom Remodel Run You (Roughly)?
I hear you on the permits—skipping them can turn into a real headache down the line. I’ve done a couple bathroom remodels over the years, and every time I’ve pulled permits for plumbing, it’s paid off in peace of mind. Last one I did ran about $8,500, but I handled demo and most of the tiling myself. Hired out plumbing and electrical, since those are the areas where a small mistake can snowball into a big problem.
Demo and drywall, like you said, are way more forgiving. Worst case, you’re out some time and a bit of mud. But with plumbing, even a tiny leak behind the wall can go unnoticed for months and then suddenly you’re dealing with mold or structural issues. I know some folks try to save money by skipping inspections, but honestly, the cost of fixing a hidden leak later is way more than the permit fee upfront.
Curious if anyone’s managed to keep costs lower by doing more themselves, but I just can’t bring myself to cut corners on the stuff that’s hidden behind walls.
I know some folks try to save money by skipping inspections, but honestly, the cost of fixing a hidden leak later is way more than the permit fee upfront.
Couldn’t agree more with this. I’ve seen too many “budget” remodels where skipping permits or pro help on plumbing led to disaster—water damage is no joke. $8,500 sounds pretty reasonable for what you got, especially since you tackled demo and tiling yourself. Did you find sourcing materials yourself helped keep costs down, or did you stick with contractor recommendations? Sometimes those markups are wild.
I get where you’re coming from about permits and inspections, but honestly, I think it depends on the scope and your comfort level. If you’re just swapping out a vanity or replacing a toilet, I don’t see the point in paying the city for a permit. Now, if you’re moving plumbing or touching anything structural, that’s a different story. But sometimes the permit process is just a cash grab, especially for minor stuff.
Did you find sourcing materials yourself helped keep costs down, or did you stick with contractor recommendations? Sometimes those markups are wild.
Definitely agree here—contractor markups can be nuts. I sourced almost everything myself: tile, fixtures, even the tub. Ended up saving a good chunk, though it took more time and a few extra trips to the store. Contractors wanted to charge me double for the same faucet I found online. Only thing I let them supply was the plumbing rough-in stuff, since I didn’t want to mess with compatibility.
I guess my take is: permits and pros are worth it for the big stuff, but for smaller jobs or cosmetic changes, sometimes it’s just overkill. And yeah, DIYing demo and shopping around for materials is where the real savings are. Just gotta be willing to put in the hours (and deal with a little dust).
- Totally get what you mean about sourcing your own stuff. Last flip, I hunted down all the tile and fixtures myself—saved at least $1,200 compared to what the contractor quoted.
- Only thing I’d add: sometimes those “minor” jobs can uncover bigger issues. Had a vanity swap turn into a mini plumbing nightmare once... glad I kept a little budget buffer.
- Permits? Only bothered when I had to move walls or reroute pipes. For paint and hardware, never bothered.
- Demo’s messy but honestly kinda satisfying. Just keep a shop vac handy and expect to find at least one weird surprise behind the walls.
